www.commongroundct.

org

Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
358 Springside Ave • New Haven CT 06515 New Haven, CT
(203) 389-4333 • www.commongroundct.org Permit #657

community • ecology • education

2010-2011 Program Catalog

EDUCATI N
C MMUNITY
EC LOGY

tableof
contents
About Common Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Common Ground High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Urban Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Environmental Education Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Fall Public Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
October/November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Winter Public Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13
Spring Public Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-19
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8-19
Children’s Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23
After School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Weekend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
February & April Vacation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Summer Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Birthday Parties & Special Events . . . . . . . . . . 24
Additional Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
About COMMON GROUND
ommon Ground is a center
C for environmental learning and
leadership, located at the base
of New Haven’s West Rock Ridge
State Park. At Common Ground,
a diverse community of children,
young people, and adults cultivate
habits of healthy living and sustainable
environmental practice.
Common Ground’s community includes
children and adults, eager for outdoor
adventures and learning opportunities
provided through our Environmental
Our Site
from the GROUND Up
C ommon Ground is a place: a unique
20-acre site at the intersection of farm,
forest, and city. It is home to gardens and
farm animals, solar panels and camping
platforms, technology-rich classrooms and
forests. It is the classroom for community
environmental programs, the textbook for
Common Ground courses. It is also a
laboratory for urban sustainability, helping
to test and teach practices from local food
production to water conservation.
Common Ground’s site is also a gateway to
West Rock Ridge State Park – one of the
state’s largest natural areas, rich in hiking
trails and opportunities to explore nature.
By this fall, visitors will find nearly two dozen
new student-designed interpretive
exhibits, all exploring the lessons that can
be learned from this unique place.
Not far from the heart of New Haven,
Common Ground offers a chance to step
Education Center. It is also home to
the students of Common Ground
High School, moving on
pathways to college success and
environmental leadership. All those
who partake of the harvest from
our Urban Farm are part of this
community, as well. The glue that
bonds our community together is this
unique place, and our common efforts to
grow a more sustainable future.
We hope that you, too, will find Common
Ground this year.
back from the city – and a launching point
for engagement in critical issues at the
intersection of the urban environment and
the natural world. Our place is perhaps our
richest asset, and is the starting point for all
that we do.
Over the next year, look for new additions
to Common Ground’s site, guided by a 20-
year master plan, and by the voices of the
Common Ground community
• A Harvest Pavilion will house an on-site
farmer’s market and community events.
• We will officially launch our Community
Kitchen, offering a commercial cooking
facility to local gardeners and entrepreneurs.
• We will prepare for construction of a new
school building, incorporating an array of
student-developed sustainability proposals.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 1
 COMMON GROUND HIGH SCHOOL
Growing Successful Students
& Environmental Leaders
This fall, 155 students arrive at Common
Ground High School for another year of growth:
• They will study and perform with the actors
of the Elm Shakespeare Company, and
create museum exhibits with curators from
the Yale Peabody Museum.
• They will launch and run small business
enterprises using produce from our urban
farm, and help to design a major new green
building on our site.
• They will study pre-calculus and
biodiversity, participate in over two dozen
after-school programs, work with college
mentors from the University of New Haven,
and head out into the community to
participate in college courses and
leadership opportunities.
Through all this –
and many other
experiences – ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Common
Ground students
Outdoor Adventures
will become the
next generation
of successful college students and powerful
& Deeper Lessons
environmental leaders. In each of the last two
years, 93% of our graduates were
accepted to college. For three years
running, these students have made some of
E very year, more than 6,000 community members join
us at Common Ground. They come to dig in the dirt,
harvest local food, go on a hike, learn about sustainable living,
the state’s largest test score gains – literally
buy organically grown vegetable seedlings, ask garden advice,
doubling the percentage of students earning and enjoy the life on the farm.
proficient scores, surpassing the New Haven
• Our after-school programs for grades K-8 build environmental
average in every subject, and beating the leadership and understanding through a mix of outdoor adventures, hands-on
state average in reading. The recipe for their science, work on the farm, and opportunities for service.
success? A mix of authentic learning, small
school support, environmental courses, • Through our school field trips, we aim to get every child outside: connecting
leadership opportunities, and consistently high several thousand New Haven elementary students with first-hand experiences
academic expectations. in the farm and forest, all linked to educational standards.

• Our Green Jobs Corps links more than 30 high school students with a
URBAN FARM: A Rich Harvest combination of real environmental work opportunities, structured leadership
and career development opportunities, and academic supports.
here is much free lunches from the farm, and study • Our summer camps and vacation programs get more than 500 local kids
T to do and
much to
celebrate on the
its seasons and cycles through their
high school classes – cultivating valuable
knowledge healthy living and sustainable
out into the natural world – exploring and playing, learning and growing.

farm. Last summer
saw abundant food in
the gardens, new piglets
and sheep, a hard-working crew from our
Green Jobs Corps, and more than 400
happy summer campers keeping the farm
buzzing with learning, growing, and building
community. Staff and young people worked
side-by-side to bring in the harvest and put
food by for healthy winter meals, aided by
volunteers from the community and interns
from area colleges.
Why grow a farm in the city? The more
than 5000 pounds of fresh, healthy,
organic produce are certainly the most
visible and tastiest product. But as we
plant, and tend, and harvest, Common
Ground’s community reaps much more, as
well. All of our high school students eat
• Community programs for adults and families teach about home gardening
food systems. Much of our harvest
also goes to local farmer’s markets,
contributing to local food security. This
same produce is the inspiration and raw
material for small student- and community-
generated business ventures.
The results of our harvest keep growing.
More than thirty young people learn the
challenges and rewards of hard work in
our Green Jobs Corps – helping to
operate our farm and city farmers markets,
and to lead environmental education
programs and other efforts across the
city. Summer campers learn and play in
the gardens, along with thousands of
community members and children from
New Haven elementary schools. As the
gardens grow, so do we all – closer to
our food, this land, and our community.
and composting, help city residents access the natural world, and build our
capacity for healthy living.
Beyond offering a chance to get your hands
dirty, our programs reveal the deeper messages
of the farm and forest. These places have stories
to tell about the environmental challenges we
face as a people. How will we reduce our
ecological footprint in order to preserve the
splendor and sustenance of nature here at home
and across the globe? Practices modeled at
Common Ground offer some suggestions and
solutions. Come learn and take action with us.
For more information about COMMON GROUND
visit www.commongroundct.org

2 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 3

 Calendar
of Events April
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes this month
May
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes this month
Summer Camp Open House
Sat, Jun 11, 10:00 – 2:00
Family Camping
Fri, Jun 17 – Sat, Jun 18
Children’s Programs Campfire & Night Hikes 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Spring Sessions Begin! 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Fri 6, Fri 13, Tue 17 (Full Moon!)
Open Farm Days
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00 Open Farm Days
Apr 2 (Seed Starting & “Ask the Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00 July & August
Farmer”), 9, 16, 30 (Composting May 7 (Meet Baby Chicks), 14, 28
September Cold Weather Crops January Basics: Backyard Bins & Wiggly Worms) Common Ground's
(NOFA Workshop)
Family Hiking Club Sat, Oct 16, 10:00 – 12:00 Family Hiking Club Family Camping Summer Camps,
2 hikes this month 1 hike this month Soils & Compost Fri, May 13 – Sat, May 14 Farm Market, & Open Farm Days
Family Camping "The Best Soil for the Garden" 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM run throughout July and August.
Children’s Programs Sat, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 17 (NOFA Workshop) This Spring, check our Web site
Fall Sessions Begin! Fri, Oct 22 – Sat, Oct 23 Sat, Apr 2, 10:00 – 12:00 Seedling Sale & Farm Festival
6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Sat, May 21, 10:00 – 3:00 for additional details.
Open Farm Days February Growing Food in Small Spaces
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00 Farm Volunteer Day (NOFA Workshop)
Sep 4, 11, 18 (Bug Walk for kids & 23, 10:00 – 2:00 Family Hiking Club Sat, Apr 9, 10:00 – 12:00 T
for p o registe
Sat, Oct
families), 25 (Harvest Celebration)
receivrograms r
1 hike this month
Farm Volunteer Day June inform e up and
Campfire & Night Hike Vacation Programs for Children Sat, Apr 16, 10:00 – 2:00 -
and e ation on to-date
Tue 14, Thu 23 (Full Moon) February 21 – 25 Family Hiking Club
203.3 vents, p program
6:00 – 8:30 PM
November Planning Your Organic Garden
Vacation Programs for Children
18 – 22
2 hikes this month 89.43 lease s
OR s 33 ext 12call

www
Apr
Family Camping Campfire & Night Hikes e 1
Family Hiking Club (NOFA Workshop)
webs e our 3,
Fri, Sep 24 – Sat, Sep 25 Sat, Feb 5, 10:00 - 12:00 Full Moon Campfire 6:00 – 8:30 PM ite at

.co
Wed, 1, Wed 15 (Full Moon!)
2 hikes this month m

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6:00 PM – 10:00 AM & Night Hike mo .o
Campfire & Night Hike Starting Seedlings Tue , Apr 19, 6:00 – 8:30 PM n grou ndct
Open Farm Days
Mon, Nov 1, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
(NOFA Workshop)
Sat, Feb 12, 10:00 - 12:00 Earth Day Family Camping Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00
Open Farm Days Thu, Apr 21 – Fri, Apr 22 Jun 4 (Guided hike to Judges Cave),
October Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM 11, 18 (Weed Walk), 25 (12:00 – 3:00)
Family Hiking Club Nov 13, 20, 27 (Guided hike to
West Rock Summit)
Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride
2 hikes this month March & Open Farm Day
Open Farm Days End of Season Sat, Apr 23
Farm Volunteer Day Family Hiking Club
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00
Sat, Nov 6, 10:00 – 2:00)
1 hike this month
Oct 2, 9, 16 (Guided hike to Judges
Cave), 23 (End of Season Gardening Winterfest
Workshop), 30 (Garden Trick or Treat) Sat, Mar 19, 11:00 – 2:00
Feast from the Fields
Sat, Oct 2, 5:30 PM
December
Campfire & Night Hikes
Tue 5, Thu 21 (Full Moon!) Family Hiking Club
6:00 – 8:30 PM 1 hike this month

Preserving the Harvest Wreath Making

(NOFA Workshop) from the Farm & Forest
Sun, Oct 10, 9:00 – 12:00 Sat, Dec 11, 10:00 – 2:00

4 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 5

 Family Camping
Fri, Sep 24 – Sat, Sep 25, 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Camping out at Common
Ground is a great way

FALL Public Programs to connect with

nature without

at Common Ground leaving the city.

Bring a picnic
dinner, roast
marshmallows over the campfire, and
participate in an optional guided night
September hike through West Rock. On Saturday
morning you and your family can help
feed the farm animals before enjoying a
Open Farm Days farm fresh breakfast including eggs from
Family Hiking Club Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00 our chickens and other seasonal foods
2 hikes this month! Sep 11, 18 & 25 from the farm. $85 for a private
Meet new friends and enjoy (see details for Sep 18 & 25 right) Sep 18 At 11:00 join us for a cabin that holds up to 10
the company of fellow families Fall is a great time to Bug Walk and Talk to learn To re people, $35 to rent a tent
for p giste
who value active, outdoor enjoy locally grown food. all about the smallest receivrograms r that holds up to 4 people,
inform e up a
adventures through our monthly hiking Explore our beautiful creatures on the farm. a tio -to-d nd $5 per person ages 4 and
and e n on ate
series! When you join for the year, you urban, organic farm and Identify good bugs and ve
203.3 nts, p p rog up if you bring your own
immerse your senses in the colors
89.43 lease rams
will receive monthly emails with bad bugs, search for 3 c tent. Pre-Registration

www
OR s 3 ext 12 all
upcoming guided hikes in West Rock and smells of early fall harvest. spiders and worms, and webs e e ou 1 3, required; register and
ite at r

.co
Park just for members of our Family See ripening fruits, sample m pay online or by calling

Hiking Club. We will explore familiar trails
and favorite places as well as venture to
parts of the park that you have probably
never seen! We will explore all sorts of
trails, including long hikes and plenty that
are friendly to less experienced hikers
and small children. Hikes will be on
weekends and holidays; dates,
destination, and hike length and difficulty
to be shared by email 4-6 weeks in
advance. A family membership
is $35 for the year (16 hikes
from Sept-June;
attend as many or as
few as you like).
Member families are
invited to bring
friends for $3 per
person per outing.
Register online or
by calling (203) 389-
4333 ext 1213.
veggies, taste fresh herbs and talk to
farm staff about growing an urban
organic garden. The animal yards will be
open for visitors of all ages. This is a
free event.
rg
discover what the insects
mo .o
you find can tell you about n grou ndct 203-389-4333 ext 1213.
your garden and your home.
Sep 25 Join us to celebrate the
fruits of our labor at our Harvest
Celebration! Tour the tasting stations in
the garden and enjoy fresh samples of
all the heirloom and hybrid vegetables,
fruits, and herbs we grow on our organic
farm. Take home copies of some of our
favorite recipes, visit with our family of
friendly farm animals, and take home
some treats from our on-site farm stand.

6 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 7


FALL Public Programs
at Common Ground
October/November
October
Open Farm Days
Saturdays, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
(see details for Oct 16, 23 & 30 below)
10:00 – 2:00
Immerse your senses in the
sights, smells and sounds of our
beautiful urban, organic farm at the peak
of fall. Taste fresh herbs from the
garden, visit the farm animals or take a
walk through 12 foot tall pole beans!
This is a free event.
Oct 16 Guided hike to Judges Cave: At
12:30, farm staff will lead a hike to historic
Judges Cave, a West Rock landmark that
is perfect for leaf peeping from high above
the city. Hike is moderate in difficulty;
about 25 minutes of mostly uphill ascent,
and about 15 minutes to go back down.
Oct 23 End of Season Gardening
Workshop: At 10:00, join our farm
manager for a talk on putting your garden
to bed for the winter. The key to a
successful garden is how it goes to sleep.
Learn about soil amendments, when to
turn your soil, cover crops, cold frames,
and putting your compost pile to rest for
the winter. We will be indoors and outside
for this workshop.
8 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
Oct 30 Garden Trick or Treat: Enjoy a
healthy Halloween treat! Children and their
families are invited to trick-or-treat through
our farm and taste some healthy and
delicious garden grown foods. Our friendly
farm animals will be waiting to greet you,
too. Costumes welcome.
Feast from the Fields
Sat, Oct 2, 5:30 PM
The best of the fall harvest from Common
Ground’s gardens and local farms prepared
by New Haven’s most creative chefs.
Organic wines and local beers. Tastings and
cocktails, followed by a beautiful family-style
dinner. Music and theater. Live and silent
auctions. All outdoors, on Common
Ground’s site at the base of West Rock
Ridge State Park. Join us to celebrate
community, sustainability, and the harvest
season – and to support Common Ground’s
vital mission and programs. Tickets are $50
per person, and sell out quickly; RSVP to
jtolman@nhep.com or 203.389.4333 x1214.
Campfire & Night Hike
Tue, Oct 5;
Thu, Oct 21 (Full Moon!)
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Experience the sights
and sounds of the night
forest as we stargaze, roast
marshmallows over an open
campfire and take a guided hike in
West Rock. Campfire is appropriate for all
ages; guided night hike is recommended
for ages 6 and up. Please bring a
flashlight. This is a free event.
Preserving the Harvest
Sun, Oct 10, 9:00 – 12:00
Join CT NOFA at Common Ground to
discover the joys of canning, freezing,
pickling and drying of the abundant
harvest. The fruits of our labor will be
donated to a local soup kitchen. Due to
limited kitchen space, this event is for
ages 18 and up only. This is a free event.
RSVP to CT NOFA required:
www.ctnofa.org.
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes in October and
2 in November!
M eet new friends and enjoy the
company of fellow families who
value active, outdoor adventures
through our monthly hiking series!
When you join for the year, you will
receive monthly emails with
upcoming guided hikes in West
Rock Park just for members of our
Family Hiking Club. We will explore
familiar trails and favorite places as
well as venture to parts of the park
that you have probably never seen!
We will explore all sorts of trails,
including long hikes and plenty that
are friendly to less experienced
hikers and small children. Hikes will
be on weekends and holidays;
dates, destination, and hike length
and difficulty to be shared by email
4-6 weeks in advance. A family
membership is $35 for the year (16
hikes from Sept-June; attend as
many or as few as you like).
Member families are invited to bring
friends for $3 per person per outing.
Register online or by calling (203)
389-4333 ext 1213.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 9

FALL Public Programs
at Common Ground
October/November cont.
Cold Weather Crops
Sat, Oct 16, 10:00 – 12:00
Join CT NOFA at Common Ground for
this outdoor, hands on workshop. A
discussion of continuing the harvest
through the fall and winter seasons will
encourage gardeners to consider cold
weather crops. Lists of vegetables to
plant, demonstrations of planting and
suggestions for a healthy harvest will be
available. Information is for home
gardeners, but also helpful for those
working with school gardens. Program fee
of $5 per person, registration and details
at www.ctnofa.org.
Family Camping
Sat, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 17,
Fri, Oct 22 – Sat, Oct 23
6:00 PM - 10:00 AM
Camping out at Common Ground is a
great way to connect with nature without
leaving the city. Bring a picnic
dinner, roast marshmallows
over the campfire, and
participate in an optional
guided night hike through
10 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
West Rock. In the morning you and your
family can help feed the farm animals
before enjoying a farm fresh breakfast
including eggs from our chickens and
other seasonal foods from the farm. $85
for a private cabin that holds up to 10
people, $35 to rent a tent that holds up to
4 people, $5 per person ages 4 and up if
you bring your own tent. Pre-Registration
required; register and pay online or by
calling 203-389-4333 ext 1213.
Farm Volunteer Day
Sat, Oct 23, 10:00 – 2:00
Experience our beautiful urban, organic
farm ablaze in fall color while helping us
get our farm ready for winter. Projects are
intended for adults; children ages 12 and
up may participate with a parent. The
farm is also open for non-volunteers to
explore and enjoy.
November
Campfire & Night Hike
Mon, Nov 1, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Enjoy a crisp November
evening roasting marsh-
mallows and gazing at the
night sky. We will take a guided night
hike into West Rock so don’t forget your
flashlight! Campfire is appropriate for all
ages; guided night hike is recommended
for ages 6 and up. This is a free event.
Open Farm Day
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00
Nov 6, 13, 20 & 27
(see details for Nov 27 below)
Visit the farm as harvest is
winding down and farmers are preparing End of Season
for winter. Spend time in the animal yard Farm Volunteer Crew
and seek out those last perennial herbs Sat, Nov 6, 10:00 – 2:00
and hardy greens from the organic Volunteers are invited to
gardens. Spend time in the quiet register nd join us from 11:00 – 2:00 to
To rams a e
of the late fall gardens, visit the ro g -dat work on getting our farm
p o
for e up-t ograms
animals in their yards, or take a
receivtion on prase call ready for winter. Your
self-guided hike into West rm a p le 13, helping hands are much
info events, ext 12
and 89.4333 our
g
Rock. Farmers will be available appreciated as we take
t.or
to answer questions about fall 203.3 OR see e at down trellises, clean fence
ww websit
dc
w
plantings and preparing gardens u n lines, roll up irrigation, and
.c o
for winter. Trail maps are also mmon gro get the farm ready for its long
available. This is a free event. winter rest. Volunteer projects are
Nov 27 Guided Hike: At 12:30, farm staff intended for adults; children ages 12 and
will lead a hike to the Summit of West Rock up may participate with a parent. The
Park which offers a stunning view of New farm is also open for non-volunteers to
Haven and Long Island Sound. Hike is explore and enjoy. This is a free event.
moderate difficulty, about 30 minutes of
mostly uphill ascent (steep in some parts),
and about 20 minutes to go back down.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 11
 WINTER Public Programs
at Common Ground
December to March
December
Wreath Making
from the Farm and Forest
Sat, Dec 11, 10:00 – 2:00
Celebrate nature’s ornaments with a
beautiful wreath made from fresh greens,
vines, pinecones, and other natural
materials from the farm and forest. Hot
beverages, soup, and snacks from our
organic farm will be shared with all. Large
wreath, $15; small wreath or swag, $8.
12 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
February
Planning Your Organic Garden
Sat, Feb 5, 10:00 – 12:00
CT NOFA presents this workshop at
Common Ground to cover the basic
principles of planning for organic
vegetable and flower gardens.
Choosing the site and style, soil
testing and improvements, selecting the
right vegetables for the season, crop
rotation and companion planting will be
covered. Program fee of $5 per person,
registration and details at www.ctnofa.org.
Starting Seedlings
Sat, Feb. 12, 10:00 – 12:00
CT NOFA continues this series with the
basics of starting vegetables and flowers
from seed. Demonstrations for both
planting and transplanting, plus a list of
which plants are set out by seedlings and
which ones are directly sown by seed into
the ground. Program fee of $5 per person,
registration and details at www.ctnofa.org.
March
Winterfest
Sat, Mar 19, 11:00 – 2:00
Just as winter begins to give way to
spring, the New England forest gives us
the sweetest of gifts – maple syrup!
We invite families to join us for a
celebration of the end of winter,
and to learn about all about
maple sugaring. See our
203.3 nts, p
tapped trees, taste raw sap,
and taste-test fresh maple
syrup. Learn about our wood-
fired evaporator and warm up by
a campfire in the woods. Finally, a
delicious brunch will be served inside
featuring locally made maple syrup,
pancakes, and Common Ground raised
eggs and bacon. Admission is $8 per
person for ages 4 through adult; ages 3
and under are free.
Family Hiking Club
1 hike in each
month of winter!
M eet new friends and enjoy the
company of fellow families who
value active, outdoor adventures
through our monthly hiking
To re series! When you join for
for p giste
ro g ra r the year, you will receive
re
informceive up ms and monthly emails with
-
and e ation on to-date upcoming guided hikes
ve
p ro g
89.43 lease rams in West Rock Park just
3 c
www
OR s 3 ext 12 all for members of our
webs e e ou 1 3,
ite at r
.co
m Family Hiking Club. We
rg
m o
o n g r n d ct . will explore familiar trails
ou
and favorite places as well
as venture to parts of the park
that you have probably never seen!
We will explore all sorts of trails,
including long hikes and plenty that
are friendly to less experienced
hikers and small children. Hikes will
be on weekends and holidays;
dates, destination, and hike length
and difficulty to be shared by email
4 – 6 weeks in advance. A family
membership is $35 for the year (16
hikes from Sept – June; attend as
many or as few as you like).
Member families are invited to bring
friends for $3 per person per outing.
Register online or by calling
(203) 389-4333 ext 1213.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 13

SPRING Public Programs
at Common Ground
April
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes this month!
Join this year-long program,
and receive monthly emails
about guided hikes in West
Rock Park just for members of our
Family Hiking Club. Visit our web site or
call (203) 389-4333 ext 1213.
Open Farm Days
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00
Apr 2, 9, 16 & 30
(see details for Apr 2 & 30 below)
Enjoy spring on the farm with a walk in the
gardens, visits to the animal yards, and a
self-guided hike on the trails that depart
from the farm and venture into West Rock
Park. Come explore the sprouts and
seedlings in the gardens, spend time with
the farm animals or enjoy the glory of
spring leaf-out with a self-guided hike into
West Rock. This is a free event.
Apr 2 Seed Starting and “Ask the Farmer”:
Enjoy the greenhouse full of seedlings,
search for emerging perennials in the
garden, visit the farm animals, and learn
which early spring crops you can prepare to
plant in your garden. Farm staff will be
available to answer garden questions and
provide tips on anything from planning and
planting to tricky garden pests. We
welcome beginner and seasoned gardeners
14 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
to join us. A wide variety of seeds and
organic soil will be available for starting your
own vegetables, flowers, and herbs to take
home. Event and advice are free; start your
own seed trays for $8 for 1⁄2 flat (12 cells) or
$16 for a whole flat (24 cells).
Apr 30 Composting Basics: Backyard Bins
and Wiggly Worms: At 1:00 PM join us for
a talk on getting started with home com-
posting. Learn how worms help your com-
post piles and gardens, the basics of home
composting, and how to make the perfect
soil for your own garden. This is a free event.
Soils & Compost
"The Best Soil for the Garden"
Sat, Apr 2, 10:00 – 12:00
In this workshop at Common Ground,
CT NOFA will cover the basics of building
great soil in our gardens and in the
compost pile. Demonstrations of
composting skills as well as great hand
outs will be available. Program fee of $5
per person, registration and details at
www.ctnofa.org.
Growing Food in Small Spaces
Sat, Apr 9, 10:00 – 12:00
CT NOFA shares this workshop at
Common Ground to stimulate creative
thinking about the use of a variety of
containers and small spaces to grow
abundant, healthy food on a deck, patio,
small yard, windowsill and more. Program
fee of $5 per person, registration and
details at www.ctnofa.org.
Farm Volunteer Day
Sat, Apr 16, 10:00 – 2:00
The arrival of spring brings many
important farm jobs! Learn to
203.3 ents, p rogram
prepare your own garden as you
help us add compost, dig garden
beds, mulch pathways, and plant
early spring crops. Come dressed
to get dirty; gloves and tools provided.
Projects are intended for adults; children
ages 12 and up may participate with a
parent. The farm is also open for non-
volunteers to explore and enjoy.
Full Moon Campfire & Night Hike
Tue, Apr 19, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Enjoy the nighttime forest under a full moon
while roasting marshmallows and gazing at
the night sky. We will take a guided night
hike into West Rock so don’t forget your
flashlight! Campfire is appropriate for all
ages; guided night hike is recommended for
ages 6 and up. This is a free event.
T
for p o registe Earth Day
receivrograms r
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celebrate Earth Day! Bring
your own picnic dinner, roast
marshmallows, and participate in an
optional guided night hike through West
Rock. On Friday morning, help us feed the
animals before enjoying a fresh breakfast
including eggs from our chickens and
other foods from the farm. $85 for a
private cabin that holds up to 10 people,
$35 to rent a tent that holds up to 4
people, $5 per person ages 4 and up if
you bring your own tent. Pre-Registration
required; register and pay online or by
calling 203-389-4333 ext 1213.
Rock to Rock Earth Day
Ride and Open Farm Day
Sat, Apr 23
Join several hundred cyclists, park lovers,
friends and families on a bike ride across
New Haven, connecting East Rock and
West Rock, raising funds to support our
parks and local environmental
organizations. See www.rocktorock.org
for registration and details. Can’t make the
ride? The farm is open for exploring,
enjoying, and cheering on the cyclists.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 15

SPRING Public Programs
at Common Ground
May
May
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes this month!
Meet new friends and enjoy
the company of fellow families
who value active, outdoor
adventures through our monthly
hiking series! When you join for the year,
you will receive monthly emails with
upcoming guided hikes in West Rock Park
just for members of our Family Hiking
Club. We will explore familiar trails and
favorite places as well as venture to parts
of the park that you have probably never
seen! We will explore all sorts of trails,
including long hikes and plenty that are
friendly to less experienced hikers and
16 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
small children. Hikes will be on weekends
and holidays; dates, destination, and hike
length and difficulty to be shared by email
4 – 6 weeks in advance. A family
membership is $35 for the year (16 hikes
from Sept – June; attend as many or as
few as you like). Member families are
invited to bring friends for $3 per person
per outing. Register online or by calling
(203) 389-4333 ext 1213.
Campfire & Night Hike
Fri, May 6, 6:00 – 8:30
Enjoy the nocturnal forest while roasting
marshmallows and gazing at the night sky.
We will take a guided night hike into West
Rock so don’t forget your flashlight!
Campfire is appropriate for all ages;
guided night hike is recommended for
ages 6 and up. This is a free event.
Open Farm Days
Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00
May 7, 14 & 28
(see details for May 7 below)
Visit Common Ground and take
a springtime stroll through our
1-acre organic garden, sit in the
chicken yard, watch butterflies in the
wildflower field or hike on the Old Oak
Nature Trail. Farm staff will answer your
questions and point out all that we have
springing up around the farm. Late May
should bring lettuce and peas in the
Full Moon Campfire & Night Hike
Tue, May 17, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Enjoy the nighttime forest under a full
moon while roasting marshmallows and
gazing at the night sky. We will take a
guided night hike into West Rock so don’t
forget your flashlight! Campfire is
appropriate for all ages; guided night hike
is recommended for ages 6 and up. This
is a free event.
garden, herbs in the perennial beds and
Seedling Sale
chicks and piglets in the animal yards. & Farm Festival
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy an Sat, May 21, 10:00 – 3:00
Enjoy Common Ground’s
afternoon on the farm! This is a free event.
May 7 Meet Baby Chicks: Just like the annual ORGANIC SEEDLING
eggs, baby chicks come in many different SALE and SPRING FARM
colors! We invite families to visit the FESTIVAL! A variety of strong,
farm and meet our mother hens healthy seedlings for your home
and their new baby chicks. To re garden will be offered for sale.
for p giste
Learn about the amazing re ro gra r Choose from heirloom and
journey from egg to chick informceive up ms and hybrid varieties of
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$1.00 - $4.00. At the Farm
Family Camping Festival, celebrate community and
Fri, May 13 – Sat, May 14, 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM the beginning of a new growing season.
Camping out at Common Ground is a Festivities include tractor-pulled hayrides,
great way to connect with nature without music, face-painting, ice cream making,
leaving the city. Bring a picnic dinner, roast games, and live sheep shearing!
marshmallows over the campfire, and Admission to all events is FREE!
participate in an optional guided night hike
through West Rock. On Saturday morning
you and your family can help feed the farm
animals and enjoy a farm fresh breakfast
including eggs from our chickens and other
seasonal foods from the farm. $85 for a
private cabin that holds up to 10 people,
$35 to rent a tent that holds up to 4
people, $5 per person ages 4 and up if you
bring your own tent. Pre-Registration
required; register and pay online or by
calling 203-389-4333 ext 1213.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 17

SPRING Public Programs
at Common Ground
June
Family Hiking Club
2 hikes this month!
Meet new friends and enjoy
the company of fellow families
who value active, outdoor
adventures through our monthly hiking
series! When you join for the year, you will
receive monthly emails with upcoming
guided hikes in West Rock Park just for
members of our Family Hiking Club. We will
explore familiar trails and favorite places as
well as venture to parts of the park that you
have probably never seen! We will explore
all sorts of trails, including long hikes and
plenty that are friendly to less experienced
hikers and small children. Hikes will be on
weekends and holidays; dates, destination,
and hike length and difficulty to be shared
by email 4 – 6 weeks in advance. A family
18 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
Open Farm Day
Saturdays10:00 – 2:00
Jun 4, 11, 18,
Jun 25, 12:00 – 3:00
(see details for Jun 4 & 18 below)
Jun 4 Guided Hike to Judges Cave:
Visit the farm animals, explore the
beautiful gardens or relax and enjoy
butterflies and birds in the meadow. At
12:30, farm staff will lead a hike to historic
Judges Cave, a West Rock landmark and
a unique spot to enjoy the view from high
above the city. Hike is moderate difficulty,
about 25 minutes of mostly uphill ascent,
and about 15 minutes to go back down.
This is a free event.
Jun 18 Weed Walk: Farm staff
Summer Camp Open House
Sat, Jun 11, 10:00 – 2:00
will lead a weed walk at 11:00
To re While Summer Camps are
where you can learn to tell for p giste
re ro g ra r typically fully enrolled by
good weeds from bad and informceive up ms and June, this is a great time for
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Explore the farm and trails OR s 3 ext 12 all
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traditional Native American mo .o
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soup base, or for chickweed
to add to salads.
membership is $35 for the year (16 hikes Family Camping
from Sept – June; attend as many or as Fri, Jun 17 – Sat, Jun 18, 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
few as you like). Member families are Camping at Common Ground is a great
invited to bring friends for $3 per person way for families to escape into nature
per outing. Register online or by calling without leaving New Haven. Bring your
(203) 389-4333 ext 1213. picnic dinner, roast marshmallows over
the campfire and participate in an
optional guided night hike through West
Rock. On Saturday morning, help with
Campfire & Night Hike farm chores and enjoy a farm fresh
6:00 – 8:30 PM breakfast including eggs from our
Wed, Jun 1; Wed, Jun 15 (Full Moon!) chickens and other seasonal foods from
Enjoy the nighttime forest while roasting the farm. $85 for a private cabin that
marshmallows and gazing at the night sky. holds up to 10 people, $35 to rent a
We will take a guided night hike into West tent that holds up to 4 people, $5 per
Rock so don’t forget your flashlight! person ages 4 and up if you bring your
Campfire is appropriate for all ages; own tent. Pre-Registration required;
guided night hike is recommended for register and pay online or by calling
ages 6 and up. This is a free event. 203-389-4333 ext 1213.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 19

CHILDREN’S Programs
at Common Ground
After School Programs
Kids Unplugged
grades K – 5
G et your child
unplugged and
outside, exploring
nature, hiking,
imagining, growing
food, making friends,
and having fun! Children
have a choice of activities at
each weekly meeting. Participants might
build forts, hike to Judges Cave, play
nature games, learn to identify trees, or
enjoy a campfire in the woods. On the
farm, feed the animals, learn to hold a
chicken, bring in the harvest, and climb
compost mountain. Budding artists can
choose to make art with natural and
recycled materials and practice illustrating
the animals and plants on our campus.
Aspiring chefs can make delicious food
from the farm – homemade pizza, sorrel
muffins, harvest soup, and more!
9 week sessions:
Tue, Wed & Thu from 3:30-5:30
Children may attend one, two, or three days per week
Fall Session: Sep 14 – Nov 18
Spring Session: Apr 5 – Jun 9
Program fee: $45 for New Haven Public School
students and $150 for all other students (New Haven
residency NOT required). Fee is per day of the week
for each 9-week seasonal session. Limited financial aid
is available to qualified applicants from any town –
please inquire.
20 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011
Weekend Programs
Farm to Feast Farmer’s Helper
Kids Cooking Class ages 6 - 10
ages 8 - 12
C ome join in the
seasonal jobs
K ids will try new
foods and
practice cooking
on our organic
farm! Kids will
help bring food
West Rock Rangers skills as they
chop, dice, saute, and water to the
grades 6 – 8 goats, sheep,
shred, knead, and
T his unique and exciting project-based
program will bring together students in
grades 6-8 from many different schools to
stir ingredients
harvested right from
chickens, ducks,
turkeys, and pigs, as
our organic gardens! well as tend to (and enjoy snacks from!)
learn and play on the trails of West Rock our children’s garden. Dig potatoes, pull
Weekly menus will vary with the season,
Park. This year, the Rangers will create a weeds, turn soil, nibble carrots, and go
but foods will be kid-friendly, nutritious,
West Rock hiking guide that can be used home dirty! Each weekly session includes
and delicious. Class time will be spent
by local hikers for years to come. Students “chore time” and supervised play time with
harvesting, preparing food, and sharing
will hike, map the trails, and keep a the animals and in the children’s garden.
each week’s dishes as we sit down for
personal trail journal – and then share what Children should bring a packed lunch,
lunch together. Families are invited to visit
they learned as they plan, design and which may be supplemented with a made-
the animals and explore the farm together
publish the guide. They will also add from-scratch taste test from the Farm to
after class (the farm remains open to the
personal touches to the guide through Feast Kids Cooking Class!
public until 2:00).
creative writing, art and photography. This
active and engaging program is looking for
Saturdays from 10:00 - 1:00 Saturdays from 10:00 - 1:00
dynamic you people who enjoy learning
Children may attend any number & combination of classes Children may attend any number & combination of classes
through experience, solving problems and
Fall Dates: Fall Dates:
collaborating with others. At the end of the
Sep 18, 25; Oct 2, 16, 23, 30 Sep 18, 25; Oct 2, 16, 23, 30
season, to celebrate our hard work, there
Spring Dates: Spring Dates:
will be an overnight camp-out at Common
Apr 16, 30; May 7, 14; Jun 4, 11 Apr 16, 30; May 7, 14; Jun 4, 11
Ground where we will cook out under the
Program fee: $25 per class, all materials included. Program fee: $25 per class, all materials included.
stars, share our guide and play games.
Students need not be expert hikers, writers
or outdoor enthusiasts – only excited to
learn with others and have fun in the forest!
9 week sessions:
Tue, Wed & Thu from 3:30-5:30, To Register for Children’s Programs:
Children may attend only ONE day per week See our website, www.commongroundct.org, to download the
Fall Session: Sep 14 – Nov 18 program registration form or to register online. Pre-registration and
Spring Session: Apr 5 – Jun 9 payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved.
Program fee: $45 per 9-week seasonal session
for all students (New Haven residency NOT required).
Limited financial aid is available to qualified applicants
– please inquire.
Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 21
 Vacation Programs
FEBRUARY & APRIL
Vacation Programs
Summer Camps at Common Ground
V acation weeks at Common Ground are a choose-
your-own-adventure exploration of the farm and forest!
Children will have a choice of 4 or more daily activities
based on seasonal events.
E ach summer,
campers ages
4 – 13 roam the farm
are connected, from the
food we eat to the air we
breathe, throughout the
FEBRUARY is maple syruping season, and we will also cross our and forest at Common farm, the forest, and the
fingers for snow! Activities may include winter animal tracking, Ground, picking city. Common Ground
building snow forts, hiking and sledding, learning about and cooking with maple radishes, searching for camps emphasize children’s
syrup, and plenty of time with the farm animals. salamanders, learning connection to nature, as
about local food, making well as the spirit of summer
APRIL brings seedlings and baby animals to the farm! friends, playing games, time fun – mud, frogs,
Activity choices may include time with the baby caring for farm animals, sprinklers, and sun. We
chickens, recycled and nature arts, planting in the and hiking throughout pride ourselves on allowing
garden, building forts in the woods, going on hikes in West Rock Park. Details children to explore and play,
West Rock, and searching for native wildlife and will be posted on our growing in independence
spring wildflowers. website in February, and registration and discovery, while providing a safe and
begins in March. Spaces fill quickly; email educational environment.
All programs include both indoor and outdoor
rholcombe@nhep.com to be placed on
activities in all weather so it is important to make sure
a list that will receive notice when camp
your child is appropriately dressed each day Shoes
registration is open (previous campers Supervision
must have a closed toe and heel and be good for walking, running, and hiking.
will automatically receive notification). & safety:
Children should also bring their own bagged lunch each day.
We have a
very low
Camp mission: camper to
February Vacation dates:
Common staff ratio,
Feb 21 - 25, 9:00 - 2:00 daily, extended day available until 4:00
Ground allowing us to
April Vacation dates: campers will offer personal,
Apr 18 - 22, 9:00 - 2:00 daily, extended day available until 4:00 come home hands on experiences in a safe and
Program fee: $35 per day, $15 per day for extended day. happy, dirty, supervised environment. Campers are
Children may be registered for any number and combination of days. and tired, full always supervised by one adult and one
of stories of teenage staff member for every 10
adventure and campers. Adult staff have first aid and
discovery. Each day is spent making CPR training, and we are licensed and
friends and learning about how all things inspected by the State of CT.
To Register for Children’s Programs:
See our website, www.commongroundct.org, to download the
program registration form or to register online. Pre-registration and
payment must be received in full for your place to be reserved.

22 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 23

 Birthday Parties & Special Events Additional Opportunities
at COMMON GROUND at COMMON GROUND
Discover Common
Birthday Parties & Scout Programs Ground High School,
a public charter school
with a college-preparatory
B irthday Parties and Scout Programs are available year-round
for all ages. Depending on the season, groups may visit the animals
and gardens, go for a winter hike and enjoy a campfire, follow clues on
curriculum focused on the
urban and natural environ-
a treasure hunt in the woods, or make a homemade farm pizza! See ments. Our 155 students are admitted by
our website or call 203-389-4333 ext 1213 for more information. lottery, and arrive from 14 different towns.
Call 203-389-4333 ext 1202 to arrange a
visit, or visit www.commongroundct.org.

Private camping at School Field Trips are available T

for p o register
rogra
to all schools, grades preK – 8. re
Common Ground for Teachers may schedule a one
informceive up ms and
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203.3 nts, p program
ve Farm Volunteers are
families, groups, & schools! to two hour program on a
variety of topics, including
89.43 lease
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welcomed in the growing

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Connecticut Farms, Maple webs e e ou 1 3, season! We ask that
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H ave an amazing, memorable overnight adventure

.co
Syruping, Sheep and Wool, m volunteers commit to one full

at Common Ground. Our comfortable cabins
hold up to 60 people, and additional campers can
be accommodated in tents. Common Ground staff
will start the campfire, set up the campsite, lead your
group on a magical night hike, stay overnight with
your group, and gather early risers for morning farm
chores. $15 per person includes all activities and breakfast! Minimum group size is 30.
Call 203-389-4333 ext 1213 to schedule your camping adventure!
rg
mo .o
and more. Call 389-4333 ext n grou ndct day per week for a minimum of
1213 or see our website for a 6 weeks. Drop-in volunteers who
complete program listing. are not able to commit to a regular
schedule are welcomed on scheduled Farm
Custom classes over the course of multiple
Volunteer Crew days (see monthly weekend
visits can be developed for groups of
families who home school their children. program listings) and in the Children’s
Garden on most Saturdays during Open
Connect your
Farm Day. Looking for a deeper experience
child to nature
and/or for college credit? See our website
for Farm Internship postings.
in an urban
setting, be in
touch with the

Facilities Rentals cycles of the

seasons, and Common
help your Ground has a

O ur farm, campus, and school buildings

are available for private parties, events,
child develop
a sense of
well equipped
commercial
conferences, weddings, and more. Please
call 203-389-4333 ext 1213 to discuss your
place and ownership as they learn about Community Kitchen for use by individuals
living sustainably. Call 203-389-4333 ext and groups that wish to store their harvest
event needs and ideas.
1213 to talk about your goals for a group of and create their own value added products.
8 or more children. Call 203-389-4333 ext 1211 for details.

24 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 Common Ground Programs 2010-2011 25