DCR's Free Family Programming in Western Massachusetts for February School Vacation Week

Print Story | Email Story

HOLYOKE, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is excited to announce its lineup of free, family-friendly programs in Western Massachusetts for the upcoming February school vacation week.

Running from Saturday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 25, families can enjoy 79 engaging programs at 20 state parks and watersheds in the western region. Activities include guided hikes, bird watching, animal tracking, crafting, and maple sugaring, all designed to encourage kids to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the state’s parks.

In addition to the special programs, DCR is waiving parking fees at participating parks throughout the region. Public skating hours at agency-managed rinks will be extended from 10 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. daily. The regular offerings, including self-guided hikes and visitor center exhibits, will also be available. For a complete list of staff-led and self-guided activities, visit DCR’s website.

Highlights of Western Massachusetts Programming Include:

Live Birds of Prey at Holyoke Range State Park, 1500 West St., Amherst
Saturday, February 15, 1 – 3 p.m.
Get a close-up look at owls, hawks, and other birds of prey with Tom Ricardi, a licensed rehabilitator and wildlife biologist. Learn about the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center, which cares for injured birds. This event is suitable for ages 7 and up. Meet at Notch Visitor Center. No dogs allowed. For more information, call 413-253-2883.

Winter Wonderland Activity Day at Mount Greylock State Reservation, 30 Rockwell Rd., Lanesborough
Sunday, February 16, 1 – 3 p.m.
This fun-filled program offers winter activities for families of all ages, including crafts, scavenger hunts, board games, and sledding (weather permitting). While the program is primarily self-guided, staff will be available to assist with activities. Children can bring their own sleds. Meet at the visitor center. Dogs are not allowed inside the visitor center. For more information, call 413-499-4262.

For a complete list of all programming available across Western Massachusetts during the February school vacation week, visit DCR’s website. Participants are encouraged to share their photos on social media with the hashtag #MassDCR.


Tags: DCR,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories