Registration is now open for Land’s Sake’s after-school programs for kids in grades 1 through 8. Land’s Sake is Weston’s favorite (umm, only?) community farm and offers kids the chance to learn farm and forestry skills and connect to the outdoors, even in the winter. Here are the programs on offer:

Maple Explorers (grades 1-3)  explore Weston’s forests and forestry program, help stack firewood, taste sap, build snowmen and “watch for signs of spring. ” (Here’s a hint, kiddos, that is pretty far away.

Maple Junior Farmers (grades 3-5) learn tree identification and shelter building, help stack firewood, taste and collect sap, boil syrup, build snow sculptures and enjoy the winter. Apparently they are jaded enough at this age to figure out that spring is in fact, pretty far away. Note: there is a lot of firewood to stack, apparently.

Maple Green Power (grades 6-8) identify and tap maple trees, gather sap, and boil and bottle syrup. Students learn about the rich heritage of sugaring in New England from past to present, as well as the science behind the sugaring process. Students will also be involved with Land’s Sake forestry and other late-winter farming activities. They will learn chainsaw skills and axe-wielding (no, that last sentence is not right, just checking if you are still reading).

Participants in all programs meet at the Bill McElwain Sugar House at the Weston Middle School campus. Click here to Learn More and Register. Bus service is available from the elementary school campus. Middle school kids need to walk all of 30 feet to get to the Sugar House.

Note: the February break program is also available for registration now.