Next Steps

Campers on top of rocks at the top of a mountain

The Nature Place Day Camp

Nature-Oriented Summer Day Camp in NY.
EST. 1985

Find Your Place In Nature

We are a nature-oriented, non-competitive summer day camp for campers ages 4-16.

Explore Summer Camp

Year-Round Programs

A girl sifting through soil and pouring it out of her hand and onto a rock.

SUMMER CAMP IN NY

The Nature Place Day Camp

On 200 beautiful acres in Rockland County, New York, we bring you The Nature Place Day Camp. We offer a 6-week-long camp experience with enrollment options from July 1 – August 9, 2024, for children ages 4-16. Plant your roots with our unique enrollment model.

Why 5 or 6 Weeks?

The Nature Place Summer Camp Experience

Why 5 or 6 Weeks?

All campers join us for 5 or 6 weeks, which prioritizes safety and creates a cohesive camp family where our mission can come to life for each child. It’s deeply socially nourishing and opens up a world of possibilities for skill-building and growth. Choose any five weeks of camp – they don’t have to be consecutive – or come for all six!

Kind Words

Thank you for everything you do to make this camp a magical place for all types of kids!Carly L. - Parent

Take a deep breath and come as you are. The Nature Place will welcome you with open arms.Ceara - Counselor

Everyone's warm, kind and deeply committed in making sure that every child has an exceptional summerAlisha M. - Parent

Meet Our Team

Ed Bieber

Founder

Jason Samuel

Director

Scott Dunn

Director of Programming

Ricky MacGregor

Assistant Director

Emily Angell

Communications Manager

Tim Pellegrin

Social and Behavioral Team Lead

Marlie Gelu

Social and Behavioral Team

Jersey Gerson

Social and Behavioral Team

Scenic lake and trees

Featured Event

Earth Day Hike in Harriman State Park

Duration

10:00am - 2:00pm

Location

Harriman State Park

Our Blog

Musings, events, stories, activities and more from The Nature Place.

Woodworking at summer camp. Outdoor program - outside

February 13, 2024

Woodworking at Summer Camp: The Magic of Sawdust

We recently announced our new woodworking program. And we’re excited for our ...

Child playing in the wilderness outdoor camp for kids

Questions with a Camper

February 13, 2024

20 Questions with a Camper: Eliza

Eliza was a camper in Group N during the summer of 2023 and shares her ...

The nature place winter

Stories & Tales

February 13, 2024

Our View: Mid-Winter at a Summer Day Camp in NY

When winter made its first comeback in two years in January, our wonderful ...

20 questions with an admin team member: Emily - summer camp fun barefoot zone

Questions with a Staff Member

February 13, 2024

20 Questions with an Admin Team Member: Emily

Emily spent her first summer at The Nature Place as Communications Manager ...

what we look for when hiring summer camp staff

February 13, 2024

3 Things We Look for When Hiring Summer Camp Staff

by Ricky MacGregor (Assistant Director) What makes a good summer camp ...

Send Us A Message

(845)-356-1234

Location

285 Hungry Hollow Road Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977

Bus Transportation

The Nature Place provides bus transportation from Manhattan, Astoria, Jersey City, Hoboken, Montclair, Bergen County and Westchester County

Mucking, the art of self-guided stream exploration, is the "coolest" activity at camp!

During Mucking, we wade through the cool waters of the Fairy Stream on a warm day, feeling the stream bed beneath our water shoes. We hear the sound of the babbling stream and chirping birds, and spot tiny frogs hopping on nearby rocks. During mucking, everything is a treasure uncovered - a shiny rock, a delicate flower, a curious insect. There are stories of fairy sightings, though the adults have never seen them.

Mucking is not just an adventure; it's a direct connection with nature and a perfect opportunity for discovery.

#naturecamp #mucking #discovery #summerexploration #outdoorcamp #nycmoms #bergenmoms #astoriamoms #njmoms #westchestermoms #summercamp #daycamp #summerdaycamp #outdoorsummercamp

The trolls are eagerly awaiting the total solar eclipse... their signal to begin the journey back to camp. 😎

#solareclipse2024 #summercamp #trolls #naturecamp

Getting outside of their comfort zones, setting an authentic example, being silly and having fun, and genuinely caring about their campers are all qualities that our incredible staff have in common.

Each counselor is tasked with the responsibility of modeling how to take 'safe risks' at camp, because without venturing out of our usual comfort zones, how can we grow?

We just love these photos as they perfectly illustrate the vibe of The Nature Place; The "A-Ha" moments, the laughter, the connection, the fun!

#summercamp #summerdaycamp #campcounselor #summerjob #daycamp #summerexperience #naturecamp #outdoorsummercamp #nycmoms #njmoms #bergenmoms #westchestermoms #astoriamoms #hobokenmoms #nymoms

The basil elves have been hard at work here at The Nature Place! We love using fresh basil for all sorts of culinary creations around here, so we thought we’d share how to plant your basil at home. It’s so easy and can make for many a delicious treat in just a short while!

#howto #basilplant #planting #plantingseeds #summercamp #summerdaycamp #naturecamp #nycmoms #astoriamoms #rocklandmoms #westchestermoms #bergenmoms #njmoms

Join us around a 'virtual campfire' tonight (3/27) at Virtual Open House! 🔥 We added this one due to popular demand. Meet the admin team, experience The Nature Place culture and values, and have your questions answered.

Been thinking about camp but not sure where to start? This is a wonderful way to experience camp from the comfort of your home. Summer spaces are filling, so now is an opportune moment to check this decision off the list! ✅

Sign up via the link in our bio or story.

#virtualopenhouse #summerdaycamp #summercamp #nycmoms #njmoms #westchestermoms #bergenmoms #hobokenmoms #rocklandmoms #rocklandparent #outdoorcamp #naturecamp

Every seed planted is a promise for a bright and hopeful tomorrow. 🌱

✨ Here, we cultivate not just gardens, but values. One example of this is the symbiotic nature of our gardening and cooking programs. Campers taste what they grow, use fresh ingredients they planted themselves, and learn where the food that nourishes them comes from. Sending your camper to The Nature Place means nurturing their connection to nature, fostering responsibility, and instilling a love for living gently on the earth. 🌿💚

#naturecamp #sustainability #outdoorcamp #nycmoms #bergenmoms #astoriamoms #njmoms #westchestermoms #summercamp #daycamp #summerdaycamp

Follow us on Instagram @TheNaturePlaceDayCamp