Summer and Vacation Weeks
Opportunities for children to explore, discover, and participate in farm production continue through February, April, and summer vacations. Our vacation-week programs range from free-range play for preschoolers to planting, collecting eggs, mending fences, and other tasks for older children.
Summer Registration is now open for Crofter Level Members and above. February and April Vacation Registration is open to everyone.
Our 2025 Summer season runs June 9–August 22. (No programs June 19 or July 4.) Our programs are open to the public and often fill up quickly. Enroll now to reserve your spot!
Summer Programs
Priority registration opens for members at the Crofter level and above January 6, 2025. General registration opens January 27, 2025.
Class Descriptions
Summer Sprouts (ages 3-5)
Our littlest explorers participate in child-led free play, crafts, story time, and farm-based fun.
Forest Explorers (ages 3-5)
Children engage in make-believe and self-directed play in the Forest Gnomes woodland playscape.
Budding Farmers (ages 4-5)
Budding Farmers discover the Farm using all five senses, and they are the youngest to take on a daily animal or farm chore.
Woodland Wanderers (ages 4-7)
With the Forest Gnomes playscape as home base, children explore our woodlands and farm, build new skills, and let their imaginations soar.
Young Farmers (ages 6-7)
Children help with our animals, planting, and harvesting; taste our veggies; search for bugs; and create nature-inspired crafts.
Growing Farmers (ages 8-9)
Growing Farmers contribute to the daily workings of the Farm and engage in exciting activities such as plant dissections, crafts, ponding, and compost-pile explorations.
Junior Working Farmers (ages 10-11)
This age group navigates all aspects of farm life, from fixing a sticky gate to harvesting beans to feeding the pigs.
Working Farmers (ages 12-15)
Working Farmers power every step of the summer growing process, from seeding to harvesting, and learn in-depth about livestock care.
Get Priority Registration—and 20% Off!
Crofter-level members and above receive priority registration and 20% off youth programs for a year. For families who book four or five weeks of programs, a Crofter membership pays for itself.
February Vacation Programs
February Vacation Explorers
Gnome Woods is the perfect setting for an immersive outdoor experience full of imaginative and child-led play. Cold and snowy days mean sledding, building snow friends, warming up by the campfire, and playing in our forest forts. We round out the day with books, simple crafts, an impromptu nature lesson, and maybe a farm animal visit.
February Vacation Farmers
Basking in the quiet beauty of our Farm in winter, children will care for our animals, enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse, make winter-themed crafts, whip up yummy treats, explore our woodlands, and help tap our sugar maples if the weather is right.
February Vacation Work Experience
Working with our farm educators, youths take part in all aspects of farm life including helping with our maple-sugaring operation, working in the greenhouse, caring for our animals, and maintaining the Farm.
April Vacation Programs
April Vacation Explorers
(ages 3-5)
Gnome Woods is perfect for setting for an immersive outdoor experience full of imaginative and child-led play. Spring days mean exploring the forest as it wakes up from the winter, checking out the water’s edge at the pond, and playing in our forest forts. We round out the morning with books, simple crafts, an impromptu nature lesson, and maybe a farm animal visit.
April Vacation Farmers
Experiencing the Farm as it begins to come alive in the spring, children care for our animals, enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse, make crafts, whip up yummy treats, and explore springtime in the woods.
April Vacation Work Experience
Working with our farm educators, youths take part in all aspects of farm life, including working in the greenhouse, caring for our animals, and maintaining the Farm.
Learning
Never Stops
Children engage in active discovery on our Farm all year long. Explore our School Year Programs running from September to June for ages 1.5 to 14
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Informed
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Essential
Program Info
Download our program handbook for must-read information on clothing, food, water, first aid, Covid-19, behavior policies, and more.
FAQs
Summer programs will start June 9 and end August 22 (11 weeks in total). We offer half day programs, with mornings starting at 8:30 or 9:00 am and ending at 12:00 pm. Afternoon programs begin at 1:00 pm and end at 4:00 or 4:30 pm. Programs for ages 3-5 run Mondays through Thursdays, while programs for ages 6-15 are Mondays through Friday mornings.
We offer summer programs for ages 3-15. We also have opportunities for older teens on the Teen Work Crew.
Yes! Extended day options are available for ages 3-7. Early drop off for morning programs begins at 8:30 am; late pick up is 4:30 pm for afternoon programs.
From free exploration in the woods to animal chores on the farm, summer participants enjoy a wide range of activities depending on age and chosen program. For a full and detailed list of possible activities for all summer programs, please visit our Summer Programs Handbook here.
Refund requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected]. We issue refunds on the following schedule:
- - Prior to April 1: full refund less $35 fee per child, per week
- - Between April 1 and April 30: full refund less $50 fee per child, per week
- - After May 1, we do not issue refunds. We will do our best to offer a transfer to an available session/week.
Please note that refunds are not issued for child absence or illness, or if a child is asked to leave the program, or for unexpected, extra-ordinary cancellations (e.g. hurricane, declared weather emergency, public safety issues prompting closure).
Children must be fully potty-trained both at and away from home, and require no assistance in toileting to attend programs.
Questions can be directed to [email protected]. If you’d like to speak to somebody in person, please call the education department at 508-655-2204, option #1. More detailed information can also be found in the Summer Programs Handbook.