The Western MA Exchange
The online newsletter of the Western MA Chapter
Updated: 25-Nov-2023 | View Archive »
In This Issue
20 Years Ago ... ✧ Fresh Air Friday ✧ Happy Thanksgiving Friends! ✧ Happy Waterfall Wednesday! ✧ Virtual Screening of Two Important Films ✧ Create Your Own Natural Holiday Decorations ✧ Tuesday Hikers Climb Stratton ✧ Take a Hike! ✧ 2023-2024 Cosponsor Drive for MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda ✧ 2023 Most Valuable Leaders ✧ Westfield River Clean Up a Success! ✧ Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a Storywalk® ✧ November is Native American Heritage Month ✧ Peggy McLennan - Appie of the Year ✧ Happy November Friends! ✧ Third Annual Westfield River Clean-up ✧ Understanding Barriers: Bringing People to Conservation ✧ Noble View in Fall ✧ Mirror, Mirror on the Lake ✧ Western MA Annual Meeting20 Years Ago ...
[25‑Nov‑2023] From the Fall 2003 issue of the Berkshire Exchange, we bring you an article on trail safety from Cosmo Catalano, Jr., AT Chair. VIEW ARTICLE »

Fresh Air Friday
[24‑Nov‑2023] How about Fresh Air Friday instead of Black Friday? No crowds, no cost, no stress. Got a favorite place to hike after Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!
[23‑Nov‑2023] In this season of gratitude, and in honor of Native American Heritage Month, we would Iike to share this Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. VIEW ARTICLE »

Happy Waterfall Wednesday!
[22‑Nov‑2023] This beautiful waterfall with multiple cascades is on DCR property in Ashfield, MA.
Virtual Screening of Two Important Films
[22‑Nov‑2023] In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, you can join a virtual screening of two important films, Upstander Project's Bounty and Reciprocity Project Season One's Weckuwapok (The Approaching Dawn) on Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 PM.

Create Your Own Natural Holiday Decorations
[20‑Nov‑2023] The Holiday Decorations workshop will start with a meandering walk in the woods to find natural materials for wreaths and swags which we will create for holiday decorating.

Tuesday Hikers Climb Stratton
[18‑Nov‑2023] Wonderful hike with the Tuesday Hikers up Stratton Mountain to Richardson's Cabin on the New England Trail. Lots of views of Mt. Monadnock, Mt. Grace, and Mt. Wachusett to the east and Mt. Ascutney to the west.
ExCom Opportunities
Chapter Conservation Chair - Join us to collaborate with volunteers and staff to maintain a vibrant conservation presence in western Massachusetts!
Chapter Membership Chair - Share your love of the outdoors and inspire others!
Chapter Secretary - Contribute your communication and detail skills to help the AMC Western MA Chapter Executive Committee keep western MA programs running!SEE ALL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES »

Take a Hike!
[17‑Nov‑2023] Happy National Take a Hike Day! Come join us for a hike or choose your own adventure on your favorite trail. Don't forget to tag us! Happy hiking!
2023-2024 Cosponsor Drive for MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda
[15‑Nov‑2023] In honor of Native American Heritage month, please consider contacting your state representatives to support these five bills.

2023 Most Valuable Leaders
[10‑Nov‑2023] Kudos to all the Most Valuable Leaders (MVLs) of 2023 who were recognized at last week's Annual Business Meeting.

Westfield River Clean Up a Success!
[08‑Nov‑2023] Inspired by past Westfield Watershed Committee member Dianne, this annual event not only helps keep the river and its banks free of trash, it also creates a welcoming space for local residents to visit.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a Storywalk®
[06‑Nov‑2023] This month's Storywalk® at Noble View is "Keepunumuk: Weeachumun's Thanksgiving Story" by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry and Alexis Bunten.

November is Native American Heritage Month
[04‑Nov‑2023] Events and exhibits held throughout the country celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the people who are the original inhabitants, explorers, and settlers of the land now called the United States. Use our interactive map to find an event near you.

Peggy McLennan - Appie of the Year
[03‑Nov‑2023] Congratulations to Peggy McLennan, who was presented with the Appie of the Year award at the Chapter's 2023 Annual Business Meeting!
Upcoming Activities
Pittsfield State Forest - Shaker Mountain Loop - Shaker Mountain is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains located in the sprawling 11,000-acre Pittsfield forest. It is named after the nearby Hancock Shaker Village, a former Shaker religious colony and now a historic site.
Create Natural Decorations for the Holidays - This hands on workshop will start with a meandering woods walk to find natural materials for wreaths and swags which we will create for holiday decorating.
DAR State Forest - Chapel Falls/Moose Run - The DAR State Forest is a great place to hike and ski. We will do a lollipop hike, hiking up the Chapel Brook Trail to the Moose Run loop. This is a easy-moderate 6.6 mile hike with an elevation gain of 816 feet.SEE ALL UPCOMING ACTIVITIES »

Happy November Friends!
[01‑Nov‑2023] It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon." -Sarah Addison Allen
This perfectly describes the late fall foliage scenes in western Massachusetts right now.

Third Annual Westfield River Clean-up
[31‑Oct‑2023] Join fellow Westfield River Watershed Association volunteers in our third river cleanup collaboration on November 4, 2023. AMC ACTIVITIES »
Understanding Barriers: Bringing People to Conservation
Presented by: Allen Bird Club
[27‑Oct‑2023] On Monday, November 6, 2023 at 7 PM the Allen Bird Club of Springfield will host Understanding Barriers: Bringing People to Conservation. In this presentation, UMass Amherst PhD. Candidate Sebastian Moreno will share his relationship with nature and the barriers he faced growing up. VIEW ACTIVITY »

Noble View in Fall
[26‑Oct‑2023] Have you been to Noble View yet to check out the beautiful view and explore the miles of trails? This is a perfect time of year to go, with plenty of rich, foliage colors.

Mirror, Mirror on the Lake
[25‑Oct‑2023] Still plenty of color in the Pioneer Valley. How's the foliage in your neck of the woods?
Western MA Annual Meeting
[24‑Oct‑2023] Please join us! Our AMC Western MA Annual Business Meeting will be held virtually (online) on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. We'll share the year's accomplishments, vote on officers and committee chairs (AMC members only), and hear from AMC Headquarters about what's happening in the Club. AMC ACTIVITIES »
The Western MA Exchange
communications@amc-wma.org
editor: the communications chair ✧ typesetter: the chapter webmaster ✧ proofreader: the chapter chair ✧ contributors: our chapter members