Summer & Auxiliary Programs

seven children around a green, yellow, orange, and purple play parachute; each child is holding one color and they are flapping it up and down

Two young children sitting in the grass and eating popsicles, one with blond curly hair, a flower shirt and long purples socks, and one with short straight brown hair and bangs and a yellow and white striped shirt and blue shorts

Afterschool Clubs

Ages 5-12

Weekday afternoons 3:30pm-5:30pm

NEW!! Monday/Wednesday Visual Arts Club starting January 2025. Registration opens November 18th, check back here for more details!

January 13-March 17th, 2025 (7 sessions)
$300
Starting January 2025. Sign-ups in November. Come explore and create at the Common School art club! This series will include student driven experimentation with a variety of media in a safe, compassionate environment. Participants will have the freedom to explore the world around them, while enhancing their self confidence, and discover a deeper understanding of their self expression through art making. We will use many different mediums including but not limited to clay, fibers, paint, collage and more!
January 14th-March 18th
Tuesdays 3:30pm-5:30pm
$325 (9 sessions)
Ages 8-12
This club is all about the popular trading card game Magic The Gathering! Magic is an exciting fantasy based strategy card game featuring powerful wizards, fearsome dragons, amazing heroes, and tactical spells. In this camp we will learn the fundamentals of Magic The Gathering by applying our math, reading, and critical thinking skills. Teachers will lead introductory groups where new players can learn the game alongside their peers. Club members will be provided with all of the needed cards and materials to play and even take home with them at the end of the session.
Afterschool Program Cancellation Policy:
- 24 hours after registration you may receive a full refund
- 15 days before session starts, you will recieve all but the $50 deposit back.
- Less than 15 days before session starts, refunds are issued on a case by case basis.
January 15th-March 12th (8 Sessions)
$330
Starting January 2025. Sign-ups in November. Come explore and create at the Common School art club! This series will include student driven experimentation with a variety of media in a safe, compassionate environment. Participants will have the freedom to explore the world around them, while enhancing their self confidence, and discover a deeper understanding of their self expression through art making. We will use many different mediums including but not limited to clay, fibers, paint, collage and more!
January 16th-March 20th
Thursdays 3:30pm-5:30pm
$325 (9 sessions)
Ages 8-12
Let your child be a hero for an afternoon! Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy pen and paper role-playing game with epic heroes and legendary dragons. Imagination, role-playing, social skills, problem-solving, and cooperation are a few of the skills that can be developed from playing Dungeons and Dragons. Audio, visual, kinesthetic, and writing activities will give all types of children their own way to enjoy and learn from this experience. No prior knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons is necessary, and stories in the games will remain appropriate for all children attending.
Afterschool Program Cancellation Policy:
- 24 hours after registration you may receive a full refund
- 15 days before session starts, you will recieve all but the $50 deposit back.
- Less than 15 days before session starts, refunds are issued on a case by case basis.

Child/Caregiver Programs

Ages 1-4

Weekday mornings

*Registration for both Movement and Outdoor Nature Play will open November 18th. Please check back here then to register!

Mondays 9:15am-10am
Registration will open November 18th!
January 13-March 3rd
$125
We are pleased to introduce a caregiver/child movement class this winter. Taught by our beloved Kerri Sheppard, this class will incorporate movement, storytelling, hands on activities, music and more. Using our wonderful community space we will be able to both spread out and use our bodies but also be cozy inside during the coldest winter months. Much like our outdoor program, children and caregivers will be invited to interact with a wide variety of obstacles, materials and concepts together all facilitated by Kerri and her wonderful offerings.
We are pleased to offer a 10% discount for siblings who register, please notify Emma at emma@commonschool.org if you would like this discount activated. oes here
Registration for January 2025 will open November 18th
Thursdays 9:15-10:15am
January 9, 2025 - Thursday, February 13, 2025
$125
Our Outdoor Nature Play Program is designed to engage children ages 1 - 4 years, along with caregivers, in outdoor play that will spark curiosity and joyful learning. Each class will offer an "invitation to play" that will allow children and caregivers to engage as they feel ready and comfortable. While the "invitation" is the launching point for the day, the activities are designed to be open ended so we never know where the children's play will take us...which is the most exciting and fun part of the journey!
We are pleased to offer a 10% discount for siblings who register, please notify Emma at emma@commonschool.org if you would like this discount activated.

Vacation Camps

Ages 3-12

February 17th-21st and April 21st-25th, 2025

REGISTRATION FOR FEBRUARY “WINTERFUN” WILL OPEN JANUARY 13th AT 12PM

We are pleased to offer three exciting options for February 2025:
Nature Fun (3-5 year olds)
STEAM Society (6-12 year olds)
Dungeons and Dragons (8-12 year olds)
- A $50 deposit is due for all camps at time of registration. Cancellations for all but the deposit available until February 3rd, 2025. After February 3rd, refunds are on a case by case basis.
Camps available on a daily basis or whole week. We recommend that Nature Fun campers come for the whole week if possible.
Daily Rate $110
Weekly Rate $445
We will be providing programs for 3-12 year olds (preschool-6th grade)

Summerfun at the Common School

Ages 3-13

Registration will open this year in the last few weeks of January. Please check back here to see an exact date as the time approaches. CIT applications will be accepted starting then as well.

Half-day camps (in addition to full-day) are available for 3-4 year olds.

Tuition for programs range from $250-$425.

Registration will open on January 22nd, 2024 at 12pm. Please see below for program details.

nursery-age child with short brown hair shaping brown clay with hands, wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with constellations on it

Two primary age children are sitting under a bush, one sitting with purple pants and purple and blue striped shirt, one on hands and knees in a blue tshirt

five elementary age children in hoodies, shorts, long pants and tshirts are balancing to 2x4s (one light purple on a cinderblock and one red on top, one child in a black sweatshirt and shorts is standing on the purple beam holding a rope

Summerfun Schedule

Class Descriptions

Ages 3–4 yrs

$425 full-day weeks 1, 3-6
$400 full-day week 2
$275 half-day weeks 1, 3-6
$250 half-day week 2
(Two identical sections will be run simultaneously, Green and Blue)
June 24th – August 2, one to six weeks optional. For developmental reasons, we strongly recommend signing up for two weeks when possible (*no camp July 4th)
8:30am-3:30pm with half-day option 8:30am-12pm available for this program only
Our youngest campers will learn about skills related to farm-life and sustainability through immersive play opportunities. The children will visit Bramble Hill with Farmer Robert twice a week to explore day-to-day life on a farm and to help with farm and garden projects. Camp days will include artistic projects, gardening, singing, stories, visits to the conservation area at Larch Hill, and splashing in the wading pools and sprinkler. Children will be offered a rest/nap time between 1-2pm daily.

Ages 4 yrs 10 mths–6 yrs

$425 weeks 1, 3-6
$400 week 2
June 24 – August 2, one week to six weeks optional (*no camp July 4th)
8:30am-3:30pm
*This program is best for our younger adventurers who might be exiting a preschool program or need a little more rest and relaxation in their day.
Come put on your boots, get out your binoculars and explore our local forest habitat! We will be going on adventures and learning about the flora and fauna of ponds, streams, forests and fields. Using The Common School’s grounds, Larch Hill Conservation Area, and Bramble Hill Farm as our laboratory, we will visit, study, and research the local habitat and reflect on it through artistic and creative activities. Each day will also include time for free play, stories, games, and water play.

Ages 5–7 yrs

$425 weeks 1, 3-6
$400 week 2
June 24 – August 2, one week to six weeks optional (*no camp July 4th)
8:30am-3:30pm
*This program is best suited for explorers who are ready for a more full day. We recommend that children have had one year of school beyond preschool.
In this group, we will be exploring the ecosystems in our community. We will visit habitats in close proximity to The Common School and around Larch Hill. We will study the cause and effect of different inputs in our environment such as weather, water, erosion and changes in animal life. We will take hikes and excursions and engage with nature daily including harvesting and tending to our own school garden. Each day will also include time for free play, arts and crafts, stories, building activities, and of course water play.

Ages 8–13 yrs

$425
June 24-June 28, one week
8:30am -3:30pm
Welcome to SummerFun Olympics, where we play some favorite sports and exciting new games too! While competition can be engaging, cooperation is crucial to our growth as team players. Throughout the week, we will introduce age-appropriate activities which teach us that not every game has to be about winning and losing (but they do still have to be super fun!). Campers will also work together to develop their very own games that we’ll test and tweak so they are safe, fair, and inclusive to all! Whether it’s our classroom, a designated indoor play space, the forest trails, or Groff Park nearby, there are plenty of opportunities for us to explore and cool down too. Rain or shine, our SummerFun Olympics team will be creating and celebrating the joy in play!
$400 week one
$425 week two
July 1-12 one to two weeks optional
8:30am-3:30pm
STEAM Society introduces kids to engineering and invention activities focused on environmental sustainability through fun hands-on activities. Throughout the week, we will design, invent, and build projects that help solve environmental problems in a spirit of risk-taking and collaboration. Your child will have a great time while strengthening their problem-solving skills, creativity, confidence, and ability to collaborate with new friends. We will be incorporating the arts into our design and will have access to a wide variety of materials and modalities to meet the needs of our creative crew. Of course, we will also have relaxation and water play in the afternoons.
$400 week one
$425 weeks 2-4
July 1- July 26 (*no camp July 4th) one to four weeks optional
8:30am-3:30pm
Let your child be a hero for a day! Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy pen and paper role-playing game with epic heroes and legendary dragons. Imagination, role-playing, social skills, problem-solving, and cooperation are a few of the skills that can be developed from playing Dungeons and Dragons. Audio, visual, kinesthetic, and writing activities will give all types of children their own way to enjoy and learn from this experience. No prior knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons is necessary, and stories in the games will remain appropriate for all children attending. This camp will have the opportunity to visit the Groff Park splash pads and/or the Mill River during some afternoons to cool off and have some water fun.
$425 per week
July 15-26 two weeks recommended, one to two weeks optional
8:30am-3:30pm
*It is recommended that you sign up for both weeks of this camp in order to get the full experience. There is also a $25 materials fee applied to give you the most out of your experience.
Experience clay where it came from, in nature! Your children will be making projects that include the beauty of the natural world while learning about the fundamentals of ceramics. Kids will make pinch pot chia monsters, press flora and foliage into slabs of clay, and make coil vases (for the rest of those beautiful flowers we find!) and then they will be able to take what they’ve learned to make their own creative masterpiece.
In week one of this camp, we will focus on construction and ‘wet work’ with our clay.
In week two we will focus on staining, glazing and combining our work into multimedia installations.
As with all camps, there will be plenty of rest and relaxation as well as water-play.
$425
July 29-August 2, one week
8:30am -3:30pm
This camp is all about the popular trading card game Magic The Gathering! Magic is an exciting fantasy based strategy card game featuring powerful wizards, fearsome dragons, amazing heroes, and tactical spells. In this camp we will learn the fundamentals of Magic The Gathering by applying our math, reading, and critical thinking skills. Counselors will lead introductory groups where new players can learn the game alongside their peers. Campers will be provided with all of the needed cards and materials to play and even take home with them at the end of camp. Our final day will feature a series of mini-events where campers can show off the skills that they developed in a variety of classic Magic The Gathering formats.
$425
July 29-August 2, one week
8:30am -3:30pm
This camp is designed for artists and makers who love to collaborate. In this course campers will create collaborative and socially engaged art with peers in a dynamic group setting. Furthermore, campers will have access to a variety of materials for their artistic endeavors and will be encouraged to get creative! Campers will have opportunities to work together in both small and large groups to develop their painting, drawing, building and sculpting techniques. In addition to daily and ongoing group art projects, each day will also include time for outdoor excursions and organized group play to foster a community of makers.

Counselors In Training

Ages 13-15yrs

$150 for week 1, 3-6
$125 week 2
June 24 – August 2, one week to six weeks optional (*no camp July 4th)
8:30am-3:30pm
We are pleased to welcome five Counselors In Training per week to our summer programming here at Summerfun. CITs are generally former campers who would like to add responsibility and extend their experience at Summerfun, or young adults who wish to gain experience in leadership and education. In order to apply for the CIT program, please contact Emma Simmons directly at emma@commonschool.org.

Additional Information

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Emma Simmons at emma@commonschool.org if you have any questions.

Fees

A non-refundable deposit of $100 per week is due with application. The full remainder of fees is due by May 15, 2024.

Tuition Assistance

We have a limited amount of tuition assistance available for those who qualify. Please fill out this application no later than March 1st, 2024 to be considered for assistance. You will be notified of your award by March 15, 2024.

Medical Information, Immunizations and Emergency Forms

All campers are required to submit health information. You can access your child’s complete immunization records and waiver through your pediatrician office portal. If you have questions please contact your pediatrician.

Waitlists

Once a group is full, we will automatically place other applicants on a waitlist. Families on the waitlist will be notified as soon as an opening occurs.

Cancellations/Withdrawals

Please note that all deposits are non-refundable.

Families who withdraw 30 days or more before the start of camp will receive a refund of any fees paid minus the non-refundable deposit. Payments made towards your balance less than 30 days from the start of the camp season are non-refundable with the exception of a medical emergency. Refunds for these situations are at the discretion of the Director. No refunds are provided for absent or sick days, family emergencies or unexpected vacations.

Staff Bios

Director Bio

Emma Simmons M.Ed. University of San Francisco

Emma is coming back for her second year directing the SummerFun program. After teaching at Summerfun and following 15 years as a head classroom teacher in the Bay Area, Emma is thrilled to be continuing to offer enriching high-quality child-centered programming. For Emma, summer at The Common School exhibits the best of what the school has to offer; beautiful natural playscapes, warm and deep relationships and a safe and inclusive environment for children and staff. When not at the top of the Common School driveway, Emma can be found playing in nature with her own two children or taking a pottery class, reading a book and enjoying the Pioneer Valley.

Assistant Director Bio

Emily MacDonald

Emily began their career in education in 2008 working for the youth outreach non-profit South Shore Stars. They wore many hats in the 8 years working for Stars: summer camp counselor, after school specialist, a van driver, a unit head, STEM specialist, mindfulness specialist, and more. The next step in their journey was earning two degrees from Bridgewater State University: one in biology and one in elementary education. After graduating, Emily worked as a sixth grade science teacher in Revere for 5 years before moving to Western MA. Now, Emily works as the Associate E1 teacher. Emily spends their free time enjoying their home and pets, performing in their bands, and learning new crafts and skills.