Check out our family section for a complete list of Berkshire activities for kids and families. 

Good Thing it’s a Leap Year Cause February Rocks!

Hello?! It’s February 2008! I don’t know about your family, but January really moved along for my family.  We achieved some firsts – son Robert, convinced hubby and me to sign him up for ski lessons at nearby Bousquet Ski Resort. As I watched my “baby” (now 10 years old) take his first ski lesson, I felt somewhat nostalgic. I remembered my parents watching me— a mere four decades ago, from inside the family’s station wagon and how my novice’s technique kept my four siblings entertained.

Another first in our family happened to me with my first girls’ night out—in the new year that is. After dinner at Patrick’s Pub, we were seated inside the Colonial Theatre for the production of Beatlemania, a tribute to the fab four – Paul, John, George and Ringo. Like all baby boomers in the audience, I sang to my heart’s content.  Boy! Music sure has changed a lot over the years!

Now, back to February and what comes to mind is the annual Free Day at MASS MoCA on Saturday, Feb. 9. Free Days are festive family affairs offering something for visitors of all ages—projects for kids in Kidspace, demonstrations in the galleries, free films and gallery tours. MoCA is just a very cool place!  Robert always enjoys a visit there. Of course, we’ll lunch at Lickety Split just inside the lobby. They have homemade everything – soups, sandwiches and ice cream.

No doubt we’ll also swing into the Western Gateway Heritage State Park and view their model train in motion or the latest historic display. Every day there is a free day!

The week of Feb. 16 -24 for us means school vacation.  When I think back on what was available to me as a kid growing up in the Berkshires, compared to today, it’s incredible! The opportunities for fun learning seem endless! Robert and other kids can spend the afternoon of Feb. 16 at the Norman Rockwell Museum with illustrator, Andrew Wales, drawing pictures of themselves as superheroes. Or hop aboard a horse-drawn wagon during the Hancock Shaker Village’s Winter Weekend, Feb. 16-18.  Have you ever seen their demonstration of ice cutting or making a Shaker chair? Maybe this month’s the time for your family to experience Shaker life.

Kripalu is also offering winter workshops catering to families, Feb. 18-22.  What Kids Like to Eat: Making Food Fun and Healthy will be held in both adults only and kids only sessions—one for me and one for Robert.  I expect we’ll have fun, learning about creative cuisine.

Other activities on the horizon include making an appointment with Eugene at Animagic – The Museum of Animation, Special Effects and Art. Robert made his first three-minute animated film a year ago, so it’s time to revisit and film a sequel. The animation is even sound tracked—with music and applause! 

“Mom, I want to create a new character this time with new music.”           

OK Robert, but we’ll need to follow Eugene’s direction.  Remember, he’s the expert, not you. I wonder, do all kids think this way? 

Finally, we’ll head to the Lichtenstein Center to view Berkshire Museum’s exhibition Berkshires’ First People: The Mohicans. This small exhibition, (on site until March 8) invites visitors to discover how clothing, hunting tools, and games tell the story of daily life of the native people of the Berkshires’ first residents, the Mohicans. It’s really enjoyable learning about our roots.  I can hear Robert now….

“Hey Mom, Look in the backyard. I took three long poles from the wood pile and tied a grape vine around them and made my own tepee.  I also found some sticks to carve into arrows using my Cub Scout knife. Cool huh?!”

See you next month.