SHS Life
Auxiliary & Summer Programs
Summer Programs

Our Programs

Busy Bees: Rising SHS Beginners

For the last two weeks of summer we invite Rising Beginners to join us in Hillsiders! In multi-age groups with our Rising Kindergartners, they will be introduced to new friends and familiarity with school-like routines as well as enriching activities set up by our SHS summer team. After a morning of busy activity, our Bees have lunch, recess, relaxing rest and choice times. Water play with sprinklers will be a regular cool off option during recess! Waitlist preference is given to SHS accepted Beginners students.

Hillsiders: Rising Grades K-II

Hillsiders provides a warm, nurturing, and inclusive environment specifically designed for younger children to make new discoveries and joyfully try new things. Students will explore each session’s theme with engaging STEM activities, active movement games, messy art creations, and lots of daily recess and water play on our beautiful 11-acre campus with our popular summer inflatables! Our small groups allow for each child to receive plenty of individual attention from staff, ensuring that each Hillsider is loved, acknowledged, and celebrated

Explorers: Rising Grades III-VII

Older students will have longer blocks of time for advanced activity choices depending on their interests. Weekly options may vary, but will include use of our Makerspace, Gym, Woodshop, Arts Studio, Ceramics Studio, Kitchen and more, developed by our own expert SHS teachers. Specific weekly options will be available on the registration portal. Honoring student voice and choice is central to our Explorers program.

Leaders-in-Training: Rising Grades VII-IX (SHS and former SHS Summer Programs students only)

For students in rising Grades VII–IX, this program will teach essential work skills as Group Leaders in Training (similar to junior counselors). This is a great opportunity for students who enjoy being mentors to younger friends and want to give back to the community while spending one more beautiful summer on the SHS campus.

Final placement will be dependent also on a brief student interview process. More information in the registration portal.

AFTERCARE

Aftercare will run from 3:30–6:00 PM and include a school-provided snack and extra multiage time on our campus or in our Makerspace.

No aftercare on the last day of SHS summer! Aftercare is not available for Busy Bees participants.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Two Week Sessions: We offer discounted rates for full two-week session sign ups, to support community-building within student groups and to offer students the full breadth of summer program experience. One week options will still be available to accommodate varying family summer schedules.

Water Fun Play: New inflatable water slides every session adding to the recess fun! Please Note: We don’t offer swimming pool access, and water play is optional. Recess play can also happen on our turf fields, our newly rebuilt playgrounds and in our air-conditioned gymnasium!

One All Group Share per Session: A chance for students to share their Shady Hill Summer Spirit with families and friends with Camp Songs and Group Skits and lots of hand-made fun!

Field Trips: For example, Artesani Splash Park, Franklin Park Zoo, Boston Museum of Science, New England Aquarium

Summer T-Shirts: Every summer is a new color!

New this summer: Lunch delivery program at no extra cost!
617.520.5260      178 Coolidge Hill  Cambridge MA 02138           Association of Independent Schools in New England