Education FAQ

Our programs run rain or shine. In light or passing rain, we will take shelter under a tent near the parking lot, or near the barn/farmstand. During after school and vacation programs, we may take shelter from severe weather in the Weston Recreation Center. During summer programs, we will take shelter from severe weather in the Weston Scout House.

Families will be notified in the event of location changes due to weather. Our programs follow the decisions of the Weston Public Schools regarding cancellations due to snow or other severe weather.

Please send all participants to the farm with weather-appropriate clothing. Rain jackets and boots are essential for participant comfort on rainy days.

Please contact Land’s Sake educators directly through the phone numbers they provide to communicate absences. Please keep participants at home if they are feeling unwell. Participants must be fever-free for 24 hours and infection free prior to attending programs.

In case of late drop off or early pick up, please contact program leaders through their provided phone numbers.

If you are running late to pick up a participant, please contact program leaders as soon as possible. If you are more than 15 minutes late, a $25 late fee will be charged.

We generally cannot accommodate regular early drop off or late pick up. If early drop off or late pick up is necessary for your child’s participation, please contact education@landssake.org or call prior to registration to discuss whether an exception may be possible. In the case of exceptions, $25 will be charged per early drop off and late pick up.

To ensure the safety of all participants, please pack NUT FREE snacks and lunches. We will communicate additional allergy requirements on a group-by-group basis.

Land’s Sake has a carry-in carry-out policy for all snack and lunch trash. We recommend bringing a bag to facilitate the removal of trash and packing food with minimal disposable packaging.

Please pack healthy, filling lunches and snacks. We do not provide refrigeration, so please pack foods in insulated lunch containers with cold sources such as freezer packs or juice boxes. Check out this resource for tips on packing healthy, low-waste, kid-friendly lunches that do not require refrigeration.

On Tuesday through Friday during summer programs, our Farmstand will be open during lunch time. If you wish to send participants with money for the Farmstand, staff will accompany participants to make their purchases. Staff are not responsible for purchasing choices made by participants, but will take care to avoid known allergens. Please let staff know at the beginning of the day if participants are to purchase food from the Farmstand at lunch time.

Please let us know of any participant food allergies in advance of the program. Parents and guardians must submit an Emergency Action Plan in case of allergen exposure for any participant with life threatening allergies.

If you wish to send edible treats to be shared with other program participants at meal times, please contact education staff at least two days in advance with information about the treat so that we can check in with participant families regarding this food.

In the case of a forgotten lunch, Land’s Sake will provide an emergency back-up lunch consisting of the following: a sunbutter and jelly sandwich, a packet of raisins, a packet of crackers, and fresh veggies from our garden. Parents or guardians will be reminded to send participants with a lunch every day. If parents or guardians wish to NEVER have this back-up lunch served to their child in the case of a forgotten lunch, they must submit this request in writing prior to programs.

In the case of a forgotten water bottle, Land’s Sake will provide a clean disposable cup to be filled with water and used throughout the day. Parents or guardians will be reminded to send participants with a water bottle every day.

Every participant should bring a full, refillable water bottle to the farm every day. For summer and vacation programs, please pack a snack and lunch. For afterschool programs, please pack a snack.

Please apply sunscreen prior to arrival at camp. We recommend hats and sunglasses as well for sun protection. We will provide reminders for re-application of sunscreen at lunch for full day programs and welcome participants to bring their own sunscreen. Participants must apply their own sunscreen.

On hot days, participants may play with water or use the sprinkler. Please send participants with water shoes, a towel, and a change of clothes in case they become necessary.

Please do not bring any electronic devices, valuables, weapons of any kind, matches, lighters, tobacco products, alcohol, or illegal drugs. If families would prefer participants bring cell phones for safety reasons, they must be kept in backpacks for the duration of the program. Land’s Sake is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Program participants should wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing that can get a little dirty. For safety reasons, all participants must wear closed-toe shoes. Please send extra layers for cool days, sun protection such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for sunny days, and rain gear for rainy days. Please label all clothing items to avoid loss. Please apply sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater to all exposed skin on sunny days.

To protect against sun exposure and insect bites, we recommend long pants tucked into socks and long sleeves.  To prevent heat related illness, we recommend that clothing be light-colored, tight-woven, lightweight, and loose-fitting.

Land’s Sake is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

It is Land’s Sake’s policy to provide financial assistance for the Farm & Forest and Green Power summer programs to applicants to who request it on a needs basis when possible. Financial assistance is a limited fund and funds will be disbursed based on applicant’s financial need. Both full and partial scholarships are available. To apply for financial aid, click here.

Program participants will only be released to individuals with advance approval by parents/guardians in writing, with no exceptions. Identities will be confirmed using photo ID. If there is anyone who specifically may not under any circumstances pick up program participants, please let the Education Manager know this information in advance.

Our programs are staffed by experienced educators who are 19 years old or over and chosen for their commitment to the work, ability to responsibly manage the safety of the groups, and passion for making outdoor learning fun and engaging.

All staff must pass Massachusetts criminal and sexual background checks as well as a national background check. All education program leads are trained in CPR and first aid.

In addition to professional staff, trained Junior Leaders assist the Farm and Forest program. Junior Leaders are in 10th-12th grade and are chosen after an application process for their maturity, responsibility, and excitement for interacting with children and are required to maintain professional, supportive behavior.

Land’s Sake only runs one session of each program at a time, so all participants registered for the same program on the same week or day will be placed together. To ensure placement with friends and/or family, register early before sessions have filled. Land’s Sake cannot hold spaces for participants without registration.

It is Land’s Sake’s goal to provide meaningful experiences for participants of all abilities. We welcome program participants who use the support of family- or school-provided one-on-one aides, but are unable to provide aides. Our programs are held outdoors on uneven terrain, but we will do what we can to help participants with physical disabilities access our programs. We welcome families and participants to check out the landscape and discuss accessibility plans and concerns in advance of the programs.

Trained education staff will administer first aid for injuries such as cuts, scrapes, stings, bumps, and bruises. Parents and guardians will be notified of any moderate or serious injury or illness immediately. If necessary, we will call 911 for emergency care.

Records of the circumstance and response for all injuries and illnesses will be recorded in our Medical Log. Incident reports will be available for parents and guardians for moderate to severe injuries.

Please communicate allergy and other health concerns to education staff prior to programs. Participants with severe allergies must provide Emergency Action Plans completed by physicians, detailing allergy triggers, signs, and steps in case of a reaction. Staff will communicate with families prior to programs regarding these plans and appropriate actions in case of emergency.

If program participants require or may require prescription or over-the-counter medication while at Land’s Sake, parents or guardians must submit a signed authorization form for this medication. Medication will be kept in a secure location while at Land’s Sake and administered only by approved staff members.

If participants have inhalers or EpiPens, please communicate this need to staff prior to programs. If it is necessary for EpiPens or inhalers to be carried with participants rather than locked in our medication storage cabinet, this must be stipulated in writing and signed by a physician.

If you have concerns about your child’s behavior or experience, please contact education staff prior to registration. Staff will do what they can to provide positive program experiences for all participants and are happy to work with families to apply strategies to support behavior needs. We welcome one-on-one aides provided by schools and families to support participant behavior.

Land’s Sake reserves the right to dismiss a participant if their behavior creates an unsafe environment for themselves, staff, or other participants. We will notify families immediately in the case of unsafe or disruptive behavior. No refunds will be given for dismissals due to behavior. Contact education@landssake.org to request a copy of Land Sake's Discipline Policy.

No refunds will be given for dismissal or incomplete attendance. Prior to June 1, refunds for summer program registration will be granted. After June 1 there are no refunds for cancellations.

As our programs take place outdoors, there is a risk to participants of tick, mosquito, and other insect bites along with bee, wasp, and other insect stings. We will take precautions to manage these risks, but cannot guarantee an insect-free summer. Long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks can help manage these risks. If you wish for participants to use bug spray, please apply it prior to your arrival at Land's Sake.

Please check participants for ticks at the end of each day and communicate any possible insect allergies to staff members. We will provide first aid for insect bites and stings and will call 911 in the case of allergic reactions.

Items left behind at Land's Sake will be kept in a bin on the workbench by the education garden. All left behind items will be discarded or donated at the end of each season (spring, summer, fall, winter). Please label all items brought to Land's Sake to avoid loss.

Land’s Sake is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

We are committed to providing a positive experience for program participants and families and are happy to address any questions or concerns. To ask questions or request copies of our safety, emergency, and behavior policies and procedures, please contact education@landssake.org or call 781-893-1162 to talk with our Education Manager.