Amazing place for kids to go and be creative for camp. The owner is kind and helpful. My kids want…read moreto go back all of the time! A precious experience.

From the owner: Feather Press Studio is a two-story art and print studio. Aspiring artists of all ages can explore…read moretheir creativity in an intimate studio atmosphere that supports the joy of play and discovery through art-making. Daytime, after school, and evening classes for kids, teens and adults are offered throughout the year.

My daughter started going to this camp when she was 9 years old. She has had a tremendous…read moreexperience. She keeps in touch with a few other girls and visits them during the school year. She will be going for 6 weeks this summer and can't wait. Sue and her staff are amazing.

Great camp! My son went for the first time last summer and will be back this summer as well. This…read moretime he's coordinating to join a really sweet friend he met there last summer, who he has kept in touch with ever since. Camp Emerson is the most kid-centered place I've ever seen. The number and range of activities are amazing and there is great flexibility in allowing kids to try new things and adjust their schedules when they find what they love. As a result my son really stretched himself and had some amazing new experiences. The Camp's management of food allergies is unparalleled. My son felt safe and included the whole time and loved the food. The Director was so accessible and reassuring. All of my questions got answered and I felt totally comfortable while my son as there. We highly recommend this special place!

If the shire is open in 2020, this will be my fifth year at camp. To say that i love going is an…read moreunderstatement. it's the highlight of my year, and it has been for the past five years. to anyone who says that it's "unsafe", or that safety regulations are not met, that is just simply not true. camp is where i feel the safest, and i know i am not the only one who feels this way. shire village is so accepting of everyone, and it is the only place where some kids can be themselves. all people, no matter their background, are wholeheartedly accepted at this camp, and i've found that that is not that case at many other camps. the staff goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone feels accepted and loved. therefore, it is impossible to slip through the cracks at shire, everyone knows everyone else, and the activities are curated in order to give kids the chance to explore nature and their artistic abilities. this is in no way saying that the staff forces us to do any activities, everyone is able to find their desired hobby, as there are so many options every single day. going on, i have made some friendships that i am positive will last a lifetime, and if shire didn't give us the freedom that it does, i'm not sure if these bonds would be as strong. in a past review, the author wrote about the pool and the walk to the pool. they made it seem like the walk to the pool was a death sentence. it's a walk down a hill, and the staff makes sure that campers are safe. campers always walk down in groups of two or more, which eliminates the possibility of a camper getting "stranded" in the middle of the road with an injury. in addition, the staff in the office walkie-talkies the lifeguard that campers are walking down. there was a remark about the lifeguard. i have always felt safe in the pool and lake, even when i was learning how to swim. there was a remark about the lifeguard not giving his full attention to the campers. the said lifeguard was one of the most caring and responsible people that i have ever met, and the said female that he was said to be talking to was most likely the female lifeguard.... i'd want my lifeguards to have a good relationship, i'm not sure about you. finally, the author wrote that the pool fence could be jumped? no one has ever done that in all the five years of me going here nor the seven years of my friend. and if i may be frank, no one would want to walk down to the pool and jump the fence, it gets really cold at night and the bunks are nice and warm. in conclusion, shire village is an amazing camp and i highly recommend it. it is such a warm and loving place, i really hope that it is open this year.

My husband went to Shire Village in the 1970's, and my kids go there now. It is a warm,…read moreprogressive, horizon-expanding, truly life-changing place. I wouldn't send them anywhere else.

Our daughter has done this as a week-long day camp (at Bement Summer Camp) twice now. Each year was…read moresimilar but the daily activities changed. Regardless, she LOVES this program! Plenty to challenge older / more experienced kids, but also moving at a pace the younger crowd can keep up with. Last year, her favorites were kayaking and caving. This year, raft-building and caving. She starts each day excited for a new adventure, and comes home worn out and so full of stories. The guides have all been fantastic - knowledgeable about the trails, history, and environmental topics; good at setting expectations about the day's activities and rules; and great with kids of varying abilities. Caving may be the best thing about this program. Our family hikes & paddles regularly, but caving is best done with a guide who's done the cave before and can set expectations realistically. When our daughter comes back from the caving days, her clothes are wet and filthy, she tells stories about impossibly narrow and tight passages, and she grins the whole time. It's such a great experience and has really expanded her enjoyment of our outdoor adventures. My only request is that the guides would give parents a list of where they went, complete with recommended parking and recommended routes - so we can try these things too! Well, except the caving. I'd want a guide for that!

We brought my son's 6th Grade class here for an adventure and no one left disappointed. You could…read moresee quite a few of the class were tentative as they entered the cave but once they got inside all of there faces lit up as they began to explore. Our guides were Anna and Benjamin and both were great with the kids. They told us stories and taught us all some facts about how the caves were formed, what was down there, and how they would look in the future. We explored some of the larger areas of the cave and also some of the tighter passages. It was peaceful, challenging, meditative, and fun. It's also worth noting the care Anna and Benjamin took to make sure that everyone had a pleasurable and safe experience. They were supportive to push us to get a little outside of our comfort zones but were equally supportive and attentive if someone felt they had reached their limit. It's been two days and the class is still talking about the trip. I plan to get as many of the kids and parents together to do this again some time in the near future. I do not have enough words to express the gratitude I feel for this experience.

The Hitchcock Center is a place that offers education on here, the place we live. It's really nice…read moreand important to take a look around and learn about what you are looking at. The plants and animals in the area. Public schools should really do something like this. My son and I are taking a class and it's one of my favorite things he does after school.

Wonderful facility and staff! We had such a positive experience with their summer camp this year --…read moreour 8 year old joined them for two sessions and came home full of stories and excited for the next day. We loved how supportive the counselors all were and are could tell how much everyone cared about the kids and their program. Outdoor classrooms, variety of activities, animals and environmental education, combination of facilitated and open play, great communication, gender neutral facilities and all gender supportive community, easy drop off and pick up, sliding scale enrollment fees based on ability and scholarships available. It's tough to register, though, as spaces are swooped up VERY quickly, and this year they capped families at two weeks for the summer.

I started taking classes last winter at Show and was Instantly hooked! Their teachers are very…read morekind, dedicated, knowledgeable, and safe. The space itself is big, with several areas for different classes. All of the equipment is frequently inspected and maintained- when any tape gets worn on an apparatus they remove and repair it. The intro to aerials class gave me confidence on the trapeze, fabric, and Lyra. I've moved onto to level 2, and there are so many other advanced classes for me to chose from! Performances are always optional and there are classes for all ages.

If you see a one star or low review here around this time, let the buyer beware…read more Here are the things you should know from someone who has actually been to the studio: 1) SHOW is an amazing, respectful, and welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. They have extensive policy written up on inclusivity, diversity, and safety - all of which is available for anyone to read on their website at www.showcircusstudio.com. 2) Their teachers care about their students and are highly trained circus professionals. Many of them went through the professional track program at the New England Center for Circus Arts, are members of the professional circus organizations, and are active in furthering their circus education and training both on their own and through the studio. They go through monthly staff training as well as additional off-site trainings to constantly improve their skills and give a high quality, recreational circus education for students of all ages, body types, fitness levels, skill levels, races, economic backgrounds, etc. 3) Show is a recreational space. They don't expect you to do back flips when you walk in the door or even after your finish classes. You progress through a carefully planned out and studio standardized curriculum and are going at your own pace. This means you aren't forced through a leveling up system, but take a class until you're ready to move on to more advanced skills. In this way, your only competition is with yourself. 4) If other reviewers think the space is dirty and poorly organized, I recommend going in and checking out the space for yourself. Chris, the co-owner, does an amazing job of organizing the space along with Henry, the other co-owner. The lobby is GORGEOUS and the studio itself is perfect for recreational circus skills - vibrant colors, clean, and rigged to perfection for easy changes between classes. I'm very impressed. I highly recommend SHOW to anyone, especially to the LGBTQIA community - as SHOW and its staff are strong allies to the community. I wouldn't feel safe in a gym situation and I've never felt unsafe at SHOW. I cannot speak highly enough of them and my experiences with the studio.

This place is stunning, with its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant natural beauty captivating…read moreevery sense. Lush greenery stretches as far as the eye can see, interspersed with colorful wildflowers and sparkling water features that reflect the clear blue sky. The air is filled with the harmonious sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, creating a serene and immersive atmosphere. Each corner offers a new and enchanting view, making it a haven for nature lovers and a perfect escape from the bustle of everyday life. The water is breathtaking.

Very nice facility. Very peaceful and conducive to a retreat setting. Plenty of accommodations…read morewith a great dining hall and meeting rooms. The staff was exceptional and that moved it from 4* to 5. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. It is a little scary turning off paved roads but it is worth it. Very poor cell reception but free wifi is available. The poor cell reception is a good thing to break us from our electronic tethers though. I hope to stay here again or hold another function here.

My child took the swimming lessons a few time. She really enjoys it. The instructors are great and…read morecaring and really great with kids. Regarding the swimming facilities, they are generally great. Some downsides are: (1) middle school pool temperature is slightly lower than normal at least for the time we went (2) there is no private shower room at men's locker room. This is pretty awkward when my husband takes my daughter to swim lessons.

We love the small group sizes, it's less intimidating for our child and they get more one on one…read morewith the instructors. There are year round lessons so our child can keep practicing the skills they've acquired during the class and learn new ones. We've signed for more lessons and have recommended the class to friends and neighbors.

Great nature park in Easthampton Mass. Wonderful place to…read morePractice forest bathing and tree hugging. Birding, hiking, canoeing. Resident red tail hawk.

Peaceful and not a huge challenge to walk it for this less athletic. Water views and a look out…read moretower.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to talk me through how to provide the best help possible for…read morea painted turtle on a busy road- especially during such a busy bird feeding time. Mission accomplished and another life saved! I am grateful for all you do and the support you provide to the rest of us, too.

A beautiful little junco crashed into my door on the coldest day of the…read more year in 2023 and I had some hard decisions to make. Judith returned my call promptly, although she is typically very busy with squirrel and bird rehabbing, building a big aviary for recuping birds and various other projects. At one point she needed pillow cases and fleece to line them for transporting injured and orphaned wild rabbits. WIth all this going on, she still manages the administrative work in a timely. I can't enough for this organization!