Community & Family Programs
Join an Advisory Committee
The Advisory Membership Committees are volunteers who participate in the guidance and direction of volunteer efforts for the Center’s program areas or departments. These advisories lend perspective and insight to the department directors. Advisory volunteers support the staff and other volunteers in promoting the mission and purpose of Berkshire South, while encouraging programs and membership in the community. The advisories engage in fund raising related to special projects and programs. Advisory volunteers work with the BSRCC team to maximize successful outcomes while supporting the
Center’s mission, development, and growth. Committee members are expected to volunteer six hours per month on related projects.
If you are interested in joining an advisory please call:
Early Childhood - ext. 16
Youth and Teen - ext. 34/37
Wellness and Fitness - ext. 30
Membership - ext. 17
Aquatics - ext. 20
Volunteer
Volunteering to serve at a community supper, at special events and with our day-to-day operations is an invaluable way to contribute to the Center. We’re appreciative of any amount of time you can give. We have one-time, short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Please contact the Center at ext. 32 for more information.
Community Suppers
March 3, April 7
Dinner is ready! Join Berkshire South and the Southern Berkshire Community for supper the first Wednesday of every Month. This supper is a chance for us to share a meal with your neighbors while meeting new friends. Everyone is welcome for delicious food and great fellowship. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items at each supper to give to local food banks.
Please give if you are able. To reserve a seat, call 528-2810.
FREE Family Movie Afternoon
Saturday, April 17 2 - 4 p.m.
Come and spread out your favorite blanket or take a seat and enjoy a new release movie in the Jaffe Auditorium. Call to check on the movie playing at ext. 34.
Pre-register at our front desk, (413) 528-2810.
Concessions will be available in the lounge area.
2nd Annual Family Wellness Day
Saturday, March 13 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
A special day dedicated to healthy living for families! Learn how to stay fit, eat healthy, be active, and access some of the many resources available at Berkshire South and within the community specifically designed to improve your family’s well-being. Hands-on demonstrations and opportunities for adults and children to try new activities. Pack your bathing suit and running shoes and spend the day with us!
Free to everyone. No advance registration required. Suitable for all ages. Sponsored in part by Berkshire United Way.
EGG HUNT toddler to 6 years
Saturday April 3 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Help us to welcome Spring by bringing in a basket and hunting for eggs. Rain or Shine. For the safety of the children, please arrive on time to hunt in the appropriate age group.
Pre-registration is encouraged.
$5 per child, $2 for each additional sibling
Age 2 and under: 10 a.m.
Age 3 & 4 years: 10:30 a.m.
Age 5 & 6 years: 11a.m.
B.Y.O.B.–Bring Your Own Buddy Teen Fitness Program
Open to teens ages 14-18
Sign up with a Buddy or we’ll find you one! A free six month fitness program for teens. Buddy teams learn how easy it is to incorporate fitness into their lives with the purpose of adapting life long healthy habits. Buddy teams that fulfill program requirements during the six-month program will be eligible for a free one-year membership to Berkshire South! Buddies must fulfill a certain amount of hours per month, however are not required to work out together at all times. Program ongoing throughout the 2009-2010 school year; enrollment the first week of every month. Mandatory to attend introductory meeting.
Please call the Fitness Office 413-528-2810, ext.35 for more details.
Book Swap
Looking for a new book? Wondering what to do with the great book you just read? Exchange your old book with a new one you haven’t read at our book swap. The Berkshire South Book Swap is a book exchange program that sits in our lobby for all to share. Bring in old books or stop by to pick up something you haven’t read.
Free and open to all!
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Be a Big! The Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Berkshire County meet at Berkshire South every Tuesday throughout the school year. Join this volunteer program and have a powerful and positive impact on a local youth today!
For more information on becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister please contact Raymond Ross at 413-443-9471.
Community Access to the Arts
Community Access to the Arts, (CATA) is a non-profit arts organization that has provided over 1,000 visual and performing arts workshops for hundreds of individuals with physical and/or developmental disabilities.
Learn more about joining CATA members in collaborative performing arts classes at Berkshire South by calling CATA at 413-528-5485.
Court Mandated Community Service
Berkshire South offers community service opportunities for court appointed hours.
Please call for more details at 413-528-2810.
Weight Watchers
Meeting are Thursdays, 10 a.m.
Thinking about how you can lose weight in a healthful way for the long term? Attend a Weight Watchers meeting and get guidance and support from your peers who have become more healthy on the Weight Watchers system.
Stop by Berkshire South or call Weight Watchers at 1-800-651-6000 for more information.
Action Sports & Travel
Action Sports and Travel will provide scuba and snorkeling courses at Berkshire South. Registration for these courses is at Action Sports.
Call (413) 499-7205 or visit Action Sports & Travel online at www.astscuba.com.
Great Barrington Trails and Greenways
Let’s hike or snow shoe (depending on the weather)! For more information or to be included in email reminders about future women’s excursions, contact Christine Ward ch.wards@verizon.net.
For information about a variety of excursions and outdoor stewardship opportunities go to www.gbtrails.org.
Special Olympics
Berkshire South provides space for the Berkshire Red Raiders Aquatics Team to practice. Practices take place Mondays 6:30-7:30pm March 1-June 7.
To register, please contact Peggy Harner, Special Olympics Berkshire Area Coordinator 413-822-5458.
Berkshire Community College
We’ve teamed up with Berkshire Community College to offer swimming lessons for adults. Several levels are available in sessions of six weeks each.
Registration is through BCC. For further information or to register, please call 413-236-2122 or 413-236-2123.
CERTIFICATION COURSES
AMERICAN RED CROSS
CPR/AED & STANDARD FIRST AID
Learn valuable skills that could save a life. CPR classes include CPR/AED for adults, children, and infants. Join one of our regularly scheduled courses or call 528-2810 x20 to set up classes for groups of 5-10 with special group pricing.
101CM05A March 11, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CPR/AED
Childcare available for 3/11 upon request
Members $40 Guests $50 per course
Members $55 Guests $65 for both CPR & First Aid in the same month.
American Red Cross
Waterfront Lifeguard Training Course
15 years & up
April 19-23 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Learn to be an American Red Cross certified waterfront lifeguard and gain valuable employment skills during April break. Participants must have a strong freestyle and breaststroke. Successful completion will include certifications in waterfront lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. For each session bring swimsuit, towels, lunch, and water.
101CM01A Members $275 Guests $325
AMERICAN RED-CROSS
Babysitting Certification
11 years & up 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Teaches everything you need to know to be a great babysitter. Learn first aid and safety skills so you can
prevent and respond to emergencies. As a trained babysitter, you’ll gain confidence and valuable employment skills to impress parents. Pre-registration is required.
101TN81A Saturday, February 27
101TN81B Monday, April 19
Members $65/class Guests $85/Class
port from your peers who have become more healthy on the Weight Watchers system. Stop by Berkshire South or call Weight Watchers at 1-800-651-6000 for more information.
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Lectures
The NOAH Center at Berkshire South Coping with Serious Illness: Louise Maron, Ph.D.
Thursday, January 21 6:30-8 p.m.
Explore the concept of “Mind-Body Trauma” as it is associated with a diagnosis of serious physical illness. Gain a greater understanding of how psychological factors can affect the physical experience and vise versa to enhance your ability to accept and tolerate complex treatment procedures and to minimize the emotional stresses which can affect treatment choices and outcomes.
Members $10 Guests $15
101NH100
Food to Live for!
Simple Recipes That Could Save Your Life
Discussion, Demo and Tasting
Jane Sirignano
Tuesday, February 9 at Berkshire South 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, March 18 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are the top killers of men and women. Learn what you can do to reduce the risk factors and avoid being a statistic! This presentation discusses foods that will help in the prevention and survival of these diseases and how to improve the quality of your life. Simple recipes will be demonstrated and shared.
Members $12 Guests $17
Session A 101NH101 Tuesday, February 9
Session B 101NH102 Thursday, March 18
How Balanced is Your Life?
Izzy Lenihan
Thursday, February 25 6:30-8 p.m.
Lack of balance in your life can have adverse effects on health and well-being. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and disconnected with aspects of your life then this program is for you. In this hands-on workshop, you will identify where imbalances exist in your life and create a plan that feels achievable and sustainable.
A Balanced Life = Joy = Total Well Being
Members $10 Guests $15
101NH103
Natural Methods to Decrease the Pain of Osteoarthritis
Drs. Lawrence and Nancy Bronstein
Thursday, March 4 6:30-8 p.m.
Learn about alternative treatments that have proven effective in treating the pain of osteoarthritis including how diet can affect the level of inflammation present in your body and increase discomfort, home treatments, and natural anti-inflammatory products that can decrease pain without the potential side-effects of NSAID.
Members $10 Guests $15
101NH104
Natural Approaches for
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Heartburn,
Reflux and Food Sensitivities
Dr. Lawrence Bronstein
Thursday, April 15 6:30-8 p.m.
Discussion will focus on how chronic digestive problems develop and the steps you can take to break the cycle of pain and beginning the journey of knowing how to help yourself. The healing power of foods, probiotics, enzymes, and botanicals may be your first steps towards feeling better and achieving renewed heath.
Members $10 Guests $15
101NH105
Managing Food Allergies in Children
Deborah Phillips
Wednesday, February 24 6:30-8 p.m.
Saturday, April 10 10-11:30 a.m.
Many families are dealing with food sensitivities and often feel isolated and without resources. This presentation and discussion will focus on helping families understand the different kinds of food sensitivities, identify resources, and develop the tools needed to deal with this health challenge.
Members $10 Guests $15
Program location: Berkshire South
Session A 101NH106 February 24
Session B 101NH107 April 10
Workshops
Finding Ease in Your Body:
Using Energy Medicine for Pain Relief
Margaret Dondiego and Michelle Hemingway, MD
Thursdays, February 4, 11 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Practical self-help options for pain relief appropriate for on-going pain (Fibromyalgia, headaches, back pain, arthritis) as well as recovery from surgery or injuries. Learn about the physical, emotional and spiritual components of pain and practice a variety of self-help techniques that break the pain cycle including meditation, breathing exercises, visualization, relaxation, and movement.
Members $25 Guests $35
101NH108
Living Beyond Health Limitations:
The Mind/Body Connection
Meshell Bordeleau
Saturday, February 6 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Our thoughts shape our lives and our health. Identify how your body is affected by your thoughts and how you can use it to guide yourself in making positive, conscious choices. Affirmation Therapy techniques and easy Body/Mind visualizations will be explored and practiced to help you see where you can better prevent or cope with health issues.
Members $45 Guests $60
101NH109
Meditation Made Possible: Loving Kindness Meditation
Bhavani Lorraine Nelson
Monday, February 22 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The practice of offering blessings appears in many spiritual traditions. The Loving Kindness Meditation workshop provides instruction in and an experience of the meditation technique from the Buddhist tradition of giving blessings to one’s self, others, and all beings and is the perfect technique for our times. Open to all levels.
Members $25 Guests $35
101NH110
Better Posture for Improved Health: A Postural Makeover
Karen Rutschmann
Tuesday, March 9,16 1-3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 31 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Inefficient posture can be the cause of much pain and muscular dysfunction. This two-part workshop will explore what “good” posture is and how to attain it to improve overall health including how it can be an effective tool for managing pain, improving muscular balance, and overall appearance. Workshop includes a basic postural assessment as well as exercises, stretches and self massage techniques to improve each individual’s posture.
Members $25 Guests $35
Location: Berkshire South
Session A 101NH111 March 9, 16
Session B 101NH112 March 24, 31
Healing Through the Arts in Challenging Times: Dian Shucard
Saturday, March 20 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Location: Berkshire South
Are you in a time of transition, living with an illness or chronic condition, coping with loss, or feeling uncertain in this time of collective change of all of us? Experience the power of the arts to help you move ahead. Awaken your spirit with color, collage, music stories, and conversation. Art experience not necessary!
Members $45 Guests $60
plus $12 materials fee.
101NH113
Energizing Success: The Nurtured Heart Approach: Jeremy LeBlanc
Saturday, March 20 9 a.m.-1p.m.
Location: Berkshire South
This workshop is for parents, educators or anyone who works with challenging behaviors and wants to learn a new way to help them succeed. Based on “Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach,” by Howard Glasser, this methods empowers the child by rewarding them for positive behavior and acknowledging their moments of success. With attention to positives, we build self-esteem and personal confidence.
Members $25 Guests $35
Childcare for an additional fee of $3 per child
101NH114
Series Special Workshop – Free
Introducing The NIA Technique
Sunday, January 10 2-3:30 p.m.
Location: Berkshire South.
Join certified NIA instructor Peg Noonan for this special workshop that will help you find the joy, pleasure and freedom that dance can bring while providing insight into this unique approach to fitness. No experience necessary, just a willingness to try something new and fun!
101NH117
Dancing Through Life with Purpose: The NIA Technique
Peg Noonan
Tuesday, Jan 19 – Feb 23 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, March 9 – April 13 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Location: Berkshire South.
This wellness-based approach to fitness blends classic movement forms in an expressive lifestyle practice to become more joyful, expressive and alive in your body. NIA promotes weight loss and supports proper weight management, while increasing grace, flexibility and endurance through the integration of yoga, martial arts and dance. Every fitness level welcome.
Members $60 Guests $85
Session A 101NH115 Jan 19- Feb 23
Session B 101NH116 March 9-April 13
Kick Start Your Intentions
Fast Forward Your Imagination! CREATE
Harriette Joffe
Fridays, February 12, 19, 26, March 5 1-3 p.m.
This multi-media art experience uses paint, music and dance to encourage the flow of creativity. Gentle music, simple tai chi-inspired movements, and centered relaxation will open senses and prepare the space for creativity to flow. Mind and body will engage in a timeless journey through the spirit. The joy and excitement of self-expression encourages each person to move beyond limiting boundaries.
Members $60 Guests $85
Plus $20 materials fee.
101NH119
Meditation Made Possible: The Series Bhavani Lorraine Nelson
Monday, March 8 – April 12 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Meditation-the practice of being present moment by moment-has been practiced throughout the ages as way to know more about one’s self and the world. This series will explore several major meditation techniques from the yogic and Buddhists traditions to increase physical, emotional and mental relaxation and promote to clarity and focus. All levels welcome.
Members $70 Guests $90
101NH120
Stress Less and Heal Faster!
Use the Relaxation Response to Enhance Immune Function
Susan Spiegel Solovay
Wednesday, April 7, 14, 21 6:30-8 p.m.
Feeling anxious or overwhelmed, or are you dealing with an illness or health challenge? If so, learn to enhance your immune function by exploring the stress response, how it affects the immune system, and how to elicit the Relaxation Response in 5 simple steps. Practice easy-to-learn mind-body techniques for inner calmness, less negative mind chatter and explore deep relaxation techniques to enhance immune function.
Members $55 Guests $70
101NH121
Stress Masters and Energy Boosters:
24 Minutes a Day Exercises to Balance Off the Consequences of Stress Richard Ruth
Monday, April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17 6:30-8 p.m.
Participants in this interactive self-care health care series will learn, practice and master a collection of simple yet powerful, no sweat exercises based on ancient and modern traditional practices. Designed to de-stress, relax, rebalance, reduce physical and emotional pain and cultivate clear energy, they can be done at any time and place in less than 24 minutes a day.
Members $65 Guests $80
101NH118
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