Weymouth Recreation
• Register Now •

Great Esker Park

This program is currently unavailable. Click here to view all of our current programs.


Young girl with butterfly painted on face.
The 2009 Great Esker Park Nature Exploration Programs will again look to take advantage of making the programs scalable – so we can expand popular programs and make the most efficient use of the staff. The Explorer and Adventurer Programs will separate participants by ability if they break into smaller groups – kayaking and biking come to mind. The enrollment numbers allowed in a class will change frequently depending upon demand. Popular programs may expand, “open” spots for other programs may contract – register early to lock in your spot!!! Enrollment capacities may be adjusted at any time, so tune in often to see if we’ve been able to add space. Program enrollment changes will be posted to our web-page at www.weymouth.ma.us/rec. The staff will remain dedicated to a single age group where they will be able to get to know the participants and constantly improve “their” program. We are happy with the changes in the past few years but as always we are always pleased to hear what you think – both good and bad. Children will have daily options, including non-water based activities, when the groups break out with-in the park. Great Esker Park Exploring Nature Programs include a lot of aquatic exploration. Please let the supervisor know, in writing, if you do not want your child in the water. The Great Esker Staff has prided itself on facilitating a relationship between program participants and nature for over forty years. The 2009 staff continues that tradition. The programs are designed to allow your child more choice as they discover the wonders of the park’s flora, fauna and ecological significance! New this year we have added some program name extension to make it easier to separate the groups into manageable number before heading up into the park. Please be sure to coordinate with friends to sign into the same program. By having a dedicated staff and smaller groups we will be able to customize what is offered to the group throughout the week. This variety can and will reflect the interest of the participants and thus will change frequently. Unless otherwise noted, all supplies are included in the cost of the class. Please see page 6 and 7 for important info.

General Information
  • Participants are welcome (encouraged) to bring hats, drinks, snacks, sunscreen and insect repellent.
  • The Great Esker Park Program requires an age-appropriate Weymouth Recreation t-shirt. 6-8 Stonewash Green; 8-10 Lime green & 10+ Light Blue and a Weymouth Recreation issued photo ID.
  • CLICK HERE for a full bus / shuttle schedule and fees.
  • Great Esker Park Programs are weather dependent. To ensure that your child can continue to participate in activities during rainy days you must sign up for the rainy day option, by week, for those of you that need your, 6 year old or older, child watched during all program hours, rain or shine. “Rain option” participants, along with some “Esker” staff, will be transported to and join the Wey-Fun group at their site(s) and participate in their activities.
  • Participants enrolled in morning and afternoon programs may stay at the park during lunch. The building will be open and staffed.

Programs
Tenderfoot Program - Ages 3-4 years old: Based out of the George A. Clark Nature Center and using the newly renovated Julia Rd.
Playground to explore the “nature of the park” through stories, arts & crafts, and nature exploration – either found or brought to the group. Ratios will be 5:1 and participants must be potty trained.
Esker Rovers Program – Ages 4-6 years old: Participants will “Rove” the park from the George A. Clark Jr. Nature Center to the Back River. These short hikes along with stories, arts and crafts, and plenty of hands on nature discovery will introduce the participants to the basics of how the park works! The new name extensions are designed to break the class size up into more manageable sizes. Please coordinate with friends to make sure you enroll in the same class.
Discoverer Program - Ages 6-7-8 years old: Participants will “Discover” the fundamental concepts of the “science” of the park as they uncover the web of relationships between the physical elements and the bugs and birds and fish and plants through group walk-abouts and competitions. Longer hikes, stories, nature crafts, games, contest and plenty of hands on nature discovery will bring into focus some of the lesser known mysteries of the park. As with Rovers the new name extensions are designed to break the class size up into more
manageable sizes. Please coordinate with friends to make sure you enroll in the same class.
Explorer Program (8-10 years old) and Adventurer Programs (10+ years old):
Biking (8-10, 10+) Program focus is on Wampatuck State Park. May travel to other locations. We try to minimize road travel and bikes are transported to most locations by trailer. We provide the cross bike. Helmets are required and available at the park for $5.00 per week. You may bring your own helmet.
Canoeing: (8-10, 10+) Develop basic skills and safety techniques learn self and team rescues, trip planning and powering techniques. 3 hour programs explore the Back River, Whitmans Pond, Pond Meadow, Quincy Bay and Hingham Harbor. Longer touring kayaking programs may branch out to Cohasset Harbor or Scituate. Canoeing participants will learn the basic strokes - J, sweep and back.
Camping / Kayaking: (8-10 & 10+) Two camp-outs, one night July 28th limited enrollment! All the basics: tents, fires, and cooking (2 meals and snacks - included) with a relaxed paddle to and back from Grape Island. Participants meet at Great Esker Park at 6:00 p.m. and need to be picked up at 8:45 a.m. the next day. If the camp-out gets rained out it will be made up on the Wednesday night of the same week, 7/29.
Croc Hunter – (10+) Break out the field guides and the toys (nets, boats, binoculars, GPS…) the old shoes and let’s go find it. A fun way to “inventory” what’s out there! The ultimate live scavenger hunt. May explore marine or fresh water environments.
Esker Walk-about: (8-10 & 10+) Participants will learn “Esker” skills using GPS (global positioning systems), maps and compasses, fire building, archery and much more and then test themselves individually and as teams in fun-filled competitions in and sometimes out of the park.
Fishing: (8+) Plenty of fresh water fishing. All equipment and bait is provided – or you can bring your own. Participants should wear their “age appropriate” shirt
Rock Climbing (8-10 & 10+) Participants learn basic climbing and belaying skills using the safest “top-rope” method. All climbing will be done at the Quincy Quarries or Blue Hills Reservation (8-10 & 10+). Participants will be divided by age / ability. Please note: there are two single gender rock climbing programs.
Tube Rafting (8-10 & 10+) Back on the Back River. Old tire tubes, friends, fun, games, float and soak! Tire tubes are also available at Wessagusset Beach as part of the Wey-Fun Program.
A rain option is required for Esker programs if you need your child watched rain or shine.

* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

 Return to Programs    View All Activities


Share This Page: