Summer Explorers
Morning Workshops, Grades 7-8,
Three Weeks
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Learn about the three Cs (clarity, coherence, and conciseness) and five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why?) of journalism as you unleash the power of your voice and master the art of effective communication.
In this exciting course, you’ll refine your reporting, interviewing, and writing skills as you learn how to captivate your audience. You’ll dive deep into the techniques, principles, and ethics of journalism. You’ll explore the diverse areas of journalism, including news, features, profiles, opinion pieces, and criticism, and experiment with audio and video storytelling. You’ll engage in vibrant classroom discussions about readings from a range of publications, learn how to address writing challenges and learn from classmates through peer editing. Get ready to uncover stories on campus and in your community using multiple storytelling modalities.
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Develop a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting our world today. In this class, you’ll take a close look at important topics including climate change, recycling, farming methods, pollution, animal cruelty, and sustainability systems. Along the way, you’ll discover how you can make a positive difference and become part of the solutions we need.
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Dig into a variety of topics in physics, chemistry, and geology using the unique resources available in NMH’s state-of-the-art Gilder Center. Your explorations will include analyzing motion in one and two dimensions, understanding the structure of matter, and exploring the stories recorded in the rocks and fossils of the local environment. An emphasis on hands-on exploration and discovery, as well as building laboratory skills, will give you a sound foundation and increase your confidence for any high school science class.
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Engage in hands-on work in the fields and greenhouses on NMH's campus farm while forging direct connections to food systems and principles of sustainability. In this class, you’ll study the farm as an ecosystem; learn about earth science; and learn firsthand — with your hands — about sustainable agriculture systems. Are you a can-do student who wants to learn how your food gets from farm to table, combining systems learning with outdoor experiences? Then this experiential course is for you!
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As the old adage goes: “Those who tell stories will rule the world.” In this course, you’ll write your own short story, learning the components that comprise a story and how the setting, characters, and plot work together. We will read and discuss a captivating selection of short stories that are realistic as well as those that stray from the real world.
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This intensive dance program empowers participants to unlock their creative potential, express themselves, build their confidence, and refine their skills as they discover the joy of storytelling through movement.
Daily technique classes will focus on contemporary, ballet, jazz, and tap. You’ll explore choreography and fundamental techniques and develop your dance vocabulary, guided by experienced instructors from NMH’s nationally recognized dance program. The course culminates with a performance.
Three-week non-credit course. Grades 7-12
Summer Explorers Afternoon Options, Grades 7-8,
Three Weeks
(Period 1)
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Racket sports: tennis, badminton, and pickleball
Basketball
Soccer
Swimming
Volleyball
Dance
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Work with your hands and get creative with clay! You’ll learn the hand-building techniques of pinching, coiling, and slab building as well as how to throw simple functional pottery, such as cups and bowls, on the pottery wheel. In addition to learning about form, space, texture, and function, you will be introduced to alternative firing techniques and various options for surface decoration.
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Express your creativity and capture the world around you in bright colors — or in black and white. This course is tailored to your individual interests and artistic abilities and is an opportunity for all students of all levels to hone their skills in the visual arts mediums of drawing and painting. You’ll learn or review fundamentals while receiving constructive feedback and encouragement.
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Calling all aspiring thespians! In this course, you’ll explore acting, improvisation, and mime, short scenes, and practicing monologues. You’ll learn the basics of stage production, such as set design, lighting, costume design, and the use of props. Students in the course will prepare a production to be performed for the campus community at the conclusion of the session!
Summer Explorers Afternoon Options, Grades 7-8,
Three Weeks
(Period 2)
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Have you ever gazed up at the sky and wondered what’s out there? How was the Earth created? How big is the universe? What is a black hole? You’ll explore these questions and many more and we consider the vastness of space.
NMH’s observatory is a wonderful location for viewing clear night skies and studying stars and planets, thanks to the minimal amount of “light pollution” in our pristine, rural area. The course includes a daily classroom component as well as two evening viewing/stargazing sessions every week.
(Three- or five-week session)
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Work with your hands and get creative with clay! You’ll learn the hand-building techniques of pinching, coiling, and slab building as well as how to throw simple functional pottery, such as cups and bowls, on the pottery wheel. In addition to learning about form, space, texture, and function, you will be introduced to alternative firing techniques and various options for surface decoration.
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Get involved in the community! In this course, you’ll learn about local and global needs while working with local support and service organizations. Discussions, fundraising efforts, and activities will focus on issues such as homelessness and housing, food insecurity, health care, education, and children’s welfare.
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Hone your study techniques and executive functions and become a more efficient, productive learner. In this class, you’ll learn how to plan, be organized, and build skills such as test-taking, memorization, note-taking, skim-reading, and writing citations and bibliographies. You’ll also learn how to organize and present your work and practice with PowerPoint, Google, and Excel.
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Ever wonder what the Dow Jones Industrial Index actually is? Or how the stock market operates? In this course, we’ll look broadly at simple economic principles and approaches to responsible personal financial management. You’ll gain an understanding of financial and economic topics and key insights that will help you throughout your life.
(Three- or five-week sessions)
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Overcome stage fright forever and prepare yourself for class and public presentations in high school and college. You’ll learn the principles of effective public speaking and practice, practice, practice as you prepare and present various forms of public address, from brief improvisational talks to formal speeches. In the process, you’ll improve your skills and confidence through ongoing, constructive feedback.
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Bring your laptop and your curiosity and the limitless possibilities of hands-on design in our dynamic Make! course, in the Gilder Center’s cutting-edge makerspace.
You’ll explore design-thinking and fabrication, combining analog and digital techniques in a safe, collaborative, and fun environment that celebrates risk-taking and emphasizes support.
Our “high-tech to no-tech” approach incorporates a wide range of materials and tools, allowing us to meet students where they are as they grow in competency and confidence. You’ll dive into hands-on projects ranging from drawing and 3-D modeling to laser-cutting and wood engraving. Projects include drawing, woodworking, small-motor robotics, digital design work using a Glowforge laser cutter, and 3-D modeling and printing.
No prior experience required.
Additional fee: $775 (five weeks)/$525(three weeks)/ $275 (two weeks)
Available as an afternoon class in AP1. Grades 7-8
Available as an afternoon class in AP2. Grades 9-12
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Investigate! Design! Solve problems! And, yes, create a robot! You’ll begin with the history of robotics and proceed to learn the basic components of a robotic system. You’ll experiment with the various methods that make robots move, with sensors, and with programming. Students must provide their own Chromebook or Windows-based Mac laptop.
(Three- or five-week session)
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Share your love of music with like-minded peers as you collaborate and create with your voices. You’ll learn songs and practice together, with music selections based on your collective interests. No experience is necessary, and the ability to read music is not required. All levels of vocalists — from shower singers to choir members — are encouraged to join and lift their voices together in song.
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In this high-energy class, you’ll get creative with your peers as you learn and practice dance fundamentals in addition to basic choreography. You’ll also reinforce good habits of stretching during warm-ups and cool-downs.
(Three- or five-week athletic option)
Enrichment Courses
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MAKE!
Bring your laptop and your curiosity and the limitless possibilities of hands-on design in our dynamic Make! course, in the Gilder Center’s cutting-edge makerspace.
You’ll explore design-thinking and fabrication, combining analog and digital techniques in a safe, collaborative, and fun environment that celebrates risk-taking and emphasizes support.
Our “high-tech to no-tech” approach incorporates a wide range of materials and tools, allowing us to meet students where they are as they grow in competency and confidence. You’ll dive into hands-on projects ranging from drawing and 3-D modeling to laser-cutting and wood engraving. Projects include drawing, woodworking, small-motor robotics, digital design work using a Glowforge laser cutter, and 3-D modeling and printing.
No prior experience required.
Additional fee: $775 (five weeks)/$525(three weeks)/ $275 (two weeks)
Available as an afternoon class in AP2. Grades 7-8
Available as an afternoon class in AP1. Grades 9-12
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Leadership, Education, Adventure, and Discovery (LEAD) Program
In NMH’s LEAD program, you’ll navigate the great outdoors, conquering new heights as you rock climb, canoe or raft New England rivers, or mountain bike through forests and woodland trails.
A partnership with outdoor experts Earthwork Programs and Wild Med Adventures, LEAD will plunge you into nature, teaching you hands-on wilderness survival skills and first aid. From crafting shelters and foraging for edible plants to mastering the art of fire-making, stone tool crafting, and wood carving, you'll emerge not just as an adventurer, but as a confident, resilient leader with the confidence and tools to survive.
Prerequisites:
Because of the nature of the activities, students must be ready for physical exertion, able to understand and willing to follow safety instructions. Students must be able to swim at least 50 meters unaided.
Required equipment: a backpack, a hat, closed-toed shoes/hiking shoes, bug spray, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a waterproof jacket. Water shoes are encouraged but not required.
For health and safety reasons, international students must have an intermediate level of English or TOEFL B1 level or above (writing: 15; reading: 15; speaking: 16-20; listening: 17-21).
Additional fee:
Two weeks: $450
Three weeks: $650
Five weeks: $995 -
SSAT Prep: Hit the Heights with Summit
This course, taught by Summit Educational Group instructors, focuses on the academic skills and test-taking techniques you’ll need to succeed on the SSAT for entrance into many independent secondary schools. You’ll focus on three key components:
1) strategy: developing a game plan for each section and question;
2) content: understanding math, grammar, and how to approach the reading and science sections; and
3) practice: building confidence to move efficiently through the test.This course is taken in addition to your main course(s) in Afternoon Period 1 two days a week, alternating with sports on the other two days.