Vacation Days and No School Days
Winter 2026
January 2 – Vacation Day
Friday, January 2, 2026 with Isaiah T. Brown
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades K – 3
Fee per Child: Tier A-$112 | Tier B-$97 | Tier C-$83
Limited to 15 participants
Spend a day having fun and learning at the Hitchcock Center on this day off from Amherst Public Schools! During this camp-style day, kids will play games, explore the woods and learn about nature. We’ll hope for snow so we can build snow creations, look for tracks, and go sledding. Pack a snack, lunch and warm gear for hours of winter play outside.
Some additional financial aid is available to help make this program accessible. Please fill out and submit this form or contact Barb or Shelly at 413-256-6006 for more information.
January 20 – No School Day
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 with Isaiah T. Brown
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades K – 3
Fee per Child: Tier A-$112 | Tier B-$97 | Tier C-$83
Limited to 15 participants
Spend a day having fun and learning at the Hitchcock Center on this day off from Amherst Public Schools! During this camp-style day, kids will play games, explore the woods and learn about nature. We’ll hope for snow so we can build snow creations, look for tracks, and go sledding. Pack a snack, lunch and warm gear for hours of winter play outside.
Some additional financial aid is available to help make this program accessible. Please fill out and submit this form or contact Barb or Shelly at 413-256-6006 for more information.
February Vacation Days
Monday through Friday, February 16-20
8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Age Groups: Grades K-5, This year we are piloting a new registration system. Please register your student for any day they would like to attend and we will place them in groups with 12-15 of their peers–grouped by age.
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$112 | Tier B-$97 | Tier C-$83
Spend your days off from school learning and playing outside at the Hitchcock Center! Come each day to complete quests, learn survival skills, and experience the magic of nature. We will seek wisdom from science and nature about strange and local phenomena alike. We’ll have free play, games, nature crafts, and lots of time outdoors.
Sign up for as many days as you wish. Five-year olds must be in Kindergarten in order to participate. Non-refundable within a week of the program, all cancellations incur a 10% administrative fee.
Spring 2026
April Vacation Days
Monday through Friday, April 20-24
8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Age Groups: Grades K-5, This year we are piloting a new registration system. Please register your student for any day they would like to attend and we will place them in groups with 12-15 of their peers–grouped by age.
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$112 | Tier B-$97 | Tier C-$83
Come build rafts, forts, dams, animal homes, and human technology. We’ll combine science, art, and technology to create strange and wonderful inventions. We will have free play, games, nature crafts, and lots of time outdoors. Spend your days off from school learning and playing outside at the Hitchcock Center!
Sign up for as many days as you wish. Five year olds must be in kindergarten in order to participate. Non-refundable within a week of the program, all cancellations incur a 10% administrative fee.
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 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 less than what it costs to run the program.
- Some additional financial aid is available to help make this program accessible. Please contact Barb or Shelly at 413-256-6006 for more information. This option is available for EBT, WIC, Connector Care, and Card to Culture 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
As per the State of Massachusetts guidelines, if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus, such as a fever, sore throat, cough or a runny or stuffy nose, you should stay home. If you have been exposed to someone with a virus we ask that you please wear a mask and wash hands often to protect others.
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