Summer belongs to children. For the past ten years, families and children have grown with Adkins Arboretum’s Summer Nature Camps. The camps provide extraordinary ways for children to enjoy summer the old-fashioned way—outdoors.
Campers will make lifelong memories while exploring the Arboretum’s woodland, meadows, streams and wetland. From grazing on blackberries to splashing in the Blockston Branch, the Arboretum’s Summer Nature Camps provide children with a truly enchanted experience.
Camp Bumblebee, for preschoolers ages 2 and 3, runs June 15–19. Campers will search for caterpillars in the Funshine Garden, gather juicy blackberries along the meadow’s edge, and visit the Arboretum’s goat herd. From splashing in the stream to hunting for tadpoles in the wetland, Camp Bumblebee is summer at its best! Adults attend this camp with their children and enjoy the experience of discovering nature together.
Camp Pollywog (June 22–26) campers ages 4 to 6 will enjoy a golden week in the great outdoors, floating leaf and twig boats down the Blockston Branch, creating leafy magic carpets on the forest floor, and mixing up gooey wetland “parfaits.” Stories, crafts and healthy snacks are combined with games and guided nature exploration.
In Camp Paw Paw (June 29–July 3), campers ages 7 to 9 will enjoy a week of “Arrowhead Adventure” as they walked in the moccasin-clad footsteps of early Native Americans. Campers will craft tools from ironwood, hunt for arrowheads along the streambed, harvest squash from the Three Sisters garden, explore the Arboretum’s wigwams, and much more. Healthy snacks, guided exploration, Native American crafts, and team-building will round out the week.
Ever wonder what it takes to survive in the wildness? In Camp Egret (July 6– 10), campers ages 10 to 12 will learn the basics, from navigating the position of the sun to purifying water over a campfire they build themselves. Along the way, campers will set snares, construct a waterproof shelter, and forage for native plants, all while building valuable teamwork and leadership skills.
Registration fees vary, and advance registration is required. Register at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.