HHNC Science and Nature Summer Camp 2024!

HHNC Campers spend their days exploring the woods, ponds, fields, trails, and forest discovering the natural world. Each week has a new theme! A typical day at camp includes: ice-breaker games, team building activities, thematic science & nature lessons, crafts, hikes, outdoor adventures and more!

A Typical Day At Camp Includes:

  • Ice-breaker games

  • Team building activities

  • Thematic science & nature lessons 

  • Hikes & adventures

  • Crafts & games

  • Supervised nature play time

  • Quiet time

  • Safe, age-appropriate socialization

Why Choose Our Camp This Summer?

  • Members receive 10% off registration for siblings in the same calendar week

  • Not-Yet-Members receive a 5% sibling discount in the same calendar week

  • Flexibility of registration by the week

  • Low counselor-to-camper ratio and limited total enrollment means individualized attention

  • Balanced activities throughout the day to expend energy without overtiredness

  • A dedicated professional staff

  • Memories to last a lifetime!

  • Unique landscape

  • Access to the Nature Center’s amenities including live animals

Drop-off: 9am
Pick-up: 3pm

No camp on Thursday, July 4th during week 1

**Ramblers:

  • ** 1 space remains in week 6 & 3 spaces remain in week 7- call 845-534-5506 to register for week 6 and Register online below for week 7

  • Otherwise Email summercamp@hhnm.org or call 845-534-5506 x 204 to be added to the waitlist

  • Ages 5 or Entering Kindergarten in the Fall

  • Registration Per Week: $345 HHNC Members/$395 Not-yet-Members (Week 1 – $275/$325)

*Explorers:

  • *ALL eXPLORER WEEKS ARE FULL.
    Email summercamp@hhnm.org or call 845-534-5506 x 204 to be added to the waitlist

  • Ages 6-7

  • Registration Per Week: $345 HHNC Members/$395 Not-yet-Members (Week 1 – $275/$325)

Trailblazers:

  • Ages 8-9

  • Registration Per Week: $345 HHNC Members/$395 Not-yet-Members (Week 1  – $275/$325)

Trekkers:

  • Ages 10-12

  • Registration Per Week: $365 HHNC Members/$410 Not-yet-Members (Week 1 – $295/$340)

*Eco Rangers (Week 7 only 8/12-8/16): 

  • *Eco-Rangers is FULL. Email summercamp@hhnm.org or call 845-534-5506 x 204 to be added to the waitlist

  • Ages 13-16

  • Registration Per Week: $395 HHNM Members/$445 Not-yet-Members

    MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT:

    The Member discount for Camp is $50 per week ($45 for Trekkers) which means that A Family Membership ($90) pays for itself in just two sessions!
    CLick here to become an hhnc member!

    SIBLING DISCOUNT:

    Siblings must attend the same week(S):
    -10% for HHNC members
    -5% for not-yet-members
    **Discount will be credited
    after registration is completed**


    Weekly Science & Nature themes

    -Week 1: Artistic Adventure / July 1st (No camp on Thursday July 4th)- July 5th
    Take up your brushes, your instruments, your clay, and your imaginations! Let’s explore the expansive world that is the arts, and see the amazing ways that art and nature work hand-in-hand.

    -Week 2:  Paws and Claws / July 8th - 12th
    Join us for a wonderful week of meeting and learning about all of our animal friends. We will cover all manner of species including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds. We will discuss adaptations, behaviors, habitats and more! 

    -Week 3: Blast from the Past / July 15th - 19th
    Come with us on a journey through time and space to discover ancient animals, gentle giants, fearsome fossils, and more! Whether it be digging up dinosaurs, or marveling at mastodons, campers will gain an understanding for eons long past through discovery, experimentation and play. 

    -Week 4: Science Safari / July 22nd - 26th
    Join us as we embark on an expedition through the incredible worlds of the sciences! Your campers will be taking to the outdoors, practicing their observation skills and asking questions about everything around them while learning about different scientific topics.

    -Week 5: Creatures of Myth and Legend / July 29th - August 2
    This week is all about the weird and wild world of folklore, fairy tales and mythology. Enjoy games & activities based on myths and legends from around the world. If it's out there…we'll find it!

    -Week 6: Adventure Quest / August 5th - 9th
    Wilderness Adventure here we come! This week join the Nature Center for a camp full of Outdoor Fun. Campers will explore the vast woodlands and fields, while learning about survival skills while also learning about our area's unique history and geography.

    -Week 7: Incredible Invertebrates / August 12th - 16th
    Come see what the buzz is all about! This week campers will learn, play and make crafts associated with our invertebrate friends. These types of creatures are extremely important to the environment, we couldn't survive without them. 

    -Eco Rangers (ages 13-16) Week 7: ONE WEEK ONLY! August 12th-16th. Meets: Monday-Wednesday 9am-3pm, Thursday-Friday 6pm-8am
    Eco Rangers is a week of adventure, for campers ages 13-16 years old. We will spend Monday and Tuesday off site hiking, swimming, and trying our hands at a high ropes course. Wednesday, campers will create a campsite, test out our hammocks and prep an aluminum foil meal packet. Thursday night into Friday morning we will cook our aluminum foil meals, play manhunt, ghost hunting in the farmhouse, make smores and sleep under the stars in our hammocks, (campers get to keep). Lastly we will make an omelet in a bag for breakfast before we head home. Space is limited!

    -Week 8: Habitat Heroes / August 19th - 23rd
    We are habitat heroes and we speak for the trees! Even kids can be effective environmental advocates and stewards of nature. Campers this week will engage in preserving and protecting our habitats, and learning about actions both big and small that can contribute to helping the planet! .

Availability:

Registration for Week 8 closes on 8/13 @ Noon.

Please note that if you register for a camp session that is less than 2 weeks away, paperwork will be due within 24 hours.

  • Ramblers (age 5 or entering K):

  • Explorers (Ages 6-7):

  • Trailblazers (Ages 8-9)

    • Weeks 4 is FULL

    • Weeks 3 & 5 have limited spaces remaining. Call 845-534-5506 to register for that/those date(s)

    • All other weeks available for online registration

  • Trekkers (Ages 10-12)

    • All weeks available for online registration below

Per The Orange County Department of Health Policy:

Camper immunizations must be up-to-date and on file with the Nature Center. Completion of our Health Form (emailed) is required prior to the beginning of camp. Children whose paperwork is not submitted 10 business days prior to their first day of camp will not be permitted to attend, *except in cases listed below.

Vaccination requirements by grade can be found by clicking here.

Please note:
all campers must have TWO doses of the MMR vaccine prior to the start of camp without exception!

  • *For any camp registrations made LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE the start date - ALL paperwork and immunization forms must be submitted within 48 hours of your registration

  • Registration for the upcoming week of camp will close the corresponding Tuesday before at 12pm

  • NO IN-PERSON OR *PHONE REGISTRATIONS ARE ACCEPTED unless noted

    FOR QUESTIONS EMAIL: SUMMERCAMP@HHNATURECENTER.ORG

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Late policy- No late pick-ups are permitted. There will be an additional fee for every late pick-up after 3pm of $1 per minute

Photographs: We reserve the right to use any pictures or videos of campers to promote HHNC unless otherwise notified by parents.

Trips: We reserve the right to change/cancel field trips due to weather, safety considerations or other issues beyond our control.

Behavioral Policy: To ensure a safe environment campers will be expected to follow safety and behavioral guidelines set by instructors at the start of camp. We want all campers to have fun and we will not accept situations where campers are made to feel unsafe. As such, we have a zero tolerance policy towards bullying. Counselors will discuss any perceived bullying or behavioral issues with parents/guardians, to discuss next steps. If the pattern of negative behavior continues your child will not be permitted to return to camp. Intentional physical violence towards another camper or staff may result in immediate expulsion. Removing a child from camp is not done lightly and is only done when it is felt to be in the campers best interest or for the continued safety of other campers. Dismissals from camp due to behavioral issues are not subject to a refund.

Cancellation & Refund Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 3 weeks prior to your camper’s start date will be eligible for a 70% refund. Cancellations made 2 weeks prior of your camper’s start date will be eligible for a 50% refund. No refund will be made if cancellation is received less than two weeks prior to start date (determined by email date).  We reserve the right to cancel any camp program for any reason, in which case a full refund of the pre-paid program fee will be issued.

Children dismissed due to discipline, behavioral or similar situations will not be entitled to a refund. Campers will not be permitted to attend if medical forms and immunizations are not on file. No refunds will be given for missed days due to late/missing paperwork. Children absent from any day of camp will not be entitled to a refund, credit or exchange of dates. Any change in camp sessions/ dates (if available), is subject to a $20.00 administrative fee, in addition to any other applicable camp fees.

**If you require a refund because of unforeseen circumstances or any other cancellation policy/ inquiries, please contact Rob Lipkin at rlipkin@hhnm.org or 845-534-5506 ext 201 in regards to our refund policy.

#100HoursUnplugged Summer Challange

100 hours Unplugged

Kids now log an average of 7.5 hours of screen time per day. And do you know how much time they’re spending outside? Approximately 4 -7 minutes. It’s time to unplug. The Hudson Highlands Nature Center invites you to take on the #100HoursUnplugged challenge this summer.  Learn more at www.100HoursUnplugged.com.