Afterschool with Audubon Vermont

Throw off your pack and shake off the day!

Afterschool programs are a great way to discover the outdoors, with much less structure than traditional field trips and classes. We believe in child-led exploration and nature immersion and are excited for the return of two afterschool programs for the 2023-24 school year at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington.

Our Free Afterschool program is filled for the fall. Follow the link bellow to apply for the spring session or to join the waitlist.

Application

Advance registration is required

We are excited to continue our FREE, WEEKLY afterschool program for the 2023/24 school year! Join Audubon Teacher-Naturalists for a breath of fresh air, right after school until 5pm. Students will spend each eleven week session getting to know the Audubon Center and its inhabitants through the seasons. We're offering two sessions: September 6th - November 17th and March 6th - May 22nd

NEW! Our early-release afterschool will now be included in our weekly free afterschool at no extra cost. On early-release days, following the MMUUSD calendar, on the second Wednesday of every month, afterschool will start at 1:00 instead of 3:00.

Note: You must commit to the entire eleven week session for which you apply. You are welcome to apply for either or both sessions. As our aim is to increase the access to and affordability of afterschool childcare, we think it would be unfair for someone to claim a spot they do not intend to use in full. (We of course understand that we live in a post-COVID world and know that illness and life happens. We ask that you call our office should you not be able to attend for one of these or any other reason.) We ask for an 80% attendance record or better and to call our office if your child is unable to attend.

Age: elementary-aged students, Kindergarten-4th grade

Date and time: Wednesdays 3pm - 5pm
Session 1: September 6th - November 15th
Session 2: Mach 6th - May 22nd

Fee: This program is unique because it is FREE to members of our community, with generous thanks to the Amplify Fund and Afterschool & Summer Expanding Access grants.

Transportation: Pending approval from the MMUUSD transportation depot (With many thanks to the MMUUSD Transportation Depot for being able to provide transportation in the past), students who attend Brewster Pierce Elementary School can ride the bus to Audubon. We will be able to confirm before the program starts that rides from the district are still available. Students from other towns are welcome to join us, but families must provide their own transportation.

Weather: This is an outdoor program. We will have access to a heated space on the coldest of days, but the objective of this program is to spend as much of the time outdoors as we can. We employ several strategies to stay warm, from hiking and playing, to building fires and shelters. Proper attire is required. If you do not have the appropriate gear to be safe and warm outside, please let us know. We do not want a lack of gear to be a barrier to your child's participation.

Staffing and Accessibility: We operate at a fairly small ratio of 1 adult: 8 kids, making for a very manageable group size while exploring and playing in the outdoors. However, we do not have the staffing available to provide 1:1 support to students. Additionally, the terrain of the Audubon Center is varied, uneven, dirt or grass, there are stairs, and none of the paths are paved. Please give us a call to discuss options for your child’s participation if it feels like these things would present a barrier to your student. We welcome interventionists coming with your child to our program, but unfortunately do not have the resources to provide them ourselves. Call our education manager at 802-434-3068 x 13 to discuss.

Who can apply? The purpose of the Expanded Access Grant is to increase the affordability, accessibility, availability, and inclusivity of all afterschool programs in Vermont. To expand access to affordable childcare in our rural community and to ensure that underserved youth, including youth from low-income backgrounds, youth of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA++) youth, English learners, youth with disabilities and/or special needs, migratory youth, rural youth, youth in foster care and youth experiencing homelessness are well-represented in the mix of youth participating in our program, we are using a weighted application. We will otherwise fill any remaining spots on a first come/first served basis and maintain a waitlist.

Families MUST commit to the entire 11 week session to which they apply.

Forms: Students need a completed release and health form to attend. Forms and payment can either be mailed to our office at 255 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington VT 05462 or tucked in your child's backpack and brought with them on the first day. We must have a health form for your child to stay in our care.

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Questions: Contact Emily Calder at emily.calder@audubon.org or (802) 434-3037