Ketcha Outdoors offers an After School Care program designed to provide a safe, engaging, and enriching environment for children after their regular school hours. The program aims to support working parents or guardians by offering a supervised space where children can participate in various recreational and educational activities. These activities might include outdoor adventures, games, arts and crafts, nature exploration, and opportunities for social interaction. The Ketcha Outdoors After School Care program emphasizes the importance of physical activity, creativity, and fostering connections with peers.
After School Care students catch the bus directly to Ketcha Outdoors from Pleasant Hill, Wentworth, or Scarborough Middle School. Our Farm and Forest students (ages 4+) are brought to the Main Building for programs and activities. After school care is available Monday-Friday until 6 pm, and part-time schedules are also an option. With a dedicated staff-to-student ratio of 1:13, your child will receive personalized attention and care.
Our after school program offers exciting theme days, packed with various engaging activities. Some examples of these activities include:
- Art: Seasonal crafts, carving pumpkins, watercolor painting, nature art, and clay work
- Farm: Feeding and learning to care for animals with hands on experience working with our goats, ducks, and chickens
- Guest Visits: Science experiments, animal care takers, flight specialist and local experts on various topics
- Social Emotional Learning: Topics like self awareness, identity, and coping skills in an age appropriate setting are shared
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math): Launching bottle rockets, making oobleck and slime and learning to fly drones
- Wilderness Explorers: Using our ropes course, archery, winter sledding, and hiking trails
- Free Choice Friday!
After School 7th and 8th Grade Buddies Program
Starting from September 5th and continuing until the conclusion of the school year, we are excited to introduce the inclusion of 7th & 8th Grade Buddies into our After Care program. The 7th & 8th Grade Buddies initiative entails a Mentor-in-Training curriculum designed to allow middle school students to refine their leadership capabilities under the guidance of our experienced staff.
Within this program, these Buddies will have the chance to interact with our younger After Care 
groups, simultaneously honing their peer mediation skills and exemplary role modeling. While maintaining dedicated homework time, the Buddies will also have ample opportunities for recreation, exploration, and cherishing the joys of childhood.
Drawing inspiration from the principles that underlie our popular summer Counselor-in-Training program, the 7th & 8th Grade Buddies program is tailored for mature middle schoolers who are eager to progress beyond the customary realm of After School child care.
Sample Schedule
- 3:00-3:30 Middle School arrival/homework help and Farm & Forest after care arrival/recess
- 3:30-4:00 Pleasant Hill and Wentworth arrival, snacks and community meeting in age groups
- 4:00-5:00 Program Activity in age groups or as a whole group
- 5:00-6:00 Free Choice activities mixed with all age groups
After School Care Monthly Pricing
After School Care Monthly Pricing:
Scarborough Middle School 6th & 7th Grade:
Scarborough Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Buddies (Mentor-In-Training):
Scheduled after school day: $25 Non-scheduled after school day: $45