1. THE BASICS
Who runs your camps and what is your philosophy? Our camps are hosted by the staff and volunteers of Nearby Nature, a non-profit educational organization founded in 1992 and based in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park. We believe people of all ages and backgrounds, from the tiniest tots to the wisest elders, thrive when they connect personally with nature nearby. We believe time outside in nature is especially important for children, and contributes significantly to their health and well-being. Campers in our programs spend thousands of healthy and happy hours outside every year!
Who are your camp instructors and volunteers? Each Nearby Nature lead instructor is an experienced educator. All lead instructors are certified in First Aid and CPR, and have passed background checks. Short biographies are posted at nearbynature.org/about-us/staff. Our volunteers and adult assistants are trained helpers from many different walks of life. All adults have passed background checks, and many of our teen assistants were once campers themselves!
Where are your camps located? Almost all of our camps are held in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park and based in Nearby Nature’s amazing Learnscape Garden and Outdoor Classroom (next to the City’s Community Garden). Campers spend all of their time outside, both in the Learnscape and out in the park. We also have camps at Mount Pisgah Arboretum and Hendricks Park. See individual camp descriptions for details.
What are your camp hours? Camps run between 9 am and 4 pm. Some are half day (9 am-noon or 1-4 pm) and some are full day (9 am-4 pm). Camps for kids aged five and younger are all half day, but on some weeks we have both morning and afternoon sessions for 4-5 year olds, which allows for all day attendance.
Do you have pre-camp, lunch, or after-camp care? To help families accommodate varying schedules, Optional Flex Care is available for most camps. If you choose to sign up for Flex Care, children can be dropped off up to 30 minutes before camp starts and/or picked up to 30 minutes after camp ends. (Note – for camps at Mount Pisgah and Hendricks Park only morning Optional Flex Care is available) You can sign up for Optional Flex Care for a flat rate of $40/week for camps in Alton Baker Park (or $30/week at other locations) when you register. You may use this option every day or just on days that you need extra time. Drop-in care is not available. Lunch care is provided between camps when kids are signed up for both a morning and an afternoon half-day camp. (Note – children should their own lunches with them to camp; Nearby Nature does not provide lunch.)
What ages do you serve? We have camps for kids ages 3-11: Minnows (ages 3-4), Dragonflies (ages 4-5), Tree Frogs (ages 6-8), and Blue Herons (ages 8-11). Children in Minnow and Dragonfly camps must be potty-trained.
How many children and instructors are in a group? Our camp groups are limited to 10-12 participants. Each group has a lead instructor plus at least one (and sometimes two) trained assistants.
2. COSTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
What do your camps cost? Half-day camps cost $135/week for members and $160/week for non-members. Full-day camps cost $270-$290/week for members and $315-$335/week for non-members. Camps with slightly higher fees take place in special locations or have special activities.
How do I become a member and get camp discounts? You can pay for a $60 annual membership online when you register for camps. This membership will qualify you for camp discounts, as well as free registration for various programs and events throughout the year. Membership must be current at the time of your child’s first camp. Payment for membership is due with your initial registration in order to receive the member rate. If you are renewing a membership, and your expiration date has not passed, we will extend your membership from your expiration date, not from your payment date. If you’re not sure about your membership status, email admin@nearbynature.org.
Do you have scholarships and how do I apply? Nearby Nature believes all children should have access to affordable outdoor adventures in nature nearby. Camp scholarship assistance is available thanks to the Nearby Nature ECO (Every Child Outside) Fund and the Friends of Hendricks Park. To apply, fill out the Scholarship section in your registration form online. Please enter the code ECO in the coupon code box at online checkout so that you don’t need to pay camp a deposit until after we contact you with a scholarship offer. We will call or email regarding your eligibility and the availability of funds. (Note – If your child/ren are registered for a camp which starts in less than two weeks, you will be asked to pay the agreed upon total due in your scholarship offer.)
Do you have scholarships and how do I apply? Nearby Nature believes all children should have access to affordable outdoor adventures in nature nearby. Camp scholarship assistance is available thanks to the Nearby Nature ECO (Every Child Outside) Fund and the Friends of Hendricks Park. To apply, fill out the Scholarship section in your registration form online. Please use the coupon code ECO15 to pay a reduced non-refundable deposit of $15 per camp. We will contact you via email or by phone about your eligibility for aid. (Note – If your child/ren are registered for a camp which starts in less than two weeks, you will be asked to pay the agreed upon total due in your scholarship offer.)
Can I use my Nearby Nature credit to pay for camps? Yes! If you have a credit in your Active account from a prior season, you can apply that credit to your payment for camps.
Can I donate to the ECO Fund? Yes! If your family has the means to help us make our camps accessible to all children, we will happily accept your donation. You can make your donation online when you register for camps or online at nearbynature.org/contribute. Or checks can be made payable to Nearby Nature and mailed to PO Box 3678, Eugene, OR 97403.
Can I use my Nearby Nature credit to pay for camps? Yes! If you have a credit in your Active account from a prior season, you can apply that credit to your payment for camps.
Can I donate to the ECO Fund? Yes! If your family has the means to help us make our camps accessible to all children, we will happily accept your donation. You can make your donation online when you register for camps or online here. Or checks can be made payable to Nearby Nature and mailed to PO Box 3678, Eugene, OR 97403.
What is your cancellation policy? Cancellations made before 6 pm on Monday two weeks before your camp start date qualifies you for a full refund, minus the non-refundable $35 deposit ($15 for scholarship recipients). Cancellations made by 6 pm on Monday one week before your camp start date qualifies you for a 50% refund of camp tuition. No refunds can be made for cancellations made after 6 pm on Monday one week before camp starts. We may cancel camp if there is insufficient enrollment seven days prior to a camp. You will be notified promptly and your full payment refunded.
3. REGISTRATION QUESTIONS
How do I register? Register online (or in Spanish at tinyurl.com/2tvzjytu). For Spanish language assistance with registration, email programs@nearbynature.org with your question. If you would like a phone call, provide your phone number and let us know when a good time to call you back would be.
What should I do if I think my child would do better in an age group other than their own? Our policy is to keep children together with their age-level peers, however, we are willing to consider your request. Please contact our Programs Manager at programs@nearbynature.org or 541-687-9699 to discuss your child’s situation. Exceptions to this policy are made on a case-by-case basis.
What if my child wants to attend camp with a friend? As long as the campers are in the same age group, this is fine. Please note the friend’s name on your child’s registration form and we will be sure to keep the kids together.
4. CAMP LOGISTICS
Where should I drop off my child for camp? The week before your camp, you will receive a pre-camp logistics email that will let you know where you should park and specifically where you should drop off your child for camp. For camps in Alton Baker Park, you will generally park in front of the Community Gardens next to the Park Host House and Learnscape. For Google maps, our street address is 622 Day Island Road, Eugene, OR 97401. (Note: This is NOT our mailing address. Our mailing address is PO Box 3678, Eugene, OR 97403.) For detailed directions, see nearbynature.org/about-us/directions. For offsite camps, directions will be provided in the pre-camp logistics email.
If we are biking to camp, is there a safe place to lock up a bike? There is a covered bike rack just outside of our Yurt (on the road to the left of the blue Park Host House on our site). Be sure to bring a secure lock. Nearby Nature is not responsible for bikes or other items left in bike racks.
What should my child bring to camp? Whatever your child brings should fit in a youth-sized backpack. Please DO NOT send toys or electronics. If your child brings a cell phone for photos or communication, your child must take full responsibility for the phone and should not have it outside their backpack or use it unless it is needed for a special activity. You may send sunscreen with your kids if they are allowed to apply it themselves or if you are comfortable with staff applying as needed (specify with your child/ren’s instructor). Please also apply it at home before camp to start the day off. If sunscreen is needed during the day, and your child does not have their own, we will apply sunscreen from our supply (unless you have asked us not to in your registration form). For half-day camps, send a water bottle and a substantial snack. If your child is staying until 12:30 pm, please send a lunch or a second snack. If your child is arriving at 12:30 pm for a 1 pm camp, feel free to send lunch or a snack. For full-day camps, send a water bottle, two snacks, and a lunch. It is critical that children have adequate food and drink for their outdoor adventures!
What should my child wear to camp? Campers should generally wear close-toed shoes and dress in layers. Send a hat, jacket, and extra clothing as needed. Your instructor will let you know in advance if water play is part of the plan for the week, and will alert you if extra clothes or water shoes are needed. Comfortable clothes for biking are a must for cycling camps.
May I visit my child at camp? Parental visits to camp are limited. Please let our Programs Manager know if you have a concern that necessitates a visit to your child’s camp, or would like to visit for some other reason, and we will try to come up with a solution that works for everyone.
What if we need to arrive late or leave early? Please limit late arrivals and early departures outside of our Optional Flex Care. Our campers frequently hike or bike out into the park, so changes in your schedule can get in the way of fun, planned activities. If an alternative drop off or pick up time is critical, be sure to let your child’s instructor know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
What if I’m late picking up my child? Your child’s safety is a priority and we will never leave a camper unattended. Please arrive on time, however, because our instructors work hard and need their breaks. If you are more than 10 minutes late and we haven’t been able to contact you, we will call the alternative and/or emergency contacts on your registration form to make arrangements with one of them to pick up your child. If you are 10+ minutes late more than once, we reserve the right to charge a late fee to help pay for the additional staffing required to supervise your child. Remember also that you can enroll in our Optional Flex Care program (which gives you a 30-minute drop-off and pick-up window) for most camps.
What is your behavior policy? In our experience, when kids are outside and engaged in activities that allow them to move their bodies, use their voices, and exercise their minds, behavior challenges often disappear. We also believe that inappropriate behavior can be minimized with clear expectations. Nearby Nature has a zero tolerance policy for significant unsafe behavior and violence. We have three simple but important behavior/safety guidelines that we introduce to kids on their first day of camp as well as review daily – Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Curious. We also have a clear process for addressing issues when kids are not following these guidelines. (See nearbynature.org/behavior-guidelines-policy.) You will be asked to review these policies with your child when you register for a camp. If your child has any identified behavior or social-emotional challenges, please alert us so that we are prepared to address them appropriately and know how to best support your child and/or call on you for additional support as needed.
If I need to get in touch with someone at Nearby Nature during camp, what number should I call? If your issue is not an emergency, or does not directly involve your child’s instructor, call the office at 541-687-9699. If our staff is outside, and no one answers, please leave a message for our Programs Manager. We will check for messages periodically during the day. If you have an emergency or need to speak with someone at your child’s camp immediately, call your child’s instructor’s cell phone number (or an alternative emergency number), which will be provided in your pre-camp details email.
5. HEALTH AND WELLNESS
What happens if my child gets sick or injured at camp? Depending on the level of illness or injury, we will contact you (or your emergency contact if you cannot be reached). In the event of a serious injury we’ll call emergency services and then contact you. Our instructors all have First Aid and CPR certification and are trained to evaluate illness and injury.
What are you doing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 at your camps? Please see our COVID-19 Health and Safety Policies (nearbynature.org/covid-safety-plans) for details on how we plan keep our campers and staff safe at summer camps this year. Note that these policies can change as guidance from city/state/national health agencies changes. We will notify you when changes are made.
Do you provide food for my child? We occasionally provide healthy snacks for kids who have forgotten to pack their own, as well as ingredients for special camp activities like solar cooking, bike smoothies, and ice cream making. We also allow staff and students to harvest fruits and vegetables in our Learnscape Garden. If there is anything your child cannot eat for any reason, please let us know on your registration form. Note: we do not provide lunches for our campers and we have a “no food sharing” between campers policy due to allergies, diet preferences, and illness concerns.
What happens in case of bad weather, poor air quality, or high heat? While we plan to be outside rain or shine, our covered Discovery Lab, Star Stage awning, and handy pop-up tents can provide shelter if it gets really wet or sunny/hot. In hot weather we also spend a lot of time in shady places, wading in the river, or playing in our Learnscape sprinklers. In case of poor air quality (that does not merit camp closure), we focus on low-key activities – games, art, and storytelling. Please read our High Heat (nearbynature.org/high-heat-policy) and Air Quality Monitoring (nearbynature.org/air-quality) Policies for details about how we address extreme weather and air quality. You are always welcome to keep your child at home if the weather is inclement or the air quality is poor, but refunds will not be made for circumstances beyond our control except as noted in our Air Quality Monitoring and High Heat Policies.
6. OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please let us know if you have additional questions we haven’t answered in this document. You can reach our Programs Manager at 541-687-9699 or programs@nearbynature.org.
Updated 2-7-24