
School Vacation Program on Jan 6!
And a free family hike on January 1
New Year's Day Hike: Sunday, January 1, 2023!
Jan 1, 2023, 1 - 3 PM
Start the new year with a walk in the woods! This family friendly hike will start at Common Ground and take the trail and then the park road (closed to traffic ) up to the Summit of West Rock, with views over New Haven and Long Island Sound!
Meet at Common Ground at 1 PM with the hike departing promptly at 1:15. Roundtrip, this hike is about 3 miles and will take about 2 hours. It is a gradual uphill walk (with one or two short, steeper sections) on trails and a paved road to get to the Summit and then we take the same route back down.
Free, no RSVP needed. Any changes to this event (including any weather based cancellations) will be posted on Common Ground's Facebook page.
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School Vacation Day Program on Fri, Jan 6
Common Ground will be open for a day of farm and forest play on Fri, Jan 6 (when some schools are closed - check your school calendar!). The program is open from 8:30 - 3:00 and morning care/after care are not available.
This vacation day program is for children in grades K - 8. Activities are offered in mixed age groups and children will be able to choose between a variety of activities including time with the farm animals, outdoor play, cooking, and other farm and forest fun!
Children should bring a lunch and come dressed for the weather. We will use an indoor space for lunch and most activities will be outside.
The enrollment fee is $60 per child and online registration is open HERE!
Financial aid is typically available for vacation day programs however our current financial aid pool is fully allocated so financial aid is not available for this program. Fundraising for future program financial aid is a priority!
*We might also offer a program on Monday, Jan 16 when many schools are closed and will send an email if we can offer a program that day.*
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Help Common Ground GROW!
Though the leaves have fallen from the trees here at Common Ground and across New England, they’re still playing an important role in our ecosystem. Just as leaves don’t stop enriching their community in the winter, Common Ground’s children's programs are going strong during these winter months too, thanks to donations from our generous community!
As we reflect on 2022, we want to thank you for being an essential part of our ecosystem! Under the snow, fallen leaves slowly decompose and continuously add nutrients to the soil. The quiet, yet vital work of fallen leaves is much like that of our Common Ground supporters.
If your needs are met, a gift made today before the New Year will nourish and grow our children's programs for another year to come!
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Saturday Open Campus
The animals may be out in their yards but staff are not outside and animal yards will not be open for entering (gardens and animal yards re-open in April!).
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Possible winter and spring openings for NatureYear
All the program information is HERE, and you can fill out the short online form to be added to the waiting list if you are interested in openings for this school year.
Possible full day and half day openings this winter and spring!
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Book a Birthday Party!
Winter party options include:
- farm animal fun
- farm to table pizza making
- hikes and campfires (and playing in the snow!)
- treasure hunt and building forts in the woods
Our cozy farmhouse classroom is available for sharing food and celebration and activities are primarily outside!