ANCA CONNECTS: Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, MA

Thursday, April 3 — 9am-4:30pm ET

Join us for a day of professional development and networking at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, Massachusetts.

This CONNECTS program offers you the opportunity to connect with peers while learning about the operations of nature centers, outdoor schools, and related organizations. You’ll also be able to explore the Hitchcock Center, seeing the organization's operations firsthand.

Participants will be able to choose from an assortment of Open Space discussions, sessions where all participants contribute to the conversation. These discussions are an excellent opportunity to share with your peers, learn new ideas, discuss trends in the profession, and work together to find solutions.

This program will also include:

• Tours of the sustainable features of the Hitchcock Center’s Living Building, the 23rd in the world
• Keynote presentation on “Are We a Nature Center?” by Hitchcock Center Executive Director, Billy Spitzer
• Tours of the Center, including structured outdoor play areas and gardens
• Walks to explore the Center’s outdoor classrooms and nature trails

This program is for any professional at a nature center, outdoor school, or related organization. We welcome both ANCA members and non-members along with professionals from outside New England to attend.

Registration

Registration includes the cost of a light breakfast, snack, and a boxed lunch. Registration fees are:

• $40 - ANCA Members and staff of ANCA Organization Members
• $60 - Non-Members

Register here

Registration closes March 27.

Schedule

Wednesday, April 2

2–5pm: Self-guided building/grounds tour. Check in at the Hitchcock Center upon arrival. 

5:30pm: Dutch treat dinner at El Comalito, 460 West St, Amherst  (1 mile from the Hitchcock Center)

Thursday, April 3

9– 9:30am: Check-in and coffee

9:30–10am: Welcome

• Billy Spitzer, Hitchcock Center Executive Director
• Naomi Heindel, ANCA Programs Committee Member
• Group Introductions 

10am–12pm: Explore and Learn

Pick two of the following 60-minute tours:

• Garden and trail tour – Our building is surrounded by landscapes that use native species planted in ways to promote biodiversity and indigenous ecosystems, structured outdoor play areas and gardens. And outdoor classrooms and nature trails. Explore our site, and learn how we designed these features and how we use them in our on-site programming.
• Sustainable design challenge – The Hitchcock Center uses sustainable design and engineering challenges in many of its programs to help students understand the role of nature based solutions to the challenges of climate change, learn collaboration and problem solving skills, and get excited and inspired about science and nature. Get some firsthand experience as you work in teams to develop ideas while meeting design criteria and working within constraints of materials, time and cost; test and compare solutions; discuss improvements; and see these concepts in action in our building. 
• Living Building tour – The Center’s net zero energy “Living Building” (23rd in the world) serves as a working model for a sustainable future. It harvests and recycles its own water, uses composting toilets, and was constructed with responsibly sourced, nontoxic materials. Our facilities are a physical manifestation of using nature’s design principles (i.e., biomimicry) to respond to climate change. They are designed to be regenerative, self-sufficient, and to create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them. Learn how we use the building as a teaching tool, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design.

12–1pm: Lunch & Networking

1–2pm: Keynote Presentation/Discussion: “Are We a Nature Center?” Billy Spitzer

2pm–4pm: Open Space Sessions 

4-4:30pm: Wrap-up and Closing

About Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Founded in 1962, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment's mission is to educate and inspire action for a healthy planet. Instead of simply teaching about climate change, the Hitchcock Center develops hopeful, creative problem-solvers who can take on the challenges of climate change by helping them reconnect to and learn from nature’s efficient systems, develop a problem-solving mindset, and share a positive vision for the future. We use our Living Building as a teaching tool, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design; we provide opportunities for people of all ages to develop a relationship with nature; we lead sustainable engineering and design challenges for youth; we teach communication, organization, and leadership skills to teens; we convene adults for discourse and civic engagement around climate change and sustainability; and we continue to broaden our reach to include communities disproportionately impacted by climate change. 

The Center’s net-zero energy “Living Building” (23rd in the world) was completed in 2016, and serves as a working model for a sustainable future. It harvests and recycles its own water, uses composting toilets, and was constructed with responsibly sourced, nontoxic materials. The site is surrounded by landscapes that use native species planted in ways to promote biodiversity and indigenous ecosystems. Our facilities are a physical manifestation of using nature’s design principles (i.e., biomimicry) to respond to climate change. They are designed to be regenerative, self-sufficient, and to create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them. The Hitchcock Center primarily serves the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, from Springfield to Greenfield, home to a population of nearly 700,000 in 8 small cities and 35 towns. US Census Bureau data indicates that more than 25% of Pioneer Valley residents have three or more social, economic and health risk factors (e.g., low income, single or zero caregiver household, crowding, linguistic isolation, lack of education, unemployment, and chronic health conditions).

Location

Address: 845 West St / Amherst, MA 01002

When You Arrive

• There is a Hitchcock Center sign and a black mailbox with yellow spots at the base of the driveway. 
• As you proceed up the driveway, bear right. 
• Park in any available space in the parking lot and follow signs to check in. There is accessible parking near the building.