 Highfield Hall & Gardens to introduce the summer exhibition, Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies Highfield Hall’s latest Fairy House installation. On view July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020 (Falmouth, Massachusetts): Highfield Hall & Gardens is pleased to announce the exhibition Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies, fairy house creations made by artists, families, and young children. The house and gardens are open for exploration, so come discover different interpretations of Utopia found nestled along the paths, nooks, and crannies on the property. The Utopian theme for the 2020 Fairy House exhibition has taken on various meanings throughout history and seems especially pertinent now. The values of peace, simplicity, and nature that fairies embody can be a sign of hope in uncertain times. A Garden of Eden, Shangri-La, and Paradise are some popular depictions of Utopia from the past, all mysterious and sought after, much like the legend of fairies who may exist yet remain elusive. In Highfield’s latest installment, Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies, a number of returning artists contribute their visions of Utopia, with several newcomers joining them to fill the grounds and parts of the house with their testaments to nature, fairies, and an idealized take on life. The 19th century saw a surge of Utopian communities which sought harmony in an idealized separate society, where members lived and worked in unison with one another. Some Utopian societies were religious in nature, such as the Shakers, America’s longest-lived Utopian experiment. Others were motivated by economic, philosophical, or even artistic ideals. Communities such as Fruitlands in Harvard, Massachusetts subscribed to Transcendentalist philosophy, with emphasis on self-improvement and education. One enduring figure, William Morris, was a 19th century British artist, poet, novelist, and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris lived amongst a community of like-minded individuals in which the unification of nature, beauty, and work could counter the negative effects of widespread industrialization. Morris believed that art had the power to shape society. Right now, the idea of a perfect society feels distant, as dystopian themes dominate popular culture and media. A Utopian fairy house offers a much-needed glimpse into a life in which nature is its core, hopeful for a positive and humanitarian future. The exhibition runs from July 1 through September 30, 2020. Gallery Hours: Highfield Hall will follow safety protocols by restricting the number of people in the gallery at one time. Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Sunday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
About Highfield Hall & Gardens
The house is a rare surviving example of transitional Stick Style architecture, containing beautiful gardens located in the heart of Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is a unique combination of a historic house, expansive gardens and trails, and a vibrant cultural center. Built in 1878 as the summer home for Boston's Beebe family, the house sits on 5.5 pristine acres surrounded by nearly 400 acres of conservation land and public walking trails. Highfield Hall & Gardens is not your typical historic estate. It is an example of a historic building saved by grassroots community organizing. An effort of tenacity and vision that continues as new research on the structure and its story of the people who lived here add to the building's significance. It offers world-class music, international art exhibitions, culinary classes, family programs, and year-round special events. For more information, visit highfieldhallandgardens.org. Mission Highfield Hall & Gardens' mission is to honor the beauty and historic significance of the house and grounds by providing high-quality artistic, cultural, and educational programs for the enrichment of our community and visitors of all ages.
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This week Cape Kids Cast Explores a time honored tradition on Cape Cod of Whale Watching with Captain John Boats out of Plymouth & Provincetown. Find out more about why taking the kids on a whale watch is a huge hit for #CapeCodKids They may even fall asleep on the way home after #parentingwin Be sure to check out our Summer Edition sponsors, Sea Crest Beach Hotel in beautiful North Falmouth, one of the best places to go for family fun ALL day long! Leave us a LIKE, COMMENT or SHARE and let us know what you think of our summer edition series! For advertising information or to invite the cast to your event or family friendly business, email us at info@capecodmoms.com #whalewatch #summer #CapeCod #summervacation #family #shoplocal  Enroll in June Handwork Classes & Early Childhood Program
at Waldorf School of Cape Cod June Handwork Classes June 10th - 21st Sign up for one week or two weeks Grades 1 - 8 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Students will learn to knit, sew, or crochet a project of their choosing. Students who are new to handwork will learn the basics and how to get started. Limited Space (Fills up fast!) Sign Up Here Outdoor Play & Nature Crafts June 10th - 21st Sign up for one week or two weeks (2, 3, or 5 day) Ages 3 - 6 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Children will enjoy a variety of activities including outdoor play, exploring the woods, making nature inspired crafts, painting, gardening, and baking with our Early Childhood staff. Sign Up Here Cape Kids Cast Explores Spohr Gardens!
Have you ever been to one of Cape Cod's best kept secrets? Come and explore Spohr Gardens in Falmouth, a perfect place to take the family and enjoy nature! From interesting plants and trees to butterflies and bunnies, this tranquil garden has it all! Be sure to also check out some of our other reviews on the gardens too! Cape Kids Cast ~ Real Kids, Real Talk! Email us info@capecodmoms.com for advertising and interviewing inquiries In honor of Earth Day, the Cape Kids Cast wanted to share a few ideas for things kids can do to help celebrate the Earth and little acts to make the Earth a better place! "We only have ONE Earth!" What are some of the ways you celebrate the Earth or acts of kindness you do to make it better? Cape Kids Cast ~ Real Kids, Real Talk! Email us info@capecodmoms.com for advertising and interviewing inquiries.  Check out an Open House for Nature Preschool Explorers on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 10-11am! This is a FREE family event and no registration is required.
We are in our second year of connecting children to the wonder of the great outdoors! Mass Audubon Long Pasture's Nature Preschool Explorers is a supplemental drop-off enrichment program for 3-5 year olds. This nature-based program uses the sanctuary's habitats as our outdoor classroom. The 2019-20 program runs weekly from mid-September to mid-June for a total of 36 weeks. Parents and caregivers can choose from either Tuesday morning or Wednesday morning sessions. For more information please go to: Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary 345 Bone Hill Rd. Barnstable, MA 02637 508-362-7475 www.massaudubon.org/longpasture Come check out the Nature Preschool Explorers Program in action at their Expo Thursday, June 21! This is a free event for families of 3-5 year olds who have registered or are interested in their 3 hour drop-off program starting this fall - there are some spots still available in their Tuesday or Wednesday am sessions. Arrive at 10am to build imaginary animal homes in the forest and wear shoes so we can search for creatures on the tidal flats.   Open House for New Nature Preschool Explorers Program
Saturday, May 12 10:00-11:00 am Join Long Pasture's education staff to hear more about our new drop-off enrichment program for preschoolers! No registration is necessary to attend the Open House. Families welcome! We hope to see you there. About the Program Nature Preschool Explorers is a drop-off enrichment program for children ages 3-5 that begins this fall. We'll spend most of our time exploring the sanctuary's outdoor "classrooms"—including forests, tidal flats, ponds, and our new nature playground. Running from mid-September to mid-June, the program will meet once a week for 36 weeks. Parents can choose from one of three sessions offered—Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, or Wednesday afternoons. Read More Salt Pond Visitors Center Walk
By: Molly On Saturday after enjoying a quiet morning at the beach we decided to go to the Salt Pond Visitors Center. The Salt Pond Visitor Center is located at 50 Nauset Road, at the corner of Nauset Road and Route 6 in Eastham. Hours: daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Phone: (508) 255 - 3421. Inside the visitors center is a small theater that shows 5 different movies about the area and history, a gift shop, three small exhibits: one about piping plover, one a tide pool tank and the last about becoming a junior rangers with sea artifacts to touch, a large exhibit on Wampanoag culture and history where a partial wetu can be seen and of course maps and park rangers to answer questions. When we arrived at the large parking lot there was plenty of parking. We head right off on our walk with the promise of a movie at the visitors center afterwards. The walk started by walking by the amphitheater down to Buttonbush Trail. Buttonbush Trail is only a .25 m walk that has a rope and braille signs for the blind as well as multi-sensory activities along the way like catch something in a net that is chained to the boardwalk. On Buttonbush Trail my kids spotted a frog, huge green grasshopper and lots of red dragonflies. When we reached the top of the trail instead of heading back we continued on The Nauset Marsh Trail a 1.5 mile loop. Which allowed us to see more insects, plants, rodent holes, the remnants of farms and an old golf course (a roller can still be seen lying in the marsh) as well as Salt pond. The kids made the 1.5 mile walk with minimal complaining and enjoyed exploring and observing nature. Once back at the visitors center we discover the movies were not playing due to a projector issue. The kids took it well and enjoyed looking at the tide pool tank and looking at the books and stuffed animals in the gift shop. If you and your kids enjoy nature walks I highly recommend the Salt Pond Visitors Center and Nauset Marsh Trail! It is a great free activity. Have you been to Salt Pond? What nature trails do you enjoy? Molly Hubner Usborne Books & More Independent Educational Consultant I am always looking for people to join my Usborne team, host parties (Facebook or home), or just share these wonderful books! For more information visit my website or contact me at mollyhubner@gmail.com. Plus follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mollyhubnersusbornebooks/ Drumlin Farm Adventures By: Molly  I grew up going to Drumlin Farm and have many fond memories of the time spent there. Drumlin Farm is an Audubon Sanctuary located in Lincoln, MA that is a working farm. They are open everyday from 10am-5pm (March-October in colder months there are reduced hours). Admission is free for Audubon members otherwise it is $8 for Adults, $6 for Children (2-12) and $6 for Seniors (65+). I like getting there around 10:30 and allowing about 90 minutes to enjoy the farm then have a picnic lunch. Today my three year old son and I arrive a little before 10:30 and got a parking spot right by some of the small glacial boulders. So my billy goat of a son spends a few minutes climbing on them before we head to the farm entrance. My son enjoys climbing on the rocks and logs throughout the farm as much as he likes seeing the animals. The Farm is large and spread out so if your child(ren) are not good walkers I recommend bring a stroller (or borrowing one of the strollers Drumlin has to loan out). After entering the first animals you can see are the sheep and there are lots of them so usually you can even pat them if you want; every spring lots of baby lambs are born which is a fun time to visit. Once you get to the bottom of the hill there are four different directions you can go. If you need a snack or bathroom you can head to the left to the picnic area which also has a bathroom. Or head up Bird Hill to see the rescued Great Horned Owl, Pheasants, Turkey Vultures, American Kestrel, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl or my favorite the Fisher. Want to see the sheep barn or the three deer that were rescued as fawn many years ago head to the right. Otherwise head straight ahead to see the goats, pony, cows, pigs and bunnies in the lower farm. In the largest barn (the cow barn there are bathrooms too) you will find a bunch of cows, the pony and the Tack Room. The tack room is an interactive exhibit where kids can pretend to ride on horses on a real saddle, see what a milking station looks like and pretend they are milking a cow, brush a pony's tail, and horse around in the “horse around pen”. The pigs, goats, and chickens all have their own building spread across the lower end of the farm with the big barn being the furthest away. If your little one is getting tired remember to save some energy to climb the drumlin (a drumlin is a low oval mound or small hill, typically one of a group, consisting of compacted boulder clay molded by past glacial action ) and back to the main entrance! If after all that walking you need a treat head down 117 to Dairy Joy in Weston. As a kid we use to always hope after a trip to the farm the car would become magic and take us to Dairy Joy for soft serve. Since I have such great memories of these “magic” trips I decided to take my son after our farm trip. We got a medium cone of chocolate and vanilla twist which was pretty big for $4.70. My son thought it was great and was thrilled by the size. Dairy Joy also offers seafood, burgers, sandwiches, chicken tender, salads, fries and ice cream specialties incase you want more to eat. I do have to say the chicken tenders were pretty good last time I had them back in 2010.  Have you been to a farm or Audobon sanctuary this Spring; where and how
was it? Molly Hubner Usborne Books & More Independent Educational Consultant I am always looking for people to join my Usborne team, host parties (Facebook or home), or just share these wonderful books! For more information visit my website or contact me at mollyhubner@gmail.com. Plus follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mollyhubnersusbornebooks/ |
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