Based on the ancient movement practice of Chi Kung, Balance in Nature is a one-hour opportunity to allow the focused and relaxing movements to strengthen your core, quiet your mind and help you ground so you can more easily absorb the beauty of nature. This class is taught by Kanta Lipsky.  Please meet at our Visitor Center and dress for the weather, this program is held outdoors.

Class sizes are limited. Check the website for cancellations. 

 Sign Up Here

Please join our friendly and knowledgeable docents on a tour of the grounds and plant collections. Learn about our founder Polly Hill, and visit some of the special locations

found throughout the our campus. Tours begin at the Visitor Center and typically take 45 minutes to an hour. We look forward to hosting you! No registration required.

Every other Tuesday from 10-11 am. Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, a Japanese practice of relaxation in nature, has been shown to improve immune response, mental performance, and creativity. Enjoy an easy, mindful walk through beautiful Arboretum trees in a special environment. Shanta Gabriel has worked in the field of alternative health for 40 years and has been leading groups in nature since 2012. Please meet at our Visitor Center and dress for the weather, this program is held outdoors.

Sign Up Here

Sponsored by the Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation.

Do you want to do something truly beneficial—for your family, your community, and the environment? It all starts with how you relate to your land. Join Perfect Earth Project’s Edwina von Gal for an inspiring and practical talk on ecological land care. She’ll explore what it means to work with your landscape rather than against it—eliminating toxic chemicals, reducing maintenance stress, and fostering resilience, biodiversity, and beauty. Learn how simple changes can create a healthier, more sustainable outdoor space that supports pollinators, wildlife, your pets, and you. After the talk, Edwina will be joined by local experts for an interactive Q&A and discussion. Bring your questions on topics like toxic-free lawn care, habitat creation, tick and pest management, and cost-saving alternatives to conventional landscaping.

Free. Space is limited, those who are pre-registered will be admitted first. Pre-register here.

Please join our friendly and knowledgeable docents on a tour of the grounds and plant collections. Learn about our founder Polly Hill, and visit some of the special locations

found throughout the our campus. Tours begin at the Visitor Center and typically take 45 minutes to an hour. We look forward to hosting you! No registration required.

Learn how to propagate herbaceous and softwood plants via summer cuttings with PHA Plant Propagator Brittany Clark. Participants

will be able to create their own cuttings and learn aftercare techniques. If time allows, the class will end with a tour of PHA’s greenhouse to

see the summer cuttings propagation equipment. All tools and materials will be provided.

Class back by popular demand! Class size is limited to 10.

$30 ($20 for PHA members).

Please pre-register.

Based on the ancient movement practice of Chi Kung, Balance in Nature is a one-hour opportunity to allow the focused and relaxing movements to strengthen your core, quiet your mind and help you ground so you can more easily absorb the beauty of nature. This class is taught by Kanta Lipsky.  Please meet at our Visitor Center and dress for the weather, this program is held outdoors.

Class sizes are limited. Check the website for cancellations. 

 Sign Up Here

Please join our friendly and knowledgeable docents on a tour of the grounds and plant collections. Learn about our founder Polly Hill, and visit some of the special locations

found throughout the our campus. Tours begin at the Visitor Center and typically take 45 minutes to an hour. We look forward to hosting you! No registration required.

Explore the wonders of nature through stories, songs, and hands-on activities at our magical nature-focused story time! Set amidst the beauty of the lush gardens, this outdoor gathering invites children and families to gather in the heart of The Polly Hill Arboretum. Little ones will be enchanted by tales of trees, animals, and the changing seasons. After the reading and songs, we’ll take a short stroll or play simple games, sparking curiosity and a love for the natural world. Don’t forget to dress for the outdoors and bring a sense of adventure! Ideal for children ages 0-5, but all are welcome. Please meet at the Far Barn.  

Presented in partnership with The West Tisbury Library

Free for everyone. Sign Up Here

West Tisbury and Tisbury were once part of the Wampanoag sachemship known as Takemmy in some sources. In this talk, we will examine the land and its history from the perspective of Takemmy. In the years prior to and following the arrival of English colonizers to the region, Noepe (Martha’s Vineyard) remained a target for settlement. With the ‘official’ arrival of English settlers, the middle of the island comes under assault from many of the same colonial mechanisms seen on the mainland. How does this history of settler colonialism connect to today, the environment, and our future? Come examine this question in a talk that segways between the past, present, and future.

Brad Lopes is an Aquinnah Wampanoag citizen and educator with a background in Secondary Education: Social Studies and museum interpretation. With seven years of experience in classroom, museum, and community settings, Brad endeavors to approach both education and our understanding of history from a decolonized, Wampanoag lens. Brad has experience working with teachers and organizations as a presenter, collaborator, colleague, and source of consultation. He also intersects his work with other aspects of the Wampanoag worldview, particular surrounding whales, highlighting how interrelated the world is in that process. Today, Brad serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Aquinnah Cultural Center and the Native American Teacher Retention Initiative Program Manager for the Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department.

$15 ($10 for PHA members). Please pre-register. Sign Up Here