Teen Programs

Flora and Faunathon

April 27 – 28 2024
Self guided, all ages
Registration required

Count for a Cause April 27 – 28!

Whether you live in the woods or in the city, nature is all around us! Join us on April 27 – 28 to count for a cause and celebrate Earth Day 2024 by getting outdoors and counting as many plants and animals as you can, share what you find, and raise money to support education for a healthy planet!

Whether you are a lifelong naturalist or simply want to appreciate and count the species in your neighborhood, Flora & Faunathon is for you! Enjoy a beautiful weekend outside exploring nature. From noticing the trees and squirrels in your neighborhood, to finding rare species of birds (this will be nearly the peak for bird migration) or woodland flowers on a local hiking trail (some spring ephemerals will still be out) enjoy getting out and finding nature all around us.

If you like, you can even compete for prizes. Can you find the most bird species? Or raise the most money? Take the coolest picture? Explore your neighborhood, your backyard, nearby hiking trails, or a city park. Go alone or go with friends! It’s the perfect family activity. Get your networks to sponsor your explorations and help support the Hitchcock Center’s work developing hopeful, creative problem solvers who can take on the challenges of climate change.

LEARN MORE AND JOIN IN

Middle School Science Fair & Curiosity Expo at Springfield Museums 

Teens grades 6-8
Monday, April 29 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Springfield Science Museum 

Are you in 6th, 7th or 8th grade? Curious about the world around you? Tell your science teacher about the Middle School Science Fair & Curiosity Expo. on Mon. April 29 from 9:00-11:30 at the Springfield Science Museum! 

The Hitchcock Center is excited to partner with the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair on this awesome event. It’s a great chance to indulge your interests and engage the scientific process, then share your findings with your peers (though completed projects are NOT a requirement for attendance). 

The event will also feature chances to talk with professional scientists, ask questions, and hear why they’re psyched about STEM! We hope to see you there!

Teachers can register here to indicate interest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVYKRTnEZX76UAHX_HLikoN3xgwzneTQmGcX2ghxsYHprrsg/viewform 

Fees

Out of a strong commitment to improve access to our programs we are now offering a sliding scale fee structure aimed to provide greater flexibility in choosing a price that is right for you and your family.

• Tier A: The fee is set 20% higher than what it costs to run the program and helps to support those who cannot afford the full cost of the program.
• Tier B: The fee is set to cover 100% of the program costs.
• Tier C: The fee is set at 15% less than what it costs to run the program.
• Tier D: This fee is set at 35% less than what it costs to run the program. This option is available for EBT, WIC, and Connector Care participants, that is, households receiving benefits through the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Massachusetts Health Connector.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation policy for Hitchcock’s seasonal programs: You may cancel your registration for any of our programs up to a week prior to the program’s start date to receive a refund minus a 10% administrative fee.  If you cancel within 7 days or less of the program’s start date, we cannot offer a refund unless we are able to fill your spot in the program.

COVID-19 Safety

Read our complete COVID-19 Program Participant Guidelines.

Our programs are designed to be fun and engaging and above all safe. The COVID-19 program guidelines are designed to help protect everyone as we meet the strict health and safety requirements of the CDC and our state. Please take the time to read the information thoroughly. If you feel that you or your child(ren) cannot follow these guidelines, we ask that you wait until these restrictions have been lifted to join one of our programs or events. We may change our guidelines to reflect new guidance from CDC and Massachusetts.