Summer Program
Summer Session at our Glen Spey Campus
Summer Program at Homestead
The Homestead Summer Institute would give families something they’ve been asking for: a summer program that feels like camp for children but functions as an academically rich extension of Homestead’s mission.
For parents: It provides reliable childcare during the summer months while also keeping children engaged in reading, writing, and math, strengthening skills and especially helping those who need to get back on track before the new year.
For children: It’s a chance to grow — spending their days outdoors on the farm, in the forest, and by the creek, building, exploring, creating, and sharing stories. Academic skills are woven naturally into experiences that feel interesting and meaningful.
For the community: It keeps children and families engaged with Homestead through the summer, holding open a space to remain connected — to each other, to the land, and to the joy of learning together.
SAMPLE PROGRAMMING:
Week 1: Roots & Wings — Building routines, farm and garden work, confidence-building.
Week 2: Waterways — Creek studies, water science, stories of rivers and oceans.
Week 3: Builders & Makers — Forts, eco-art, tool skills, creative construction.
Week 4: Wild Explorers — Tracking animals, survival skills, mapping, outdoor games.
Week 5: Harvest & Hearth — Farm-to-table projects, cooking, shared meals.
Week 6: Celebration of Learning — Showcase journals, art, and skills for families.
SCHEDULE SAMPLE:
Tom Desiderio
9:00–9:20 | Drop-off & Morning Kickoff
9:20–10:20 | Outdoor Ed learning tied to school year prep and harvestable garden (see Travis’s plan)
10:20–10:40 | Snack/Movement Break
10:40–12:00 | Outdoor Quest (farm, creek, forest, etc.)
12:00–12:40 | Lunch (picnic-style, brought from home)
12:40–1:40 | Academic Block II (journaling, literacy games, project-based learning)
1:40–2:25 | Recess (unstructured play, social development, outdoor games)
2:25–3:00 | Reflection Circle & Dismissal
Early Childhood Daily Schedule (9:00–3:00, with snack and lunch)
9:00–9:20 | Drop-off & Morning Kickoff
9:20–10:20 | Academic Ties, outdoor ed (?)
10:20–10:40 | Snack/Movement Break
10:40–12:00 | Outdoor Quest (farm, creek, forest, etc.)
12:00–12:40 | Lunch (picnic-style, brought from home)
12:40–1:40 | Academic Block II (journaling, literacy games, project-based learning)
1:40–2:25 | Recess (unstructured play, social development, outdoor games)
2:25–3:00 | Reflection Circle & Dismissal