Director's Message

MIXED AGE LEARNING

Since 1974, NC’s philosophy is children learn best by doing, especially doing things that interest them. Providing an atmosphere of many ages learning together works wonders.

It is not difficult to teach children of various ages and abilities at Nature Camps, especially with an experienced and skilled staff. The intimacy of a mixed age atmosphere (5-12) resembles a family. In this relaxed atmosphere, high levels of aspiration are encouraged naturally; the discouragement is taken out of failures, as there is the joy of cooperative effort and the reinforcement of skills when children coach one another.

They are teachers as well as well as learners.

The family grouping of various ages gives children consistency, reliability, and a safe and stable feeling of knowing where they are going in their learning. The pleasant feeling of cooperative learning does two things: it cuts across age range and abilities and brings joy to ever-eager learners who are now also smiling, satisfied teachers.

Children are being exposed to a way of life. Understanding this is very important.

It reminds me of the story about geese @ http://www.naturecamps.com/senseWonder/goose.html in terms of caring for each other and of NC's Family Overnights http://naturecamps.com/programs/cfamily.html

Former Counselor’s Perspective

Looking at back at 28 years in the field, former Nature Camps counselor, Denise Ashman, says that it all started with solo/reflective time on the banks of the Upper Gunpowder River and her first steps as an educator for Nature Camps!

Read Denise’s full reflections at http://www.naturecamps.com/senseWonder/reflections.html

IMPORTANT! First Open House Date Has Been Changed!

April finds us another month closer to warmth and Nature Camps' Summer of 2012!

Would you like to a chance meet our Director?

Would you like to meet some of the wonderful counselors who make Nature Camps so special?

Would you like the opportunity to ask questions . . . and get answers in person?!

Then plan to attend one of our spring Open Houses! Sunday, April 29 or Sunday, May 20. You'll have the chance to meet Don, other staff, and former NC parents. You can also tour the grounds, ask questions, swing on the tall swings, visit NC's unique Adventure Challenge Ropes Courses, and celebrate the warmer weather with NC's apple cider. NC water bottles and Camper T-Shirts will be available for purchase.

We look forward to meeting you at one of these Open Houses!

Nature Camps at Baltimore’s Child Camp Fair

The Baltimore's Child annual Camp Fair, held on March 4, was a huge success! Past Co-Director, Counselor and camper of twenty five years -- Rachael Tanner was with Don and other staff -- including Ben Currotto (Teen Adventure Coordinator), Maddie Fishburn (Counselor), and Greg Schaefer (past counselor and camper of fourteen years). Other Counselors and Interns who came by to talk with parents and children were Sadie O'neill, Gabby Reamer, Zoie Reamer, and Ema Sagner.

It is always such a joy to connect with new families searching for that perfect place where their child can experience a remarkable summer.

Still Accepting Registrations

We offer the Camper Program for children ages 5-12. In a mixed-age learning environment, children choose their own activities -- Adventure Ropes Course, swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, nature crafts, carving & whittling, hiking, Nature Journaling, stream exploring, singing, bicycling, new games, Family Overnights and Concerts, etc.

Teen Adventure is for teens 13-16, and offers a four week program of hiking, biking, white water rafting, community service learning, and more! Two weeks are spent at Nature Camps , and two five-day away trips take teens to a local farm and to the Appalachian Trail.

Camp Wonder, for 4-year olds, is a program designed to be a miniature version of our camper program -- at the relaxed pace of a four-year-old!

Camp Little Feet is for toddlers, aged 2-1/2 to 4, and provides a unique opportunity for the parent and child to explore nature as only toddlers can do -- one wonder at a time.

So, whatever the age of your child, and whatever your summertime schedule brings, Nature Camps has a program just for you!

Register now online.

Looking for Feedback

What was your child's favorite Nature Camps 2011 memory? What did you like about the Family Overnights? What would you like to see changed for next summer?

We are always looking for feedback about your Nature Camps experience. Please send all comments to naturecampsinc@gmail.com and let us know what we did right, and where you would like to see improvement.

2012 Calendar

Please check out the 2012 calendar. Be sure to reserve your child’s space as soon as possible to ensure you get the sessions you want. It is important that children attend both consecutive weeks of a session (all four consecutive weeks for TA), in order to maintain the continuity of Nature Camps programming. Once children have come for their first full session, they can always add a week, after that.

Check out Nature Camps Videos!