Where is Fairlee, Vermont?

Fairlee is located in the Upper Valley Region of Vermont, on the New Hampshire border.  We are about twenty-five minutes north of White River Junction, VT, and forty minutes south of St. Johnsbury, VT.  We are easily accessible—just three miles off of Interstate 91, Exit 15.

How do you train your staff members?

Our staff members arrive at Hulbert with a college education, and with significant prior experience working with children.  In addition, every Hulbert staff member participates in staff training, working on the skills of leading activities, planning lessons, safety concerns, Hulbert policies and procedures, child development and educational philosophy, and behavior management.  Hulbert staff have first aid training, and most of our staff are certified in Wilderness First Aid, with many certified as Wilderness First Responders or EMTs. 

How safe is your program?

Safety is a prime concern for all Hulbert staff.  We work hard to make our activities as safe as possible without altering the spirit of adventure and challenge that is integral to the success of our program.  Because our program is physically and emotionally active, it is true that some risk is inherent in our program.  Like sports and other active pursuits, we occasionally experience minor injuries, usually bumps and bruises, and the possibility of more significant injury, though low, is real and should not be ignored.  We are proud, however, of our safety record and our programs almost always proceed without incident.  We keep close track of any incidents that do occur, including “near misses” that do not result in injury.  Using this information, and standards set by our industry, we regularly review our program and make changes if we discover concerns.

On the rare occasions when there is an injury or illness, we work with parents, and local agencies to respond appropriately.  In case of an illness or injury that needs more than very basic treatment, we will work to contact you, and to arrange a visit to the hospital if needed.  We are approximately 30 minutes by car from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and if needed in the case of a more serious injury, Upper Valley Ambulance, our local professional ambulance, operates from the Fairlee Fire Station, about three miles from our campus.

What are the accommodations like?

Participants sleep in our winterized cabins.  Single-sex, common-age cabin groups are assigned by the program director prior to the program.  Our cabins are modern buildings with carpeting, heat, and bathrooms with showers.  Most of our cabins feature rooms with two sets of bunk beds, sleeping four individuals.  Your child should come to the program expecting to share a room with at least three other children. 

Each cabin is supervised by a live-in Hulbert staff member or adult chaperones who will set appropriate lights-out times and will help to resolve any issues that arise in the cabin.

What is the cost of the program?

The total fee for this program, including lodging, food and all activities is $335.00. We require a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to reserve space

Online registration is now available.  We will be accepting registration forms for the October 2010 program beginning in August 10, 2010.  If you choose to register online the full tuition will be charged when the card is run.

How is the food?

Hulbert offers three hearty meals a day and fruit and other snacks are available between meals.  Vegetarian entrees are available at each meal, and we do our best to provide non-dairy alternatives, including soy milk, as well.  If your child has any other dietary restrictions or allergies, please contact us as soon as possible to determine if we can arrange for appropriate options.  In some cases, it may make sense for you to arrange to send along food that is appropriate for your child to supplement the choices available at Hulbert.

What role do adult volunteers play in the program?

During each program adults including parents, siblings, and family friends join us to assist with the program.  Adults who wish to volunteer must arrange to do so prior to the program and must complete a volunteer application including a criminal history check. 

Adult volunteers who previously attended a Hulbert Homeschool Program as a participant must be at least 18 years old, must have must have been away from the program for at least one year, and should be willing to work primarily with our youngest participants.

Activities

The Hulbert Homeschool Week offers participants a chance to come together for a week of fun and adventure, gathering with other homeschoolers to learn, form lasting friendships, and build a true working community.

For part of each day, homeschoolers participate in a Core Group led by a Hulbert instructor. The Core Group works together to solve problems and face challenges through activities from Hulbert’s teambuilding curriculum, and through our mealtime “jobs program”.  The Core Group is an excellent place to meet new friends and to practice new skills.

Whether through performing at the talent show, picking up a new skill, speaking out in community meeting, or living away from home for a week, during the Hulbert Homeschool Week participants have the opportunity to explore, to learn about themselves, and to take risks in a supportive and caring atmosphere.

How do we get more detailed information?

For more information contact the Program Director, Becky Proulx, or call 802-333-3405.

We can also refer you to families who have participated in the Homeschool Program in the past.   You can also arrange to visit Hulbert to tour our facility, and to observe the program in action.  When you phone our office, please be aware that due to the nature of our work, our staff are often not in the office and may not be able to get back to you immediately.  If you leave a message, we will make every effort to get in touch with you in a reasonable period of time. 

Last revised August 2010.