2026 Summer Explorations Program Information - *Updated 2/25/26*

To view the Summer Explorations details in a translatable Smore Newletter, please click this link: Smore Newsletter.

 

What is the Summer Explorations Program?

The Summer Explorations Program is a safe, fun, and engaging summer program for elementary school students offered by Watertown Community Education, a department of Watertown Public Schools. This program is available to students entering grades K - 5 in September 2026 at the Cunniff, Hosmer, and Lowell Schools. During the program, students will engage in hands-on activities including arts and crafts, STEM, sensory, and critical thinking projects --- all related to the week’s theme.  Students will also enjoy various social, movement, and creative activities such as sports, music and dancing, and spend plenty of time outdoors. In addition, when possible, our program may include on-site enrichment programs and experiences as well as local field trips.

 

Dates:

The 2026 Summer Explorations Program will run from Monday, July 6, 2026, through Friday, August 14, 2026.

 

Location:

Hosmer Elementary School (students from the Hosmer, Lowell, and Cunniff Elementary Schools can register to attend this program being held at the Hosmer Elementary School) 1 Concord Road Watertown

 

Program Dates, Weekly Themes, and Weekly Tuition Rates:

Week 1: Tropical Adventures Week (Featured Event: DJ Mike Pride Tropical Dance Party at Hosmer on Friday, July 10th)

Monday, July 6th - Friday, July 10th

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

Week 2: Camping Week (Featured Event: Field Trip to Jump On In on Friday, July 17th)

Monday, July 13th - Friday, July 17th

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

Week 3: Everything Mini Week (Featured Event: Mini Golf with Seacoast Events at Hosmer on Friday, July 24th)

Monday, July 20th - Friday, July 24th

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

Week 4: Wizards Week (Featured Event: Magic Show and Magic Workshops with AbraKidabra at Hosmer on Friday, July 31st)

Monday, July 27th - Friday, July 31st

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

Week 5: Science of the Senses Week (Featured Event: Field trip to the EcoTarium on Friday, August 7th)

Monday, August 3rd - Friday, August 7th

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

Week 6: Reptiles and Amphibians Week (Featured Event: Live Reptile Show at Hosmer on Friday, August 14th)

Monday, August 10th - Friday, August 14th

Regular Hours (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $425.00

Early Drop Off + Regular Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm) Cost = $525.00

 

**Please note program themes, special events, and activities are subject to change.**

 

When will registration open?

Registration for the 2025 Summer Exploration Program will open at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 26th, 2026. Registration will be held online (only) via Google Forms. Registrations for this program will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

The link to register can be found at the bottom of this page. It will also be posted on our Watertown Community Education Facebook page, and shared through Parent Square to current elementary school students.

 

How will I know if my student has a confirmed space in the program for the weeks I registered them for?

After completing the online registration form for your student, you can expect to receive an email and/or program invoice offering your student space in the program or letting you know they have been added to our program waitlist if a particular week or weeks has filled to capacity. You can expect to receive this email within 5 school days (does not include weekends or days WPS is closed to students) of submitting your online registration form. If your student is offered a space, your tuition payment will be due within 7 calendar days of receiving the emailed space offer.

 

What is the weekly tuition for Summer Explorations?

Tuition is $425.00 per week for the regular day (8:30am - 5:30pm) and $525.00 per week for the regular day plus early drop off (7:15am - 5:30pm). The per week tuition includes a $100.00 hold fee/deposit, this is not an additional fee. The $100.00 hold fee/deposit for each week is not refundable for any reason and cannot be transferred to another week of the program.

 

When is tuition for the Summer Explorations Program due and how do I submit my payment?

If your student is offered a space, you will receive an invoice via ParentSquare.

When registering for the program, you can select how you’d like to be invoiced. There are two options:

Option 1 - Pay the full tuition now. If you select this option, you’ll receive an invoice for the total tuition cost. Payment will be due within 7 calendar days of receiving your invoice.

Option 2 - Pay the $100 non-refundable hold fee/deposit for each week you registered your student for now and pay the remaining tuition later. If you select this option, you’ll receive an initial invoice for $100.00 per week that you registered your student for and received a confirmed space offer for. Payment of this initial invoice will be due within 7 calendar days of receiving your invoice. You’ll receive a second invoice for the remaining tuition due 21 days before the start of each week your student is registered for. Payment will be due within 7 days of receiving the second invoice for each week your student is registered for.

If full payment is not received at least 14-calendar days prior to the start of the week your student is scheduled to attend, it will be assumed that you have forfeited that week for your student and their registration will be canceled and their space may be offered to another student on our waitlist. The $100.00 hold fee/deposit for each week is not refundable for any reason and cannot be transferred to another week of the program.

 

What form of payment is accepted?

• Payment can be made online via ParentSquare via check or money order brought to the Watertown Public Schools payment drop box.
• If paying via ParentSquare, please note that ParentSquare charges a processing fee for online payment. This fee is automatically added to your payment.
• If you’d like to make your payment via check or money order, please see the detailed instructions below.
• Please wait to receive your invoice prior to submitting payment.

 

Where do I submit my payment if paying via check or money order?

• If submitting your payment via check or money order, your payment should be dropped off in the payment box located in the Phillips Administration Building parking lot. You can find this parking lot by putting 31 Marshall Street into your gps and entering the parking lot. The payment drop-off box is located next to the stairs on the right leading into the building from the parking lot. Click here for a photo of the payment box outside of the Phillips Administration building.

 

What is the process to change or cancel your student’s registration?

Once your student has been offered a space for one or more weeks of the Summer Explorations Program and you have submitted your full tuition payment or weekly deposit payment, they are officially confirmed to attend for those weeks. Any cancellations or changes made to your registration and/or week(s) requested after payment has been received will be considered a cancellation. There is a non-refundable fee of $100 for each week your student is confirmed to attend the program. If you choose to cancel one or more weeks, we cannot refund you the $100 per week hold fee. This fee is included in the weekly tuition and is not in addition to the weekly tuition. If you paid for the full tuition cost for one or more weeks and you provide written email notice that you are canceling your student’s enrollment with at least 14-calendar days' notice prior to the week they are scheduled to attend, you will be refunded for weekly tuition minus the $100 per week non-refundable hold fee

 
If you registered for a week or weeks and wish to change those weeks, you can submit your change request via email to debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us at least 14-calendar days prior to the start of the week your student is registered to attend. A change is considered a cancellation of the week you initially registered and paid for and there is a $100 non-refundable hold fee that will not be refunded or transferred for the individual week you are changing. Any remaining tuition paid above the $100 hold fee can be transferred to another program week assuming there is availability for your student to attend that week.

Please note that tuition will not be prorated or reduced due to absences, illness, early departure, unexpected program closures, any days school the school buildings must be closed unexpectedly, or for any reason, a student is unable to attend or unable make full use of the program.

 

Important Note for Students Who May Receive Services for Special Education, ESL, Reading, and/or Other District Supports or Services:

• Due to the time-sensitive nature of the registration period for the Summer Explorations Program, please do not wait to confirm your summer services before enrolling in this program if you would like your student to attend. It is not necessary for us to know your student's services schedule or even have confirmation that your student will be receiving services. Please register your students for the full weeks you'd like them to attend the Summer Explorations Program and we can make adjustments to their attendance hours at a later date. We are not able to hold space for students receiving services to receive wraparound care so we strongly recommend you register your students for the Summer Explorations Program once the registration link is active at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Additional summer information about Special Education, ESL, Reading, and/or Other Academic District Supports or Services for students who are recommended by their teachers, will be distributed by your student's daytime team.
• If your student is confirmed to attend District supports and services this summer that will impact their attendance hours in the 2026 Summer Explorations Program, please email their confirmed services and service hours to Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us. Students attending services located at the Hosmer Elementary School who are also enrolled in the Summer Explorations Program will be escorted to and/or from their services within Hosmer Elementary School by staff to ensure a smooth transition to and from their services and the Summer Explorations Program.

Registration Form Links:

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ONLINE GOOGLE REGISTRATION FORM or copy and paste this link into your web browser 2026 Summer Explorations Program Registration Form.

**Please note this link will be active beginning at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 26th.**

 

Who to Contact:

If you have any questions about The Summer Explorations Program please email Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and Jeff Bodner at jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us

 

 

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