Tanglewood, Norman Rockwell, Art, Music, Dance, and Grand Estates: Service in the Berkshires, Massachusetts

The Trip

Our week-long outing in the Berkshires will include 2-3 days of service work and 2-3 work-free days, sampling the natural beauty as well as the vibrant cultural life in the Berkshires. 

The Berkshires, in the mountains of Western Massachusetts, overflow with natural wonders and varied terrain and ecosystems. There are endless outdoor and water activities, scenic hiking trails and breath-taking vistas along rolling hills, lakes, rivers, marshes and forests. The Berkshires also boast of a vibrant and thriving cultural life. There are many, well renowned institutions such as Tanglewood, coined a “music lovers paradise” and the summer home of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most celebrated dancing centers in the nation, and the Shakespeare company. The Berkshires also abound with many famous art institutes including The Norman Rockwell Museum and the Clark Art Institute. Numerous grand estates and historic homes, dating back to the gilded age of America, call the Berkshires their home; fine examples are The Mount, the estate of the well-renowned author and humanitarian Edith Wharton, Naumkeag and Arrowhead, Herman Melville’s house. 

We will spend half the week doing service work with the Trustees of the Reservation, performing tasks such as trail work, invasive plant removal and possibly river clean-up. We will have the opportunity to visit the Trustees’ headquarters in Naumkeag, a renowned majestic estate, with elegant gardens, rare Berkshire “cottage” and breathtaking views of the Housatonic River Valley. 

Our free days will be devoted to outdoor activities such as scenic hiking, visiting a nature preserve and exploring Greylock mountain, the highest mountain in Massachusetts (3,491 feet), famous for its panoramic vistas and veteran war memorial tower. We will visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Mount - Edith Wharton’s estate, with its spectacular gardens and the Clark Art institute (all included in the trip’s fee). In the evenings we will sample varied cultural events, which, depending on availability of tickets and based on participants’ preferences, will include at least one lawn concert at Tanglewood, a dance performance at Jacob’s Pillow and a theater performance (all also included in the trip’s fee). Participants will be asked to pay out of pocket if they choose to go to additional cultural activities. 

The Project

Our service work will include clearing trails, invasive plants’ removal and possibly Housatonic river clean-up in the properties of the Trustees of the Reservation.

This is a Sunday to Saturday, seven-day/six-night trip. We will not work on days of arrival or departure, and will have 2-2 1/2 days off during the week. The 2-3 work days with the Trustees of the Reservation will generally be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a break for snacks as needed and bag lunches, provided by the camp. Specific trail and maintenance work will be assigned based on the needs of the Trustees of the Reservation. Following the workday, people will be free to explore the area or enjoy the camp’s varied sports facilities. Based on participant preferences, a few or all the evenings will be devoted to cultural activities such as concerts at Tanglewood, dance performances in Jacob’s pillow and a theater event. 

The leaders will do everything in their power to guarantee adherence to the itinerary but the agenda may change depending on the weather, the needs of the Trustees of Reservation and other unexpected matters beyond the leaders’ control. 

Day 1: Arrival, settle in cabins, tour of camp, dinner, introductions.

Day 2: Work with Trustees of Reservation, late afternoon tour of Naumkeag Estate.

Day 3: Work with Trustees of Reservation, midday lecture on conservation projects in area.

Day 4: Day off. AM: Scenic hike in Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. PM: Visit the Mount, Edith Wharton’s estate. 

Day 5: Half work day, half day off. AM: Work with the Trustees of Reservation, PM: Norman Rockwell Museum. 

Day 6: Day off. AM: Visit Mount Greylock. PM: Clark art Institute.

Day 7: Breakfast. Saying Goodbyes. Clean cabins. Departure. 

Getting There

The town of Lenox, where camp Mah-Kee-Nac is located, is approximately one hour away from Albany Airport, NY, approximately 1 ½ hours away from Bradley International Airport, Hartford, CT, approximately 2 hours away from Logan International Airport, Boston, MA and at least 3 hours away from New York City Airports (JFK, LGA, EWR). Participants may arrange for airport shuttles on their own (Bianco’s Limousine Service, Lenox, MA (413) 637-1224). 

Amtrak offers service to Pittsfield, (approximately 30 minute’s drive from Lenox), on the Lake Shore Limited, which runs between Boston and Chicago (800) USA-RAIL or 800 872-7245. 

There are also buses to Pittsfield Bus terminal, Mass. from major cities including Greyhound (800- 231-2222), Peter Pan (800 343-9999) and Bonanza (unable to find a phone number) bus lines. Driving instruction from the closest major cities will be provided prior to the trip.

Please avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in cabins in camp Mah-Kee-Nac, a lakeside sports camp, nestled on 80 acres of land in the picturesque town of Lenox. Each cabin, with electricity, has its own sinks and flushable toilets and is within minutes of modern, private, locker-room style shower cabins. We will eat most of our meals, cafeteria style, at the camp, taking packed lunches with us during outings. Most dietary needs will be catered to by the kitchen. There may be one lunch at an outside restaurant (included in the trip’s fee). 

While in camp, the young at heart among us can avail themselves of many of the state-of-the- art sport facilities including Olympic sized heated swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, ariel rope courses, zipline, adventure rock wall and baseball, football, lacrosse and soccer fields. Water activities such as swimming and kayaking will also be available. The camp is within walking distance of Tanglewood and of Kripalu center for Yoga and Health as well as hiking and biking trails in Bullards woods.

Trip Difficulty

Work projects will vary from light-duty to moderately strenuous, however, we ask that each participant will work at his or her own pace and endurance level. We expect to work 2 ½- 3 days (6.5- 7 hour days). There will be 2 to 2 ½ free days, at the beginning and at midweek.

Equipment and Clothing

The weather is usually hot in August. Bring casual, everyday clothing that you can layer on and off as necessary. Rain gear is essential since we will work in light rain. Poison ivy, mosquitoes and ticks are common so protective clothing is advisable. You may wish to bring one or two nice outfits for our evening activities (not a must by any means). A more detailed list of what to pack will be sent prior to the trip.

References

Conservation Issues:

• https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/climate-change-brings-ecological-economic-impacts-to-berkshires/article_d633cb6c-6f10-11ec-baba-ff44cc95ff94.html;
• https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/berkshires-western-massachusetts
• https://cleanwater.org/releases/groups-praise-new-bill-banning-toxic-pfas-massachusetts
• https://berkshireconservation.org
  

General Information:

• Donaldson, Stephen. The Berkshires.
• https://berkshires.org/

• Hyams, Gina. The Tanglewood Picnic: Music and Outdoor Feasts in the Berkshires
• https://www.bso.org/tanglewood/visit
•  https://btwberkshires.com/berkshires/history/
• https://www.jacobspillow.org
•  Shawn, Ted. How beautiful upon the mountain: A history of Jacob's Pillow

Conservation

Presently, Berkshire County is overseen by many conservation groups. Their goal is protecting the forest ecosystem of the Berkshire and Taconic Highlands of Western Massachusetts, home for wildlife, wetlands, streams, rivers and more. The conservation groups assist in providing advice to the local landowners, farmers. and communities relating to soil structure, land use, water and air quality, wildlife habitat protection, and environmental issues.

One of the major concerns is the effect of Climate Change. As per studies conducted, NorthEastern U.S. will experience higher degrees of warming. The wetter and warmer climate will result in heat waves, and storms that will affect the tourist industry and its revenues: less snow, less skiing, more ticks and pests, more flooding and worse summers. Even the Fall season will be less colorful. As the weather changes, so do the forests’ ecosystems.

Another concern is toxic PFAS (Per-and Polyfluorinated Substances: synthetic petrochemicals in products) that pollute the water, air and soil. Water systems in the area have tested above the maximum Contaminant level (MCL) of PFAS. The Massachusetts Sierra Club regards PFAS as a most toxic menace. An Act HD 3324 and SD 2053 is proposed to safeguard public health from this hazard. The Act will ban PFAS from many products, create a fund for drinking water improvement and demands from the DEP Department of Environmental Protection to limit businesses from emitting PFAS to ground and surface water.

Fortunately, Massachusetts is full of environmental organizations which keep a watchful eye for a better environmental future.