School vacation days at Common Ground are a choose-your-own-adventure exploration of the farm and forest! Children have a choice of daily activities based on seasonal events.
Vacation Days are for children in grades K – 8.
What do we do each day?
Vacation Day programs have MIXED AGE groups. Because the groups are small and we have one teacher and at least one counselor for every 12 children, we find that the mixed age groupings work well, and they give friends and siblings of varying ages the option to choose to be together.
Seasonal activity examples
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- Fall: hiking to Judges Cave or Lake Wintergreen, cooking over the campfire, building forts, making harvest pizza from the garden, caring for farm animals, making inventions in Tinkertown, and more!
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- Winter: snow play, winter animal tracking, cooking with food from the farm, maple sugaring, sheep & wool art, snow shoeing, sledding, cardboard fort building, recycled art, and more!
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- Spring: fort building, nature hikes, visiting baby farm animals, wetland exploration (frogs & tadpoles), gardening, cooking with food from the farm, mud art, hikes to Judges Cave and Lake Wintergreen, fairy houses, natural and recycled arts, games, and more!
The majority of our activities are OUTSIDE in all weather so it is important to make sure your child is dressed for outdoor activities. Children bring their own bagged lunch and water bottle.
Who are the staff?
We have one teacher and at least one counselor for every group of 12 children.
Our teachers are professionals who have significant experience with children and lots of enthusiasm for outdoor play and exploration. Our teachers represent a diverse range of ages and backgrounds, and they all share a love of child-centered adventure and learning.
Counselors are Common Ground High School students who are excited to explore and have adventures with children! Counselors assist teachers with activities and bring lots of fun to each day. They are learning about child development and are not primarily in charge of guiding behavior or caring for first aid needs (the program teachers are responsible for these roles). See our FAQ for answers to other common questions.
2022 – 2023 Schedule
We plan to offer vacation day programs on many of the days that schools are closed! We confirm staffing and open enrollment about one month before each program date.
Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town. Apply online HERE .
Questions? Call Rebecca Holcombe at 203-389-4333 x 1213 or email rholcombe@commongroundct.org.