Residential Programs enable students to have a meaningful, cumulative learning experience. The fact that they stay on-site for several days allows them to draw connections between ecosystems, begin to see patterns that are repeated over and over in nature, and see a myriad of examples of how processes such as cycles, change, succession, and disturbance work in different areas.

Three Lessons a Day plus Recreation
Each morning and afternoon students attend 2-hour long lessons; evening lessons are an hour and a half. After students arrive on Monday morning, their first afternoon lesson is the ABCs of Ecology, during which the themes and concepts for the week are introduced. Subsequent lessons may include Astronomy, Abiotic Adventures, Beach & Dunes, Marine Lab, Salt Marsh, Forest, Nature at Night, Tide Pools, and Student Choice. The final lesson, Connections, is an overview of the relationship between humans and their environment, with an emphasis on sustainability. Between lessons students have a chance to relax in their dormitories, enjoyed supervised play on the beach, and recreate on the volleyball and basketball courts and playground. Students eat three meals each day family-style in the Dining Hall. Meal time is also an opportunity for learning through our Food For Thought Program.

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Sample Lesson Schedule for a Typical 5-Day Week:

Shorter stay residential programs are offered and include a selection of the above lessons. Want to see more about our lessons? Check out our lessons descriptions here.

Typical Daily Schedule
(the Group in charge of supervision indicated in parentheses)

• 7:00 am Students wake up (Teachers)
• 8:00-9:00 Breakfast (All)
• 9:00-9:30 Recreation Time (Teachers)
• 9:30-11:30 Morning Lesson (FBES)
• 11:30-12:30 Free Time (Teachers)
• 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch (All)
  
• 1:30-2:00 Rec. Time (Teachers)
  
• 2:00-4:00 Afternoon Lesson (FBES)
  
• 4:00-5:30 Free Time (Teachers)
  
• 5:30-6:30 Dinner (All)
  
• 6:30-7:00 Rec. Time (Teachers)
  
• 7:00-8:30 Evening Lesson (FBES)
  
• 8:30-9:00 Back to Dorms: Lights out at 9:00. Story, songs, etc.(FBES)
  
• 9:00 pm Teachers in charge of supervision for the night.
  

Residential Program Dates
Spring 2011 :14 week term (March 14th - June 17th, 2011)
Fall 2011:  12 week term (August 29th - November 18th 2011)
Spring 2012:  15 week term (March 12th - June 25th 2012)

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Residential Program Costs

* Tuition for residential programs includes all lessons, room and board (meals & snacks).
* Deposit Required: An initial non-refundable deposit of $300 per school, per program is required to secure a space on the schedule.
Discounts Rates: School receive a $5 per student discount when they pay at least 50% of their total tuition by July 15th (for Fall Term schools) or by December 1st (for Spring Term schools).
* Please note: An additional non-refundable deposit of 5% of total tuition due is payable at at the Discount Rate Deadline Dates of July 15th (for Fall Term schools) & December 1st (for Spring Term schools) for those schools not participating in the discount rate plan.

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Funding a FBES Trip
FBES recognizes that funding this type of educational field trip can be a challenge. Below are some ideas and tried and true methods from some of our current client schools to help you meet your financial challenge.

School System: Some school systems will pay all or most of the students' tuition. Many school systems look at their trip to FBES as an integral part of their science curriculum, and thus include the cost of the trip in their budget. Science education or field trip funds can also be used for funding the trip, and schools often provide the money to bus students to and from Ferry Beach.

Fundraising: Raffles, T-shirt sales, bake sales, car washes, bottle drives, auctions, yard sales, candy sales, discount booklet sales, and benefit dinners can raise a large portion of the money required-- in fact, some schools raise all their funds this way! PTA and PTO groups can be a huge help in this area. The book The Grassroots Fundraising Book: How to Raise Money in Your Community by Joan Flanagan, Contemporary Books, 1995 has great information on the process of raising funds and also ideas on Fundraising Events and Strategies.

Grants & Donations: Local non-profit organizations like United Way or local businesses such as banks, large stores, and industries may be open to providing scholarships to low income students, bussing money, or even completely funding a visit to FBES. One school received $10,000 from their local bank to fund their trip! Several other teachers have received Eisenhower grants that enable their class to come to FBES at little or no cost to the students.

Parent Contributions: Parents are sometimes asked to pay some or all of the tuition cost. Parents who are financially able are usually supportive of involving their children in hands-on learning experiences at FBES.

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