Summer Programs Summer programs at Hartsbrook can provide children ages 4-14 with invaluable learning opportunities and enriching experiences during the summer weeks. Our camp programs for 2026 will run from June 22 – July 31, 2026. Our typical camp day runs from 8:45am – 3pm with the option to arrive as early as 7:30am as an Early Bird Add-On program. Camp sessions are run weekly (except for the CIT 2-week program) and there are no minimum or maximum number of weeks any one participant can register to enroll. Registration will open on January 28, 2026. If you have questions before our registration opens, please reach out to Lisa at summerprograms@hartsbrook.org. Early Risers 2026 Early Bird (weekly early arrival add-on program) All ages This will be a calm and quiet start to the morning at Hartsbrook summer camps for those children whose caregivers need to arrive before our regular drop-off time. This program will open at 7:45am, and we will walk the campers as a group to their respective counselors starting at 8:45am. You can expect kind, caring, experienced leaders who regularly work with mixed-age groups of children from 4 to 12 years old. Children can choose among individual and group options: coloring, puzzles, library skills, finger knitting, reading, games, and more. Sprouts 2026 Sprouts (at Farm Camp) Pre-k to Rising 1st Grade As a Sprout, children experience the freedom of summer. Our youngest campers have their own play yard where they can explore the climbing structures, play in a straw bale house, dig in the sand box, wander through the garden, or do crafts with a counselor. Throughout the day counselors will offer other activities, such as grinding corn for the chickens, planting seeds, visiting the farm animals, making flower chains or splashing in the wading pool. There is a predictable flow to each day that includes a time for quiet rest or a nap. If your child is age 6 and you are unsure if Sprouts or Young Farmers is the best fit, please feel free to reach out for a consultation. Children must be 4 years old and diaper-free to attend camp. There is a scholarship available for Farm Camp for the 2026 camp season. Young Farmers 2026 Young Farmers (at Farm Camp) Rising 1st Grade – 6th Grade Elementary-aged children enjoy a week of being outside and doing purposeful work. Young Stewards gather for a farmers’ meeting, often with a song and a game, before heading off to do their animal chores, like feeding the goats and collecting eggs from the chickens. They also experience farm-based crafts, such as working with wool and making cheese. Campers cool off on hot days with water games, and stories told under tall shady trees. There is a scholarship available for Farm Camp for the 2026 camp season. Counselor-in-Training (CIT) 2026 Counselor-in-Training Program (at Farm Camp) Rising 6th – 9th Grade This program is only offered as a two-week session. Enjoy the excitement of camp, while learning the skills to become a leader! Participate as a counselor in Farm Camp. You’ll assist counselors with games and play, connect with campers and support their joyful exploration of camp. Counselors in training also get to do hands-on agricultural work, animal care, and craft activities. Gain deep bonds with other CIT’s through community conversation, farm work, and leadership growth! There is a scholarship available for Farm Camp for the 2026 camp season. Creativity Camp 2026 Creativity Camp Rising 2nd – 8th Grade Creativity Camp is a whole week of playful artmaking, discovering and open-ended creative expression. Each week will have a unique themed-focus. In addition to each week’s focus, campers will explore other process-based creative arts projects. And we’ll have plenty of time to play, chill and cool off built into our days. At the end of the week before pickup, families are invited to a celebratory showcase of the week’s creations. Led by Creative Arts Facilitator and Hartsbrook parent Melissa Renzi, this one-of-a-kind offering draws from her twenty years of experience as an artist, writer and teacher. Come get creative with us! Fiddle Camp 2026 Fiddle Camp Rising 4th – 10th Grade Come play music all morning in a supportive, creative, and exploratory setting! Instructors will teach traditional fiddle tunes by ear from places like Ireland, Scotland, Louisiana, and the Appalachian mountains. There will be opportunities for song-writing, tune-writing, folk dancing, and exploring new instruments. New this year: violin, viola, cello, double bass, mandolin, guitar and banjo players welcome! More details to come! Cooking and Baking Camp 2026 Cooking and Baking Camp Rising 2th – 6th Grade In this cooking and baking camp, elementary-aged children step into the kitchen to prepare simple, nourishing foods along with crafts, writing and other projects. Guided by rhythm and care, campers visit the garden, chop, mix, bake, and share, cultivating practical skills, cooperation, and delight in the process. More details to come! CAMP POLICIES Cancellation Policy For 2026 Summer Programs and Camps: Cancellation and Participation Policies will be available when registration opens for the season on January 28, 2026. Camp Licensing Hartsbrook Summer Programs must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local Board of Health. Parents may request copies of staff background checks, health care and discipline policies as well as procedures for filing grievances.