HomeEARLY RELEASE

2024-2025 Early Release / School Break

For students in grades 4 through 9, Early Release Day and School Break Workshops are fun, enrichment activities.

FREE for MEMBERS. Non-member guests may attend for $30 each per 3-hr block, pre-paid.

2025 sessions run AM 9-12 and PM 12-3.

Early drop-off and late pickup can be arranged.

Parents, please sign up your child and a few friends. We want to recruit a group of 4 to 8 students for an optimally sized program.

Please call ahead before registering a single student to see if minimum enrollment has been met.

Early Release / School Break Workshop

+ We try to give students choices and variety each day. Activities may include Electronic Kits, Battlin’ Bots, LASER engraving, Woodworking, Rocketry, Planetarium Shows, Amateur Radio, Chess / Board / Computer Games, Bridge Building Contests, Oobleck, Arts/Crafts, Billiards tournaments.

+ NE SciTech offers snacks and lunch items for purchase (most are $1 each) or students may BYO.

+ The lead instructor is a 44-yr veteran teacher who has taught algebra, Latin, English, chemistry, astronomy, earth science, electronics, woodworking, graphic design, photography, and amateur radio.

Battlin'Bots is popular during school break workshops.

2025 February Break, AM and PM sessions

(Sign up in calendar at bottom of this page.)

• Tue Feb 18, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Wed Feb 19, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Thu Feb 20, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Fri Feb 21, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00

2025 April Break, AM and PM sessions

(Sign up in calendar at bottom of this page.)

• Tue Apr 22, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Wed Apr 23, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Thu Apr 24, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00
• Fri Apr 25, AM 9:00-12:00 • PM 12:00-3:00

2025 Winter/Spring Early Release Dates

(Sign up in calendar at bottom of this page.)

• Wed Jan 8, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Wayl, Wells, Needh
• Wed Jan 15, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Natick
• Wed Jan 29, 12-3 pm, No school Wayland, Weston
• Wed Feb 5, 12-3 pm Early Rel. Nat, Wes, Wells, Dov/Sh
• Wed Mar 5, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Wes, Wells, Need, Dov/Sh
• Wed Mar 12, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Natick, Dov/Sh
• Wed Apr 2, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Wes, Wells, Need, Dov/Sh
• Wed Apr 9, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Natick
• Wed May 7, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Wes, Wells, Need, Dov/Sh
• Wed May 14, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Natick
• Wed Jun 4, 12-3 pm, Early Rel. Wes, Wells

Students may bring lunch/snacks or purchase items from our kitchenette.

Early Release / School Break Workshop

+ Although activities are structured instructional time, students are welcome to switch in and out of structured activities as they wish. Students arriving earlier or staying later will have unstructured time to socialize, work on projects, play games, watch educational science videos, or just chill out.

+ We have a variety of project kits and materials available so students have choices. One average size project or kit per daily session is built into the price of the workshop. Larger or advanced kits or projects that consume more than average material will be billed at cost. This might include extra wood, electronics kits, jewelry supplies, and over-size 3D print objects, for example.

Parent Information

+ Visit before signing up! You want to meet us and see the facilities. Come to one of our regular open houses.

+ We will try to accommodate parents’ commuting and work schedules for early drop-offs and late pickups.

+ Parents are welcome to stay during the workshop to assist their own children, or to hang out in another room. WIFI access and coffee, tea, and snacks are available.

In addition to registering for this workshop, please fill out the Workshop Student Permissions Form.

Students may get creative with their own projects or join group activities.