Sylvester Manor: Summer Youth Progs: Meadowlarks, O.W.L.S., Fig & Forest Culinary, Forest Theatre, STEM ….

THE place for your kids to enjoy growing and harvesting vegetables in our Children’s Garden, creating nature-based arts and crafts, exploring the Sylvester Manor forest, taking field walks to the Windmill Field and learning about music, imagery, fiber arts and more! All of the activities will engage your Meadowlark (ages 2-3 ½) Little Sprout (ages 3 ½-4) or Young Farmer (ages 5-7)! 

• The 2025 program for Little Sprouts and Young Farmers runs for 8 weeks, June 30 through August 22. Weekly sessions are held Monday through Friday, from 9:00am – 12:30pm. 
• An additional Week 9 (August 25-29), Quintessence, is offered for 4-7 year olds. This program will have limited availability.
• Little Sprouts and Young Farmers will be split into pods each week. There will be 3 pods for Little Sprouts and 2 pods for Young Farmers. To enroll as a Little Sprout, your child must be three years old by January 1, 2025.
• The Meadowlark program runs for 8 weeks, June 30 through August 22. Weekly sessions are held Monday through Friday, 8:30am-11:30am. To enroll in Meadowlarks, your child must be two years old by June 30, 2025.
• We will again offer an extended day option for a limited number of 5-7 year olds Monday through Thursday, from 12:30-3:00pm. The extended day provides kids a place to play freely, in an unstructured, supervised environment after the end of the regular day. Daily or weekly enrollment is available.
• Price per week is $550 for Little Sprouts and Young Farmers. Meadowlarks are $475/week. Extended day option is an additional $300 per week or $85/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.

While enabling for an opportunity to experience the aspects of theatre arts in the natural world, Forest Theatre encompasses aspects of theatrical study while deepening the wonder and understanding of oneself in relation to nature.

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

• The 2025 Wing & Song program runs for 4 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 11-14) runs from June 30-July 25, Monday-Friday from 12:30-3:00pm. The performance is on July 26.
• Dancing Moths (ages 7-10) runs from August 4-August 22, Monday-Friday from 12:30-2:30pm. The performance is on August 22.
• Price for Dancing Moths is $950 and $1875 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 A Culinary Endeavor in the Forest (ages 8-10)

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. The children explore the culture of the culinary arts through music, storytelling and dance and their week culminates in both cooking for others and the creation of a unique cookbook that includes their cooking experiences.

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

• The 2025 program runs for 8 weeks, June 30 through August 22. Weekly sessions are held Monday through Friday, from 9:00am – 12:30pm.
• Price is $575 for the week. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents}

STEM @ Sylvester Manor (ages 8-12)

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. 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!  This exciting program will be led this year by local educator, Julie Fanelli.

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

• July 14-18 (ages 8-12 years old), Monday-Friday from 9-11:30am
• Price is $550 for the week. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents}

Outdoor Wilderness Living Skills (O.W.L.S.) program is a two-week program that 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, building a shelter, using a field knife, crafting tools for camp, starting and managing fire, all while moving through the various landscapes safely and comfortably. Led by Shelter Island native and outdoor expert Mark Mobius, the O.W.L.S. program will immerse your kids in two action-packed weeks of authentic wilderness training, exploring and skills building.

• July 7-18, Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm
• August 4-15, Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm
• Price is $1,200 for each two-week session. {10% discount for participants who are full-time, year-round Shelter Island residents

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