Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Amherst, MA

 

CAMPS:

     WINTER, SPRING AND SUMMER FUN

Camp Scholarships | Camp Staff | Registration Information

The Hitchcock Center offers a variety of camps for ages 6-11, both during the summer and coinciding with local school vacations.  As with most things at the Center, these camps are anything but ordinary.  Lasting two weeks in the summer, and one week in the winter and spring, each camp has a different science or nature theme.  Emphasis is placed on exploring the natural world using a hands-on approach in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.  These camps are designed to be both fun and educational!  Continue to check this page for upcoming vacation and summer camps!

 

WINTER VACATION CAMP
Hitchcock Center Staff
Young Naturalists (ages 6-8)
Nature Explorers (ages 9-11)
Monday - Friday, February 15-19, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Join us for your choice of from one to five days of winter exploration. We'll spend time indoors focused on animal tracks and signs, snow geology, evergreens or winter weeds. And we'll go outside every day to experience both the excitement and peace of nature in winter. Songs, crafts, games, and live animal observations will all be a part of our days.  Call (413) 256-6006 to pre-register.  Partial scholarships may be available.

Members: $45 / day;   Non-members: $55 / day 

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SPRING VACATION CAMP
Hitchcock Center Staff
Young Naturalists, ages 6-8
Nature Explorers, ages 9-11
Monday through Friday, April 19-23, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Join us for as many days as you wish and enjoy nature discovery at its finest. We'll go outside every day and experience the changes and excitement of spring (be prepared for varied weather). Songs, crafts, games and live animal observations are all part of the learning experience. Just choose the day(s) you want to participate and pre-register.  Call (413) 256-6006 to pre-register.  Partial scholarships may be available.

Members: $45 / day; Non-members: $55 / day

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SUMMER CAMPS

The Hitchcock Center offers outstanding opportunities for young people aged 6-11 to enjoy and learn in the natural world. Each day is designed with outside explorations, along with cooperative games, art projects, singing, and science experiments. Our camp provides hands-on experiences that encourage creativity and curiosity while expanding each child’s knowledge and skills.

 

Day Campers will spend part of their week traveling by van to fascinating sites in the Valley to study local streams, ponds and forests.  The Explorers (ages 9-11) will visit the Mill River Pool twice a week and the Young Naturalists (ages 6-8) will have sprinkler play and river wading time to cool off.

NATURE DAY CAMPS

Young Naturalists, ages 6-8
Nature Explorers, ages 9-11
All camps run from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.
12-18 campers with 2 Camp Counselors

Members: $395 for 2-week session; $198 for Session 4
Non-members: $425 for 2-week session; $220 for Session 4

Registration is accepted by MAIL only.

Vouchers are accepted.  Scholarships by nominations go through teachers, counselors and community groups.

Please see registration details below.    

Session 1:   Grown from the Earth     June 28 - July 9, 2010

What a wonderful world of living things are grown from the Earth. Join us as we learn all about these fascinating trees, flowers, and fungi and how they intertwine with other creatures, including us. We will ask what plants are essential to our lives, how have they adapted and evolved, how do plants get from flower to seed and back again? Through stories, games, free nature play, experiments and art we will explore soil, seed and sun while visiting different habitats, and tending our gardens.

Session 2:   No Place Like Home     July 12 - July 23, 2010

Explore field, forest, farm, and community to discover the fascinating connections of the place we call home. Through hands-on experiences within these habitats, mixed with stories, songs, games and crafts, we will build our sense of place as we investigate where our food comes from, the human and natural history of this place, how our ecosystems work, and all about the many creatures who all call this place home.

Session 3:   Our Watery World     July 26 - August 6, 2010

Come investigate all the water ecosystems we have in our midst: ponds, lakes, rivers and wetlands. Through songs, games, art and outdoor exploration we will learn all about our Connecticut River watershed, its many environments and its cultural and natural history. We will learn about the geologic story of the river and the land, we will do water testing, learn about Atlantic Salmon, and the importance of clean water for all life on earth. And we will envision the future we would like to see for this marvelous place.

Session 4:   Mountains and Valleys     August 9 - August 13, 2010 (one week)

Discover the stories in the stones around us! We live in a geologically unique area, and the landscape provides intriguing clues to the past. We will find evidence of shifting plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, and the power of water. We will hike up mountains, collect rocks, and explore the rivers that have cut through the land all in the midst of stories, songs, art and outdoor play. Join us for this fun-filled educational week.

Please see registration details below.      Back to top

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CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS

Help send a deserving child to camp.  Each summer we offer full and partial camp scholarships to children of families in financial need from the surrounding area.  Children are nominated by teachers, guidance counselors, and community organizations.  These scholarships are generated in large part through voluntary contributions we receive.  Please consider donating whatever you can toward our camp scholarship fund.  A little bit can make all the difference to a child who wouldn't normally be able to go to camp.

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CAMP STAFF

Camp Counselors are chosen for their experience working with children, thorough understanding of environmental education and natural history, and their connection to the outdoors. They strive to foster an appreciation and understanding of nature while providing a fun and educational experience in a safe and supportive setting. Our staff is First Aid / CPR certified and is attentive to issues of safety at all times. Our first goal is for children to safely enjoy their camp experience.

This camp complies with the regulations of the MA Department of Public Health and is licensed by the Amherst Board of Health.

Junior Counselors Needed!

Attention young adults 13 and older! Have you ever considered becoming a Hitchcock Center Junior Counselor? It is a lot of fun and you can learn about nature and science at the same time! Some benefits of becoming a volunteer Junior Counselor include:

  • developing leadership skills
  • learning fascinating things about your local environment
  • sharing what you know with young people
  • being a tremendous help to our Counselors

Training and supervision are provided by experienced education staff.  If interested, send a letter or e-mail about your interest in nature and spending time with young children, along with three phone references to:  Casey Beebe, Camp Director, HCE, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst MA  01002.

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Summer Camp 2009 Registration:

Click here for our Summer Camp 2010 registration form.  (pdf)

Mail form and payment to: Hitchcock Center, 525 S. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Questions?
Call (413) 256-6006  or e-mail hcenter@crocker.com
FAX (413) 253-2809
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Questions or comments?  E-mail us at hcenter@crocker.com