A weekly outdoor after school program for 1st – 6th graders in Gill, MA
(right across the street from the Gill Elementary School)
Mondays afternoons
September 12th – December 12th
(we will not meet 10/10 or 10/31)
Program Description
This program brings together nature appreciation, social and emotional support and (creative) movement. We’ll begin in 40 minutes for children to arrive and decompress after school; visiting with small farm animals, snacking and chatting with friends, or taking some cozy alone time in the hammock. We’ll gather at 4 to practice a robust and active warm-up to get our blood moving and our bodies bouncing to the rhythm of familiar tunes. Then we’ll begin to explore the land. This last exploration time is very open ended and child-driven and often includes jumping on a trampoline, trips to a nearby stream, exploring all the ways our bodies can move and play together with other kids and with the environments we are in. No dance experience is necessary to participate!
This site is not wheelchair accessible and does require that participants navigate unpaved terrain, some bugs and whatever weather is happening. We will meet rain or shine! Our dance space has a tarped roof as well as a screen tent for rain/bug protection.
Schedule
3:10 – 3:20: Gill Elementary students will be met at Gill Elementary and walked to the program site
3:20 – 4:00: Snack and free time. Students coming from other towns may arrive at any time during this period
4:00 – 5:30: dance class/outdoor adventures and explorations
Payment
The cost of the program is a sliding scale of $150 – $400. Barter, scholarships and payment plan options are available. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.