Our Mission

Because we are a part of the natural world! In nature we feel joy, connection, and a sense that the world is essentially a good and healthy place. Living in a fast-paced, high-pressure, socially digitized society can overwhelm our primary connection to the natural world. Nurturing our connection to nature is restorative and strengthening, and can give us a feeling of belonging to something that is greater than ourselves.

Rather than having a nature center at The Nature Place, nature is the center, and becomes the thread that weaves throughout our varied activities. Our program propels children to feel at home in their world, connected to their earth, creatively capable of meeting their futures.

Non-competitive means a great deal more to us at The Nature Place than offering cooperative games in lieu of regular sports. It is also an attitude and way of living in the world: accepting people as they are, recognizing that each person we encounter is worthy of our respect, believing that how we treat others is as important as what we can accomplish. This philosophy is followed through all our activities, from swimming to archery to art; no awards are given at camp.

Skills learned through cooperative games and active participation in a non-competitive environment prepare children to navigate through life beyond camp. By removing the pressure of winning or losing, and by taking away the fear of looking ‘not good enough’ in front of peers, campers can actually engage fully in an activity. Learning how to communicate through differences, working to include all members of a group, and focusing on process rather than product, are competencies we believe to be fundamental to living a healthy, meaningful life.

We intentionally keep our numbers small to cultivate a community where everyone recognizes each other and no one gets lost in the shuffle. Individualized attention and care are given to each and every camper.

Many of our staff members are previous Nature Place campers, some are teachers, some in college, a few are graduating from high school, and all of them work at The Nature Place not just because it’s a job, but because they believe in what we do.

During our full week of staff training, we hold workshops and discussions on conflict resolution, bullying, anti-racism, safety (physical and emotional), sustainability, ensuring a positive environment for LGBTQ+ campers and staff, setting and maintaining the proper verbal environment at camp, our expectations, what to do in a variety of ‘What if…?’ situations, and so much more.

In an age where day-to-day life is heavily saturated with digital influence, camp serves as one of the last places where campers (and staff) can escape the pressures of constantly being hooked in to screens, social media, and virtual reality. Our campers tell us they feel relieved, free, more creative, less anxious, and more connected to the people around them in our unplugged camp environment.

As an antidote to our fast-paced lifestyles, at camp we intentionally slow down. We believe children thrive when given time to integrate into an activity and not be rushed out of it. This is especially considered in the structure of our younger campers’ schedules. An unhurried schedule also encourages organic social interactions and opportunities to ‘stop and smell the roses’–or in our case, the milkweed. To get more of a sense of our pace at camp, check out a typical day.

Jason Samuel is the Director and Owner of The Nature Place. He lives with his wife Katie and their son just down the road in Nyack, NY.

The Nature Place is deeply committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for every camper. We do not assign campers to groups based on their gender, nor do we emphasize gender as a means of defining or limiting individuals. By removing gender as a means of division, we strive to overcome gender stereotypes, encourage self-expression, and nurture opportunities for growth. We work closely with the Rockland Pride Center to continually evolve our awareness around gender, inclusion, and our camp culture.

Spending 4, 5, or 6 weeks at The Nature Place gives campers the time to breathe, decompress, and connect with a space where they feel safe to grow. Over the course of their camp experience, they form deep bonds with fellow campers, counselors, and activity leaders. Campers discover new passions, and take age-appropriate risks—all within a supportive and fun environment. A consistent summer routine helps everyone know what to expect, reduces anxiety, and empowers them to feel more in control, navigating their summer with greater confidence.

Read more on ‘The Power of Time’ page.