About NatureYear
About the NatureYear Program
Age Groupings and Schedules
NatureYear is offered Monday through Friday and Saturdays.
Most children are enrolled for one day per week.
Age groupings and program offerings vary by day of the week.
Ages 5 – 14+: full day or half day from 9 AM – 3 PM or 12 PM – 3 PM, both with optional extended day through 5:30 PM
Ages 4 – 5: half days from 12 PM – 4 PM
An overview of the different age groups and schedules for the 25/26 program year is HERE.
Handbook
The NatureYear Parent Handbook has details about our program philosophy, policies, and more.
Learning and playing outside in all weather
We really do spend our days outside in all weather! We will give you all the information you need to prepare your child for outdoor learning and play in all weather. We have Gear Guides for each season that specify the kinds of layers and outerwear your child will need to be comfortable. None of the needed layers are hard to find, and none need to be very expensive. We try to keep it simple and realistic. We also have loaner gear available for families that need it.
In case of severe weather:
We will operate as usual in the rain, enjoying outdoor activities
Severe weather that may bring the group inside includes lightning, high wind warning (we use open field spaces as much as possible if it is too windy to be in the woods), extreme cold, hail, heavy downpours that feel unsafe to stay out in.
We may close or operate on an altered schedule if we can anticipate severe weather for the majority of the day.
We will close for snow/ice days as usual if travel would be dangerous for families and staff.
Refunds or credits will not be issued for severe weather closures.
Parent Communication
At the end of each day, the teacher team writes an email to share with that day’s families. The daily email shares a recap of the day’s learning and play. It is a great springboard for questions and conversation at home. Examples of emails we previously sent are HERE.
We post to Instagram daily, including children whose parents have signed off on permission to do so.
Once per year, we offer parent/teacher conferences. These are a great chance to connect more deeply with one of your child’s NatureYear teachers if you choose to sign up for a conference!
Once each season (fall, winter, and spring), we offer Parent Tag-Along Days. On these days, a parent or other special adult is invited to join their child for a partial or full day of NatureYear! Many parents look forward to these days as a way to see some of the special things their child tells them stories about.
A Typical Day at NatureYear
The NatureYear Parent Handbook has details about our program philosophy, policies, and more.
Part of the philosophy behind the NatureYear program is to not let schedules get in the way of authentic learning. For that reason, we have a daily structure that is flexible depending on the weather, child interest, or what is happening in the forest or on site at any given time. However, we know that all children benefit from routines and from knowing what to expect.
Our half day HAWKS and FOXES groups enjoy a modified version of this schedule and will also have a balance of child-led play time and teacher-led activities.
Arrival
Arrive dressed for the weather and ready to play outside! A teacher will be waiting by the parking lot for curbside drop off from 8:50 AM – 9:20 AM, or parents are welcome to park and walk their child to the farmhouse anytime after 9:20 AM.
Morning play and chores
Immediately after arrival time, children make their way up to the cabin and have time to enjoy morning play in the forest. This is an important time to make social connections, engage in imaginative play, and connect with our outdoor space. Children also have the option to participate in morning chores and helping jobs. These chores vary with the season. Examples include splitting firewood, gathering kindling, caring for farm animals, watering in the garden, and sweeping and tidying our cabin.
Morning Meeting and Snack
After morning play time and chores, we gather and greet each other and talk about the things that are happening on the farm and in the forest – this is our “Nature Note” time, and it is one opportunity to learn about the seasonal happenings in nature. Morning meeting is also when we talk about the teacher-led activities that will be offered. Children have a hearty snack (brought from home) during this time.
Tree Time
After our meeting we take a few minutes for each child to visit their chosen tree. At our special trees, we take some time to sit quietly, to pay attention to our surroundings and to observe the way the environment changes throughout the year.
Teacher Led Activity Time
Teachers offer activities each day that take advantage of the season and the interests of the group. Children choose the activity that is most appealing to them and join that teacher. Activities are a combination of instruction, exploration, learning, and discovery. Some activities are more skills-based and teacher-directed (for example, learning how to split firewood with an axe), and some start with inspiration from a teacher and then follow the children’s interests (for example, a hike to a vernal pool to check out salamander eggs that turns into following fox tracks in the mud and building forts in nearby brush). We usually eat lunch in our small activity groups and then meet back at the cabin around 1 PM.
Free Time and Child Led Activities
Most afternoons include time for free play and child led activities. The group gathers and each child who has a skill or an idea that they would like to share makes a proposal for their activity. Children who did not elect to lead an activity choose which of the proposed activities they want to participate in or go to an agreed upon area for free play, and teachers supervise and facilitate as needed. Child led activities are often inspired by our morning adventures. Examples have included games, nature arts (nature masks with mud and leaves!), imaginative play (make a tree stump band and a bakery!), and extended time with the farm animals, garden, and wetland. This time helps develop leadership skills as well as cooperative decision making and social skills.
Journal Time
All of our age groups use journaling time to encourage students to reflect on their day. Examples of journal prompts include: What was something new that I tried today? What did I learn today? What was challenging for me today? Something I am proud of is…. Students may write or draw in their journals and teachers provide support as needed.
Closing Circle and Dismissal
At the end of our daily adventures, we gather and close out our time together. The pick-up window is 2:45 PM – 3 PM.
Is it all unstructured play?
Each day includes free play time, teacher led time, and kid-led time. Free play times are unstructured (but not unsupervised – boundaries and reasonable choices and teacher supervision always apply). Teacher led times have many opportunities for student choice and voice, and students are expected to make a choice and participate in the activity they choose. Child led times usually revolve around play, and students can choose the activity they are most interested in.
Is NatureYear Right for your Student
NatureYear can be a great fit for children who
Are curious and like to ask questions and explore, both with friends/adults and independently. A core practice of the NatureYear program is allowing children time for unstructured and independent exploration and play in nature. Teachers are highly mindful of safety and supervision, but will not always be physically proximate to children.
Are interested in learning and playing outdoors in all weather. This can be lots of fun, and teachers help make sure children have put on their gear correctly and that we are taking weather related breaks as needed. We are happy to help children and families learn about how to enjoy outdoor time in all seasons.
Are homeschooled OR whose families are ready to help them meet academic expectations associated with missed days of school. Our homeschooling families integrate the NatureYear experience into their learning in various ways. For children enrolled in public or private school, the school and the family typically agree on what work needs to be made up. Common Ground provides daily attendance for enrolled children and parents can share that documentation with school if requested. While we have lots of learning goals, the NatureYear program does not do any specific academic assessment or reporting.
Would thrive in a program where we focus on ownership, leadership and being part of a community. NatureYear has many opportunities for children to follow their individual interests, and children are also asked to practice the skills needed to build strong community. Community is built through circling up and listening to teachers and peers at daily group meetings, through participation in group activities, and through intentional modeling by teachers of collaborative decision making. Ownership and responsibility are developed through helping with daily chores. Children care for farm animals, cut fire wood, water the garden, tidy the cabin, and work together to care for our campus. Child-led activities are a great opportunity for practicing decision making and leadership skills.
Including children with needs that require accommodation
Special care plans and accommodations are made in conversation with parents, based on the unique needs of each child.
Medical needs: We see many children in our programs who come with epi-pens and/or inhalers. We are highly allergy aware and have careful procedures and training to account for food allergies. Staff are trained in the administration of epi-pens and inhalers. Please note that we do NOT have a nurse on staff and may not be able to meet all unique healthcare needs. We are always happy to have individual conversations to talk about what is possible.
Social, emotional, and developmental needs: All of our programs at Common Ground welcome and include children who have social, emotional, and developmental needs that are different than their typical peers. Enrolled children include those with ADHD, anxiety, autism, and other needs and diagnoses. While our child to teacher ratios are small, we are not routinely set up for one to one support. Children are safest and will gain the most benefit from the program when they can participate in groups with other children, follow safety directions, make transitions and choices among the offered activities, and stay with the group and within designated boundaries. We are not a fenced campus, and children regularly participate in activities like tool use and campfire cooking that require attention and compliance with direction. We know that each child’s needs, strengths, and behaviors are unique, and are happy to talk with you about how your child’s needs may be able to be met in our programs.
Vaccination requirement
Our policy for drop-off programs requires participants to be up to date on childhood vaccinations (those that are required for school, which currently does not include requirements for flu or covid vaccination). Medical exemptions are accepted but personal or religious exemptions are not (including grandfathered in exemption forms). THIS form must be completed by the child’s pediatrician for medical exemption to vaccination.
All children and families, regardless of vaccination status, continue to be welcome at events and classes that are not drop-off programs (Open Farm Day, weekend events, and other programs that children attend with a caregiver).
Program demographics: Who is enrolled in NatureYear?
Homeschoolers and children enrolled in school
We welcome a mix of homeschoolers and children from public and private schools across the State. Our typical enrollment has been about 25% homeschoolers and 75% children enrolled in school.
Gender
We aim for gender balanced groups, including male, female, and non-binary children. Science and nature are for all children.
Age
We create enrollment rosters for each day carefully, aiming to have a good age balance in each group. Even in mixed age groups with a wide range of ages, we seek to avoid an outlier student who may not feel that they have a natural peer because the rest of the group is significantly younger or older than they are.
Race and culture
We seek to enroll a racially and culturally diverse group of children. Nature is for all, but people of color have been and continue to be marginalized in the environmental movement and in feeling safe and welcome in outdoor spaces. We prioritize the applications of children of color and children from families who may in other ways be underrepresented in outdoor education and recreation. We wish for the children and staff in the program to reflect the broad and varied diversity of our New Haven community. Our average BIPOC enrollment is 39%.
Level of experience with nature
Some of our students come from families who already enjoy lots of outside time. Many come from families who enjoy the occasional hike but would not define themselves as “outdoorsy,” and some come from families who do not have experience outdoors at all (but those parents know it is something that their child is interested in!). So, families entering at all levels of outdoor experience and knowledge are very welcome. We love that we can help provide an experience for some children that is not part of their usual family routine, and celebrate the parents that are seeking to help their child explore their individual interests!
Campus and Staff Team
Our campus
The Learning Garden is for tasting, smelling, planting, watering, and harvesting. Children are an essential part of planning, planting, and caring for this garden!
The Farm is where most of the vegetables are grown. It is great to see (and help!) the farmers and the high school students who are working and learning. Our honeybees have hives here, too.
Our Farm Animals offer lots of opportunities for observation and for learning to interact gently with living things. Our year-round residents include chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, and sheep. Springtime brings baby chicks!
The Wetland is a magical spot to watch the seasons change. The water level goes up and down with the seasons, the natural spring changes from a trickle to a fast-running flow, and we can watch the cycle from eggs to tadpoles to frogs, who return in early spring to peep and call and leave new eggs of their own.
The Forest offers endless possibilities for play and exploration. On campus, we can build forts and have campfires at the Outdoor Classroom. On the trails in West Rock Park, we can visit Turtle Rock, wade in Wintergreen Brook, climb into Judges Cave, or take in the views from West Rock Summit.
The Farmhouse has a teaching kitchen where we can make delicious food from the farm, and a classroom we can use for activities if we need a break from challenging weather. Just outside the farmhouse, the Mud Kitchen is a favorite place for digging, playing with water, and mixing up some mud pies!
We share our campus with Common Ground High School, an environmentally themed public charter high school for 225 students in grades 9 – 12. While children’s programs have their own spaces and teachers, we all benefit from the shared campus and are part of the same organization. CGHS students join us for internships or volunteer opportunities and everyone enjoys the multi-age learning and leadership opportunities.
Our staff
Our teachers are professional educators who bring a wealth of outdoor education knowledge to the program. They are a team who are ready to teach fire craft and beekeeping, cook over the campfire, read a story, help friends talk out a disagreement, join kids in sledding down hills, warm-up cold toes, and follow deer tracks through the woods.
Our team is a mix of full time and part time staff. Everyone at Common Ground is fully background checked, and as a team, we participate in ongoing professional development on a wide range of topics. We see ourselves as educators, and also as caregivers. We love sharing new knowledge, skills, and adventures with children, and also take very seriously our role in keeping children physically and emotionally safe and well cared for.
Schedule, Tuition, and Financial Aid
Schedule for the 2025 – 2026 school year
Our school year programs will begin on Sept 2, 2025. We will end in late May or early June and a calendar with dates and planned closures will be shared with enrollment offers.
Each day has the same number of total operating days (planned closures are evenly distributed).
An overview of the different age groups and schedules for the 25/26 program year is HERE.
Hours and Transportation
Drop off for NatureYear is anytime from 8:50 – 9:20 AM.
Pick up is from 2:45 – 3 PM.
Drop off for the Hawks and Foxes groups is anytime from 12 – 12:20 PM. Pick up is from 2:45 – 3 PM for the Hawks and 3:45 – 4 PM for Foxes.
We do not have earlier drop off available.
Children who attend NatureYear can also be enrolled in the Kids Unplugged after school program, and we will transition your child from one program to the next. Many families choose this option. Pick up from Kids Unplugged is from 5:20 – 5:30 PM.
We do not provide transportation. School buses do not drop off children for NatureYear and we do not have staffing to support bus arrival in the mornings (we DO have bus drop offs and staffing for Kids Unplugged bus arrival).
Financial Aid
Sliding scale financial aid from 10% – 75% off tuition is available to qualified applicants. Applying for financial aid does not affect your eligibility for the program, and qualifying for financial aid does not guarantee that an enrollment space will be available.
Financial aid is intended to provide reduced tuition for families who could not otherwise afford the opportunity, it is NOT intended to provide routine discounts for families who are able to pay the full tuition.
Financial aid applications can be completed anytime during the application period and must be completed by the application deadline of June 15, 2025 for priority consideration for the 25/26 program year. Financial aid will be allocated to eligible families after this deadline if funds remain.
The financial aid application is HERE.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Tuition is an annual agreement. If a child is withdrawn from the program, tuition for any remaining classes is still due and is not refundable unless we can fill the child’s spot in the program. Tuition policies are not intended to be punitive, they are essential to make sure that program costs are covered.
Refunds or credits for future programs will not be given if we need to close for snow days or other severe weather.
Tuition for the 2025 – 2026 program yer
Tuition for full day groups is $2,885 to attend one day per week.
Tuition for the half day Hawks group is $1,445 to attend one day per week .
Tuition for the PreK/K Foxes group is $1,925 to attend one day per week.
Adding extended care in the Kids Unplugged program from 3 – 5:30 PM: $640 to attend one day per week.
Payment Schedule
Full day groups:
An initial payment of $725 is due upon accepting an enrollment offer. This payment goes towards your tuition and is not an additional fee.
Additional payments of $720 are due on Oct 10, Jan 10, April 10
You may choose to make more frequent payments by logging into your account at anytime
Half day Hawks group:
An initial payment of $365 is due upon accepting an enrollment offer. This payment goes towards your tuition and is not an additional fee.
Additional payments of $360 are due on Oct 10, Jan 10, and April 10
You may choose to make more frequent payments by logging into your account at anytime.
PreK/K Foxes group:
An initial payment of $425 is due upon accepting an enrollment offer. This payment goes towards your tuition and is not an additional fee.
Additional payments of $500 are due on Oct 10, Jan 10 April 10
You may choose to make more frequent payments by logging into your account at anytime.
Kids Unplugged:
An initial payment of $160 is due upon registering. This payment goes towards your tuition and is not an additional fee.
Additional payments of $160 are due on Oct 10, Jan 10, April 10
You may choose to make more frequent payments by logging into your account at anytime.
Eligibility and Application
Eligibility for 2025 – 2026 program
For the FULL DAY and HALF DAY programs for ages 5 – 13+
Children who will turn 5 by Dec 31, 2025 (older 4’s at the start of next school year) are eligible to enroll in our any of our FULL DAY groups or the HALF DAY HAWKS group.
While most students do not enroll past their 8th grade year, our upper age limit is flexible based on conversations with individual students and families.
Homeschooled children and children who are enrolled in Public or Private school are all welcome.
For the PreK/K FOXES group for ages 4 – 5
Children who are 4 – 5 years old as of Sept 1, 2025 are eligible to enroll in our Foxes group, one or more days per week. Must turn 4 by Sept 1, 2025 and must be independent for toileting.
Homeschooled children and children who are enrolled in Public or Private school are all welcome.
How are children prioritized in receiving an enrollment offer?
We strive to make diverse groupings of children where students will meet new friends and sustain existing relationships. Currently enrolled children and their siblings are given first enrollment priority. Our goal is to offer an enrollment space to all children whose application is received by June 15.
Enrollment offers are made in June and July, continuing into August and throughout the school year when space is available.
Applying
Applications are open now!
Apply between May 15 – June 15, 2025
There is no cost or obligation to apply. The purpose of applying (rather than just enrolling) is so we can put together balanced peer groups that include both new and returning students and so we can do our best to meet family schedule requests. We are fortunate to have many highly qualified staff who love working in NatureYear, such that we can usually adjust staff schedules and number of groups to be able to offer enrollment to all families who apply in the priority period of May 15 – June 15.
You can apply anytime from May 15 – June 15. We will work on the big puzzle of applications in late June and enrollment offers begin in early July (for a September program start date).
Applications are accepted throughout the year with rolling admissions when space is available. When you apply, you will indicate any and all days of the week that could work for your family.
If your child will be enrolled in public or private school, you will also need to speak with your child’s school about your child missing school one day per week to attend NatureYear instead. You should do this after a program spot is offered – you do not need to contact your child’s school before you know if we will have an available program spot.
Talking to your child’s school about this opportunity
We are happy to talk with parents more about any experience we may have had with your child’s school. We recommend you do NOT speak to your school about the opportunity until you know if we will be able to offer a program spot for your child. We have found that it can feel worrisome for a principal to receive multiple inquiries from parents, in a way that can lead them to be less open to the possibility because the potential numbers of participating children feel high. Having a principal consider the actual number of participating students has been more productive.
Some children receive weekly make-up work from their teachers and some receive no make up work. Those parts are very individual to each teacher and family.
It is important for each family to think about why NatureYear is important to you. What kind of learner is your child, and how will the NatureYear opportunity support your goals for your child? Sometimes those goals are academic. Sometimes they are physical, developmental, emotional, or social. Those are the conversations you will have with your child’s principal and teacher – explaining why NatureYear is important for your child, at this point in their development, considering both personal and academic growth.
