Common Ground | For Children and Youth

FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH

For children and young people, Common Ground is a place to explore the outdoors, develop environmental understanding, and learn in a way far different than traditional classroom learning. Common Ground provides after-school opportunities, programs during school vacations, and summer ecology camp. Common Ground’s site can also be rented for birthday parties and other events with educational and environmental themes.

After-School and Weekend Programs for Grades K-8

Kids Unplugged! (Grades K-5)

Students in grades K - 5 are invited to explore farm life and our connection to the natural world in this seasonal after-school program. Each day, children will sign-up for one of three activity options: helping care for the farm animals and gardens, participating in nature adventures and science activities, or making recycled or nature-based art projects. Children may be registered for one, two, or three days per week. Enrollment limited to 36 participants per day. Program fee: One day a week for 9 weeks - $150 (2 days is $300, 3 days is $450). Financial aid available, please inquire. Registrations accepted until each session is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved. Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form.

Financial Aid is available for these programs. Click here to download the form.

Spring Kids Unplugged: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, April 6 – June 10, 3:30 – 5:30. In spring, children will enjoy the new growing season on the farm and in the forest. Weekly activities include learning about eggs and chicks, playing games in the woods, exploring Wintergreen Brook, hiking to the Summit of West Rock Park, learning to draw plants and animals on the farm, making recycled art, and a hands-on tour of the farm at Common Ground.

School's Out! Environmental Leadership and Science (Grades 6-8)
School’s Out is a new program designed especially for students in grades 6-8. In two seasonal sessions, students will improve their science skills, learn more about how the natural world works, participate in hands-on investigations, make new friends, go on fileld trips, and end each season with an overnight camp out at Common Ground! Enrollment limited to 30 participants. This program is free for students in New Haven, Hamden, and Branford. Students are accepted by application, click here to download the application.

School’s Out Spring Session: Thursdays, March 18 – June 17, 3:30 – 5:30

Farmer’s Helper (Ages 6-10)

Calling all kids who love animals and enjoy being outside on the farm and in the garden! This program offers children ages 6-10 the opportunity to really participate in the daily operations of a small organic farm. Activities will be age-appropriate farm chores ranging from feeding chickens to turning soil in the garden, as well as making snacks and take-home project from the farm Children should be dressed to participate! Enrollment limited to 16 participants per session. $120 per 6-week session. Registrations accepted until each session is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved. Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form.

Farmer’s Helper: Spring Session

Session A: Sundays, April 11 – May 16, 1:00 – 4:00

Session B: Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 1:00 – 4:00

Spring farm chores will include caring for and feeding the animals, socializing baby farm animals, bringing compost to the garden, turning garden beds to prepare them for planting, helping tend to greenhouses and spring seedlings, and putting the animals in their houses each afternoon.

Vacation Programs

Common Ground offers educational, active environmental programs for children ages 6-12 during the New Haven Public School February and April Vacations. All programs take place both indoors and outdoors in all weather. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately each day. Shoes must have a closed toe, a closed heel, and be good for walking, running, and hiking. Children should bring their own bagged lunch each day. Space is limited to 48 children per program' registrations accepted until each program is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved.

Extended Day Care for Vacation Programs
Pick-up time for all February and April Vacation programs is 2:00. Extended Day Care is available from 2:00 – 4:00 (pick-up anytime after 2:00). Extended Day activities are supervised recreation including art projects, board games, and outside playtime. Age-appropriate movies will be an option if it is too cold or wet to be outside. Children are welcome to bring a favorite book or game, and may wish to bring a snack. Extended Day fee: $10 per day if pre-registered and pre-paid, $15 on the day of the program.

Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form.

April Vacation Programs

Baby chicks, baby seeds: Monday, April 19, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00

Spend a day learning about spring life on the farm. This day-long session focuses on farm animals as we care for the chickens, learn about baby chicks, make a scrambled egg snack, card and spin wool, and help with daily animal chores. Program fee: $50/child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day.

Growing Gardeners & Mud Monsters! Tuesday, April 20, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option 2:00 – 4:00

Grow your gardening skills with a day of activities in Common Ground’s organic garden. Learn about worms (and how you can compost with worms at home!), dig in the soil, investigate the compost pile, make a mud sculpture, play garden games, and plant a salad garden bowl to take home. Program fee: $50/child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day.

Signs of Spring: Wednesday, April 21, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00

Hike through West Rock Park. Look for frogs, salamanders, wildflowers, budding trees, and other signs of spring. We will visit several West Rock landmarks as well as have time for playing games and exploring the farm and forest. Participants should bring their own lunch in a small backpack that they can carry while we hike. Program fee: $50 per child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day.

West Rock Survival: Thursday, April 22, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00

Spend a day in the forest practicing basic outdoor skills and knowledge. Learn basic bird, wildflower, and tree ID, make your own natural shelter, and identify animal tracks and other forest signs. Program fee: $50 per child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day. (come back Thursday evening for a family camping evening – see the listing under community programs!)

Summer Farm and Nature Camps for ages 4-13

Each summer, campers ages 4 – 12 roam the farm and forest at Common Ground, picking radishes, searching for salamanders, learning about local food, making friends, playing games, caring for farm animals, and hiking throughout West Rock Park. Registration begins in March and spaces fill quickly! Visit our camp page for more information.


	For children & youth FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH For children and young people, Common Ground is a place to explore the outdoors, develop environmental understanding, and learn in a way far different than traditional classroom learning. Common Ground provides after-school opportunities, programs during school vacations, and summer ecology camp. Common Ground’s site can also be rented for birthday parties and other events with educational and environmental themes. After-School and Weekend Programs for Grades K-8 Kids Unplugged! (Grades K-5) Students in grades K - 5 are invited to explore farm life and our connection to the natural world in this seasonal after-school program. Each day, children will sign-up for one of three activity options: helping care for the farm animals and gardens, participating in nature adventures and science activities, or making recycled or nature-based art projects. Children may be registered for one, two, or three days per week. Enrollment limited to 36 participants per day. Program fee: One day a week for 9 weeks - $150 (2 days is $300, 3 days is $450). Financial aid available, please inquire. Registrations accepted until each session is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved. Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form. Financial Aid is available for these programs. Click here to download the form. Spring Kids Unplugged: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, April 6 – June 10, 3:30 – 5:30. In spring, children will enjoy the new growing season on the farm and in the forest. Weekly activities include learning about eggs and chicks, playing games in the woods, exploring Wintergreen Brook, hiking to the Summit of West Rock Park, learning to draw plants and animals on the farm, making recycled art, and a hands-on tour of the farm at Common Ground. School's Out! Environmental Leadership and Science (Grades 6-8) School’s Out is a new program designed especially for students in grades 6-8. In two seasonal sessions, students will improve their science skills, learn more about how the natural world works, participate in hands-on investigations, make new friends, go on fileld trips, and end each season with an overnight camp out at Common Ground! Enrollment limited to 30 participants. This program is free for students in New Haven, Hamden, and Branford. Students are accepted by application, click here to download the application. School’s Out Spring Session: Thursdays, March 18 – June 17, 3:30 – 5:30 Farmer’s Helper (Ages 6-10) Calling all kids who love animals and enjoy being outside on the farm and in the garden! This program offers children ages 6-10 the opportunity to really participate in the daily operations of a small organic farm. Activities will be age-appropriate farm chores ranging from feeding chickens to turning soil in the garden, as well as making snacks and take-home project from the farm Children should be dressed to participate! Enrollment limited to 16 participants per session. $120 per 6-week session. Registrations accepted until each session is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved. Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form. Farmer’s Helper: Spring Session Session A: Sundays, April 11 – May 16, 1:00 – 4:00 Session B: Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 1:00 – 4:00 Spring farm chores will include caring for and feeding the animals, socializing baby farm animals, bringing compost to the garden, turning garden beds to prepare them for planting, helping tend to greenhouses and spring seedlings, and putting the animals in their houses each afternoon. Vacation Programs Common Ground offers educational, active environmental programs for children ages 6-12 during the New Haven Public School February and April Vacations. All programs take place both indoors and outdoors in all weather. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately each day. Shoes must have a closed toe, a closed heel, and be good for walking, running, and hiking. Children should bring their own bagged lunch each day. Space is limited to 48 children per program' registrations accepted until each program is full. Payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved. Extended Day Care for Vacation Programs Pick-up time for all February and April Vacation programs is 2:00. Extended Day Care is available from 2:00 – 4:00 (pick-up anytime after 2:00). Extended Day activities are supervised recreation including art projects, board games, and outside playtime. Age-appropriate movies will be an option if it is too cold or wet to be outside. Children are welcome to bring a favorite book or game, and may wish to bring a snack. Extended Day fee: $10 per day if pre-registered and pre-paid, $15 on the day of the program. Click here for online registration, or here to download the program registration form. April Vacation Programs Baby chicks, baby seeds: Monday, April 19, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00 Spend a day learning about spring life on the farm. This day-long session focuses on farm animals as we care for the chickens, learn about baby chicks, make a scrambled egg snack, card and spin wool, and help with daily animal chores. Program fee: $50/child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day. Growing Gardeners & Mud Monsters! Tuesday, April 20, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option 2:00 – 4:00 Grow your gardening skills with a day of activities in Common Ground’s organic garden. Learn about worms (and how you can compost with worms at home!), dig in the soil, investigate the compost pile, make a mud sculpture, play garden games, and plant a salad garden bowl to take home. Program fee: $50/child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day. Signs of Spring: Wednesday, April 21, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00 Hike through West Rock Park. Look for frogs, salamanders, wildflowers, budding trees, and other signs of spring. We will visit several West Rock landmarks as well as have time for playing games and exploring the farm and forest. Participants should bring their own lunch in a small backpack that they can carry while we hike. Program fee: $50 per child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day. West Rock Survival: Thursday, April 22, 9:00 – 2:00; Extended day option from 2:00 – 4:00 Spend a day in the forest practicing basic outdoor skills and knowledge. Learn basic bird, wildflower, and tree ID, make your own natural shelter, and identify animal tracks and other forest signs. Program fee: $50 per child; $10 - $15 fee for optional extended day. (come back Thursday evening for a family camping evening – see the listing under community programs!) Summer Farm and Nature Camps for ages 4-13 Each summer, campers ages 4 – 12 roam the farm and forest at Common Ground, picking radishes, searching for salamanders, learning about local food, making friends, playing games, caring for farm animals, and hiking throughout West Rock Park. Registration begins in March and spaces fill quickly! Visit our camp page for more information.