Get Unplugged During April Vacation!

April 21 – 25, 2014

At Berkshire South Regional Community Center

Get Unplugged is a collaborative event created by Berkshire South Regional Community Center and the Berkshire Co-op Market offering a series of fun, educational and FREE programs for South County children during school vacation. Many thanks to all the businesses, organizations and individuals who support this effort with their time and talent!

Important Information for Parents / Caregivers:

♦ Participants are asked to arrive and depart within 15 minutes prior to and after attended programs. Day passes may be purchased if you would like to stay longer and have access to all our facilities.

♦ Please register your child or children in advance or upon arrival.  One registration serves for the whole week of programming. Register in advance by calling 413-528-2810 ext. 10.

♦ There will be a sign-up list for each program with a maximum capacity. Participation in these programs will be on a first come, first served basis.

♦ Children under the age of 13 must be supervised while at BSRCC. You will need to sign your child in and out at the program venue. You may stay with your child at the program or remain in the building where we can reach you if needed.

♦ Registering a child or children for Get Unplugged will entitle you to one free day pass (limit one per family) you can use for a workout or swim while your child attends a program, or come back another

♦ Several programs this year are off-site, at locations other than Berkshire South. See program descriptions for detailed information.

♦ Parents have the option of utilizing BSRCC’s Action Adventures Out of School, a fee based, EEC licensed after school and out of school program that will run from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday during the week of April break. Action Adventures counselors will transition children signed up for Get Unplugged activities. Children need to be pre-registered to attend Action Adventures. For more information contact Robin Manning at 413-528-2810 ext. 34 or see http://berkshiresouth.org/programs/out-of-school-youth/.

Monday, April 21:

• 10–11am [Grades K-4] The Underwater World. Join Action Sports & Travel to learn about marine life, the marine environment, and efforts to protect these natural wonders. Discover ways to enjoy the underwater world, including Scuba diving!
• 10:30am–12pm [Grades 5-8] Tasha Polizzi Recycles Through Design. Get a first-hand look at how  a clothing line is designed. Learn about color, themes and inspiration boards. Then create your own inspiration board, and incorporate existing fabrics into their designs. **This workshop will take place at Tasha Polizzi’s studio located above Barrington Outfitters at 287Main Street in Great Barrington. Parents / caretakers must provide transport to and from the studio and stay with their child throughout the workshop.**
• 11am–12pm [Grades 5-8] The Underwater World. [see program description above]
• 1–2pm [Grades K-8] Police Dogs Serve and Protect. Meet police officer Tim Ullrich and his K-9 partner, Jori. Learn how this amazing dog helps keep our community safe. Tim will be doing some safe and fun demonstrations with Jori to show kids just how smart dogs can be!
• 2–3pm [Grades 5-8] Humane Heroes. Berkshire Humane Society’s children’s program, Humane Heroes, teaches children about what it’s like for animals to live in a shelter and how kids can help these furry friends find new homes and safe their lives. There will be child-friendly dogs at this workshop say hello to and pet!
• 2–3:30pm [Grades 5-6] Basketball. Join Ira Kaplan for 90 minutes of hoops fun including stretching to warm up, drills to practice basic skills, followed by a fun half or full court game.
• 2–3:30pm [Grades 5-8] Tasha Polizzi Recycles Through Design. [see program description above]
• 3–4pm [Grades K-4] Humane Heroes. [see program description above]
• 3:30–5pm [Grades 7-8] Basketball. [see program description above]

Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day):

• 10:30am-12:30pm [Grades 5-8] Phenology Hike (For Kids). Phenology is the study of seasonal change  in nature. Join AmeriCorps volunteer Collin Adkins for a hike on the Threemile Hill Trail looking for signs of spring and learning about a new citizen science project monitoring seasonal change. ** This 1.6 mile (one way) hike starts at Berkshire South and ends at Fountain Pond State Park. Depending on how far they get, the group will either return by foot to the start or will be shuttled by van back to Berkshire South. A similar hike open to the general public will be offered the same day from 4-6pm, meeting at the Gazebo.**
• 11am–12pm [Grades K-4] Build a Bug or an Army of Ants. Grab some glue, glitter and googly eyes and create your own bugs out of everyday objects. Dress to get messy and have some fun! Presented by Project Native.
• 1–2pm [Grades 5-8] West African Fun Dance. Participants in this workshop with Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe will learn how to dance to a blend of Ghanaian hip-hop and other African dance rhythms. Everyone will be invited to join in!
• 1–2:30pm [Grades K-8] Bike Safety Clinic & Rodeo. Learn about bike safety and practice your skills at a bike rodeo led by the experts at Berkshire Bike and Board with Jason LaForest of the Great Barrington Police Department. *** Bring your own bike and helmets are required.***
• 2–3pm [Grades K-4] West African Fun Dance. [see program description above]
• 2–3pm [Grades 5-8] CrossFit Kids: 3,2,1…Go! Get ready to move with some cool fitness games that are not only fun but good for your body! Dress to get sweaty, bring a water bottle and please wear sneakers! **This workshop will take place at CrossFit Great Barrington, located next door to Berkshire South on Crissey Road.**
• 3–4pm [Grades 5-8] Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing. Learn about fly fishing and practice casting a fly rod with expert fisherman and guide Harry Desmond from Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing..
• 4–5pm [Grades 5-8] Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing. [see program description above]

Wednesday, April 23:

• 10am–4pm [Grades K-8] Sunshine Power Demonstration: Stu Besnoff of Alpine Solar Heat & Hot Water will demonstrate different ways our community can use less fossil fuels like oil and use solar power instead. Learn how the sun can help heat water and keep your house warm in the winter. Stu will offer a workshop on the same topic for grades 5-8 later in the day (see below).
• 10:30am–4:30pm [Grades K-8] Spring Break at Project Sprout! The Greenagers crew will lead a workshop at the Project Sprout Garden located at the Berkshire Hills Regional School District campus (Rt. 7 at Monument Valley Road). Participants will be doing a variety of fun and hands-on activities in order to get the garden ready for the upcoming growing season. Lunch will be provided: please list any allergies your child may have when signing up. Dress to get dirty and wear appropriate shoes as it may be muddy! **Transportation details are being worked out – check back for further information.**
• 10– 11am [Grades K-8] Boomerangs are Fun, Competitive and Beautiful! Meet John Anthony, boomerang enthusiast and world champion boomerang thrower. John will talk about the history of boomerangs, how they are used, and will give a demonstration on how a boomerang is thrown.
• 11am–12pm [Grades K-8] Boomerangs are Fun, Competitive and Beautiful! [see program description above]
• 11am–12:30pm [Grades K-4] Food Adventures: Food Adventures, a collaboration between the Berkshire Co-Op Market and The Nutrition Center, will be doing some hands-on cooking with local and seasonal ingredients. In this workshop, kids will learn how to make some healthy desserts complete with ice cream made with human power! Kids will prepare, cook and eat their recipe. **Please list any food allergies your child may have when signing up for this workshop.**
• 1–2:30pm [Grades 5-8] Food Adventures. [see program description above]
• 2:30–3:30pm [Grades 5-8] Sunshine Power Workshop. Stu Besnoff of Alpine Solar Heat & Hot Water will discuss different ways our community can use less fossil fuels like oil and use solar power instead. Learn how the sun can help heat water and keep your house warm in the winter. There will be a hands-on opportunity for children to see how this works.

Thursday, April 24:

• 9–10am [Grades K-4] Energy From The Sun! Join Sarah Hebert from the Center for EcoTechnology to learn all about solar energy - where it comes from, how it works, and how to take “Go Green” actions at home. There will be fun activities like a hand crank used to power different light bulbs, mini solar panels used to power fans and lights, and much more!
• 10–11am [Grades 5-8] Energy From The Sun! [see program description above]
• 10:15–11:15am [Grades K-4] Crossfit Kids: 3,2,1…Go! We will be playing some cool fitness games that are not only fun but good for your body! Dress to get sweaty, bring a water bottle and please wear sneakers! **This workshop will take place at CrossFit Great Barrington, located next door to Berkshire South on Crissey Road.**
• 1–2pm [Grades 5-8] West African Fusion Cuisine. Travel to Africa - in an hour! Learn how to cook a popular West African dish made with ingredients grown in our own community. **Please list any food allergies your child may have when signing up for this workshop.**
• 2:30–3:30pm [Grades K-4] West African Fusion Cuisine. [see program description above]
• 2–3:30pm [Grades 5-6] Basketball. Join Ira Kaplan for 90 minutes of hoops fun including stretching to warm up, drills to practice basic skills, followed by a half or full court game.
• 3:30–5pm [Grades 7-8] Basketball. [see program description above]

Friday, April 25 (Arbor Day):

• 9–10am [Grades K-8] Meet a Real Arborist! Start your Arbor Day off right! Friday is Arbor Day and we will begin the day with John Fields, owner of John Fields Tree Service. John will be bringing one of his tree trucks and talking to us about what an arborist is and how he helps the trees in our community.
• 10–11:30am [Grades 5-8] DIY Tree and Shrub Pruning for Kids. To celebrate Arbor Day, Tom Ingersoll of Tom Ingersoll Land Care will teach kids how to care for trees and shrubs at home. This will be a hands-on demonstration and participants will learn how to use the proper tools needed to do this. The workshop will conclude with a group planting of a new tree at Berkshire South!
• 11:45am–12:45pm [Grades 5-8] Hula Hooping For Kids. Learn about the basics of hula hooping with Brenna St. Pierre! Children will play creative games with the hoops and learn some new and fun tricks they can use this summer!
• 12:45–1:45pm [Grades K-8] Drumming with Berkshire Batteria. Learn how to drum with the hottest drumming band in town! Berkshire Batteria will lead a workshop on drumming techniques. The workshop will conclude with a brief performance open to all!
• 2–3pm [K-8] Concert with Rock Steady. Enjoy a rockin’ end to Get Unplugged week with the band Rock Steady. Rock Steady! has a great mix of tasty dance tunes: old school Rock 'n' Roll, Blues, Funk, Reggae, Ska, New Orleans. They are ready to play for a crowd that comes to dance!
• 3:15–5:15pm [Grades 5-8] Hike the Threemile Hill Trail. Encounter nature first-hand with guides Christine Ward of Great Barrington Trails & Greenways and Mike Leavitt of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council for an easy to moderate 1.6 mile hike on the Threemile Hill Trail from Berkshire South to Fountain Pond State Park, A shuttle will return participants to Berkshire South.

Kids will have the opportunity to get a Get Unplugged Passport to keep track of reduced TV hours and workshops they attend. On Friday, there will be a free concert and prizes will be awarded to those with the least amount of screen time!