Spring Program Offerings:
Nature Nursery: Newtown / Ages 3-5
Thursdays, 9:30-12:30, 8 weeks, starting April 4th and/or Fridays, 9:30-12:30, 8 weeks, starting April 5th, 2024.
Spring has long been considered a season of transformation and renewal. The forest is full of incredible observations, as the earth becomes greener, the birds become louder, and the days become longer and warmer. This Spring, we’re back at Holcombe Hill Wildlife Preserve in our dreamy, indoor-outdoor classroom! Children ages 3-5 are invited to join us for a morning of gratitude, songs, storytelling, and puppet play. We’ll practice fine motor tasks with nature-thrifty crafts and sensory activities. Each class, we’ll also go on exploratory nature walks to experience the forest and all of its treasures. This is a space for children to practice persistence, problem solving, relationship building, and self-reliance.
Class capacity is 10 children with 2 instructors. *Children must be potty train(ing).*
We are so lucky to collaborate with The Newtown Forest Association which has been protecting Holcombe Hill and 1,000+ more acres of wild land for over 100 years. If you’d like to make a donation of $40 at www.newtownforestassociation.org/#donate to support the ongoing conservation of open space in Newtown, you will be eligible to receive $40 off this program. Type the code “NFALOVE” at checkout for your enrollment discount.
It is especially important that you read our FAQs before registering for this program!
Location: 55 Great Hill Road, Newtown, CT, 06470.
Cost: $400 ($50/class)
Sample Winter Itinerary:
Week 1: The Language of Birds, Bird Houses
Week 2: Bumble Bee Art, Parachute Hive, Honeycomb Fine Motor
Week 3 Frozen Flower Excavation, Flower Sun Catchers
Week 4: Muddy Animal Sensory, Animal Yoga
Week 5: Herb Moon Dough, Fairy Potions, Native Plant Walk
Week 6: Hapa Zome, Spring Scavenger Hunt
Week 7: Weather Study, Condensation STEM, Mud Pies
Week 8: Composting, Earthworms, Egg Carton Seedlings
*Each season’s itinerary depends on weather, general interests, energy levels, group dynamics, etc.
Eco Explorers After-School Club: Newtown / Ages 6-10
Thursdays, 12:45-3:15, 6 weeks, starting April 4th, 2024.
New program alert! Spanning Holcombe Hill’s 86 acres of trails, meadows, woodlands, and ponds, children 6-10 are invited to join this program designed to inspire children to continue developing a close relationship with nature beyond early childhood. Through captivating forest treks, survival skills, wildlife tales, campfire cooking, nature art, and more, your child will grow to experiment with resiliency, self-trust, problem solving, and collaboration, and other skills for embracing life's challenges.
Class capacity is 12 children with 2 instructors. Please read the FAQ’s page before registering!
Location: 55 Great Hill Road, Newtown, CT, 06470.
Cost: $270/session ($45/class)
Sample Spring Itinerary:
Week 1: The Mystery of Birds, Feather Stickers
Week 2: Biomimicry, Sound Mapping
Week 3: Foraged Floral Soap
Week 4: Camouflage, Charcoal Paint, Fern Crowns
Week 5: Barefoot Safari, Moss Terrariums, Natives vs Non Natives
Week 6: Intro to Primitive Stone Tools
*Each season’s itinerary can vary depending on weather conditions, general interests, available materials, etc.
The Lost Ways: Greenwich / Ages 6-10
Tuesdays, 10:30-1:30, 8 weeks, starting April 9th, 2024.
Spring has long been recognized as a time of awakening, as fresh blooms emerge from a sleepy earth, animals rise from hibernation, and even our little ones have a visible urge to spend more time outdoors. Join us for the Spring iteration of our popular “Lost Ways” class, an outdoor adventure that touches on bushcraft, plant study, and indigenous traditions. With captivating forest treks, survival skills, gardening 101, campfire tales, hands-on nature art, and more, your child will forge a deep connection with the spring landscape and build essential life skills along the way. Our program is thoughtfully crafted to promote a sense of belonging within a broader ecological context. This is more than just an educational program; it's a holistic journey that shapes resilient, confident, and free-thinking individuals ready to embrace life's challenges.
Capacity is limited to 12 children. This class is co-taught by Alexis Slavina and Will Heyne. Please read the FAQ’s page before registering!
Location: 1149 King Street, Greenwich, CT, 06831.
Cost: $360 ($45/class)
Sample Spring Itinerary:
Week 1: The Mystery of Birds, Feather Stickers
Week 2: The Mystery of Birds, cont., Biomimicry, Sound Map
Week 3: Foraged Floral Soap
Week 4: Camouflage, Charcoal Paint, Fern Crowns
Week 5: Vernal Pool Ecology, Amphibian Study, Clay Play
Week 6: Intro to Primitive Stone Tools
Week 7: Barefoot Safari, Seeds and Sprouts
Week 8: Nature Weaving
*Each season’s itinerary can vary depending on weather conditions, general interests, available materials, etc.