Summer Camp
Registration for summer 2024 is open!
Many weeks are full. If you do not see your child’s age on the drop down menu, it means that week is full for their age. Please add them to the waitlist. Movement does happen.
NOTE: Paddle adventure camp (PAC) is only offered to children entering 8th, 9th or 10th GRADE in the fall. (Be careful not to accidentally register your 8-year-old for PAC.)
If you are logged into your account and do not see the quick links for registration, click the “what would you like to do?” drop down menu and return to login home.
Our summer day camp experience provides adventure and ecological exploration for students in preschool through seventh grade. Our camp offers the ideal opportunity to explore the outdoors. A hands-on approach to scientific inquiry connects everyone to nature through environmental stewardship activities in a fun, relaxed setting.
Click here for the parent guide, waiver, and instructions for how to update your forms.
An Environmentalist membership ($125), valid through the program date, is required to attend camp. Only one membership is required per family. Good for one full year.
HOW TO REGISTER
STEP ONE: Create an account. We recommend you do this before the day of registration using this link. If you have attended a program or supported FRNC in the past, it is likely that we already have an account on file for you which you can recover using the "forgot password" option and entering your email. If you are new to the Nature Center and our programs, you can create a new account.
STEP TWO: Apply online. You will submit your child's information and select the weeks you would like them to attend. It is important that you 1) use the checkbox to select the week you would like your child to attend and 2) click the dropdown menu and select your child’s age group. You must do this for each week you would like your child to attend. Failure to do so may result in getting shut out of your child’s appropriate age group. Please see below photo for reference.
STEP THREE: Payment. Once you submit the online form, you will be redirected to PayPal to complete your payment. If you do not have a PayPal account you can still use the platform to pay with a debit or credit card. Your payment will be incomplete if you navigate away from PayPal before submission.
STEP FOUR: Complete waivers and health forms. FRNC will follow up for additional information. If your membership is not up to date, you will be instructed to renew at this time.
camp ages and details
Explorers
Entering Preschool or Kindergarten
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
$450/child per week
Designed for our youngest campers’ growing minds and bodies, our Explorers program is grounded in early childhood educational values and promotes nature exploration and inquiry. Each day is structured to build confidence and skills as children discover the Nature Center’s orest, wildlife, animals, ponds, and garden. Children must be at least 3.5 years old by the start of camp and completely toilet-trained.
No exceptions. Campers should be sent daily with a morning snack and healthy lunch.
Discoverers
Entering K – 5th grade in the fall*
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$475/child per week
Discoverers enjoy a variety of nature and science activities throughout the week. Hiking, natural history, art, and STEM projects fill these campers’ days. During free time, campers cool off in our sprinklers, play games, visit with our animals, and build friendships.
Please note: Discoverers are grouped by their age and/or the grade they are entering in the fall. Children will be grouped within one grade level or 1.5 years of their age. FRNC strives to fulfill friend requests, but it is not guaranteed.
Naturalists in Training
Entering 6th or 7th grade in the fall
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Campers stay until 5:30 PM on Thursday
$495/child per week
Our NITS enjoy the freedom and responsibilities of being the oldest campers. A typical day includes teacher-led activities with FRNC staff as well as time to pursue the group’s own interests and develop outdoor skills. Each Thursday, the NITS stay late for a cookout and exploration of the camp grounds.
Camp weeks and themes:
Week 1
July 1st – July 5th (No camp Thursday July 4th)
Making Waves
Dive into the world of water! Earth’s surface is 70% water, so explore hydrology, marine animals, or the critters that live in Nanderwhere Pond.
Week 2
July 8th – July 12th
Past, Present, Future!
Take a trip back in time and blast into the future with our friends at RNC! Take a closer look at native artifacts, explore other galaxies, and search for fossils in the Quarry.
Week 3
July 15th – July 19th
I Will Survive!
Do you have what it takes to survive at Rye Nature Center? Learn how to build a primitive shelter, the best techniques for fire making, or how to navigate back to civilization.
Week 4
July 22nd – July 26th
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!
Calling all entomology enthusiasts! Learn about all kinds of insects, arachnids, and other bugs. Get up close and personal with the creepy crawlies of Rye Nature Center.
Week 5
July 29th – Aug 2nd
World of Adaptations
Have you ever wondered how a chameleon can change colors, or why a bat sleeps upside down? This week we will be celebrating the animal adaptations that make them all so special and unique!
Week 6
Aug 5th – Aug 9th
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repeat!
Hey! Don’t just throw that away! Bring in recyclable items for an opportunity to give them a new purpose. Learn about composting, invasive plants, and take a piece of nature home with you!
Week 7
Aug 12th – Aug 16th
Chef It Up!
Use the bounty of the nature center to put your palate to the test! Harvest vegetables and herbs from the garden, look for wild forgeables, and use a primitive fire to cook some s’mores!
Membership at the Environmentalist level ($125) or higher valid through program date is required to register.
*Week 1 of Summer Camp is pro-rated due to the July 4th Holiday. No other sessions of Summer Camp may be pro-rated.
CANCELLATION POLICY
No refunds or credits will be given towards other programs, camps, or events if you cancel your enrollment. In the event you need to cancel, a tax receipt will be issued to you indicating that the program fee was converted to a charitable donation. Membership is non-refundable.