Kicking off mid-June (or after School District 5 officially ends its school year), the summer program runs 10-12 weeks until late August. DDC annually closes the week prior to Labor Day for building maintenance & deep cleaning, staff meetings, professional development, and preparing the classrooms for the start of the school year!
Discovery’s programming moves outdoors in the summer, with lots of messy mud/water play, gardening, and all the same learning opportunities the children enjoy indoors (including dramatic play, building, science activities, numeracy and literacy, music, movement, art, etc.).
We maintain the same three classrooms in the summer, although the oldest group (“Beetle Bugs”) may include some kindergarten/1st grade siblings who have been previously enrolled in our program, as space allows. Unfortunately, we do NOT offer a school-age summer program for children from the community.
- Discovery’s summer program includes field trips for all age groups! In general, children attend 2-3 days/week can plan on at least 1 field trip/week, and children who are enrolled for 4-5 days a week can plan on at least 2 trips/week.
- We have two vans that have three different styles of car seats, booster seats, and safety vests installed according to DOT regulations, and children are measured throughout the summer to ensure that they are seated in the safest vehicle restraint.
- Field trip destinations include local parks & playgrounds, farms, orchards, special events, ImagineIf library, Hockaday Art Museum, and the elementary schools where our pre-K students will be starting kindergarten. Field trips are planned around interest levels, weather, and special classroom projects or enrichment themes.
- A summer activity fee is charged for each child at the beginning of the summer to cover transportation costs, special treats, and parties throughout the summer ($35-65, depending on the age of the child and # days/week).