Let’s Take the Kids!
By Ann Claffie
August – Escape to cool places on a hot day!
Wow! It’s hard to believe! August has arrived! As I think back on our busy July—it was awesome! Let’s see, we waved to Astronaut Stephanie Wilson, a Pittsfield native, in Pittsfield’s 4th of July Parade and son Robert even got to shake Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s hand! We enjoyed our balcony view of West Side Story, performed inside the newly revitalized playhouse of Barrington Stage, and we picnicked on Tanglewood’s lawn before an outstanding performance of Carousel.
“Mom, Carousel has almost the same story as West Side Story! The good guy dies in the end!”
(I think maybe our next musical or play should be something like the Sound of Music or the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.)
We even squeezed in a Saturday afternoon picking blueberries; not just one or two at a time—more like fistfuls of eight or nine plump, juicy berries. It was blueberry heaven!
“Mom, this is really cool – eat a little, pick a little—eat a lot, pick a little!”
Summer camp, a Berkshires claim to fame, is also a main focus for our youthful son who thrives on the different themes. So far he has experienced aqua camp with paddling on
Pontoosuc Lake, Pittsfield; creative camp for kids yearning to stretch their imaginations (Robert designed a burglar alarm from leftovers – paper rolls, clips, the guts from old computers—you get the idea); and basketball camp, led by a local high school coach and his players.
“Mom, you should have seen them dribbling! I went up to one of them and asked him for his autograph. He was surprised, but thought it was pretty cool and signed his name! Yesss!”
Moving into August, Robert’s first week consists of overnighting at Camp Chesterfield as a Webelos Cub Scout, followed by a week at Adventure Camp— climbing rock walls, mountain biking and canoeing.
The Berkshires features summer camps north, central and south, with activities to suit just about any parent’s child.
Do you have an aspiring actress or actor in your family? How about sports enthusiasts – professional wannabees in baseball and soccer? There are camps for artists and musicians, those who love the great outdoors, along with wellness programs and even a circus camp where kids are encouraged to “clown around” for real!
Other ideas saved for August include watching the Demolition Derby at the Adams Agricultural Fair (August 3-5); enjoying a trail ride on horseback in the woods with Harmony Trails in Dalton and whitewater rafting on the Deerfield River. I have been rafting only once with my son, but this time we’ll take my husband too. He’ll love it! If we time it right, we’ll return from the rafting trip just in time to join North Adams Mayor John Barrett’s Downtown Celebration on the evening of August 22 from 5:30 to 9p.m.. Come join the mayor for a night of great of food and music.
Just a little closer to home, we’ll have to go up-street—North Street in Pittsfield more specifically to attend the 3rd Thursday Street Festival. It’s a mix of art, culture and great eats, from eclectic contemporary foods, to authentic Mexican and Indian cuisines, pub fare, Italian and even Brazilian.
Gee! I almost forgot! We don’t want to miss the “Kid Stuff: Great Toys From Our Childhood” exhibit at the Berkshire Museum. Remember Mr. Potato Head, Magic 8 Ball, Silly Putty, Wiffle Balls? I do (gulp!). This nostalgic inter-active display leaves September 3.
September? No! Not yet! I shudder at the thought of preparing for another school year soon….. Let’s just extend the summer another three or four weeks, OK?!
About Ann Claffie
A Berkshires native, Ann grew up in Dalton as the oldest of five children who were encouraged to use their imaginations for fun and play. Today, married and living in Pittsfield, Ann and her husband enjoy family fun and adventure with their nine year old son. She has been on staff at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for more than ten years.