Explorers Program
Summer Education & Enrichment Programs for Grades K-12
Welcome Families!
I'm excited to share with you the launch of our district's new, free educational and enrichment summer Explorers Program for grades K–12!
Enrollment for all of our programs will open on June 4th.
Elementary Programs will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (with a limited extended day option until 5:30 p.m.). Middle and high school programs will be offered during these weeks at various dates and times (more detailed information is below).
- July 12–16
- July 19–23
- July 26–30
- August 2–6
- August 9–13
Transportation from Colrain Central, Hawlemont Regional, and the Ashfield House is available (pre-sign ups will be required).
Enrollment Information Elementary Programs
Families who would like to enroll their children will need to fill out 1) Registration form 2) Permission slip 3) Parental/Guardian Consent Form and 4) Transportation Consent form. *STARTING JUNE 4TH. Make an electronic copy of these forms, fill it out online and email to awoofenden@mtrsd.org Families will first receive confirmation that their student has applied. Starting June 14th families will be notified about their child's enrollment status AND THEN a $25 registration fee is required to hold your spot (money will be used to buy a shirt for your child).
Space in our programs will be limited and may require a lottery process if demand exceeds capacity.
NOTE: These programs are open to current Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont students only. Students who are entering kindergarten this fall can enroll. Students need to enroll in a full week (sorry no partial weeks), but NOT the whole 5 weeks. Students entering kindergarten in the fall are eligible.
Click the button below to access the required forms.
Our Programming
Grades K-2 and 3-6 Explorers
General Information
Our elementary students k-2 grade will be at Buckland/Shelburne Elementary and our 3-6 grade students will be at Mohawk Trail Middle and High School campus. Each group will be limited to 15 students with 3 staff members to create pods to comply with Covid-19 regulations. More information about our specific policies (including masks) will be provided later on.
Schedule
8:45-9:00 Staggered Drop off
9:15-9:30 Morning Meeting
9:30-10:00 Snack/bathroom/transition
10:00-11:45 Scheduled Educational Programming (science, math, ELA integrated into the weekly theme)
11:45-12:00 Wash/bathroom
12:00-12:30 Lunch Outside
12:30-1:00 Recess Outside
1:00-1:30 Read-a-loud, independent reading time (k-2nd can sign up for 1:1 reading support).
1:30-2:30 Class Choice Time & Tutoring Support (3 different options available)
2:30-3:00 Art and Journal Time (creativity and reflection)
3:00-3:15 Cleanup/meeting/goodbye
3:15-3:30 Pick Up
*3:30-5:30 Extended day option
*Transportation is available from Hawlemont, Colrain and The Ashfield House to the programs and back again, but only for the 3:30 dismal option. Signup is required in advance.
Program Specifics
-On Mondays and Wednesdays our programs will be visited by community partners and educators (such as Aimee Gelinas and Trevor the Games Man) to come and work with both groups during the morning class time.
-On Tuesdays and Thursdays both groups will be transported to Ashfield Lake for swim time and 3-6 grade students will have the opportunity to kayak with Adventure East and go fishing.
-Fridays are reserved for local field trips (such as the Buckland Recreation Center and 3 Sisters Sanctuary) or other special events.
-All Students will participate in the scheduled morning activities, either as one large group socially distanced or rotated through in their pods.
-All students will have reading time in the afternoon, students in grades k-2 can sign up for one on one reading support.
-Tutoring time is recommended by school principals to the program. Students will have time to participate in one class in addition to their tutoring time.
-Afternoon classes will change each week depending on the availability of the instructors. A list will be provided in advance and students will rank their choices.
Weekly Elementary Themes
The Mohawk Trail Explorers Summer Program is offering 5 weeks of educational and enrichment opportunities for students in grades k-6 this summer. Each week both groups will have a theme that integrates math, science and reading into daily activities. In addition, the students will participate in local field trips and have community partners and educators visit to further connect our learning directly with our local community.
Each afternoon from 1:30-2:30 students will have the opportunity to enroll in classes. Each afternoon there will be 3 options and students can enroll in 2 each week. Some afternoons are TBD as we finish hiring staff and planning class options. We are aiming to provide each week a sport, art and science class. Families that enroll in programming will receive a more detailed description of the curriculum, daily activities and afternoon classes as we get closer to the start of the programs.
Week 1: "We are Environmental Citizens"
Week 2: "Flowers and Flyers"
Week 3: "Exploring our Watershed
Week 4: "Signs of Local Animals"
Week 5: "Wacky Weather"
Click the link below to read a more detailed description of our weekly themes and programs.
FREE Food Delivery Opportunity
Click on the link below for more information.
Enrollment Information for Middle and High School Programs
Click the button below to find the forms.
Middle School Community STEM Team
Do you like to build things and use tools? Do you want to learn how STEM works in the real world? Then come and join our Middle School Community STEM Team this summer at Mohawk Trails Explorers program. This program will collaborate with the school community to provide a solution to a current school need.
Did you know that the district has a goal to increase outdoor learning opportunities? But where do we sit? It seems like a small problem, but after the year we have had we all know how important outdoor space is for educational opportunities. Currently, we are borrowing picnic tables and they will be returned at the end of the year.
Here’s how our Community STEM team can help
A group of 5 students will meet to design and build a picnic table that will then be used by Mohawk Trail for outdoor lessons. This first one is a prototype and the goal is to keep making them every year so that eventually we have enough for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. Maybe we can even make them for our elementary schools to help increase access to outdoor classrooms.
Enrollment Information
Enrollment is limited to 5 students. Entering 7th and 8th graders only.
Students will meet for one week in the afternoons to complete this project. Week and exact times to be determined.
Any students/families interested should please contact Alia Woofendenat awoofenden@mtrsd.org.
CIT Program (Middle School Only)
Click on the link below for more information.
Comedy Improv and Physical Theater Workshop
This workshop is open to middle and high school students and is limited to 10 spots.
Schedule
July 12th, 13th and 14th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Mohawk Trail (room TBD)
Description
In this workshop we will explore improv comedy and physical theater clowning. We will practice and learn techniques for stage presence, working together, following impulse, dropping into emotions, body language/bringing the body to the stage and character building. We will practice various technique building and physical games and warm ups, as well play lots of improv games! We will also engage in some discussion around what it means to be a theater maker in today's world and how theater can be a resource for positive change. If time allows and there is interest, the workshop will culminate with the last day being an uncovering and sharing of our "inner clowns" through a clown runway walk!
Enrollment Information
This workshop is open to incoming 7th grade students through 12th grade. There are a total of 10 spots available. This program is provided for free, however you will need transportation to the workshop. To enroll please fill out the 1) registration form, 2) permission slip and 3) Parent/Guardian Pickup form and email your form to awoofenden@mtrsd.org.
Click on the link below for more information.
Painting and Drawing Workshop with Bob Masla
Do you like painting and drawing? Are you interested in learning the secrets of watercolor painting so you can use the medium with confidence? Do you have a serious desire to know and learn how artists see the natural world and then are able to translate their vision into a convincing 3 dimensional illusion on paper or canvas? Join professional artist Robert Masla for a series of fun, fast moving, in-depth workshops on drawing, sketchbook journaling and watercolor painting over a course of three days. Be prepared to learn a lot, techniques and exercises you can then practice on your own as well as developing what artists call “Visual Thinking”. Materials will be supplied and no prior experience is necessary.
Schedule:
July 19th, 21st and 23rd 12:00-3:00 pm
Click on the link below for more information.
Piano Lessons with Amy Roberts-Crawford
Mohawk Trail educator and local instructor Amy Roberts-Crawford has been playing for 43 years and is offering private lessons this summer at Mohawk Trail middle and high school.
Click on the link below for more information.
High School Trailblazers
The Mohawk Trail’s Explorers Program is excited to offer to Mohawk Trail Regional School students (in grades 9-12) a FREE course in the University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s Isenberg Business Ethics Academy through the Isenberg School of Management. UMass Professor and attorney Jennifer Merton will be coming to the Umass campus to provide this piloted program only available to our students. Students will get a taste for college AND earn 2 credits during this summer program. Transportation from MTRS to and from the campus as well as we will provide devices as needed.
For more information please click on the link below.
Community Partners
COMING NEXT WEEK: MOUNTAIN BIKING, 6TH GRADE STEP UP PROGRAMS , MEET OUR STAFF AND MORE EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS!
A summer of learning and fun!
STAY TUNED to our Facebook page @MTRSDExplorers, website, and emails in the upcoming week. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. My contact information is included below.
I can't wait for our Explorers to blaze their trails to educational success with us!
--Mrs. Woof
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Summer Programs
MTRSD Summer Program Coordinator
Email: awoofenden@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrsd.org/Explorers-Program
Location: 24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA