Academics & Adventures Summer Program - Rising 1-9 (Main Campus)

HOURS 9:00am - 3:00pm
Complimentary Early Morning Drop Off 8:00am (free play)
Extended day available from 3pm - 5pm for fee ($50).

This is a full day program (the Academic Mornings and Afternoon Adventures are not a la carte options). Extended Day from 3pm - 5pm is available (fee).

Week 4: June 30- July 3 ($320) *closed July 4th 
Week 5: July 7- July 11 ($400)
Week 6: July 14- July 18 ($400)
Week 7: July 21- July 25 ($400)
Week 8: July 28-August 1 ($400)

Get ready for full days of learning, and unforgettable experiences at Academics & Adventures!

Morning Academics
Start your child’s day with engaging academics in the class of choice, tailored to spark their interests and build skills. Whether diving into science experiments, honing math skills, exploring creative writing, or engaging in art, our morning sessions are designed to inspire and excite. Along the way, we’ll enjoy a refreshing snack break and some outdoor playtime to keep energy levels high and minds sharp!

Afternoon Adventures
When the clock strikes noon, the real adventure begins! After lunch, students will jump into a variety of thrilling activities that will keep them moving and having fun:

At Academics & Adventures, we blend learning with fun to create a summer program that’s as enriching as it is exhilarating. Join us for a season of discovery, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime! Each day, campers should bring their own snack, lunch, water, bathing suit, and towel. Please note that we are a nut-free facility. This is a full day program (the Academic Mornings and Afternoon Adventures are not a la carte options). Extended Day from 3pm - 5pm is available (fee). 

*EXTENDED DAY for Early Childhood Discovery Program, Intersession Adventures, and Academics & Academics (for a fee) 3:00-5:00 

Families will need to provide an afternoon snack.

Week 4: June 30 - July 3 *closed July 4th 

Week 7: July 21 - July 25

Rising Grades 1-3

 

Summer is the perfect time to brush up on math skills! With manipulatives, websites/ apps, and fun games, this class is tailored to the needs of its students and will focus on letting young learners feel confident and prepared for the upcoming school year. 

Week 5: July 7 - 11

Week 8: July 28 - August 1

Rising Grades 4-6

 

Get ready to strengthen your math skills and have fun diving into engaging lessons, interactive activities, and problem solving practice. Whether building confidence, or boosting skills, this course ensures a supportive environment for all mathematicians. 

Week 4: June 30 - July 3 *closed July 4th

Week 5: July 7 - July 11

Week 8: July 28 - August 1

Rising Grades 1-6

 

Ignite your child's imagination and nurture their artistic talents with our engaging children's art classes. Throughout the class, students will receive hands-on demonstration and instruction as they explore a wide range of artistic techniques and mediums. From 3-D design to painting, replicating famous artists of the 20th century, and creative crafts.

Week 4: June 30 - July 3 *closed July 4th

Week 7: July 21 - July 25

Rising Grades 4-6 

 

Students will explore various writing styles while engaging in the writing process of writing, revising, editing, and publishing their own pieces. Specific focal points during this course will center on sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Students will learn to use graphic organizers as supporting tools to hone their craft. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English.

Week 5: July 7 - July 11

Rising 4-6

 

This course is designed to strengthen reading comprehension skills and foster a love for reading. Students will explore a variety of mentor texts and learn strategies to understand and analyze different genres. Daily lessons will focus on building essential skills like spelling, vocabulary, and sentence construction through fun and interactive activities.Through guided discussions and engaging projects, students will deepen their connection to the texts and enhance their ability to think critically about what they read. The course will conclude with a celebratory "Book Talk" session, where students can share their favorite reads and insights.

Rising 1 - 3

Week 6: July 14 - 18

Week 8: July 28 - 1

 

This course is designed to help young readers build strong reading skills and develop a love for literature. Students will enjoy exploring a variety of fun and colorful stories while learning helpful comprehension strategies to understand what they read. Each day, we’ll focus on important literacy skills like comparing stories and authors, identifying story elements, and making self-to-text connections. With guided storytime and creative hands-on activities, students will love reading! 

Week 7: July 21-25 rising 1 - 3  

Week 8: July 28-August 1  rising 4 - 6

 

Embark on daily adventures into the wonders of the natural world with Hamden Hall Lower School Science teacher Emily Davies! Discover the birds, bugs, and plants that make places like West Rock, East Rock, and Sleeping Giant State Parks so extraordinary.

Each day offers a blend of activities, including short hikes, stream investigations, beachcombing, and woodland play. From exploring Connecticut’s wild places to uncovering nature’s hidden treasures, there’s so much to learn and enjoy in the great outdoors.

Join us for an unforgettable journey of discovery and fun in the natural beauty of Connecticut!

Rising K-2 

Week 5: July 7-11

Week 6: July 14-18

 

Students will develop essential reading skills beginning with a phonics based approach that focuses on the relationship between letter names and sounds. Through engaging activities and tailored instruction, students will practice decoding, encoding, and blending and segmenting of sounds and words. Instruction will be differentiated and suitable for those new to reading instruction and those who are ready for more. 

STEM Innovators
Rising Grades 4 - 6
Week 6: July 14-17
Week 7: July 21-25

In this engaging summer program, students will dive into hands-on STEM activities and challenges that spark curiosity and creativity. Each game or challenge is thoughtfully paired with the underlying scientific concepts, making learning both exciting and meaningful.

Activities range from extracting strawberry DNA to designing and building catapult launchers, exploring chemical reactions, and experimenting with sound and energy waves. Students will discover a wide array of scientific principles while having an unforgettable time filled with exploration and fun! Each week will feature different activities, ensuring a unique and diverse learning experience.

Dungeons & Dragons
Weeks 4 - 8 (July 30 - August 1)
Rising Grades 4-9

For those seeking to dive into the realms of make-believe and tell an epic story of heroes, the Dungeons & Dragons Summer Academy program is the perfect way to do so. This program is designed to introduce campers from all walks of life to the world’s greatest roleplaying game. The program fosters creativity, community, cooperation, and sees the campers with priceless memories that they will carry far beyond their time at the game table. No prior experience with the game is necessary, just a willing attitude. Each day will be accompanied by extra activities including morning improv games, a trip to the athletic center to swim, and plenty of other engaging side quests. The brunt of the matter however, is the game, during which our campers will be fighting dragons, plundering ancient vaults of treasure, and saving the realm. Get ready for an action packed, player driven story full of boundless fun, exciting twists, daring drama, and high stakes rolls!

Summer Academy Director: Angelica Demers
ademers@hamdenhall.org