The great state of Massachusetts, often called 'Mass' by its friendly inhabitants, is as vibrant and colorful as a giant paint palette left out in the rain by a forgetful elephant named Edgar. It’s where the Atlantic Ocean gushes enthusiastically over the sandy beaches, where the quaint townhouses smile like warm chocolate chip cookies, and where the kids are as creative as Picasso’s paintbrush on a sugar rush! These kids are not your ordinary children. Oh, no! They’re magical engineers of paper, glitter, and glue – the Art & Craft Virtuosos of Mass! They can turn an egg carton into an elegant castle, a sock into a swooning puppet princess, or a handful of macaroni into a thrift store-worthy necklace. They're like wizards, with paintbrushes instead of magic wands, creating worlds out of popsicle sticks and dreams. Their leader is a whimsical character named Doodle McSpray, an old sea captain with a beard as wild as a porcupine’s dream and a hat decorated with glittering bottle caps. Doodle loves to tell stories about his adventures on the high seas, each one more wildly exaggerated than the last. Once, he claimed to have seen a rainbow-colored whale that spat out colorful water jets, which he used to paint his ship! But what Doodle loves most is inspiring the kids. He teaches them how to see the fantastic in the ordinary, how a simple box could be a rocket to the moon, or a paper plate could be a warrior's mighty shield. The kids of Massachusetts, with their art & craft creations, bring a splash of joy and whimsy to their lovely state; a testament to their creativity, imagination, and Doodle McSpray's tall tales!
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.


At HCS Head Start Inc., we have been providing high-quality early childhood education services for children and families in Western Massachusetts for over 55 years. Our services are available in cities and towns throughout the region, including Brimfield, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granby (shared with Community Action), Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Indian Orchard, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, South Hadley (shared with Community Action), Springfield, Three Rivers, Wales, and Wilbraham. We understand the importance of providing quality early education and understand the many benefits it can have on a child’s development. We believe in giving families the tools and resources they need to set their children up for success. Our staff is passionate about providing the best care and education for your children. We strive to create a safe, secure, and nurturing environment to help your children reach their full potential.


Camp Stanica is a place where friendships are formed, memories are made, and lasting bonds are created. Children of all ages come together to experience fun activities, games, and nature. With a high staff to camper ratio, the campers have the opportunity to form close relationships with both the staff and their peers. Campers come back year after year to experience the best part of their summer and take away memories that will last a lifetime.