Creativity and resilience. We use our voices, hands, bodies, and hearts to connect with each other through creativity.
Afterschool Enrichment
WonderKids' spring session will be the culmination of our school-year-long exploration of traditions, foods, games, and creativity from New England to Nigeria and beyond. Our theme this year has encouraged students to open their minds and hearts to different ways of doing things, and learning that even though we may live very far apart, people all around the world have a lot of things in common. “Here, There, and Everywhere” has been a journey around the world and back in time. Now that we have spent two sessions noticing the differences and similarities between cultures, we will spend the Spring Session practicing how to welcome another’s customs or perspectives when we encounter them. Spring will culminate in a community festival where students will share ways to accept and welcome others with parents, friends, and family.
Literature and storytelling serve as a powerful and universal art form that transcends cultural boundaries, fostering a sense of shared human experience. When narratives are crafted, they reflect the values, struggles, dreams, and identities of diverse cultures. Stories illustrate the common threads of humanity such as love, conflict, and morality. Through oral traditions, written texts, and performances, stories allow us to explore different perspectives, encouraging empathy and understanding among people from varying backgrounds.
In the 11-week session, WonderKids will weave in and out of reading aloud and listening to chapter books and stories. They will make what they see in their mind’s eye and on the page come to life through visual arts, performing arts, or in practice as they collaborate to play games. Every child will have the opportunity to add their perspective and advice for kindness and inclusion to an interactive display for the Spring Festival.
Spring Afterschool Session
The registration period for the Spring session runs from February 1-13. For more information, or to register, click below.
Start Date: March 4, 2026
End Date: May 21, 2026
Community Spring Festival Date: May 21, 2026
Hardwick
Monday: Weaving for Every Body with Beth Meachem
Tuesday: Reeve Basom / Inclusive Arts with Beth Meachem (alternating weekly)
Wednesday: Courtyards of Yorubalands with Sherif Alao
Thursday: Inner Pictures to Physical Form with Beth Meachem
Wolcott
Monday: Sun and Moon with Taryn Noelle
Tuesday: Courtyards of Yorubaland with Sherif Alao
Craftsbury
Wednesday: Inner Pictures to Physical Form with Beth Meachem
Thursday: Courtyards of Yorubaland with Sherif Alao
Friday: Running Club with Julie Higgins (March 13-May 22)
Spring Schedule
The Sun and the Moon with Taryn Noelle
The sun and the moon are usually considered opposites, but we can discover the relationship between the two of them, and find joy within the relationship between these two celestial bodies. Lead by Taryn, children will practice theater skills, build a narrative that includes shadows and a lesson learn, and develop a performance to share at the Spring Festival.
Courtyards (Agblala) of Yorubaland with Sherif Alao
In Yorubaland, Nigeria, the agbala (courtyard) is the container within the family set up where rituals are done, food is eaten, and games are played. The agbala is where we learn ajose (relationships between family and friends). Children will enjoy music, stories, food, and activities together in their own courtyard area.
Inner Pictures to Physical Form with Beth Meachem
Beth invites WonderKids to muster their own inner pictures using stories read aloud from chapter books, storybooks, and folktales. WonderKids may share in the reading aloud, or simply listen to the stories, letting their imaginations form inner pictures, and settle into a shared creative mood. After hearing the story, children bring these images to life through hands-on art activities.
Weaving for Every Body with Beth Meachem
Our weaving workshop is designed for all kinds of learners. Some children love the quiet focus of yarn, color, and pattern on a small loom; others learn best through big, full-body movement. In this series, weaving is offered in many forms—from traditional tabletop weaving to giant collaborative looms and outdoor weaving walls—so every child can participate at their own developmental level.
Inclusive Arts with Beth Meachem
Inclusive arts provides an opportunity for students to explore their own creativity using a variety of art materials to create 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional artwork.
Reeve Basom
Guest teacher, Reeve Basom from the Center for Agriculture in Hardwick will spend some of her Tuesday afternoons working with WonderKids participants and exploring food together.
Spring Enrichment Descriptions
Summer Enrichment 2025: Color Our World!
Our 2025 Summer Enrichment Camp theme was Color our World! Campers spent their days outside on the property of Hazen Union enjoying the beauty and colors of nature. Daily activities included walks near (and in) the river, shared meal times, quiet choice, and community service. Campers also had the opportunity to practice resilience as they tried unfamiliar activities, made new friends, and spent their days surrounded by the joys and challenges of nature.
Camp by the Numbers:
99 different campers participated in at least 1 day of camp
Most days there were an average of 50 campers in attendance
WonderKids provided 5 weeks of summer camp
Campers came from all 6 towns in OSSU
Campers could choose from 50 weekly enrichment activities throughout the summer
Our campers logged over 600 hours of community service!
The cost of this camp to families was $0!
