Modeled after our Summer Daycamps, Nearby Nature’s No School Day Adventures are a fun medley of outdoor hiking and exploration plus games, crafts, and stories. Check out our Calendar for current programs.
The Basics:
WHAT: Adventure, play, nature, science, art, & gardening!
WHERE: All outdoors in Alton Baker Park and our Learnscape Outdoor Classroom (plus several at Hendricks Park).
WHO: Kids ages 5-11, max 12 per group, taught by experienced nature educators.
WHEN: During the school year.
COST: $65-$80/day (varies depending on membership status and location). Non-refundable deposit of $15 required per camp ($5 for scholarship recipients). More details and Cancellation Policy below.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Financial aid is available! See full scholarship details below to find out how to apply for aid when you register for camps. Application is embedded in the registration process.
REGISTRATION and PAYMENT: Registration and payment is online. When you enroll a child, you will create an account and your family information will be saved for future programs. You can always find and pay your balance due if you log into your account online. Returning families — please review and update your online information yearly.
2023 Update — Over the past two years we have established COVID Health and Safety, High Heat, and Air Quality policies based on guidance from local, state, and national health agencies. Please understand that these policies occasionally get modified when we receive new guidance from these authorities. Thanks for your patience during these challenging times.
The Details:
2023-24 School Year Topics
We’ve got something for every child! See our calendar for current programs and dates.
Our Site in Alton Baker Park
Children have a myriad of opportunities to connect with nature at our programs in local parks and natural areas. Most happen in Alton Baker Park in our Learnscape Outdoor Classroom. Off-site programs have a similar feel but take place in different environments.
A typical day at a Learnscape-based program includes planned activities and park exploration, as well as time for unstructured play – creative, spontaneous, wonderful! 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 Cave of Wonders, 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. And our Turtle Sandbox, Hazelnut Hollow, Dig Inn Dirt Box, and grassy lawn provide opportunities for free play, creativity, and exercise.
Programs are all outdoors, rain or shine, with our Alton Baker Park Discovery Lab, Star Stage, and Yurt (or park shelters at Hendricks) providing cover if it gets really wet or hot. Water and bathroom facilities are available at the Learnscape as well as at our off-site camps.
Small Groups
We cap our enrollment at 12 kids per program so our campers get lots of individual attention. We love getting to know your kids!
Experienced Instructors
Two-three staffers run each program — a lead Instructor, a trained Program Assistant, and often a teen Outdoor Leader or a second volunteer. Staff instructors are experienced educators, First Aid/CPR certified, and background checked. All staff and volunteers are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Age Groups
No School Day Adventures are for kids aged 5-11 (must be in kindergarten and up).
2023-24 School Year Costs and Important Notes
- $65/day for members or $75/day for non-members ($70/$80 at off-site locations)
- A minimum non-refundable deposit of $15 is required to hold your camp space ($5 for scholarship recipients).
- Full payment is due two weeks in advance. Payments can be made by credit card online or in person/by mail with check or cash.
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 payment by check or in cash, please contact us to make arrangements.
Membership Discount Details
- Membership costs $60/year and provides No School Day discounts and free admission to Nature Quests, Green Start Play Days, Citizen Science Saturdays, and the Haunted Hike.
- Your membership must be current as of the start date of your child’s program to receive a discount.
- If you would like to become a new member or renew your membership, please make this purchase online before or as you first register for 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 program 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.
- Contact us at admin@nearbynature.org to check your status as needed.
Scholarships
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 (formerly the Youth Scholarship Fund). To apply, fill out the Scholarship section in our online registration form. When you apply, please use the Coupon Code ECO when you get to online checkout. This will allow you to complete registration without making a payment. We will contact you via email or by phone about your eligibility for aid. Once we have arranged a scholarship, you will need to pay a program deposit to hold your space.
Additional Information
Click on the following links for more information about our camps.
- Instructor Bios
- COVID Health and Safety Policies
- High Heat Policy
- Air Quality Policy
- Winter Weather Policy
Cancellation Policy
All Nearby Nature No School Day registrations include a $15 non-refundable deposit ($5 for scholarship recipients). This deposit is necessary to hold your space and covers part of the cost of enrolling your child and preparing for the programs.
Nearby Nature sincerely hopes that all will go as planned and that you will not need to withdraw your child from any of our programs. 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 by calling 541-687-9699 or emailing programs@nearbynature.org. There are always many children on our wait lists.
- Cancellation by you by 6pm two weeks or more before your program starts qualifies for a full refund less the non-refundable $15 deposit ($5 for scholarship recipients).
- Cancellation by you one week before your program starts qualifies for a 50% refund of program tuition.
- No refunds for cancellations after 6pm one week before the program starts.
- Cancellation by us may happen if there is insufficient enrollment seven days prior to a program. You will be notified promptly and your full payment refunded.
Questions?
Contact our Garden and Programs Manager, Grace Chollar-Webb, 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!