NOTE: Most camps filled quickly after registration opened in February. Please sign up on the wait list if a camp you are interested in is full. Plans often change and spaces always open up as the spring and summer progress.
The Basics:
We genuinely LOVE Nearby Nature. Thank you for everything. Our children have LOVED their experience. — Parent, Summer Daycampers
WHAT: Adventure, play, nature, science, art, & gardening! New topic each week!
WHO: Kids ages 3-11 in four age groups, max 10-12 per camp group, taught by experienced nature educators.
WHEN: June 23-August 29, week-long camps, half & full day options.
COST: Base cost $160-$345/week (varies depending on membership status & half or full day program). Some camps have an additional charge of $5-$25 due to location or special activities. Non-refundable 15% deposit required per camp ($15 for scholarship recipients). More details and Cancellation Policy below.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Financial aid is available through our Every Child Outside Fund! See scholarship details below. You can apply for aid through an application included in the online registration form.
REGISTRATION and PAYMENT: Registration and payment happens online through our processor, Active Network. You can always find and pay your balance due if you log into your account here.
Returning families — Please review and update your online information yearly. This can be done at any time, and if you do it in advance, it will save you time when you are registering for programs that fill quickly. When you log into your account, click on My Programs. Click Edit Registration Form next to your child’s name, review your prior answers to questions, answer new required questions, and update as needed. Keeping your information — especially medical — up to date is critical. If we do not have current data, we cannot ensure that your family’s needs will be met efficiently and effectively.
New families — You can create an account when you sign a child up for a program OR create a profile for your child in advance of registrationhere. If you create a profile in advance, this will save you time when you are registering for programs that fill quickly, such as Summer Daycamps.
IMPORTANT POLICIES — Nearby Nature has High Heat, Air Quality Monitoring, and Health and Safety policies based on guidance from local, state, and national health agencies. We also have a Behavior Guidelines Policy. Please understand that our High Heat, Air Quality Monitoring, and Health and Safety policies occasionally get modified when we receive new guidance from relevant authorities. You will be notified when/if changes are made. Note: You will be asked when you register your child for camps to confirm that you have read and agree to these policies. We encourage you to read these policies in advance so that your registration process is not unnecessarily slowed down.
The Details:
2025 Weekly Camp Topics
From bugs to bikes, rivers to rocks, wheels to wings — we’ve got something new for your child every week! See Camps by Week for details or Camp Summary in English or en español (muy pronto) for a quick overview.
Our Site in Alton Baker Park
“I LOVE the location. It is magical!” — Parent, Summer Daycamper
Children have a myriad of opportunities to connect with nature at our camps in local parks and natural areas. Most camps happen in Alton Baker Park where each has a unique meeting spot in our Learnscape Outdoor Classroom.
A typical day at camp includes planned activities and park exploration, as well as time for unstructured play – creative, spontaneous, wonderful! At our Learnscape, our Edible Schoolyard and Food Forest help kids make a connection between the earth and what they eat – from berries to broccoli. Leafy tunnels in the Nest, stepping stumps in the Squirrel Kitchen, and natural materials in the Nature’s Builder’s Playspace give kids a chance to challenge their bodies and stretch their imaginations. Our Turtle Sandbox, Hazelnut Hollow, Dig Inn Dirt Box, Mud Kitchen, and grassy lawn provide opportunities for free play, creativity, and exercise. Off-site camps (at Mount Pisgah Arboretum and Hendricks Park) have a similar feel but different fascinating physical environments.
Camps are all outdoors, rain or shine, with our Alton Baker Park Discovery Lab, Star Stage awning, shade tents, and Yurt (or park shelters at Hendricks and Mount Pisgah) providing cover if it gets really wet or hot. Water and bathroom facilities are available at all camp locations.
Small Groups
We cap our enrollment at 10-12 kids per camp group so our campers get lots of individual attention. We love getting to know your kids!
Experienced Instructors
“Nearby Nature was the best camp ever! I love the environment and teachers. Thank you!” — Parent, Summer Daycamper
Two to three staffers run each camp — a paid Lead Instructor, a trained Program Assistant, and often a teen Outdoor Leader. Staff instructors are experienced educators and First Aid/CPR certified. All assistants and volunteers have participated in our camp training program. All adult staff and volunteers are background checked.
Age Groups
“My son was excited to go to summer camp every morning and he was equally happy when I picked him up.” — Parent, Summer Daycamper
Our camps are divided into the four different age groups below. (See Camps by Age Group.) If you have a choice of levels, choose the “younger” or “older” level that suits your child best.
*Minnows: ages 3-4 (*Minnows must be potty-trained.)
Dragonflies: ages 4-5
Tree Frogs: ages 6-8
Blue Herons: ages 8-11
2025 Camp Costs and Important Notes
Standard Camp Costs
“These camps are excellent for getting kids outside and engaging their curiosity.” — Parent, Summer Daycamper
Half day camp base rate — $160/week for members or $190/week for non-members
Full day camp base rate — $295/week for members or $345/week for non-members
Camps with special locations or activities cost $5-$25 more per week
Note: There is no camp on July 4th. Fees for this week are prorated.
A minimum non-refundable 15% deposit is required to hold your camp space ($15 for scholarship recipients). If you are enrolled from the wait list, you need to pay your deposit immediately when you get your camp confirmation notification in order to confirm your camp registration. Note that our 15% non-refundable deposit rate is a change from our past flat $35 deposit per camp. Our 2025 rate is proportional to the cost of your camp, so your deposit went down from 2024 for half day camps and up a bit for full day camps.
Full payment is due two weeks in advance (or immediately if you register for a camp or are enrolled from the wait list less than two weeks in advance). Payments can be made by credit card online or in person/by mail with check or cash. If your payment is not made on time, we reserve the right to un-enroll your child and fill your space with someone from the waitlist. Please contact us promptly if you are not able to make your payment on time so that we can make a payment plan rather than cancel your registration.
If registering online or paying a deposit in advance is not possible for you, or you would prefer to make a deposit to make a camp payment by check or in cash, please contact us to make arrangements.
Each child who enrolls in our camps gets a FREE t-shirt!
Note that our 2025 price increase of $25-$30 per camp is due to the fact that we have wrapped our past optional $30-$40/week “Flex Care” time into all camps. (See details below.) This will help mitigate drop-off and pick-up traffic issues in our relatively tight drop-off/pick-up areas. We did not actually increase our base camp rate, or charge the full past amount for Flex Care time, so your per hour cost for care actually went down this year!
Your family’s membership must be current as of the start date of your child’s first camp to receive a discount.
If you would like to become a new member or renew your membership, please make this purchase online before or when you first register for summer programs. If you are renewing a membership, it will be extended from the expiration date of your last membership (which may be in the future). Memberships should be paid for with your initial camp payment (in addition to your 15% non-refundable camp deposit).
You only need to buy one membership per year per family to qualify for membership discounts for all members of your family. Memberships are non-refundable. Please purchase in an adult’s name.
“Thanks for the scholarship. So many kids would miss out on such memorable and rewarding experiences without financial help.” — Parent, Summer Daycamper
Nearby Nature believes all children should have affordable access to outdoor adventures in nature nearby. Scholarship assistance is available through our Every Child Outside (ECO) Fund. If you would like to apply for scholarship aid, our application is embedded in the online registration form so you can apply when you create/update your child/ren’s forms or register for camps. When you check out, type ECO in the coupon code box and you will not have to pay a 15% deposit with your registration. We will call or email you about your eligibility for aid. Once we have arranged a scholarship, you will receive information on how you can make a $15 deposit/pay your discounted fees due.
Flex Care Arrival & Pick Up:
Supervised Flex Care is now included in all camps (details below). You may choose to use your “flex” time daily, or only as needed. In some cases, Flex Care will happen with your child’s main camp instructor. In others, Flex Care will happen with a mixed group of campers. Drop off/pick up instructions will be provided in your camp preparation letter the week before camp.
Full Day Camps — Pre-camp Flex Care drop-off is from 8:30-9 am. Camp activities start at 9 am. Flex Care pick-up time is from 4-4:30 pm in Alton Baker Park. Note that for the days of August 1 and August 20 at Alton Baker Park (due to Cuthbert concerts happening that evening), and for every day of the week at Hendricks Park and Mount Pisgah, only morning Flex Care is available. All pick-ups happen by 4 pm at these sites/on these days.
Morning Only Camps — Pre-camp Flex Care drop-off is from 8:30-9 am. Planned camp activities start at 9 am. Flex Care pick-up time is from 12-12:30 pm. Please send an extra snack or lunch if your child will be staying after noon.
Afternoon Only Camps — Pre-camp Flex Care drop-off is from 12:30-1 pm. Either send a lunch or have your child eat before arriving. Planned camp activities start at 1 pm. Flex Care pick-up time is from 4-4:30 pm.
Combo of Morning & Afternoon Camp — Pre-camp Flex Care drop-off is at your child’s morning camp site from 8:30-9 am. Planned camp activities start at 9 am. Lunch care between camps is included free of charge (kids bring their own lunches). Flex Care pick-up is from 4-4:30 pm at your child’s afternoon camp site.
Additional Information
Click on the following links for more information about our camps.
All Nearby Nature camp registrations include a 15% non-refundable deposit ($15 for scholarship recipients). This deposit holds your space and helps cover the cost of enrolling your child and preparing for camps.
Nearby Nature hopes your summer goes as planned and you will not need to withdraw your child from any camps. We do understand, however, that sometimes cancellations are unavoidable. If you need to cancel a registration, please do so as far in advance as possible. There are always many children on our wait lists. You cannot cancel a registration yourself. To make a cancellation, please call 541-687-9699 or email programs@nearbynature.org. If you need to leave a message, be specific about the name and date of the camp you are cancelling.
Cancellation by 6pm on Monday two weeks before your camp = full refund minus the non-refundable 15% deposit ($15 for scholarship recipients).
Cancellation by 6pm on Monday one week before your camp = 50% refund of camp tuition.
No refunds for cancellations after 6pm on Monday one week before your camp or for cancellations mid-week.
Cancellation by us may happen if there is insufficient enrollment seven days prior to a camp. You will be notified promptly and your full payment refunded.
Questions?
Contact our Programs Manager Claire Griffin at 541-687-9699 or email programs@nearbynature.org if you have any questions or problems with registration. Please leave a phone number with your voicemail or email if you are having registration problems so that we can solve these as quickly as possible. Thanks!
