Science, Art Program Offered for School Break

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Participants make ice cream at a past school break program.
EGREMONT, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute and Greenagers will once again hold a science and art exploration program during the February school break for children aged 7 to 13 years. It runs Feb. 17 - 20 from 9 to 3:30 (with early drop-off at 8:30 a.m.), at the April Hill Education and Conservation Center in South Egremont.
 
Participants will engage in science investigations, art projects, engineering challenges, and nature explorations. During the last school break, youth explored material science by making phosphorescent (glow-in-the-dark) polymers and learned about sound by making oscilloscopes. Children also took part in an engineering challenge by using sticks, marshmallows and straws to design structures, and were then introduced to TinkerCad design software and 3D printers. They learned about sheep, visited a working sheep farm, observed wool and other fur samples under the microscope, and created felted wool projects. The program concluded with an outdoor walk, scavenger hunt, and showcase of creations.
 
The February break program will be located at April Hill, which serves as the headquarters for Greenagers, as well as a resource for community gatherings and education. The nearly 100-acre property has nature trails, vegetable gardens, orchards, pastures and hayfields, and abuts the Appalachian Trail. 
 
"Flying Cloud Institute is excited to partner with Greenagers this February break. We look forward to engaging youth with dynamic science and art activities to ignite their creativity," said Executive Director Maria Rundle.
 
The cost is $250 for the four-day program and financial aid is available. To register, visit flyingcloudinstitute.org or call 413-645-3058 with questions.
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Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames. 
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building. 
 
Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.
 
"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said. 
 
Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor. 
 
They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."
 
The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building. 
 
North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid. 
 
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