Director's Message:

In 1939, my mother began saving newspaper clippings of her favorite poems. She carefully pasted them in two small green volumes, writing comments about the authors, her parents and relatives, and her children that she was just beginning to raise -- my sister and I. With eagerness, did I turn those brown fragile pages, reopening for the first time probably in forty years her cherished collections, and her familiar cursive handwriting. I wondered what she was doing, seeing, and feeling as she posted each clipping.

There is one poem whose last stanza I remember her saying often -- lines that resonate deeply.

My New Year's gift is to share the poem, hoping that you might slowly read it aloud with a loved one(s), perhaps finding pleasure, meaning -- perhaps rekindling a notion of what is so important to hold dear.

EMPIRE BUILDER   Little boy, what have you there With your sticks and strings and the leg of a chair? Supper's ready. You've been building there for an hour or more. Is there no way to get you up off that floor?... Supper's cold. "Don't bother me now," your dreamy eyes beg, As you tie a long string to the piano leg.... Who could scold? For dreams are short and sweet and rare, And can't be found just anywhere.... Supper can wait. --Esther Swanson Myers

Annual Holiday Gathering at NC's Deer Creek home

Over forty counselors, friends, and children joyously gathered to celebrate the New Year.

On a hike along Deer Creek, we listened to sounds made as stones hit and slid across the ice, watched the sunset glow on the bellies of geese flying high overhead, drank hot cider and hot cocoa, ate delicious vegetarian potlucks and desserts, shared fun gifts, listened to music (guitars, mandolins and vocals) in the library, planted pansies in special old flower pots on the porch -- delighting in everyone's warm company.

2009 Calendar

Click here for the schedule for this summer.

Open House

Join us for our 35^th Open House on Sunday, May 17 from 1 – 4.

Returning families, come for an afternoon of reconnecting with the staff, enjoying the woods, and welcoming new families.

New families, you'll have the chance to meet Don, other staff, and veteran NC parents. You can also tour the grounds, ask questions, swing on the tall swings, and visit NC's unique Adventure Challenge Ropes Courses. NC water bottles and Camper T-Shirts will be available for purchase.

New NC Brochure

Look for a new brochure coming your way! Nature Camps has gone even more green! The new brochure is printed on recycled paper, using environmentally safe inks. The previous twenty-three page catalog has been reduced to a family friendly brochure, highlighting essential information. Additional key descriptions can be found as usual, at www.naturecamps.com. We welcome feedback about the new format.