CAMPS:
General Information | Scholarships |
Staff
| Registration
The
Hitchcock Center offers a variety of camps for ages 6-10, both during
the summer and coinciding with local school vacations. As with most
things at the Center, these camps are anything but ordinary. Lasting
two weeks in the summer, and one week in the winter and spring, each camp
has a different science or nature theme. Emphasis is placed on exploring
the natural world using a hands-on approach in a variety of indoor and
outdoor activities. These camps are designed to be both fun and
educational! Continue to check this page for upcoming vacation and
summer camps!
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WINTER VACATION CAMP
Hitchcock Center Staff
Young Naturalists, ages 6-8 (grades K-2)
Nature Explorers, ages 8-10 (grades 3-5)
Monday - Friday, February 20-24, 2012, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Members: $50 /
day; Non-members: $60 / day
Pre-registration is
required; please call 413-256-6006.
Get ready for wild winter fun at the Hitchcock Center this February! Join us for as many days as you wish during winter vacation week as we explore nature in winter. We’ll go outside every day, following animal tracks, searching for scat, and investigating what’s alive under the snow. Come for one day or the whole week. Winter crafts, songs, games and live animal observations are a part of every day.
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SLIP SLIDING AWAY ON CURRICULUM DAY (AGES 7-9; GRADES 1-4)
(Amherst Public Schools have no school on this day.)
Katie Koerten and Colleen Kelley, Hitchcock Center Educators
Friday, January 27, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Members: $50 per day/Non-members: $60 per day
Pre-registration is required; please call 413-256-6006.
Come join us on this special day off from school for a day of winter exploration and fun! Depending on what Nature gives us, we will build snow shelters, sled down the farm hill, slide on the pond ice and adventure through the winter woods. We will search for tracks and signs of animals and learn about adaptations and winter survival. Dress warm with snow pants, boots, hats and gloves. Bring a snack, lunch, water bottle, and a full change of clothes. Get excited for a healthy day of outdoor adventure!
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SPRING VACATION CAMP
Hitchcock Center Staff
Young Naturalists, ages 6-8 (grades K-2)
Nature Explorers, ages 9-11
(grades 3-5)
Monday through Friday, April 16-20, 2012, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Members: $45 / day; Non-members: $55 / day
Pre-registration required, please call (413) 256-6006
Come discover signs of spring with us at during April vacation week! We will go
outside seeking out spring buds, birds, and other changes happening with the arrival
of spring. Nature hikes, songs, games and live animal observations are all included
in the fun. Choose which day(s) you’d like and join us for a great outdoor learning
experience!
*Please note that our spring vacation camp week will follow the Amherst schools
vacation week, which may be shortened due to snow days. Please check back in
February or March for an update. Thank you.
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SUMMER CAMPS
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The Hitchcock Center offers outstanding opportunities for young people aged 6-10
to enjoy and learn in the natural world. Each day is designed with
outside explorations, along with cooperative games, art projects, singing, and science experiments. Our camp provides hands-on experiences
that encourage creativity and curiosity while expanding each child’s knowledge and skills.
Click here to see our current
Summer Camp brochure. |
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Day Campers will spend part of their week traveling by van to
fascinating sites in the Valley to study local streams, ponds and forests.
The Explorers (ages 8-10) will visit the Mill River Pool twice a week and the
Young Naturalists (ages 6-8) will have sprinkler play and river wading time to
cool off.
NATURE DAY CAMPS
Young Naturalists: grades K-2, ages 6-7
Nature Explorers:
grades 3-5, ages 8-10
All camps run from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.,
Monday - Friday.
12-18 campers with 2 Camp Counselors
Members: $425 for 2-week session; $212 for Session 4, a one-week session
Non-members:
$455 for 2-week session; $227 for Session 4, a one-week session Registration is
accepted by MAIL only. Vouchers are accepted. Scholarships by
nominations from teachers, counselors and community groups.
Please see registration details below.
Session 1: Hideouts and Habitats July 2 - July 13,
2012
Session 2: Ecology is Everywhere July 16 - July
27, 2012
Session 3: What Would Nature Do? July 30 -
August 10, 2012
Session 4: Clues to Nature's Past August 13 - August
17, 2012
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GENERAL
SUMMER NATURE CAMP INFORMATION
REGISTRATION:
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For a registration
form, please click here or call (413) 256-6006.
- Registration will be accepted
by mail only.
- Campers are registered on a first-come-first-serve basis using a lottery for forms arriving the same day.
- Member registration begins with forms postmarked
March 1st.
- Non-member registration begins with forms postmarked
March 15th.
- You may join the Center and include your membership payment at the time of registration. An annual Family Membership is $40.
- You will be notified of placements as forms are processed.
- A deposit of $150 is required per session, per child, of which $50 is non-refundable. If your child does not get into camp because there is no availability, you will receive a full refund of your deposit.
- You may sign up for as many sessions as you like, but please fill out a separate registration form for each session and each camper you would like enrolled.
CANCELLATION POLICIES:
- If you cancel prior to 30 days before the first day of your session, you will receive a full refund minus $50 of your deposit.
- If you cancel 15-30 days before the first day of your session, you will receive a full refund minus the $150 deposit.
- If you cancel less than 15 days before the first day of your session, you will not receive a refund, unless the program is full and we are able to fill your spot, then you may receive a 50% refund.
- Refunds will not be given for absent or sick days.
- Exceptions granted only in the case of a health emergency, evidenced by a written physician's statement, restricting the child from attending camp for the entire session.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Welcome packets and Health Forms are sent in early May. Please note: health forms will need to be signed by your child's doctor. Your camp balance and health form are due
four weeks prior to the start of the session. We accept Visa, MasterCard, checks, cash and vouchers. Questions? Call
(413) 256-6006 or e-mail
casey@hitchcockcenter.org..
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CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Help send a deserving child to camp. Each summer we offer full
and partial camp scholarships to children of families in financial need
from the surrounding area. Children are nominated by teachers,
guidance counselors, and community organizations. These
scholarships are generated in large part through voluntary contributions
we receive. Please consider donating whatever you can toward our
camp scholarship fund. A little bit can make all the difference to
a child who wouldn't normally be able to go to camp.
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CAMP STAFF
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Camp Counselors are
chosen for their experience working with children, thorough understanding
of environmental education and natural history, and their connection to
the outdoors. They strive to foster an appreciation and understanding of
nature while providing a fun and educational experience in a safe and
supportive setting. Our staff is First Aid / CPR certified and is
attentive to issues of safety at all times. Our first goal is for children
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This camp complies with the
regulations of the MA Department of Public Health and is licensed by the
Amherst Board of Health.
Junior Counselors Needed!
Attention young adults 13
and older! Have you ever considered becoming a Hitchcock Center Junior
Counselor? It is a lot of fun and you can learn about nature and science
at the same time! Some
benefits of becoming a volunteer Junior Counselor include:
- developing leadership skills
- learning fascinating things
about your local environment
- sharing what you know
with young people
- being a tremendous help
to our Counselors
Training and supervision are provided by
experienced education staff. If interested, send a letter or e-mail about
your interest in nature and spending time with young children, along with
three phone references to: Casey Beebe, Camp Director, HCE, 525
South Pleasant Street, Amherst MA 01002.
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Click here
to print a Summer Camp 2012 registration
form. Member registration begins with forms postmarked March 1,
2012; non-member registration begins with forms postmarked March 15,
2012.
Mail form and payment to: Hitchcock Center, 525 S. Pleasant
Street, Amherst, MA 01002
Questions?
Call (413) 256-6006 or e-mail
info@hitchcockcenter.org.
FAX (413) 253-2809
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Questions
or comments? E-mail us at
info@hitchcockcenter.org.