Advanced Nature Photography
2026-04-25 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Parks & Recreation, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, April 25 – Advanced Nature Photography with Mark Lindhult
The classroom session will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by outdoor practical sessions at Lake Wallace (weather dependent), so come prepared to walk a short distance to Lake Wallace and spend some time outside!
ViewFinder workshops are open to anyone, you do not have to be a Belchertown resident. Seats are limited, and registration is required. Click here to sign up.
Instructor: Mark Lindhult
Mark’s passion in photography is capturing the beauty of nature and the unique behaviors of birds and wildlife in their environment. As a Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Principle Emeritus at The Berkshire Design Group and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, he brings his knowledge of landscape, ecology, design and composition to inform his photography and advocate for habitat preservation. His photographs have been exhibited at UMass Amherst in the Design Building Gallery, the US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters Gallery, Cooley Dickinson Hospital Gallery, Franklin Medical Center Gallery and the Baystate Medical Center Gallery. He has also granted permission to several non-profit groups to use his photographs in newsletters, reports, note cards and postcards, including the Friends of Quabbin, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance and the Kestrel Land Trust.. You can see his work on his website at www.MarkLindhult.com.

Knotweed Knockdown Work Day
2026-04-25 09:30 - 12:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
This April through October 2026, we’ll be working to clear the invasive Japanese knotweed as part of a project we’re calling: Knotweed Knockdown. Chemicals will not be used, so we’re recruiting volunteers to help with the physical removal of the plants. No gardening experience is necessary. There will be no digging or grubbing the roots, just repeated cutting. To join our team, please complete the registration form: https://forms.gle/BK36vn8cqFyPBEyV8. Volunteers will also be asked to complete a CORI check and sign a waiver.

Fiber Arts with the Woolies
2026-04-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-05-07 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-05-14 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-05-21 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-05-28 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-06-04 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-06-11 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-06-18 17:00 - 18:30 and 5 more dates | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Woolies are a local fiber arts group who meet weekly at the library to socialize and work on their various projects. Whether you’re interested in knitting, crocheting, felting, weaving, embroidery, needle point, sewing, or another fiber art, you’re welcome to join the fun.

Ukulele Play Along (Virtual Event)
2026-05-04 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual, MA
Strum along with the Ukulele Play Along on the first Monday every month!
Grab your ukulele and play along – because playing your ukulele is more fun when you do it with others. We’ll be focusing on 3 and 4 chord songs, with lyrics and chords provided on screen. Participants will be muted, so don’t worry about how you sound!
To join, email Julie Stepanek (julie@musicjulie.com) for the Zoom link and to receive the songs for the program. Don’t have a Ukulele? Don’t worry – you can borrow one from us!

An Introduction to Nature Photography for Children
2026-05-05 15:15 - 17:00, 2026-05-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Chestnut Hill Community School, 59 State St, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
There will be two ViewFinder photography workshops for children. These will be open to children 4 years old and above. Children up to the sixth grade must be accompanied and assisted by an adult. Maximum group size is 6 children. Click here to register.
Location: The School Garden in front of the Swift River Elementary School
Instructor: Holly is interested in the colors, forms, and patterns displayed throughout the diversity of life. She believes that photography allows us to look more thoughtfully and carefully at all of nature’s beauty, big and small. She volunteers with students at Swift River Elementary and in the Belchertown School Garden.

Plant Swap
2026-05-19 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-06-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Bring a plant (or not!) to the library and swap it for a new one. The program takes place on the library lawn. Monthly on the third Tuesday of the month from May to September.
This program is funded by the Belchertown & Around Plant Swap

Transform Your Yard to Support Pollinators: A 12 Step Program
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Many people now realize the importance of pollinators and other essential wildlife. They want to make their yard pollinator-friendly, but don’t know where to start. This talk will step you through the process of evaluation, planning, and implementation, with many options for large and small changes.

Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Meeting
2026-05-21 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-07-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
All are invited to the The Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Board Meeting in the Activity Room at 6:30pm. For information email friendsofclappmemoriallibrary@gmail.com
http://www.friendsofclapplibrary.org/
​The Friends of Clapp Memorial Library is a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising monies to assist the Library beyond the ordinary scope of the Library’s budget to reach its potential in our community. The group’s additional purpose is to promote and maintain close relationships between the Library and the people it serves, to increase public awareness of Library resources, and to encourage community participation in Library activities.

ViewFinder Submission Support
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-26 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-05-27 17:30 - 18:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Taking part in ViewFinder, Belchertown’s all-ages photo contest? Come by the library for assistance submitting your photos online:

Saturday, May 23, 10am-12pm
Tuesday, May 26, 5:30-6:30pm
Wednesday, May 27, 5:30-6:30pm

What is ViewFinder?
A juried, all-ages, photo contest will run from March 21 through May 30. Photographs must be taken in Belchertown. Contestants will be juried alongside their peers in youth and adult age groups, and between wildlife, landscape, and macro/close up categories.
Winning photos will be printed and exhibited at the library in July, with a reception on July 1st at 6PM to celebrate the winners. Winners will receive a certificate and 5 postcards with their photo, and can pick up and keep their photo after the exhibit.
