BROOKFIELD — Education Connection is offering a tuition-free academic enrichment program next week for area students entering second to third grade titled “Tails to Tales”; it is all things animals and will focus on science and reading.

The program will meet Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31, from 9 am to 3 pm, at Whisconier Middle School, 17 West Whisconier Road in Brookfield.

Throughout each day of the program, various cuddly, furry, feathery, and slithery animals and their human ambassadors visit with the students. Students can look forward to getting up-close to aquatic touch tanks, canine companions, rainforest reptiles, worms, insects, birds of prey, and much more.

All students will receive their own copy of Dogs in the Dead of Night, part of the Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne. This book is the featured story for a class read aloud called “One Tail, One Read.”

Students entering grades 2 and 3 from Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Redding, Region 14, and Sherman may register for "Tails to Tales." Students are expected to attend all five days of the program.

Most activities are held indoors. Bus transportation from participating schools is provided at no charge.

All activities throughout the day are led and supervised by professional educators and certified public school teachers. Funding is provided by the Connecticut State Department of Education through its statewide interdistrict grant program initiative.

Registration is available online at educationconnection.org by clicking on “Student Services” and then “Student Enrichment Programs.”