Kids Unplugged! (ages 5 – 13)
Register online HERE!
Get your child unplugged and outside, exploring nature, hiking, imagining, growing food, making friends, and having fun! Our activities follow the seasons and children have a choice of activities at each weekly class.
Fall is for hiking in West Rock Park, harvesting and cooking from the farm, caring for farm animals, and playing in the woods! We will build forts, hold chickens, have campfires, play games, and make home made pizza.
Winter is time for snowshoeing, building snow forts, following wild animal tracks in the snow, making maple syrup, cooking and baking in our teaching kitchen, and enjoying nature arts.
Springtime brings baby farm animals, wildflowers, and gardens to be planted! We will dig in the dirt, wade in streams, play and hike in the woods, care for baby chickens, and make new friends!
Activities include both structured and unstructured options, with teachers offering at least one activity choice each day as well as options for kid-led play and adventures. We know that children learn in many ways, and the goal of this program is to allow time to play, imagine, make friends, be physically active, and be in nature.
Group size: 24 – 36 children with one staff person for every 8 children. Activities are mixed age and welcome children ages 5 – 13.
ABOUT THE STAFF
Our staff are experienced adult teachers and environmental educators who have significant experience with teaching and caring for children and having fun in nature! Our teachers are joined by high school counselors who are enthusiastic and valued program assistants.
TRANSPORTATION
Free school bus transportation is available from many schools in New Haven. Busing is provided by First Student with drop offs at Common Ground available as part of the regular after school bus runs.
Routes for 25 – 26 include busing from:
-Edgewood
– Davis
– Elm City Montessori
– Fair Haven
– Mauro Sheridan
– St Thomas
– Cold Spring
– Wintergreen
– Nathan Hale
– John C Daniels
Additional schools may be possible! We can only accept busses between 3 PM – 4 PM, so schools with a dismissal time before 2:50 PM or after 3:30 PM may not have an eligible bus route.
Return transportation is not available and families are responsible for pick up from 5:20 – 5:30 PM.
For children being dropped off by a caregiver (no bus), drop-off is anytime after 3:00 PM.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town. Apply online HERE.
2025 – 2026 School Year Schedule
Monday – Friday from 3:15 – 5:30.
Children may be registered for one or two days per week. Limited spaces to attend additional days per week may be available, please inquire if you need more than two days per week.
Program starts on Monday, Sept 8, 2025. (bus transportation may not be available until the end of September, families may need a transportation plan for the first several weeks).
The calendar with program closure dates for holidays and staff professional development is HERE. Each day has the same number of total operating days (closures are evenly distributed).
2025 – 2026 Tuition:
ONE day per week: $640 annually, paid in 4 installments of $160 each
TWO days per week: $1,280 annually, paid in 4 installments of $320 each
Kids Unplugged Cancellation policy
Tuition is billed at the time of enrollment (typically August or September), and again on October 10, Jan 10, and April 10. Any future tuition payments will be cancelled at the time a program withdrawal is received. No refunds will be issued for classes that a child does not attend.
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Questions? Call David Girard at 203-389-4333 x 1221 or email David.Girard@commongroundct.org.
