Summer Camp FAQs

The Nature Place has been welcoming campers for over 40 years. What’s kept families coming back — and sending their own kids once they’ve grown up — is something that doesn’t change with the decades: a place where campers can be fully themselves, outside, with room to roam.

Campers arrive between 8:45 and 9:00 am. The day wraps up with bus dismissal starting at 3:30 pm, and car pickup between 3:45 and 4:00 pm.

Yes. A full-time Registered Nurse is on-site throughout the entire camp day, every day.

At The Nature Place, non-competitive means campers are never ranked, scored, or set against each other. Activities are designed so that the goal is growth and joy — not winning. Campers are encouraged to try new things without the fear of failure or judgment, and to cheer each other on rather than compete — all to create a socially nourishing environment. It’s a philosophy that shapes everything we do, from how we structure our day to how we train our staff. If you’d like to go deeper, read more about our mission here.

Our staff are chosen as much for who they are as for what they know. We look for warmth, patience, a genuine love of the outdoors, and the kind of people who bring a little silliness and connect deeply with campers. Our 40-hour pre-camp training week goes well beyond safety certifications — counselors are prepared to build real relationships with campers, support individual needs, and model the same spirit of curiosity and openness we ask of campers. If you’d like to go deeper, read about how we select our staff and how we train them.

Groups at The Nature Place average 16 campers, with younger groups being smaller to ensure thoughtful, individualized attention. Every group is all-gender and put together intentionally — based on age, grade, and friend requests — so campers are with peers they can grow with.

Most groups have 3 counselors — a ratio we’re proud of. Two are typically college-aged, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a closeness in age that campers respond to. The third is in their post-college years — often a teacher or guidance counselor — bringing a steadying presence and deeper experience working with kids. Together, it’s a combination that means campers get real attention, counselors can build genuine relationships, and no one gets lost in the shuffle.

The Nature Place is an intentionally small camp — we cap enrollment at 250 campers. That’s a deliberate choice. It means every camper is known by name, there are no crowds to get lost in, and the individualized attention that defines the experience here is something we can actually deliver on, every single day.

We are not a peanut-free camp, but we are extremely peanut-aware. Every summer we successfully manage campers with severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and other foods. Campers picnic outdoors, do not share food, and wash hands after eating — practices that are part of our daily rhythm. Our staff are trained, our nurse is on-site all day, and we take every allergy seriously — because every camper’s safety is non-negotiable.

We don’t have a traditional parent visiting day. Disruptions to the group dynamic can unsettle the social rhythms campers have built, and protecting that environment is something we take seriously. That said, we love bringing families into the camp community in ways that work for everyone. Throughout the summer and the year, we host events including a family picnic, family swim day, and Songs Around the Campfire. Visit our events page to see what’s coming up.

No. Camp is one of the few places left where campers can be fully present: with new friends, with the natural world, and with themselves. Screens are not a part of that. Leaving devices at home is part of what makes The Nature Place feel different — and what makes the connections campers build here so real.

No — overnights are never mandatory. That said, we always encourage campers to give it a try. There’s something special that happens when a camper pushes past hesitation and discovers they’re more capable than they thought. Our staff are there every step of the way to support, encourage, and make it a memory worth having.

It’s one of the things we’re most proud of. The Nature Place has a way of meeting campers exactly where they are — and that’s not an accident, it’s the culture. Our staff are trained to be warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in every camper’s experience, especially those who are finding their footing. The environment itself helps too: small groups, familiar faces, and a pace that doesn’t rush anyone into anything. For families who want to get a feel for the place before committing, we encourage you to schedule a tour. Our director Jason connects personally with every family during the enrollment process — because we think that conversation matters, and so does knowing your camper before they ever set foot on the bus.

Enrollment at The Nature Place opens in September for the following summer. Signing up early means more than just securing your spot — it means your group requests are more likely to be honored, you’ll have priority consideration when bus routes are built, and you’ll have the flexibility to create a payment plan that works for your family. There’s also something to be said for the genuine relief of knowing your camper’s summer is settled. Campers can enroll for 4, 5, or 6 weeks. Four-week campers begin either the first or second week of the season, with the first two weeks attended consecutively. Five and six-week options run through the full summer. Ready to get started? Enroll today — and if you have questions, our director Jason is happy to connect personally before you commit.