Outback
Summer Program!

Curriculum

Outback is a choice-based summer program, and our curriculum is built by both the talent and expertise of our teaching staff as well as the interests and ages of the children in our care. 

Each day, children get to choose which activities to participate in. A typical day has several activity periods, and several options per period to choose from! Choice offerings typically include a mix of structured activities – such as sports, ceramics and other visual arts, and performing arts – and the more carefree, traditional summer activities like  running through the sprinkler, playing with friends in the backyard, and making crafts! Outback offers summer fun for all age groups, and every kind of kid.

Age Groups

Outback Summer Program serves children in Kindergarten through 6th grade. This is based on the grade they will be entering in the upcoming school year. Kindergarteners must be at least 5 years old by their first day of the program in order to attend.

In order to plan activities that are age appropriate, we separate Kindergarteners and 1st graders from the older grades for much of the day. However, there are times when all groups are together and many opportunities for siblings and friends in different age groups to be and play together!

Hours of operation

Outback’s regular day schedule runs from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. Families may add extended day to their schedule for an additional fee, which extends pick up time to 5:45 PM.

Outback Summer Program runs for 8 weeks from June 29-August 21. Please note that the week of August 17th will have a lower capacity for enrollment, as we will not have access to the Baldwin School.

Week 1: June 29-July 2 (closed on July 3)
Week 2: July 6-10
Week 3*: July 13-17
Week 4: July 20-24
Week 5*: July 27-31
Week 6: August 3-7
Week 7*: August 10-14
Week 8: August 17-21

*This week includes a beach trip for 2nd-6th graders on Thursday

Tuition Fees

Updated for 2026 program

Regular Day (8:30 AM-3PM): $505 per week (or $490 if paying by check/ACH)
Extended Day (8:30 AM-5:45 PM): $695 per week (or $675 if paying by check/ACH)

To help us offset burdensome credit card processing fees, we offer a discount to families who opt to pay by automatic withdrawal (ACH) or check.

Financial Aid

Outback is committed to being accessible to families from all income levels. We offer full and partial scholarships based on household income and family size. We also accept childcare vouchers. Learn more about our financial aid options and process.

How to Register

Once the initial lottery period for afterschool enrollment ends, registration is considered on a first-come, first-served basis until spots are filled.

Please be sure to login to the registration portal or create your account before enrolling. If you have issues logging in, you must contact a member of our team. Do not create a second account. You should also complete or update your family’s profiles to ensure they are current and accurate. 

If you are on the waitlist, a member of our team will contact you if a spot becomes available and give you a chance to accept or decline.

Counselors-in-Training (CITs) are rising 7th-9th graders. This program offers them an opportunity to volunteer in the community, gain valuable professional experience and earn a $75 stipend. Each session is two weeks long, and CITs may participate in one session per summer. CITs assist our teaching staff, act as leaders and role models to our younger students, and play an integral part of our summer program operations.

Please check back for more information on the registration timeline for the 2026 CIT program (TBA).

Our Outback program staff is led by a strong team of Site Directors with expertise in child development, health and safety, curriculum development, family communication, and supporting positive social-emotional growth in children. 

Our teachers come from diverse backgrounds and each bring their own unique skills and interests to our curriculum. What they share in common is a commitment to building relationships with every child in our care and providing a fun, welcoming and supportive environment for them to have a great summer experience.

All staff are CPR/First Aid certified and participate in a rigorous orientation. The teaching staff is also supported by high school Mayor’s Youth students, and middle school Counselors in Training.

Outback is more than just the fun in our backyard. In addition to regular trips to Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, we love to go on adventures around Cambridge and Boston. Past field trips include the New England Aquarium, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Esplanade. 

Beach Trips

On Thursdays during weeks 3, 5 and 7, all 2nd-6th grade Outbackers will visit Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. There will not be any beach trips weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. The K-1 group will not go on these trips and will have a fun day on site with special activities and full access to our yard. There will also be a mix of other field trips and on site special events throughout the summer.

Outback beach trips are highly organized to ensure safety and fun for everyone. These trips are staffed by our teachers (including at least one with lifeguard certification), CITs, Mayor’s Youth and Site Directors. Parents, caregivers or other adult family members can also volunteer to help chaperone. Outbackers are closely supervised in the water and on the sand, and we create clear barriers of cones and rope and even human barriers in the water, to make sure all students stay within eyesight of an adult.