Sylvester Manor: Summer Programs — Traditional / Forest Theater / O.W.L.S…. / Registration Opens Feb 2nd

Our Traditional Summer Youth Program encompasses place-placed encounters in nature while integrating environmentally infused content. Children will have first-hand experiences growing and harvesting on a working farm, livestock and fiber and the intricate and magical essence of the forest as they sing and dance under her canopy.

All of the activities will engage your Meadowlark (ages 2-3 ½) Little Sprout (ages 3 ½-5) or Young Farmer (ages 6-8)! 

• The 2026 program for Meadowlarks, Little Sprouts and Young Farmers runs for 8 weeks, June 29 through August 21. Weekly sessions are held Monday through Friday, from 9:00am – 12:30pm for Little Sprouts and Young Farmers. Meadowlark sessions are held Monday through Friday from 8:30am-11:30am.
• Two additional weeks are available this year. Midsummer Week (June 22-26) and Quintessence Week (August 24-28) are offered for 3 ½ -8 year olds. These programs have limited availability.
• To enroll as a Little Sprout, your child must be three years old by January 1, 2026.
• To enroll in Meadowlarks, your child must be two years old by June 29, 2026. Meadowlarks do not need to be potty trained.
• Price per week is $565 for Little Sprouts and Young Farmers. Meadowlarks are $485/week. DIRT is an additional $340/week or $90/day. Endeavors in the Afternoon is an additional $400/week or $105/day.

This unique program is an experiential theatrical conservatory supporting the belief that children can find the noblest understanding of themselves…and the world…within an environment that embraces nature.

Forest Theatre, which is led by Hannah Gray, an accomplished thespian and our own Director of Summer Youth Program, encompasses aspects of theatrical study while deepening the wonder and understanding of oneself in relation to nature. The children will move through music and dance as a basis for culture and communication through poignant storytelling and spirited movement.

Performances are structured to embody the spirit of each child while fostering a deeper understanding of the expressive arts, inside a reverence for nature.

Each program will culminate in a uniquely authentic performance, in the forest.

• The 2026 Wing & Song program runs for 5 consecutive weeks and Dancing Moths runs for 3 consecutive weeks. Each program culminates at the end in a unique and authentic performance in the forest.
• Wing & Song (ages 11-15) runs from June 22-July 25, Monday-Friday from 12:30-3:30pm. The performances are on July 24 and July 25.
• Dancing Moths (ages 7-10) runs from August 3-August 22, Monday-Friday from 12:30-2:30pm. The performance is on August 22.
• Price for Dancing Moths is $1,400 and $2,475 for Wing & Song. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents} Children must attend each week and be available for the final performance.

Fig & Forest provides for a more focused approach to the wonder of story and the culinary arts in an outdoor summer setting. Each week children are invited to collaborate in an authentic way pairing food, art, storytelling and music in a unique, interactive and intimate space. Daily activities may include understanding kitchen safety and what makes up a commercial kitchen, the origins of culinary arts, visiting the farm, foraging for ingredients, learning about sustainable farming practices, enjoying a hayride, taking care of the Children’s Garden and experimenting with local guest chefs! 

Each week is limited to 10 children so sign up today to secure a spot in this program!

• The 2026 program runs for 8 weeks, June 29 through August 21. Weekly sessions are held Monday through Friday, from 9:00am – 12:30pm.
• Price is $580 for the week. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents}

Using the Manor grounds as their laboratory, kids will engage in hands-on discovery learning each day during this week-long STEM program! Young scientists will ask questions, make observations and create solutions as they participate in a variety of experiences and challenges. Led by Shelter Island School Math Teacher, Jimbo Theinert, kids will learn everything from building structures using natural objects, to creating mixtures and solutions, to identifying native plants and animals, to experimenting with leaves and creating physical sensory boards – if your child is curious and enjoys scientific investigation, register now!

Each week is limited to 10 children so sign up today to secure a spot in this program!

• July 13-17 (ages 8-12 years old), Monday-Friday from 9-11:30am
• Price is $575 for the week. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents}

Outdoor Wilderness Living Skills (O.W.L.S.) teaches kids how to practice outdoor skills mindfully and safely. They learn how to identify, avoid and deal with common hazards encountered outdoors. Exploring all of Sylvester Manor’s terrain—Farm, Field, Forest and Wetlands—kids will explore how these and other landscape features influence each other. Depending on the season, a typical day may include foraging in the forest, fishing in the creek, navigation techniques, building a shelter, using primitive tools at camp, starting and managing fire, all while moving through the various landscapes safely and comfortably. Led by Shelter Island native and outdoor enthusiast Jimbo Theinert, the O.W.L.S. program will immerse your kids in an action-packed experience of authentic wilderness training, exploring and skills building.

• Session One: August 10-14, Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm
• Session Two: August 24-28, Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm
• Price is $625 for each one-week session. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents}