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Date: 4/13/2022
BRIMFIELD - The Hitchcock Free Academy in Brimfield is ready to entertain not only community members, but also residents of the surrounding towns with a slew of upcoming events, activities and fundraisers.
From April 19-22, Hitchcock Free Academy is looking for students to join them during their April Vacation for ART-Ventures for Kids with Mad Science.
Last summer, the Academy partnered with ArtVentures, a leading arts enrichment program and Mad Science that provides STEM programming. The event, according to Hitchcock Free Academy Executive Director Cindy Skowyra, was very well received so they decided to bring it back for April vacation.
Skowyra explained, “In the past we followed the school vacation and therefore would be closed for April vacation. Instead, this year we will be open and offering some in-depth morning and afternoon programs that will run Tuesday through Friday.”
She continued, “Both ArtVentures and Mad Science bring highly-skilled teachers to lead the programs in a fun, hands-on, engaging atmosphere. There are programs available for 5 to 12-year-olds and also 12 and up.”
Founded by Samuel Austin Hitchcock, the Academy was originally a high school from 1855-1954, one of the first to offer a high school education for free. It closed as a high school when Tantasqua Regional High School opened to serve Brimfield and four other surrounding towns, creating Union 61. The academy reopened in 1956 as a nonprofit community center, open to everyone that can stop in at any time and check out what the programs are. A variety of local non-profits, from Girl Scouts to Cub Scouts, 4H Troops, AA, the Brimfield Historical Commission and Memorial Day Committee host their public meetings at the academy.
“We’re a small community so there’s not a lot of social outlets,” said Skowyra. “We offer programming for all ages of residents, not just Brimfield but many surrounding communities as well, such as Holland, Wales, Sturbridge, Charlton, Warren, West Brookfield, Wilbraham and even Stafford, CT. It’s surprising how far we reach beyond the immediate towns.”
Their current programs include two different types of yoga programs, a fencing program, Pilates and judo/martial arts club, dog training and music lessons. They also offer rentals for birthday parties, gatherings after funeral services and more. At the end of April, they will have a women’s self-defense class.
The Hitchcock Free Academy Farmers Market will open on April 16 and will open every Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. through the end of October. In May, they will be hosting a fundraising Plant Sale and their Brimfield Flea Market Parking Fundraisers on May 10-15, July 12-17 and September 6-11.
The academy has many activities going on in the evenings for both youth and adults. Currently, they are looking for instructors to lead art enrichment or craft classes that are either a one-night project, or ongoing to increase programming and offering to the community. They are also looking at one-time evening classes that are more art-focused for adults.
The academy is working on scheduling their Hitchcock Summer Concert Series, planning five concerts on the Brimfield Common on Wednesdays starting mid-July. They will be having their Tag Sale on June 4 and their 8th Annual Sip and Stars event on Aug. 10 at Brimfield Winery.
Skowyra is looking ahead to the future for Hitchcock Academy. She said she would like to revamp their Summer Fun program. The previous program, prior to COVID-19, was no longer sustainable or economically feasible for the organization. Skowyra knows offering summer activities for students is something the academy wants to do, and is also important for the community. In addition, there are tennis courts and a basketball court that are in need of repair.
Skowyra said there is the opportunity to assess what the needs are and either revitalize a previous plan from almost 20 years ago or create a new one to redevelop the area and make the Hitchcock Academy a focal point for program offerings. She noted this would require research, grant applications and fundraising to make it happen.
“I’d love to see every room in the building in use at all times,” Skowyra responded. “We make ourselves accessible to the community and we are open to new ideas. We’re providing opportunities for the community.”
She went on to say the Hitchcock Academy is “a positive place for [people] to go and have an activity locally. I attended programming here as a child and my parents were high school graduates of Hitchcock Academy so it has significance to me in my life.”
To register for programs or learn more, go to www.hitchockacademy.org or call 245-9977.
The Hitchcock Free Academy is located at 2 Brookfield Rd. in Brimfield. They are open Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. and Tuesday at 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. On Friday nights there is no staff after 6 p.m., but they are open for AA meetings. Those who want to get involved and volunteer at the academy can email execdirector@hitchcockacademy.org.