Outdoor Fun At Hartshorn Summer Program

It was a beautiful day for a news editor to pretend like he was a kid at summer camp again.

I am in my mid-twenties and can only dream of spending my summer days not working and experiencing the outdoor fun. Luckily, the kids at the Hartshorn Summer Program at the Peabody Mill Environmental Center in Amherst don’t have to dream.

PMEC administrator Aisha Mitchell has been teaching at the summer program for four years, and loves being able to share her love of nature.

“It is great to be outside with the kids, doing fun activities,” said Mitchell. “It’s a great way to spend your summer.”

The Amherst summer program has been at PMEC for 23 years. Young adventurers from preschool to eighth grade explore the beautiful outdoors surrounding the center, learn survival skills and of course have plenty of time to swim and play.

Mitchell said the program is focusing on bringing art and science experiences to the kids, with a focus on music in nature and lab-based experiences to learn more about the world around them. They have lego challenges, rocket projects and more programs to balance learning and fun.

Of course, the fun is always waiting outside and Mitchell makes sure the young adventurers get a full dose of it. She is known to take them on a planned trail hike, only to veer off course to bring them onto a new adventure.

“I’m not a trail hiker, I’m a bush whacker,” laughed Mitchell.

And the kids are loving every minute of their time outside.

A group of adventurers were taking a snack break on a bridge after spending some time exploring the wilderness. They all seemed to be having a great time and looking forward to the next adventure.

“I like just being out here instead of being in those camps where all you do is sports,” said Alec Pennell, who has been participating in the program for five years. “Running around in the woods is more fun than just sitting in a camp and looking at things.”

Chris Sodders has also spent the past five years at the Hartshorn Summer Program, and doesn’t understand why many of his peers choose to stay inside during summer.

“I love coming out here,” said Sodders. “I like just walking along the rivers. Staying inside and means you are usually zoned in on the same screen for a long time, but here I can run around and do whatever I want to do.”

Sarah Lafleur was a longtime Hartshorn participant, and now teaches other kids as a volunteer at Hartshorn. She said that the program helped her meet new people with similar interests while learning fun and useful things each day.

“It is fun,” said Lafleur. “I just want to be out in the woods helping out kids and teaching them things.”

Find out more at the Amherst Recreation website.