News from Nature Camps

"It's about a sense of wonder!"

On-Line Application

Embracing Change

I believe that the continued success of Nature Camps is the result of mission-focused, innovative, experiential programs that address identified needs of children and their families. With parental support and a dedicated staff we will continue to work together to enhance the capacity of Nature Camps to accomplish its mission of transformative education that promotes social justice, ecological stewardship, program integrity, (and its effectiveness), and respect for the whole person.

A common passion for our work undergirds the sense of community that we enjoy – the foundation being parents and their children. This sense of community fosters a sense of intimacy, even as we grow and change, that promotes collaboration, innovation, creativity, and respect for diversity. It is through such a rich interpersonal interaction that we have developed and support exemplary teaching of experiential education methods. They promote what NC has become known for locally, nationally, and internationally: individual growth and sensory awareness for children, their parents, their grandparents, and for our stunning NC Outdoor Educators – keeping NC as it as always been, a uniquely family-based program.

For more than three decades, Nature Camps’ community, commitment, and approach to education allow us to attract our greatest asset: parents and their children. It is their active engagement that brings forth a spirit of connectedness.

--Don Webb, Camp Founder and Director

Brooke, Sarah J. and the 2006 Wonders

Father and son enjoying some quiet time

Podcasts Come to Nature Camps!

Your favorite camp songs are now available for web listening and download through iTunes.

New to Nature Camps? Watch our video podcasts! It's almost like being there.

Click here for all the information.

Don relaxing in the pool

A frequent NC visitor

Greg "Gerg" after his Family Overnight Performance

Nature Camps is unique. In identifying specific needs of every child at Nature Camps, counselors find new ways to do what they already do well. First, they identify the strengths of individual children. Secondly, they make use of the knowledge that children influence one another. As children discover their sources of strength, they create positive influences upon each other. Counselors help fulfill a child’s need to be recognized and celebrated. By the end of a typical camp day, children have done many novel things, bringing forth remarkable happiness. An example of this is found here in a Mom’s letter about her son’s experience:

August 15, 2006

Greetings Don and all of the Nature Camps Staff:

My son Luke recently attended six weeks at Nature Camps this summer. I wanted to share my thoughts with all of you about his (and my) experience.

I first wanted to send him to Nature Camps last summer. However, it was mid summer by the time I ‘found out’ about your camp, and had already enrolled him at another summer destination. This year I was determined to send him to Nature Camps. He was very excited about coming.

Let me share with you some background about Luke. Luke has a great deal of difficulty with changes, making choices, and has a lot of social anxiety. He is being evaluated for these issues. I really wanted him to enjoy camp, and worried like crazy about how he’d do each day. I wasn’t sure if changing his summer routine would be good for him, but wanted to give it a shot, and your camp sounded perfect. I really wanted him to feel free to enjoy things at a slow pace with lots of support. I thought I’d give this summer camp a try, and see what happened.

The first few days were rocky, but Luke was all smiles when I picked him up. The one moment that I thought, “Wow!” was as follows:

I arrived at Nature Camps to find that Luke was out hiking. I waited around for several minutes. Then, out of nowhere, I started to hear yelling, and the sounds of lots of children running in the woods. I saw sticks and children with big, huge, muddy smiles – and there was Luke!! I got a lump in my throat. There he was all smiley and yelling and waving a knobby, twisted stick in his hand. I haven’t seen him so happy and excited in a very long time.

Another moment was on the way home from camp one afternoon:

“Hey, Mom. I found three salamanders today. They were so cool. One had spots on it. Can I do that again tomorrow?”

Or the days he discovered wine berries:

“Mom, I picked lots of berries today. They are ok to eat. I am going to pick you some next time.” Sure enough he did pick some to share another day.

We’ve had endless conversations about poison ivy, jewel weed, wine berries, glow worms, fireflies, pea shooters, bamboo, the pool, bugs and butterflies, horrible ground bees, and his first time canoeing. There are too many little stories to retell in this letter. Our camp overnight experiences were simply grand!

Mostly I am writing this letter to tell you that Nature Camps holds a special place in Luke’s (and his parent’s) hearts. I was not there each hour to see what goes on. I am sure that Luke had his ‘moments’ where he tested his counselors and had trouble fitting in . . . but I am so happy that you made his summer so memorable to him.

Before camp, Luke never talked about how his day went. But I can’t keep him from telling me about camp. I think I’ve heard stories about the Mud People and the Fairies that live in the woods a million times.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU – For giving my son a gift of time and room to spread his wings. We recommend Nature Camps to everyone, even to parents of a child with autism or anxiety disorders. I’m glad we gave it a chance.

I am not very good with writing – hopefully, my letter allows you to understand the depth of my thanks. I’ll end with a quote that I found fitting:

“Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher.” — William Wordsworth

Please share with your staff our appreciation and gratitude for their hard work.

Once again, A Thousand Thank You’s! Hope to see you all next year!

Warmly,
Kelly Furgason
(reprinted with permission)

Register now and secure your place . Visit our website for more information or contact us by email or telephone.

NC Staff

Our Staff is our best resource. Most of our counselors are "home grown" and have been at Nature Camps since they were "small tykes". They know the secrets of the "Leprechauns and Fairies" and all that makes camp special.

Meet the counselors.

Staff Dancing

Big Circle

Hiking through the Woods

Canoeing on the Reservoir

Mud Monkeys