Summer Program

Summer Program

The Summer Program at The Village School

The Village School Summer Programs are open to the public. They are designed to enrich and expand knowledge of the natural world through hands on exploration in art and science, while providing opportunities for plenty of physical activity and making new friends.

The programs are held at the Village School, which is currently housed in the old Raymond School building, just off the Common in Royalston. The fields, forests, streams, swamps and ponds located in the vicinity of the school are frequently used for exploration and walks.

View the 2009 Summer Program Brochure (in pdf format) >>

Nature Arts & Play

Our popular summer program returns with mornings filled with art, nature exploration, singing, games and free play. Each week will have a unique focus, with different arts and crafts activities and projects. Children bring their lunch and we all eat together in the shade of the maple tree.

Science and Art Experience

Artist and art teacher, Kerry Stone, and freshwater field biologist and science teacher, Cathy Szal, join forces to present science, nature and art as a unifying and creative experience for children.

We will explore streams, ponds, woods and meadows. We will look at our finds under the microscope. We will do clay work. Children will learn bookmaking and nature printing. As a special treat, we will create fairy houses. Children bring their own lunch, and we eat together under the maple tree.

Summer Art Intensive

We will explore a wide variety of art media in depth. We will create tiles, work in clay, make special bowls and paint. We will make paper, carve linoleum blocks for printing, and do needle felting. Children will have the time and freedom to explore their own art interest. Children bring their own lunch and we eat together under the shade of the maple tree.

Intro to Suzuki Piano

A short introduction to Suzuki’s ideas will be given to parents on the first day.

Dr. Suzuki’s Talent Education enables the child to learn to play an instrument in the same way he or she learns language. The key elements include creating a listening environment, encouragement, repetition, and socialization, with the aim to develop ‘a noble human being.’

Semi-private instruction—several children learning together– will be followed by a group class, in which children hear the stories of composer’s lives, work on ear training, play musical games and work at performance.