Common Ground | Facilities Rentals

BIRTHDAY PARTIES & FACILITIES RENTALS

Birthday Parties and Group Events - General Information
Common Ground offers educational, environmentally themed birthday parties for all ages. All the Birthday Party programs listed below can also be scheduled for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or other groups as a private, non-birthday event. The time allotted for a birthday celebration in each program description may be used for snack/group meeting or as additional activity time.

Common Ground staff will provide the activities and structure for your program and will be prepared with a basic first aid and safety kit. We will provide a clean facility and have the buildings open 30 minutes before your program is scheduled to start. Parents and chaperones should be prepared to participate and help with supervision. You are welcome to bring decorations and food. Please supply your own utensils, plates, and any other desired party supplies. A refrigerator/freezer is available.

Payment details: All programs require a $50 non-refundable deposit, with the balance due on the day of the program. Payment may be made by cash or check made out to Common Ground. In the event of poor weather, families may choose to go ahead with the program (we will modify as much as we are able, but most events require some outside time), OR to re-schedule at no additional cost. A full refund may be obtained if the program is cancelled due to SEVERE weather.

To schedule a party, call Rebecca Holcombe at 203.389.4333 x213, or email rholcombe@nhep.com.

Birthday Parties and Group Events - Program Options

Farm Fun!
Meet our family of farm animals and go on a tasting tour in the garden. Children will visit and interact with all the farm animals (chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, pigs) and taste fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our acre of organic gardens. This program includes about 60 minutes of farm time, 30 minutes for your birthday celebration, and 30 minutes for a nature walk in the woods immediately adjacent to the farm.
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $225

Farm Fun and Pizza Making
Farms make food, including all the delicious ingredients that go into a homemade pizza! Children will make pizza dough from scratch and assemble their own pizzas. In season, we will harvest herbs and vegetables from the garden to add to our pizzas. While the pizzas bake, children will meet our family of farm animals and go on a tasting tour in the garden. Children will visit and interact with all the farm animals (chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, pigs) and taste fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our acre of organic gardens. This program includes about 45 minutes of pizza making, 45 minutes of farm time, and 30 minutes for your birthday celebration.
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $300

Farm Fun and Healthy Harvest Soup
Fall is harvest season! In this program, available from July through November, children will explore our one acre organic garden and help harvest a wide variety of vegetables and herbs to add to a harvest soup. While the soup cooks, children will meet our family of farm animals, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, and pigs. This program includes about 60 minutes harvesting and preparing the vegetables, 30 minutes to meet the animals, and 30 minutes for eating soup and enjoying a birthday celebration.
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $300

Treasure Hunt Hike
Take your friends on a short hike through the woods as we follow clues to find the hidden treasure! Common Ground staff will select or create an age-appropriate treasure hunt and will hide the treasure before your program. Common Ground can provide the “treasure” (stickers and/or small toys) or you can provide goodie bags or other treasures to be hidden. This program includes 90 minutes for a treasure hunt and 30 minutes for your birthday celebration. Please not that this program does NOT include time to go into the animal yards or the garden.
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $225

Guided Hike in West Rock Park
Choose your favorite West Rock destination and enjoy a guided hike with your friends! Common Ground staff will lead the hike and point out interesting natural features along the way. Please note that hiking programs do NOT include time to go into the animal yards or the garden. This program allows for a 90 minute hike (including time to reach our destination, rest and play, and hike back to the farm) and 30 minutes for a birthday celebration after the hike. For the 90 minute hike, choose from one of the following West Rock landmarks:
Judge’s Cave: recommended for ages 6 and up, this hike ends up at 3 massive boulders that form a cave between them. We will have time for climbing, playing, and exploring before heading back downhill to Common Ground.
Summit of West Rock: recommended for ages 8 and up, this is the most challenging hike we offer in a 90 minute period. The hike is short, but it goes up, up, up until we reach the highest point in West Rock Park! The views are beautiful and there is an open area for playing and a covered picnic pavilion for resting and enjoying a snack.
Wintergreen Brook: recommended for ages 4 and up, this is the shortest of the 3 hikes. Our destination is Wintergreen Brook, where children can wade, play, and look for crayfish, minnows, and other aquatic creatures. Common Ground will provide buckets and nets for use in the stream.
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $225

Campfire and Night Hike
Invite your friends for a special and unique evening celebration in the woods. We will gather in Common Ground’s outdoor classroom for a campfire and time to explore and play. You are welcome to bring marshmallows or anything else you would like to roast over the fire! The campfire will be followed by a short hike through the evening forest. We will spend about 60 minutes around the campfire (this is also the best time to do a birthday celebration) and 60 minutes on the night hike. We ask that one adult be present for every five children for this special, magical evening program. Please tell your guests to bring a flashlight!
Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30
Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up
Program Fee: $225

Overnight Camping at Common Ground
Overnight camping at Common Ground is a very special way to enjoy nature in the city. We will gather in Common Ground’s outdoor classroom for a campfire and time to explore and play. You are welcome to bring marshmallows or anything else you would like to roast over the fire. The campfire will be followed by a guided night hike in West Rock Park (flashlights highly recommended!). For sleeping, guests should bring their own sleeping bags and will spend the night in one of our new covered tent platforms. In the morning, Common Ground staff will cook up a farm breakfast of fresh scrambled eggs, oatmeal with maple syrup, fruit, and juice. We ask that one adult be present for every five children for any overnight camping program. We can accommodate up to 48 guests in the covered platforms.
Program Length: 6 PM – 10 AM on the dates you schedule
Program Fee: $15 per person (includes breakfast). Minimum is 30 people or $450.

Other Facilities Rentals
To discuss other events on Common Ground’s site – including weddings, meetings, or conferences – please contact Betsy Sneath, Associate Director, at 203.389.0823 or email bsneath@nhep.com.


	Birthday parties & facilities... BIRTHDAY PARTIES & FACILITIES RENTALS Birthday Parties and Group Events - General Information Common Ground offers educational, environmentally themed birthday parties for all ages. All the Birthday Party programs listed below can also be scheduled for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or other groups as a private, non-birthday event. The time allotted for a birthday celebration in each program description may be used for snack/group meeting or as additional activity time. Common Ground staff will provide the activities and structure for your program and will be prepared with a basic first aid and safety kit. We will provide a clean facility and have the buildings open 30 minutes before your program is scheduled to start. Parents and chaperones should be prepared to participate and help with supervision. You are welcome to bring decorations and food. Please supply your own utensils, plates, and any other desired party supplies. A refrigerator/freezer is available. Payment details: All programs require a $50 non-refundable deposit, with the balance due on the day of the program. Payment may be made by cash or check made out to Common Ground. In the event of poor weather, families may choose to go ahead with the program (we will modify as much as we are able, but most events require some outside time), OR to re-schedule at no additional cost. A full refund may be obtained if the program is cancelled due to SEVERE weather. To schedule a party, call Rebecca Holcombe at 203.389.4333 x213, or email rholcombe@nhep.com. Birthday Parties and Group Events - Program Options Farm Fun! Meet our family of farm animals and go on a tasting tour in the garden. Children will visit and interact with all the farm animals (chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, pigs) and taste fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our acre of organic gardens. This program includes about 60 minutes of farm time, 30 minutes for your birthday celebration, and 30 minutes for a nature walk in the woods immediately adjacent to the farm. Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $225 Farm Fun and Pizza Making Farms make food, including all the delicious ingredients that go into a homemade pizza! Children will make pizza dough from scratch and assemble their own pizzas. In season, we will harvest herbs and vegetables from the garden to add to our pizzas. While the pizzas bake, children will meet our family of farm animals and go on a tasting tour in the garden. Children will visit and interact with all the farm animals (chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, pigs) and taste fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our acre of organic gardens. This program includes about 45 minutes of pizza making, 45 minutes of farm time, and 30 minutes for your birthday celebration. Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $300 Farm Fun and Healthy Harvest Soup Fall is harvest season! In this program, available from July through November, children will explore our one acre organic garden and help harvest a wide variety of vegetables and herbs to add to a harvest soup. While the soup cooks, children will meet our family of farm animals, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbit, and pigs. This program includes about 60 minutes harvesting and preparing the vegetables, 30 minutes to meet the animals, and 30 minutes for eating soup and enjoying a birthday celebration. Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $300 Treasure Hunt Hike Take your friends on a short hike through the woods as we follow clues to find the hidden treasure! Common Ground staff will select or create an age-appropriate treasure hunt and will hide the treasure before your program. Common Ground can provide the “treasure” (stickers and/or small toys) or you can provide goodie bags or other treasures to be hidden. This program includes 90 minutes for a treasure hunt and 30 minutes for your birthday celebration. Please not that this program does NOT include time to go into the animal yards or the garden. Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $225 Guided Hike in West Rock Park Choose your favorite West Rock destination and enjoy a guided hike with your friends! Common Ground staff will lead the hike and point out interesting natural features along the way. Please note that hiking programs do NOT include time to go into the animal yards or the garden. This program allows for a 90 minute hike (including time to reach our destination, rest and play, and hike back to the farm) and 30 minutes for a birthday celebration after the hike. For the 90 minute hike, choose from one of the following West Rock landmarks: Judge’s Cave: recommended for ages 6 and up, this hike ends up at 3 massive boulders that form a cave between them. We will have time for climbing, playing, and exploring before heading back downhill to Common Ground. Summit of West Rock: recommended for ages 8 and up, this is the most challenging hike we offer in a 90 minute period. The hike is short, but it goes up, up, up until we reach the highest point in West Rock Park! The views are beautiful and there is an open area for playing and a covered picnic pavilion for resting and enjoying a snack. Wintergreen Brook: recommended for ages 4 and up, this is the shortest of the 3 hikes. Our destination is Wintergreen Brook, where children can wade, play, and look for crayfish, minnows, and other aquatic creatures. Common Ground will provide buckets and nets for use in the stream. Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $225 Campfire and Night Hike Invite your friends for a special and unique evening celebration in the woods. We will gather in Common Ground’s outdoor classroom for a campfire and time to explore and play. You are welcome to bring marshmallows or anything else you would like to roast over the fire! The campfire will be followed by a short hike through the evening forest. We will spend about 60 minutes around the campfire (this is also the best time to do a birthday celebration) and 60 minutes on the night hike. We ask that one adult be present for every five children for this special, magical evening program. Please tell your guests to bring a flashlight! Maximum number of people (including both children and adults): 30 Program Length: 2 hours, plus 30 minutes for set-up and 30 minutes for clean-up Program Fee: $225 Overnight Camping at Common Ground Overnight camping at Common Ground is a very special way to enjoy nature in the city. We will gather in Common Ground’s outdoor classroom for a campfire and time to explore and play. You are welcome to bring marshmallows or anything else you would like to roast over the fire. The campfire will be followed by a guided night hike in West Rock Park (flashlights highly recommended!). For sleeping, guests should bring their own sleeping bags and will spend the night in one of our new covered tent platforms. In the morning, Common Ground staff will cook up a farm breakfast of fresh scrambled eggs, oatmeal with maple syrup, fruit, and juice. We ask that one adult be present for every five children for any overnight camping program. We can accommodate up to 48 guests in the covered platforms. Program Length: 6 PM – 10 AM on the dates you schedule Program Fee: $15 per person (includes breakfast). Minimum is 30 people or $450. Other Facilities Rentals To discuss other events on Common Ground’s site – including weddings, meetings, or conferences – please contact Betsy Sneath, Associate Director, at 203.389.0823 or email bsneath@nhep.com.