Volunteer & Support Opportunities @ Concord

Center for Parents and Teachers

Community for Restorative Justice

Concord CAN (Climate Action Network)

Concord-Carlisle Community Chest

Concord Education Fund

Concord Family Network

Concord Garden Club

Concord Land Conservation Trust

Concord Museum

Concord Players

Concord Prison Outreach

Concord Public Library

Cooperative Elder Services

Council on Aging

Dignity in Asylum

Emerson Hospital Auxiliary

Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Gaining Ground

Household Goods

Minute Man ARC

The Nature Connection

OARS

Open Table 

Rotary Club of Concord

The Umbrella Arts

Town of Concord Board and Committees

Village Art Room

The Walden Woods Project

West Concord Green Thumbs

Youth Sports

Fitness Options @ Concord

Concord has a variety of fitness options, take a look at some of the offerings:

Beede Swim & Fitness

Belinda Gower Studio

Fitness Together

Gold’s Gym

On The Mat Yoga

Orange Theory Fitness

Pure Barre

Samantha Baker Yoga

The Thoreau Club

Yoga in Your Home

 

 

 

 

 

soccerball image

Youth Sports @ Concord

Concord has numerous options for youth sports, here are links to mant local sports programs:

CONCORD RECREATION

BASEBALL / SOFTBALL

BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

HOCKEY

 LACROSSE

SOCCER

SWIMMING

THOREAU CLUB TENNIS

WINTER FUTSAL

 

Music Opportunities @ Concord

Concord Conservatory (CCM) 

The Concord Conservatory of Music offers all the benefits of traditional music lessons from the convenience and safety of your home. Through simple, user-friendly technology, skilled CCM instructors come to you live via online music lessons.

No matter your age, or your interests, there’s something for you at CCM! Kids, Teens, Adults, Lifelong Learners

Learning music in a group setting can be motivating and fun for students of any age and any skill level. Choose the best learning environment for you:

  • Classes: Develop your music skills in a relaxed, collaborative setting with people like you
  • Ensembles: Join a performance-based group with others of a similar age or skill level. Choose from classical chamber music to rock or jazz and more.

Full details and schedules are online! Click here to register.

Instrumental Music School of Carlisle and Concord

We specialize in music lessons for students of all ages!

  • Winter/Spring 2021 lesson registration is open! Please click here for more. 
  • All our lessons will be online in the until further notice; we look forward to returning to in-person lessons when we can.
  • New group classes are starting up in in 2021! Click here to see a listing.

2020 marks IMSCC’s 40th anniversary! We are celebrating this special year by sharing faculty and student performances online with you throughout the fall. Click here to enjoy a new performance each week!

For four decades, the Instrumental Music School of Carlisle and Concord has brought the highest level of individual musical instruction to the students of Concord and Carlisle. Founded in 1980 by the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District to serve the musical needs in our communities, our distinguished faculty of professional musicians and educators provide instruction for close to 400 student musicians. Located in the towns of Concord and Carlisle, Massachusetts, classes are given at a variety of locations throughout the schools.

Whether students are beginning a new instrument or honing skills developed through many years of practice, IMSCC is dedicated to helping young musicians excel. Our teachers work one on one with students to help them develop basic skills, learn repertoire, and prepare for performances. With close ties to school music departments, IMSCC teachers are well equipped to help students prepare for ensemble playing, both in school and beyond. IMSCC graduates have gone on to conservatory programs and professional careers in music.

IMSCC is part of Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education, in association with the Concord and Carlisle school music departments. We are a self-funded non-profit program.

 

Art Opportinities @ Concord

UMBRELLA ARTS

Adult, Teen, Youth, Mulitgenerational, free @ Home Activities

Until we are able to safely resume in-person arts education classes and workshops, most of our programming will be offered through The Umbrella @ Home, where we intend to offer the best possible online arts education experiences that you have come to expect.  We will be adding online arts instruction opportunities, as well as free at-home DIY creative activities and artists demos on a rolling basis, so please check back frequently or subscribe to our newsletter.

Additionally, we are now offering curbside clay purchasing and firing through The Umbrella! For more information on our curbside clay policies, go to our Ceramics @Home page!

More Information About Online Arts Education with The Umbrella @ Home

  • We have invested in setting up Google Classroom for The Umbrella.  With few exceptions, like Zoom, most art experiences will be set up in and conducted through Google Classroom.
  • We have detailed step-by-step instructions available for the initial set up to help anyone access the art education experiences.
  • We are anticipating running 2-month online semesters with classes running no more than 6 weeks.  See projected schedule below.
  • We are offering a wide variety of classes that meet regularly, workshops that meet once or twice, and art activities that can be downloaded and viewed on demand.
  • We are working to make the online art experience at The Umbrella of the highest possible quality, secure, easy, affordable and a great way to connect with the community of other artists.
  • We are working with some of your favorite teachers including: Mike Roche, Elizabeth Noonan, Becky Bearse, Renu Goyal, Lois Andersen, Kat O’Connor, Gillian Fraiser, Joy Buell, Alex Salzberg, Janet Scudder, Sarah Scoville, Alicia Herman, CC King, Sarah Bettencourt, and more.
  • For more information, check out The Umbrella @Home’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

Projected Schedule of Online Arts Education 2020-2021

  • Winter 2021 Session: January/February – Registration opens early Dec
  • Spring 2021 Session I: March/April – Registration opens early Feb
  • Spring 2021 Session II: May/June – Registration opens early April

Arts & Environment Classes

Classes will be held virtually using Zoom and Google Classroom depending on the teacher’s preference. Some classes will include 1 or 2 field trips to local Concord-area conservation land, where students will practice the skills they learn virtually. During these field trips, everyone will be required to wear a mask and appropriately social distance. Any questions about social distancing protocol can send inquiries to Caroline Provost at caroline@theumbrellaarts.org.

Concord Art ONLINE CLASSES

To learn more about how to use ZOOM go HERE

Sampling of some online classes on the schedule:

  • Approaches to the Figure
  • A New Year, A Bolder Brush
  • Ring in the New Year with Pastels: Learn to Paint Fearlessly
  • Explore Contemporary Art
  • Real Basics and Hands On Color Theory
  • Beginner ot Intermediate Drawing from Observation

Village Art Room Offerings

As we are not able to have groups at the Art Room at this time, and as the pandemic continues and cold weather sets in, we, the staff, volunteers and sponsoring businesses of Art for All, are focusing our efforts on 1) getting art supplies and activities to people in our community who are largely confined to their homes and who have few resources to engage in creative projects and venues, and 2) developing participatory, community art projects that can be seen in the windows of the stores in West Concord Village.

Find out more here about what we are doing now, and how you can participate.

Order ahead online and we will have a bag for you to pick up on the porch of You can pick up on the porch of 21 Winthrop Street. Arrange for a time to pick up using the email on the form.

Tap into your inner phoenix in 2021! Together we will rise from the ashes of an incredibly challenging year. With creative projects! Download an outline of the Phoenix to color in your own for free!

Or to come by the Art Room to pick up a Coloring Kit. Each kit has 2 coloring sheets for the Phoenix as well as a set of 4 coloring cards and a set of 12 crayons for $12, or 2 sheets, 4 coloring cards and a set of 36 colored pencils for $15. Proceeds from sales helps us bring this project to individuals and families who are financially challenged. SIGN UP HERE for a pick up time, or contact margie@villageartroom.com to arrange a time.

Making and sending greeting cards is a wonderful way to stay creative and connected during this sequestered, pandemic winter.

Make Valentines for ART for ALL’s LOVE for ALL sale in February. Original, handmade cards will be on sale at several of our local retailers in West Concord. Proceeds of sales support the ART for ALL program.

Concord-Carlisle High School Chorus Presents: You Raise Me Up

Concord-Carlisle High School Chorus Presents: You Raise Me Up

Watch the Video

This video is the product of months of work by a dedicated production team and the students in Chorus.  The students were not singing when this was videotaped, they were lip-synching.  The audio was done separately.  Owen Curtin, of Colonial Sound, synched over 60 individual tracks (each student made their own at home) and blended them into magic.  It was directed by the parent of 2 Chorus kids (and 1 Chorus alum), Joseph Maar, who just happens to be an Emmy winning director.  Isabelle Germino of Minuteman Media Network was our cinematographer and senior editor.  We are so proud of this video and we hope you enjoy it!

-Deb Smith, Director of Choirs

Broadcasting on 

Minuteman Media Network all through Holiday Break!

Tune in December 22-January 5

at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm!

Watch on Concord and Carlisle Comcast channels 8 and 99 

or online at https://www.minuteman.media/2407/Public 

 

View on YouTube starting December 22:

Minuteman Media Network

 

 

 

 

Open Table Family-to-Family Food Drive is a big success!

 

Open Table sent out update on the Family-to-Family Food Drive:

Holiday Drive a Huge Success

 

We all know the holidays can be difficult when money is tight, and this year even more so. People are out of work, families unable to gather. So our Family-to-Family Holiday project was particularly timely. More than 330 families and organizations filled holiday bags for guest families, putting cozy items like hats, gloves and plush throws with family fun night items and baking supplies, in addition to other groceries. Many items are things that don’t usually go in our grocery bags, but that make the holidays so much sweeter.

 

We never expected to get enough donor families to fill bags for every single household we serve, but you all came through, in a big way. Connecting donor families to guest families is a reminder to our guests that their community cares about them. And that’s an important message for them to hear anytime, and especially around the holidays.

 

The bags will be distributed over the next two weeks.

 

 

 

Open Table did a phenomenal job with this Family-to-Family Food Drive, using a creative list of 12 Days to Give. Over 330 families & organizations enjoyed gathering their items throughout the 12 day period then delivering to the Maynard and Crosby’s location earlier this week.

 

Here are some photos…

 

Winter Market Goes to Town!

 

Each year, The Umbrella Arts Center comes alive with festive holiday energy during Winter Market, which brings thousands of visitors to Concord during the first weekend of December. But for this extraordinary 2020 season, we’ve reimagined it as an opportunity to safely connect artisans, retail and hospitality businesses with holiday celebrants.

 

Instead of hosting a market at 40 Stow Street, “Winter Market Goes to Town” connects area businesses hosting Umbrella Artists to enliven four Concord retail districts with art. Downtown, the DepotNine Acre Corner, and West Concord will become a moveable festival of holiday arts, attracting shoppers and tourists from throughout the region — not just for a weekend, but throughout an extended holiday retail season!

 

Be sure to check out all of those on list (addresses list below) and see a glimpse of a few here:

 

Barbara Willis’ scarves and Lonnie Harvey’s monoprints panels are on display at Sarah Campbell in Concord Center (Photo courtesy Lonnie Harvey):

 

 

Lois Andersen’s Concord paintings are on display at Graem Nuts & Chocolate, “Winter Market Goes to Town”:

 

 

Head to Comina and you’ll see Carole Parrish’s work:

 

 

What a wonderful opportunity for our community to see & support the work of these gifted artists while also shopping local this holiday season to support our local shops.

 

 

Albright Gallery
32 Main Street, Concord, MA
Wayne Geehan
Ilse Plume

Artinian Jewelry
39 Main Street, Concord, MA
Jean Lightman

Colonial Inn
48 Monument Square, Concord, MA
Denise Kracz

Comina
9 Walden Street, Concord, MA
Carole Parrish

Concord Cheese Shop
29 Walden Street, Concord, MA
Sarah Paino

Concord Teacakes
59 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA
Deb Loverd

Debra’s Natural Gourmet
98 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA
Deb Richardson

Dunkin Donuts West Concord
1191 Main Street, West Concord, MA
Linda Grom

Frame-ables
111 Thoreau Street, Concord, MA
Max Payne
Hilary Taylor

Graëm Roasters
49 Main Street, Concord, MA
Lois Andersen

Joy Street
49 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA
Julie Hagan

Lucy Lacoste Gallery
25 Main Street, Concord, MA
Suzanne Hill

Patina Green
59 Main Street, Concord, MA
Pierre Chiha

Sara Campbell
41 Main Street, Concord, MA
Barbara Willis
Lonnie Harvey

The Concord Museum
53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA
Paul Ruhlmann
Margaret Savage

Trail’s End
97 Lowell Road, Concord, MA
Louise Arnold
Anne Denna
Cynthia Katz

Verrill Farm
11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA
Jill Goldman-Callahan
Carol Krauss

Winter Solstice Celebration

Many Celebrations this Winter Solstice

 

Flickering firelight illuminates small hands gluing, weaving, and cutting. Are these elves in the North Pole? Nope, these are the kids and families participating in this year’s Winter Solstice Celebration!

 

You may recall last year’s blow-out Solstice at the Old Manse. Families, friends, and strangers who became friends gathered around the fire pit singing carols like “Deck the Hall” and “O Tannenbaum.”  Voices of the Earth, the Arts & Environment chorus, lit hundreds of candles handed out to the crowd. Everyone heartily drank warm cider and roasted marshmallows on the fire. This year, you can guess, is slightly different. We won’t be at the Old Manse. But we still plan to celebrate the Solstice! Instead of gathering in one spot on one day, we’re celebrating over many days.

 

Ninjas in Nature is hosting a Winter Ninja Festival to enjoy the freedom of running around outside and the satisfaction of building your own fire.

 

 

In our winter self-care workshop, gather what brings you warmth and joy during dark months and create reflective collage art before hibernating at home.

 

Finally, families can craft their own solstice ornaments at Concord Market. Glue, cut, and weave lily stem stars. Twist and tie fabric evergreen trees. Wrap cranberry wreaths to hang on the tree. Don’t forget to visit Concord Market and pick up some hot cocoa or cider to enjoy!

 

Join us around the community fire this Solstice for all these outdoor, winter workshops. To learn more about and sign up for our collection of Winter Solstice activities, visit the Arts & Environment class page. Who knows how you’ll light up this Winter Solstice!

 

Saltbox Farm & Saltbox Kitchen – a multilayer gem right here in Concord!

SaltBox Kitchen and Farm is a true gem of Concord. It’s like one of those gifts you open and continue to find one gift wrapped inside the next…

 

That’s what we found when we went behind the scenes and learned a little more about Ben Elliott, Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen.  Each layer of the story Ben peeled back for us just highlighted more delight and inspiration.  The original story for Saltbox Farm is only the beginning.  From that foundation that has brought so much joy and culinary delight to us, sprung many astonishing chapters.

 

 

Ben Elliott, owner of Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen is a Concord native. Saltbox Farm got it’s name for the saltbox style of the main house on the farm that was built n the 1940s by Ben’s grandparents, Edward and Emilie Thomas. Ben, his wife, their children and adorable Golden Retriever now live at Saltbox Farm and have since 2004. Ben was working in a Boston restaurant as a professional chef but in 2010 decided to shift his attention to restoring and running the farm he loved so much as a child.

 

We were given a tour of the Saltbox Farm and Saltbox Kitchen, take a peak with our Behind the Scenes video

 

We love the Saltbox Team description & mission:

 

We are a passionate group of farmers, chefs, brewers, servers, and event planners, who share a dedication to honoring the land, sourcing locally and eating seasonally, and creating incredible dining experiences. From our cozy, neighborhood restaurant with its microbrewery to our cooking school and our catering company, all that we are is rooted in Saltbox Farm and its traditions of sustainable agricultural practices and seasonal cooking. We invite you to learn more about Saltbox.

 

  

 

Check out the story of how it started and how things evolved over the years on their website – here is a snippet:

 

That first spring when Ben made the transition from full time chef to full time farmer he  spent all his time outdoors, mending fences, building a chicken coop and filling it with chicks, creating a small orchard filled with apple, peach, and pear trees, and planting raspberry bushes. A close friend of the family who happened to be a “real” farmer came over to help Ben and till 1.5 acres of land. Ben ordered seeds and soon had an acre of vegetables – a lot of veggies for a small family!- so he joined a farmer’s market and began selling his produce to local restaurants. 

 

From that point, Ben was on his way to realizing his dream and building Saltbox into what it is today. He returned to cooking professionally- at Saltbox- working as a private chef and catering local events before eventually establishing Saltbox Catering. In 2015 Ben opened Saltbox Kitchen, a restaurant and microbrewery, in West Concord, as well as a cooking school at The Little House located here at the farm and began hosting events in the Little Fields overlooking the orchards.

 

During this time, the farm continued to grow and strengthen, producing fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey, lamb, and hops for the restaurant, the brewery, catering, the cooking school, and the seasonal farm stand. The farm has continued its mission, not only to follow sustainable agricultural practices, but to also be a connector in the community, an educational resource via it’s Apprenticeship Program, and the foundation for all that Saltbox’s chefs, brewers, and teachers create and share each season. 

 

 

When the pandemic hit, Saltbox Kitchen had to close for several months and most of their catering engagements came to a halt.  Ben & his team had to figure out how to pivot & shift their attention to other opportunities and safe ways to bring their delicious offerings to the community.

 

There were all the logistical brain twisters of how to create a Covid-compliant shopping experience.  Everything from plexi-glass shields, to traffic flow, to occupancy limits, to how to accept payments all had to be reconsidered and reconfigured.

 

   

 

They rearranged the store to allow customers to move through while practicing safe social distancing. The gourmet grab & go selection is incredible and hard to narrow it down to picking just one meal. The SBK (SaltBox Kitchen)  Team has been busy preparing and cooking up scrumptious  prepackaged meals,  expanded it’s offerings and now offering delivery is an option, too.

 

 

 

Did you know their Saltbox Kitchen Brewery is Concord’s only craft brewery? Their beer offerings change each season and feature hops and flavorings that are organically-grown right here in Concord on Saltbox Farm. Beer can be pre-ordered and delivered in and around Concord.

 

   

Some other new additions are Cocktail  kits (try the grape, lemon juice  & vodka – made with their own grapes!) & wine to go. They recently just added delivery to offerings surrounding towns so tell your friends in neighboring towns. The assortment of specialty packaged foods has expanded as well  – be sure to pop by the shop to take a look at the selection.

 

 

A small farm stand shop is located in the shop now, too. In the summer and fall, you would have seen a table piled high with a colorful gorgeous selection of fresh vegetables from Salt Box Farm which is just a few miles away from the shop.

 

  

 

We know one of the greatest joys of this holiday season is exploring our local treasures to find the perfect gift for loved ones and dearest friends. While the current climate is not conducive to such leisurely exploits, happily for us,   SaltBox Kitchen has you covered. This beloved local favorite has a bevvy of options for all kinds of gift giving. Choose one of their lovingly curated theme gift baskets or place an order for a luscious handcrafted meal (available for pick-up or delivery). For those who miss the pleasure of in-person shopping, this beautiful light & airy space, filled with the most wonderful treats (adhering to the most recent stringent health guidelines)  gives plenty of space to peruse all their wonderful offerings

 

Take a look at some of the Saltbox Kitchen Gift Baskets – the descriptions are guaranteed to make your mouth water!

 

 

Their Christmas Menu will surely lure Santa to your home and may never want to leave! Whether you are looking for festive appetizers or entrees or sides, Saltbox will make your holiday feel like a feast.

 

 

There is something about Saltbox that is very special. The love and attention Ben and his team bring to everything they grow, make and create makes us feel so lucky  have SaltBox right here in Concord. SaltBox Kitchen is the perfect marriage of small New England town charm with big city sophistication.

 

 

Fuel up for a day of window shopping with one of their too-die-for egg sandwiches and grab some gifts for neighbors and girlfriends while in the shop. Pop by their shop and visit their website or shop today!

 

 

Saltbox Kitchen is currently open Wednesdays – Saturdays from 9am – 6pm. Stop in to pick up fresh veggies, eggs, honey and more from our Saltbox Farm “farm stand”, prepared meals, sides, soups, and salads, and Saltbox Brewery beer, bottles of wine, tea and coffee. We also offer a lunch take out menu from 11am-2pm and Catering To-Go which is perfect for gatherings of 10 or more.