Vacation Days and No School Days
Registration for Winter programs will open on Friday, December 4, 2026
Fall 2026
October 13 | Fall Recess – No school for Amherst Public Schools
with Isaiah Brown
Wednesday, October 13
8:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
November 3 | Educator Workshop Day – No school for Amherst Public Schools
with Isaiah Brown
Tuesday, November 3
8:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
November 11 | School Holiday – No school for Amherst Public Schools
with Isaiah Brown
Wednesday, November 11
8:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
Winter 2027
January 6 | Winter Vacation Day | No school for Amherst Public Schools
With Isaiah Brown
Wednesday, January 6
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
January 25 | Curriculum Day | No school for Amherst Public Schools
With Isaiah Brown
Monday, January 25
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
Winter School Vacation Days
Monday through Friday, February 15 – 19
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades K-5
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 – 15 participants
*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.
Spend your days off from school learning and playing outside at the Hitchcock Center! We’ll connect with nature and each other each day, playing games, making projects, hiking and exploring. 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 2027
Registration for Spring programs will open on Friday, February 26, 2027
March 12 | Spring Recess | No school for Amherst Public Schools
with Allison Bull
Friday, March 12, 2027
8:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
March 26 | Educator Workshop Day | No school for Amherst Public Schools
with Allison Bull
Friday, March 26, 2027
8:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Grades 1 – 3*
Fee per Child: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 participants
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 12 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.
Spring School Vacation Days
Monday through Friday, April 19 – 23
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Grades K-5
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$118 | Tier B-$98 | Tier C-$83 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)
Limited to 12 – 15 participants
*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.
Spend your days off from school learning and playing outside at the Hitchcock Center! We’ll connect with nature and each other each day, playing games, making projects, hiking and exploring. 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 complete the form, or contact Barb or Shelly at 413-256-6006 for more information. 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
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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