Upcoming Events
Volunteer Saturdays
February 2nd - November 23rd, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: J.S. Bryant Learning & Wellness Campus
Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for the school? We’ll gather from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it! Stay for as little or as long as you like. We welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community.
Community Work Parties: Planting Our Apple Tree Orchard
Friday April 26th, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Saturday, April 27th, 9:30 AM - 3 PM
Rain Dates, May 10th & 11th
Location: J.S. Bryant Farming Campus
There are many physical tasks to be completed in preparation for opening our doors in 2025; this Spring we’re planting over 200 apple trees so that when our students arrive for their first months with us, they will have an orchard full of apples as part of their educational and culinary experience! We welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community work party. Join us for a day of connecting with the earth, with others in the community, and delicious snacks!
Please RSVP by clicking on the button
Community Fire
Saturday, May 11th, 7-9 PM, Rain Date, May 12th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: J.S. Bryant Farming Campus
We’re fond of building fires to gather around, and smores for everyone to enjoy, so we hope you’ll join us in this opportunity to sit together underneath the evening sky. We’ll offer the opportunity to tour and learn about the school before the fire starts. Then we’ll move into a space of reflection and sharing, storytelling and perhaps even song!
Please RSVP by clicking on the button
J.S. Bryant School Supports Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market
Saturday, May 18th, 9 AM - 5 PM
Location: Florence Civic Center, 90 Park Street, Florence
Meet us at this fledgling pop-up market centering LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and emerging artisans and makers exploring their craft. This market is rooted in the belief that there is always room for more spaces in the community to support the financial success of BIPOC, queer, and trans makers, artists, crafters, creators, and entrepreneurs.
Learn more at https://yet-another-queer-pop-up-market.mailchimpsites.com/
Opening Our Doors in 2025! Silent Auction & Community Conversation with Special Guest, Jesse Freidin & the Are You Ok Exhibit
Sunday, September 29th, 1 PM - 4 PM, Virtual & In-Person
Location: Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St., Northampton
Spend your Sunday afternoon with us celebrating the arrival of Spring, learning more about the school and our team, and bidding on beautiful offerings at our silent auction from the LGBTQ+ community and allies! Engage in thought-provoking, meaningful and joyful connection with us as we host photographer and author Jesse Freidin in conversation around his work with the Are You Ok? project, an archive of portraits and stories documenting trans and non-binary youth living in the United States with supportive families. Feast on delicious appetizers and beverages provided by local and regional businesses and bakers as you mingle with the community, celebrate LGBTQ+teens, and explore the Are You Okay exhibit.
Can’t join us in-person? That’s okay! Our silent auction will be available virtually 48 hrs before the event begins and throughout the event on Sunday!
Doors will open at 12:40 PM. The Community Conversation with Jesse Freidin and the J.S. Bryant School Team will begin at approximately 1 PM. Appetizers, drinks, viewing of the exhibit and bidding on the silent auction will fill the remainder of the afternoon.
A suggested donation of $10 - $10,000 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Please RSVP by clicking on the button
Past Events (2024)
Yin Yoga with Luke “Tt” King
Experience the FIRST class in our new-to-us Learning & Wellness Center! Take a brief virtual tour and learn a little about the school and our mission, and then take a long slow breath and join Luke (he/him) for his Yin Yoga class. This class serves as an introduction to Yin Yoga for the community. Yin is a unique yoga style that focuses on nourishing the joints and the fascia, making it a balancing practice for “Yang” exercises that focus on muscular development. Yin practitioners experience a range of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits from the practice, where the style asks us to enter a pose, find stillness and stay awhile.
A Zoom link and how to donate will be shared prior to the event. A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Saturday, February 17th, 10 - 11:45 AM EST
Location: Virtual
Community Conversation
Please join us for a virtual Community Conversation about the J. S. Bryant School. We'll share our vision for a therapeutic high school to support LGBTQ+ students struggling with anxiety and depression. We’ll talk about where we are in the process, answer your questions, and share what our next steps are to open the doors in 2025! We invite your ideas and your curiosity in shaping how a historic farm in the Berkshire Foothills becomes a learning community for wellness and creative activation.
A Zoom link will be shared prior to the event.
Monday, February 26th, 6:30 - 8 PM EST
Location: Virtual
Friends & Family Maple Tour & Tasting! With Two Mama’s Farm, Hilltown Land Trust and High Five Books
Join Two Mamas Farm, the Hilltown Land Trust, High Five Books and the J.S. Bryant School for a very special family-friendly tour of queer-run Two Mamas Farm, where you'll learn more about small-scale maple tapping and sugaring, their sustainable practices and their approach to land conservation. The tour will also include a tasting of the different grades of maple syrup from their sugarbush, a community potluck, and opportunities to connect around the fire!
The High Five Team will be available throughout the event in the barn with beanbags, books, and activities related to maple trees for all of the kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy! Join us in this beginner and family-friendly experience. LGBTQ+ community and allies invited.
A suggested donation of $0 - $50 is encouraged, with donations being shared between the Hilltown Land Trust and the J.S. Bryant School. Everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Read details about the event [pdf].
Saturday, March 16th, 11 AM - 1 PM
Bad Weather: Sun., Mar. 17th, 11 AM - 1 PM
Location: Two Mama’s Farm, 11 Porter Hill Road, Cummington
Seasonal Baking Class with Rori of Lemon Bakery
Do you LOVE baking?! Do you LOVE learning how to bake with in-season ingredients?! Well, you’re in luck! We’re partnering with Rori (they/them) of Lemon Bakery to explore what delicious savory treats you can bake in-season during this time of the year. We’ll give you an opportunity to learn more about the school throughout the process, and we’ll hold space for questions about baking and the school, as we wait for our treats to finish baking. Bakers at any and all levels are welcome!
A Zoom link and how to donate will be shared prior to the event. A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Monday, March 18th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
LGBTQ+ & Allies Trivia Night with Ivy of Skye Trivia in the Pioneer Valley
In this special edition of trivia, Ivy will share a wide range of trivia questions about the LGBTQ+ community, their allies, and the J.S. Bryant School and team. You’re guaranteed to laugh, to enjoy the company of those around you, to be humbled, to celebrate, and to learn. The perfect way to spend your evening whether you bring your family, your partner, or someone from your chosen family. Join us as we find our way through the last of the cold and gray days of March into the Spring!
A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation. RSVPs are required for this event.
Thursday, March 28th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, 130 Pine St., Florence, MA
Community Conversation Hosted by Zen Frog Cafe
Please join us at Zen Frog Cafe for a Community Conversation about the J. S. Bryant School. We'll share our vision for a therapeutic high school to support LGBTQ+ students struggling with anxiety and depression. We’ll talk about where we are in the process, answer your questions, and share what our next steps are to open the doors in 2025! We invite your ideas and your curiosity in shaping how a historic farm in the Berkshire Foothills becomes a learning community for wellness and creative activation.
Thursday, April 18th, 6 - 7:30 PM
Location: Zen Frog Cafe, 90 Maple St, Florence
Past Events (2023)
Yin Yoga with Luke “Tt” King
Experience the FIRST class in our new-to-us Learning & Wellness Center! Take a brief virtual tour and learn a little about the school and our mission, and then take a long slow breath and join Luke (he/him) for his Yin Yoga class. This class serves as an introduction to Yin Yoga for the community. Yin is a unique yoga style that focuses on nourishing the joints and the fascia, making it a balancing practice for “Yang” exercises that focus on muscular development. Yin practitioners experience a range of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits from the practice, where the style asks us to enter a pose, find stillness and stay awhile.
A Zoom link and how to donate will be shared prior to the event. A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Saturday, February 17th, 10 - 11:45 AM EST
Location: Virtual
Community Conversation
Please join us for a virtual Community Conversation about the J. S. Bryant School. We'll share our vision for a therapeutic high school to support LGBTQ+ students struggling with anxiety and depression. We’ll talk about where we are in the process, answer your questions, and share what our next steps are to open the doors in 2025! We invite your ideas and your curiosity in shaping how a historic farm in the Berkshire Foothills becomes a learning community for wellness and creative activation.
A Zoom link will be shared prior to the event.
Monday, February 26th, 6:30 - 8 PM EST
Location: Virtual
Friends & Family Maple Tour & Tasting! With Two Mama’s Farm, Hilltown Land Trust and High Five Books
Join Two Mamas Farm, the Hilltown Land Trust, High Five Books and the J.S. Bryant School for a very special family-friendly tour of queer-run Two Mamas Farm, where you'll learn more about small-scale maple tapping and sugaring, their sustainable practices and their approach to land conservation. The tour will also include a tasting of the different grades of maple syrup from their sugarbush, a community potluck, and opportunities to connect around the fire!
The High Five Team will be available throughout the event in the barn with beanbags, books, and activities related to maple trees for all of the kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy! Join us in this beginner and family-friendly experience. LGBTQ+ community and allies invited.
A suggested donation of $0 - $50 is encouraged, with donations being shared between the Hilltown Land Trust and the J.S. Bryant School. Everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Read details about the event [pdf].
Saturday, March 16th, 11 AM - 1 PM
Bad Weather: Sun., Mar. 17th, 11 AM - 1 PM
Location: Two Mama’s Farm, 11 Porter Hill Road, Cummington
Seasonal Baking Class with Rori of Lemon Bakery
Do you LOVE baking?! Do you LOVE learning how to bake with in-season ingredients?! Well, you’re in luck! We’re partnering with Rori (they/them) of Lemon Bakery to explore what delicious savory treats you can bake in-season during this time of the year. We’ll give you an opportunity to learn more about the school throughout the process, and we’ll hold space for questions about baking and the school, as we wait for our treats to finish baking. Bakers at any and all levels are welcome!
A Zoom link and how to donate will be shared prior to the event. A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation.
Monday, March 18th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
LGBTQ+ & Allies Trivia Night with Ivy of Skye Trivia in the Pioneer Valley
In this special edition of trivia, Ivy will share a wide range of trivia questions about the LGBTQ+ community, their allies, and the J.S. Bryant School and team. You’re guaranteed to laugh, to enjoy the company of those around you, to be humbled, to celebrate, and to learn. The perfect way to spend your evening whether you bring your family, your partner, or someone from your chosen family. Join us as we find our way through the last of the cold and gray days of March into the Spring!
A suggested donation of $10 - $50 helps us to open our doors in 2025; everyone is welcome regardless of donation. RSVPs are required for this event.
Thursday, March 28th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, 130 Pine St., Florence, MA
Community Conversation Hosted by Zen Frog Cafe
Please join us at Zen Frog Cafe for a Community Conversation about the J. S. Bryant School. We'll share our vision for a therapeutic high school to support LGBTQ+ students struggling with anxiety and depression. We’ll talk about where we are in the process, answer your questions, and share what our next steps are to open the doors in 2025! We invite your ideas and your curiosity in shaping how a historic farm in the Berkshire Foothills becomes a learning community for wellness and creative activation.
Thursday, April 18th, 6 - 7:30 PM
Location: Zen Frog Cafe, 90 Maple St, Florence