Snow Tubing is so fun at Nashoba Valley Ski Area! Cruise the slopes of Nashoba Valley’s Snow Tubing and enjoy one of the fastest-growing winter recreational activities at the largest tubing park in New England! Eighteen lanes are serviced by four lifts and maintained by Nashoba’s experienced grooming fleet, the park provides ideal tubing conditions for thrill seekers of all ages.  We will meet at the Rockland Park and Ride at 9:30a.m. Sharp!  Get ready for a great day of fun! Visit this website for more info!  http://youtu.be/hIY8UBh_QiU

History books refer to the United States as “the melting pot” where all nations and traditions blend together. Indeed, our Christmas celebrations would indicate just that. We have carols from England and Australia and trees from Germany. Santa Claus, or St. Nick in a red suit originated in Scandinavia and his arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is reminiscent of the Netherlands. His sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland, and our parades may be a carry-over from Latin processions. Of course the traditional feasting is typical of all nations. We, in turn, have fattened up the jolly old man in the red suit and blended all the traditions until he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve, leaves gifts and stockings filled with treats and departs in a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. The media has helped to make this a universal Christmas image. Yet each regions of the U.S. has its own peculiarity.

From ancient times, American Indians have held religious dances to coincide with the winter solstice. Franciscan monks succeeded in bringing this Indian celebration and the Christmas Holy Day together. Thirty-five miles south of Santa Fe, in the San Felipe Pueblo, is held perhaps one of the most unique Christmas Eve dances. Shortly after the priest has delivered his Christmas Eve sermon and departed, birdcalls burst from the loft (sounds produced by blowing into a shallow dish of water through a split, perforated hollow reed). An insistent drum takes over and dancers move into the blazing light of the altar. Dressed in masks, animal skins, feathers, coral, shells, turquoise and head dresses with real antlers, they perform the deer, turtle, eagle and buffalo dances. Women carry a sprig of HAKAK, the sacred spruce tree, which represents eternal life and which they believed helped to create mankind.

From the Appalachian mountains came one of today’s most popular Christmas songs, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” This was originally a “counting song” of magical or pagan origin, and no one seems to know what it originally meant. However, today it has become the theme of many Christmas cards and displays.

Downtown shopping centers in Hawaii display Santa’s helpers as “menehunes,” the legendary little people who are supposed to have been the first inhabitants of Hawaii before the Polynesians seized the islands. Palm trees are strung with decorate delights and fragrant flowers are hung in leis around the indoor Christmas tree.

Pennsylvania’s Moravian population embrace Christmas with a “Love-Fest.” These are musical services in which the congregation partakes of simple food while the choir sings appropriate hymns and anthems. Usually, the congregation must be served sweet buns and coffee in the time it takes to sing three hymns. Candles are distributed, made of beeswax (for until the 15th century, it was believed bees were made in Paradise), and as the final anthem is sung, all raise their lighted candles to “Praise to Our Heavenly King.”

The greatest variety in the traditions, however, comes in the taste of Christmas feast:

• New England has Lumberjack Pie ( a mashed potato crust, filled with meats, onion and cinnamon.)
• Pennsylvania Dutch serve Sand Tarts (thing, crisp sugar cookies)
• North Carolina features Moravian Love-Feast Buns (faintly sweet bread of flour and mashed potatoes.)
• Baltimore serves Sauerkraut with their Turkey (which includes apples, onions and carrots.)
• Virginia gives us oyster and ham pie.
• Southern states have Hominy Grits Soufflé and Whiskey Cake (with one cup of 100-proof whiskey.)
• Louisiana’s treat is Creole Gumbo. It can include ham, veal, chicken, shrimp, oysters and crabmeat.
• New Mexico has the Empanaditas–little beef pies with applesauce pine nuts and raisins.
• Hawaii blesses us with Turkey Teriyaki marinated and cooked over an outdoor pit.

Whatever the region, Christmas is one of the most celebrated and enjoyed holidays in the nation.

TRADITIONAL DISHES FROM USA

Most American families have the traditional stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, pumpkin pie, and more for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here are some more unique holiday treats.

TURKEY DINNER

Follow these 10 easy steps to create a picture-perfect turkey:

1. If turkey is frozen, thaw in the refrigerator or cold water. When ready to cook, remove the wrapper. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Remove the neck from the body cavity and the giblets from the neck cavity. Drain the juices and blot the cavities with paper towels.
3. Just before roasting, stuff the neck and body cavities lightly, if desired.Turn the wings back to hold the neck skin in place. Return legs to tucked position, if untucked. No trussing is necessary.
4. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a flat rack in an open roasting pan about 2 inches deep.
5. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer deep into the lower part of the thigh next to the body, not touching the bone.
6. Brush the skin with vegetable oil to prevent skin from drying. Further basting is unnecessary.
7. Wash preparation utensils, work surfaces and hands in hot, soapy water following contact with uncooked turkey and juices.
8. Roast at 325 degrees F. For approximate cooking times, see roasting time schedule. When the skin is light golden, about 2/3 done, shield the breast loosely with lightweight foil to prevent overcooking.
9. Check for doneness 1/2 hour before turkey is expected to be done.Turkey is fully cooked when the thigh’s internal temperature is 180 degrees F.The thickest part of breast should read 170 degrees F and the center of the stuffing should be 160 degrees F.
10. When done, let the turkey stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

TURKEY TERIYAKI (Hawaiian Treat)

10-14 lb. turkey, sliced and chunked

Marinade recipe:

2 cups soy sauce
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup sake or sherry
1 tbl. fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tbls. vegetable oil

Mix marinade ingredients in large container. Add turkey, making sure it is completely coated. Leave in marinade for 20 minutes or longer. Cook over open fire.

OYSTER AND HAM “PIE”

1 pint fresh oysters with liquid
1 chopped onion
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup chopped cooked ham, preferably cured
2 cups green peas or 1 package frozen
Turn oven to 400f.

Separate oysters from liquid, and reserve both. Sauté chopped onion in 2 tbls. butter until golden. Remove onion and reserve. Adding remaining butter, melt; then add flour gradually, blending well. Let cool. Stir milk gradually into butt-flour mixture, then simmer, stirring constantly.

Add wine and oyster liquid. This will make a very thick white sauce. Do not thin. Dish can be prepared to this point, then refrigerated until time of final cooking. Add oysters, cooked onion, ham, and peas to wine-oyster liquid mixture and turn into ovenware pot or dish.

Put in preheated 400f. oven and cook 15 minutes, or until peas are just done. Serve with tiny biscuits. If pie crust is added, bake until crust is golden.

MORAVIAN LOVE-FEAST BUNS

1 cake yeast
1/4 cup tepid water
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup soft butter
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup warm mashed potatoes
2 cups or more lukewarm water
Melted butter or cream for glazing

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add sugar to beaten egg, then softened butter, salt, warm mashed potatoes, and yeast mixture. Add alternately flour and warm water to make soft but firm dough. Knead until smooth on lightly floured board or in hands.

Cover with clean, warm cloth and set in warm place to rise until double in bulk. When dough has risen, punch down and make into buns 3″ to 4″ in diameter. (If preferred, any other shape may be made with this dough.) Place so they do not touch on greased sheets. Cover with warm cloth and let rinse again.

Place in 400 F. oven and bake until brown, about 20 minutes. Brush with cream or melted butter just before removing from stove. Makes 18 to 20 buns.

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers.  Then parents can do the cutting.
• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

That time again? Yes, you’re excited to get the kids back to school, but there is a lot to do and it seems to come upon us faster and faster each year. The more YOU are prepared and your child knows what to expect, the smoother the year will run. Getting your family back into routine is sure to make your year a lot more pleasurable. Here are a few tips from a mom that understands how hectic back-to-school can be!

Tip #1: Set Up A Routine

I have found that setting up routines has been an amazingly useful tool for making life with kids run more smoothly. It helps prevent that frazzled feeling we sometimes get… the feeling of “I don’t know what to do/I don’t know what I’m doing/I can’t handle my life.” Discuss the morning routine with your kids in advance so they’ll know what’s expected of them. I personally get very tired of sounding like a broken record every morning (Most overused phrase in my house: “Jenna, brush your hair”). So make a morning routine list and make everyone stick to it. For dinner, I have a kids’ meal routine (chicken on Monday, pasta on Tuesday…) which really minimizes the amount of whining I hear at mealtimes. Somehow, when kids know what’s coming, they are able to tolerate it better!

Tip #2: Write Everything Down

My momAgenda has become my most trusted companion, if I do say so myself. However, I run into organizing problems sometimes, even with my momAgenda in my bag at all times. The problems come, my friends, when I forget to write things down! So my mantra has become “write everything down.” If I don’t write it down, it basically does not exist. It is in one ear and out the other. Seriously, we have so much to keep track of, with kids and jobs and husbands and homes and pets and who knows what else. How can we possibly be expected to hold little bits of information in there too? I’ve said it repeatedly but I’ll say it again: no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, just Write It Down so you won’t forget!

Tip #3: It’s OK To Say No

This is a hard one for all of us because we were raised to be “nice’ and try to make other people happy. Well, I am here to tell you that you simply must think about what your limits are. What are your priorities? What is most important to you? Write it all down. Then, when you are asked to join a committee, or to chair a club, or to hang artwork at your child’s school, look at your list of priorities. Is this task going to further your goal of focusing on what’s most important to you? If not, then say NO, without apologies. I’ll give you an example. I decided, that with 4 kids and a business, my 2 priorities are my kids and my work. I don’t have any extra time or resources. So I only volunteer at school for things that will keep me in contact with my kids (e.g. activities in the classroom). And I eliminated all my commitments that are not related to those 2 priorities: for now, it’s no more book club or any other “extracurriculars.” If you are clear on your priorities, everything will fall into place.

Try out these tips and add in a few of your own. No approach is right for everyone: you’ll find a way that works for you. But with a little bit of forethought, I know we can all get through this crazy time and make it fun. Maybe we can even enjoy it along with our kids.

BUT- don’t forget to have fun this Fall either…Visit this website for more ideas to have some down time with your kids on those beautiful Fall weekends! http://www.momsanddadsguide.com/events.

http://www.momsanddadsguide.com

A trip to the beach can be the highlight of one’s summer. Children are especially captivated by the sand, water and beautiful scenery.

When it’s time to go home, they may not want to leave. And for that matter, you might wish you could stay, too!

A trip to the beach is sure to create some lasting memories. The feel of the sand between your toes, the smell of the ocean and the warm beach sunshine are things that must be experienced to be appreciated.

What better way to continue the enjoyment than with some uniigue beach crafts such as:

Many beachgoers file their pictures away in a shoebox or photo album somewhere and forget about them. Some place them in cheap frames or pin them up on a bulletin board to enjoy every day. But don’t your treasured beach photos deserve better than that? This beachwood photo holder will do them justice while serving as a nice decorative touch for any room.To get started, you’ll need a large piece of driftwood found on the beach. It should be fairly flat and have plenty of character. The other supplies you’ll need include:* Tacky glue
* Wooden clothespins
* Scrub brush
* Shells, starfish and other beach findings
* Drill
* Piece of strong twine, around a foot long So how do you go about making your Beachwood Photo Holder?

Instructions:

1. Clean your driftwood with the scrub brush. Try to remove all debris while maintaining the original look of the wood.

2. Glue clothespins to the driftwood a few inches apart. Be sure to leave enough room for your photos. Gluing the clothespins at various angles adds a casual and whimsical touch.

3. Arrange embellishments such as seashells, starfish and beach glass as you like on the driftwood. Glue and let dry.

4. With a pencil, lightly mark the horizontal center of the photo holder about a half inch from the top. Then measure and mark 4 inches to the right of the center and 4 inches to the left of the center.

5. Drill holes in the last two spots you marked. Tie one end of the twine through each hole to make a hanger.

Tips

* If you used a heavy piece of wood, you may need something stronger than twine to hold it up. Try straightening out a wire coat hanger, bending it in the middle and hooking it through the holes.

* If you want to preserve the rustic look of the driftwood, it’s best to leave it unpainted. But if you want to make it match your décor, add a coat of paint in a muted color.

* Artistic types could paint a beach scene on the photo holder before adding clothespins and other embellishments. Use your photos for inspiration.

* If you prefer a collage, omit the clothespins. Cut your photos into various shapes and stick them to the driftwood with Mod Podge. Let dry, then cover with another coat of Mod Podge before adding three-dimensional embellishments. 

 Another Fun Beach Craft is making a Seascape!

This is less time consuming and you can create a seascape using a glass fish bowl or round vase. You’ll need the following items:

* Glass fish bowl
* Photos of the day you spent at the beach
* Clear tape
* Sand from the beach
* Treasures found at the beach (shells, sea glass, driftwood, etc.)
* Wooden skewers
* Nautical pictures or stickers

Begin by carefully taping a photo of your family at the beach onto the inside of the fish bowl. Be sure to tape along the edges to keep sand from getting behind the photo. Then pour enough beach sand (or play sand) into the fish bowl to fill it about halfway full or until it covers the bottom of the picture.

When the sand is arranged the way you want it, start adding the sea shells or other items collected on the trip. Using stickers or images cut from magazines, tape the images on a wooden skewer and then trim them so the images will rest on the sand when pushed in.

There are many other ways your children can use their treasures from “down by the sea” to create crafts, but you may want to start with these two ideas. The point is to allow the children to enjoy the items they found and make them functional so they can see them and remember the fun of the day!

For more fun summer ideas visit: http://www.momsanddadsguide.com/home.asp and find out what is going on for the kids on the South Shore this summer!

With Spring comes the celebration of Easter…Also called Resurrection Sunday, Easter 2011 is one of the major festival in the Christian calendar as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The early church saw the account of Jesus’ resurrection as the main indication of God’s point, declaring Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. Easter is celebrated since the fourth century and has been the center of the Christian community that even churches that traditionally do not follow other feasts of the church year celebrate Easter as the focal point of Christian faith and worship.As with almost all “Christian” holidays, Easter has a secular side as well. The dichotomous nature of Easter and its symbols, however, is not necessarily a modern fabrication.

Easter has always had its non-religious side. In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival. It was co-opted by Christian missionaries starting in the second century CE.

The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they do what Christian missionaries have always done; they attempted to convert them to Christianity. They did so, however, in a clandestine manner.

It would have been dangerous for the very early Christian converts to celebrate their holy days with observances that did not coincide with celebrations that already existed. To save lives, the missionaries decided to spread their dogma slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner.

As it happened, the pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense, therefore, to alter the festival itself, to make it a Christian observance as pagans were slowly indoctrinated. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter.

The Date of Easter

Prior to A.D. 325, Easter was variously celebrated on different days of the week, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In that year, the Council of Nicaea was convened by emperor Constantine. It issued the Easter Rule which states that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. The “full moon” in the rule is the ecclesiastical full moon, which is defined as the fourteenth day of a tabular lunation, where day 1 corresponds to the ecclesiastical New Moon. It does not always occur on the same date as the astronomical full moon. The ecclesiastical “vernal equinox” is always on March 21. Therefore, Easter must be celebrated on a Sunday between the dates of March 22 and April 25.

The Lenten Season

Lent is the forty-six day period just prior to Easter Sunday. It begins on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) is a celebration, sometimes called “Carnival,” practiced around the world, on the Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday. It was designed as a way to “get it all out” before the sacrifices of Lent began. New Orleans is the focal point of Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S. Read about the religious meanings of the Lenten Season.

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.

The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.

The Easter Egg

As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians.

From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of birth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.

Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs — those made of plastic or chocolate candy.

 Visit this website for some great Easter craft ideas -easter-crafts

 YOU CAN BE A LUCKY CHARM With your kids on March 17th!

Leprechaun Relay Race - Get “jiggy” with it all the way to the finish line. How to play:
Step 1: Before the game, collect a list of different Irish dance steps.
Step 2: Divide participants into two teams of even number. Then split each team in two and have each half stand at opposite ends of the room.
Step 3: Demonstrate a couple of the dance moves. Then start the game by calling out a dance move and change them as often as you like.
Step 4: Have the kids complete the dance moves while running from one end to the other and tagging the next opponent.

St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt - Follow fun all the way to a faux pot of gold. How to play:
Step 1: Hide a pot filled with gold chocolate coins either inside or out, depending on the weather.
Step 2: Cut out several four leaf clovers from green construction paper. Cut one clover larger than the others.
Step 3: Write clues leading up to the pot on the smaller clovers.
Step 4: On the large clover, write the first clue and place it under your child’s breakfast dish.

For the kiddies…

St.Paddy’s day little man puppet
cut a large shamrock out - have the child paste it on a large art stick or popsicle stick and then add the arms (with attached little shamrocks for hands) and legs (again with little shamrocks for feet)

Shamrock cut outs
cookie cutters into paint and either paint a sweatshirt or on large pieces of paper.

Shamrock Puzzles
cut out a large shamrock and let the child paste, paint crayon all over it. depending on the age the child later cut it into several pieces and let them put the puzzle together!!

Ages: 2+
Shamrock hunting
Take children into back yard or a park and have them look for four leaf clover. We actually found one last year!!!- This can be done inside as well by making construction paper clover and 1 four leaf shamrock and have the kids try and find it.

All ages
Leprechaun mischief
While the children are out playing or before they arrive make some silly changes in the room like putting things out of place, hiding things, leaving gold chocolate coins, etc. Leave green footprints Blame it on the leprechaun when they come in. Explain all about St. Patrick’s day and leprechauns.

All ages
Coin hunting
Scatter gold chocolate coins in yard before children arrive and have fun searching for the “luck” left by the leprechauns.

Ages 2 1/2 +
Collage
Cut out a shamrock shape and have a box of green collage materials- yarn, fabric, ribbon, buttons, glitter. Add green coloring to glue and let them decorate.

Botanical Garden

The Botanic Garden of Smith

Children’s Museums

The Children’s Museum
Hands-on learning center

Government

Courthouse Tours
Offers a free docent-lead tour of the John Adams Courthouse in downtown Boston, MA. During the 45 minute tour students learn about the court system, the history of the 1894 building and the important role John Adams played in the drafting of the Massachusetts constitution. Contact Vicky L. Kruckeberg, 617-557-1031 for

History

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park
Recalls the role of canals in transporting raw materials and manufactured goods between emerging industrial centers. 287 Oak St., Uxbridge. 508-278-7604

Boston Walking Tours - PhotoWalks
Tours are presented with historic commentary and photography tips that enhance your picture-taking skills. 617-851-2273.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Explore the power of ideas to inspire individuals and change the world, with two floors of Library Exhibits, including the Mapparium, Hall of Ideas, Monitor Gallery, and Quest Gallery. 200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 1-617-450-7000 or 1-888-222-3711

Massachusetts Local History
This page is being created, on a volunteer basis, to explore the world of our ancestors who resided in Massachusetts.

Old Sturbridge Village
In the years 1790 to 1840 a new nation took shape. In rural towns across New England, ordinary people worked to better their lives, build strong communities, apply new technologies, and define the meaning of democracy. Learn their story at Old Sturbridge Village as you journey into the past. Sturbridge, MA 01566, (800) SEE-1830

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
Serves a broad public audience through K-12 educational programs, exhibits, lectures, and family programs. 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138. 617-495-3397.

Rootsweb: Massachusetts
Genealogical and historical links galore for your state history projects.

Saugus Iron Works
Explore this place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Three hundred year old artifacts, working waterwheels, and mill machinery help to tell the story of a business failure destined to be a National Park. 244 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906. (781) 233-0050

Spellman Museum
Provides education programs about Massachusetts history, US and world geography as well as other social studies related topics. Special programs can be arranged. For a brochure and to arrange for a visit, contact Henry Lukas, Education Director at henryjlukas@hotmail.com. 235 Wellesley Street at Regis College, Weston MA. 781-768-8367.

Nature

Blue Hills Trailside Museum
The interpretive center for the state’s 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation and is managed by Mass Audubon. Indoor exhibits feature wildlife you may see while exploring the reservation’s 150 miles of trails. 1904 Canton Ave., Milton, MA 02186. 617-333-0690

The Butterfly Place
An indoor living environment which has been carefully designed for the propagation and development of some of nature’s most colorful living creations. 120 Tyngsboro Road, Westford, MA 01886. (978) 392-0955

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Mass Audubon’s largest sanctuary, offers more than 10 miles of interconnecting trails that invite you to explore the forests, meadows, and wetlands. 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA 01983. 978-887-9264

Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon offers a broad array of programs, classes, camps, and special events throughout the year. Our online catalog has a complete listing of upcoming programs, as well as our international travel offerings. Mass Audubon members enjoy discounts on programs, classes, and most special events, and many other terrific benefits. 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. 781-259-9500

South Shore Natural Science Cente
Provides hands-on, interactive learning experiences that encourage investigation of the natural world. Our programs explore timely natural science themes and enrich understanding of human interrelationships with the environment. Jacobs Lane, Norwell, MA. (781) 659-2559

Rural Life

Davis’ Farmland & Davis’ Mega Maze
We feature developmentally appropriate discovery play and learning for children ages 1-8. We are “home” to the largest sanctuary of endangered livestock in North America. 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling, MA.

Maple Sugarin’ at Breakheart in March
Each year, one of the first signs of spring is the smoke rising from Breakheart’s maple sugaring evaporators. Join us in March to learn how to identify maple trees in the winter, how to tap a tree, sap boiling techniques and a reward of some pancakes and syrup around a campfire when your work is done. 177 Forest Street, Saugus, MA 01906. 781-233-0834.

Natick Community Organic Farm
Locally produced organic foods from a working farm. Visit our farmstand, solar greenhouses, new education center, community gardens, barns, and livestock. Programs for youth and students. We are located on Eliot (Route 16) in South Natick.

The Tree of Life School
Fosters earth awareness, social skills, language arts and creativity.  Learners will develop their sense of place and their sense of wonder. Red Gate Farm is a non-profit, educational farm located at 4 Norman Road, Buckland. (413) 625-9503.

Science & Technology

EcoTarium (formerly New England Science Center)
A vital aspect of the EcoTarium’s mission is to foster appreciation of and learning about the New England environment. 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, (508) 929-2704

Museum of Science Boston
Visit the many ever-changing exhibits or take a course. Science Park, Boston, (617) 723-2500.

Tours

Boston Duck Tour
80-minute waterfront

Au pair weekend classes at Silver Bay are educational AND fun!

Looking for affordable classes to fulfill your educational requirement? Wanting to made new friends and learn new things? Eager to explore one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S. in one jam-packed, fun-filled weekend? The College of Saint Rose offers great weekend classes on the Silver Bay YMCA of the Adirondacks campus on Lake George, in Silver Bay, NY. The College of Saint Rose is an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution which means these class will count towards fulfillment of your educational component. Each weekend plus required papers and projects are worth the equivalent of three credit hours of class work (half of your required hours) For more information, click on the link “Silver Bay” under information about schools and Universities.

The cost of the course is $275 and includes the course, lodging, meals, some snacks and beverages. (It does not cover your transportation from your host parents home to and from the campus.) Each weekend plus required papers and projects are worth the equivalent of three credit hours of class work.

Classes at Silver Bay are varied and may include: The United States and the World, American Holidays; Cultural Differences, American Criminal Justice System, Creative Journaling, Digital Photography–Equipment and Techniques, American Literature for Kids, Native American Storytelling and many, many more!