Common Ground | For Children and Youth

FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH

For children and young people, Common Ground is a place to explore the outdoors, develop environmental understanding, and learn in a way far different than traditional classroom learning. Common Ground's offerings include Kids Unplugged after-school programs (grades K-4), West Rock Rangers (after-school for Grades 5-8), home school programs, programs during school vacations, and summer ecology camp. Common Ground’s site can also be rented for birthday parties and other events with educational and environmental themes.

Registration for 2011-12 programs is now open. Read on for all the program details; click here to register!

Kids Unplugged! (Grades K-4)

Get your child unplugged and outside, exploring nature, hiking, imagining, growing food, making friends, and having fun! Children have a choice of activities at each weekly meeting. Participants might build forts, hike to Judges Cave, play nature games, learn to identify trees, or enjoy a campfire in the woods. On the farm, feed the animals, learn to hold a chicken, bring in the harvest, and climb compost mountain. Budding artists can choose to make art with natural and recycled materials and practice illustrating the animals and plants on our campus, and aspiring chefs can make delicious food from the farm – homemade pizza, sorrel muffins, harvest soup, and more!

9 week sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30

Children may attend one, two, or three days per week

Fall Session: September 20 - November 17

Spring Session: April 3 - June 7

Program fee: $60 for New Haven Public School students and $120 for all other students (New Haven residency NOT required). Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town – please inquire. Register online.

West Rock Rangers (Grades 5-8)

West Rock Rangers gives middle school students the chance to make new friends, get outside, develop new skills, and go on weekly adventures in West Rock Park. Hike, map the trails, keep a personal trail journal, play games, learn to use a compass, and wade in Wintergreen Brook! Students need not be expert hikers or outdoor enthusiasts, but only be excited to learn with others and have fun in the forest.

9 week sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30

Children may attend one, two, or three days per week

Fall Session: September 20 - November 17

Spring Session: April 3 - June 7

Program fee: $60 per 9-week seasonal session for all students (New Haven residency NOT required). Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants – please inquire. Register online.

Homeschool Program (ages 5 - 8)

This program on Common Ground’s 20 acre farm and forest site offers children the opportunity to use their all of their senses to fully experience our organic gardens, friendly farm animals and the diverse woodlands of West Rock Park. The curriculum over a 9-week session is truly guided by the seasons.

On the farm, we will learn about local produce, taste test vegetables and harvest this year’s crop. Children will meet the goats and sheep and spend time in the chicken yard. They will learn about the roles of the animals on the farm by collecting eggs, spinning wool, and helping with animal care. We will also explore soils, decomposers and compost with activities using our own red wiggler worms and compost system. Springtime will bring planting in the greenhouses and gardens and many baby animals to enrich our farm curriculum!

In the forest, we will explore the diverse wildlife and unique habitats surrounding our farm. In just a short hike, students can experience a variety of habitats while learning about native species and how their needs are met in an urban forest. We will play games, catch bugs and frogs and build woodland shelters. Learning about maple sugaring and watching and identifying birds at the feeders are favorite springtime activities.

This program builds community and challenges kids to use their senses and imaginations and to actively engage with the natural world. It is intended for ages 5 - 8, but younger children are welcome to participate with a parent.

9 week sessions: Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 – 3:00

Children may attend one or two days per week

Fall Session: September 21 - November 18

Spring Session: April 4 - June 8

Program fee: $110 per child. Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town – please inquire. Register online.

Vacation Programs

Vacation weeks at Common Ground are a choose-your-own-adventure exploration of the farm and forest! Children will have a choice of 4 or more daily activities based on seasonal events.

February is maple syruping season, and we will also cross our fingers for snow! Activities may include winter animal tracking, building snow forts, hiking and sledding, learning about and cooking with maple syrup, and plenty of time with the farm animals.

April brings seedlings and baby animals to the farm! Activity choices may include time with the baby chickens, recycled and nature arts, planting in the garden, building forts in the woods, going on hikes in West Rock, and searching for native wildlife and spring wildflowers.

School Holiday programs will offer a full day of activities determined by the season - fall is hiking, harvesting, and cooking time! Winter programs are time for cooking, natural and recycled arts, and outdoor adventures when weather permits. We will visit and care for the farm animals in all seasons!

All programs include both indoor and outdoor activities in all weather so it is important to make sure your child is appropriately dressed each day. Shoes must have a closed toe and heel and be good for walking, running, and hiking. Children should also bring their own bagged lunch each day.

2011 - 2012 School Vacation Program Dates

All vacation day programs are offered from 9:00 - 2:00, optional extended day available until 4:00

Program fee: $35 per day, $15 per day for extended day. Children may be registered for any number and combination of days. Register online.

Thursday - Friday, September 29 - 30: Rosh Hashanah

Tuesday, November 8: Teacher Day

Friday, January 6: Three Kings Day

Monday, January 16: MLK Day

Monday - Friday, February 20 - 24: February Break

Monday - Friday, April 16 - 20: April Break

Summer Farm and Nature Camps for ages 4-12

Each summer, campers ages 4 – 12 roam the farm and forest at Common Ground, picking radishes, searching for salamanders, learning about local food, making friends, playing games, caring for farm animals, and hiking throughout West Rock Park. Registration begins in March and spaces fill quickly! Visit our camp page for more information.


	For children & youth FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH For children and young people, Common Ground is a place to explore the outdoors, develop environmental understanding, and learn in a way far different than traditional classroom learning. Common Ground's offerings include Kids Unplugged after-school programs (grades K-4), West Rock Rangers (after-school for Grades 5-8), home school programs, programs during school vacations, and summer ecology camp. Common Ground’s site can also be rented for birthday parties and other events with educational and environmental themes. Registration for 2011-12 programs is now open. Read on for all the program details; click here to register! Kids Unplugged! (Grades K-4) Get your child unplugged and outside, exploring nature, hiking, imagining, growing food, making friends, and having fun! Children have a choice of activities at each weekly meeting. Participants might build forts, hike to Judges Cave, play nature games, learn to identify trees, or enjoy a campfire in the woods. On the farm, feed the animals, learn to hold a chicken, bring in the harvest, and climb compost mountain. Budding artists can choose to make art with natural and recycled materials and practice illustrating the animals and plants on our campus, and aspiring chefs can make delicious food from the farm – homemade pizza, sorrel muffins, harvest soup, and more! 9 week sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30 Children may attend one, two, or three days per week Fall Session: September 20 - November 17 Spring Session: April 3 - June 7 Program fee: $60 for New Haven Public School students and $120 for all other students (New Haven residency NOT required). Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town – please inquire. Register online. West Rock Rangers (Grades 5-8) West Rock Rangers gives middle school students the chance to make new friends, get outside, develop new skills, and go on weekly adventures in West Rock Park. Hike, map the trails, keep a personal trail journal, play games, learn to use a compass, and wade in Wintergreen Brook! Students need not be expert hikers or outdoor enthusiasts, but only be excited to learn with others and have fun in the forest. 9 week sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30 Children may attend one, two, or three days per week Fall Session: September 20 - November 17 Spring Session: April 3 - June 7 Program fee: $60 per 9-week seasonal session for all students (New Haven residency NOT required). Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants – please inquire. Register online. Homeschool Program (ages 5 - 8) This program on Common Ground’s 20 acre farm and forest site offers children the opportunity to use their all of their senses to fully experience our organic gardens, friendly farm animals and the diverse woodlands of West Rock Park. The curriculum over a 9-week session is truly guided by the seasons. On the farm, we will learn about local produce, taste test vegetables and harvest this year’s crop. Children will meet the goats and sheep and spend time in the chicken yard. They will learn about the roles of the animals on the farm by collecting eggs, spinning wool, and helping with animal care. We will also explore soils, decomposers and compost with activities using our own red wiggler worms and compost system. Springtime will bring planting in the greenhouses and gardens and many baby animals to enrich our farm curriculum! In the forest, we will explore the diverse wildlife and unique habitats surrounding our farm. In just a short hike, students can experience a variety of habitats while learning about native species and how their needs are met in an urban forest. We will play games, catch bugs and frogs and build woodland shelters. Learning about maple sugaring and watching and identifying birds at the feeders are favorite springtime activities. This program builds community and challenges kids to use their senses and imaginations and to actively engage with the natural world. It is intended for ages 5 - 8, but younger children are welcome to participate with a parent. 9 week sessions: Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 – 3:00 Children may attend one or two days per week Fall Session: September 21 - November 18 Spring Session: April 4 - June 8 Program fee: $110 per child. Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants from any town – please inquire. Register online. Vacation Programs Vacation weeks at Common Ground are a choose-your-own-adventure exploration of the farm and forest! Children will have a choice of 4 or more daily activities based on seasonal events. February is maple syruping season, and we will also cross our fingers for snow! Activities may include winter animal tracking, building snow forts, hiking and sledding, learning about and cooking with maple syrup, and plenty of time with the farm animals. April brings seedlings and baby animals to the farm! Activity choices may include time with the baby chickens, recycled and nature arts, planting in the garden, building forts in the woods, going on hikes in West Rock, and searching for native wildlife and spring wildflowers. School Holiday programs will offer a full day of activities determined by the season - fall is hiking, harvesting, and cooking time! Winter programs are time for cooking, natural and recycled arts, and outdoor adventures when weather permits. We will visit and care for the farm animals in all seasons! All programs include both indoor and outdoor activities in all weather so it is important to make sure your child is appropriately dressed each day. Shoes must have a closed toe and heel and be good for walking, running, and hiking. Children should also bring their own bagged lunch each day. 2011 - 2012 School Vacation Program Dates All vacation day programs are offered from 9:00 - 2:00, optional extended day available until 4:00 Program fee: $35 per day, $15 per day for extended day. Children may be registered for any number and combination of days. Register online. Thursday - Friday, September 29 - 30: Rosh Hashanah Tuesday, November 8: Teacher Day Friday, January 6: Three Kings Day Monday, January 16: MLK Day Monday - Friday, February 20 - 24: February Break Monday - Friday, April 16 - 20: April Break Summer Farm and Nature Camps for ages 4-12 Each summer, campers ages 4 – 12 roam the farm and forest at Common Ground, picking radishes, searching for salamanders, learning about local food, making friends, playing games, caring for farm animals, and hiking throughout West Rock Park. Registration begins in March and spaces fill quickly! Visit our camp page for more information.