Berks Nature Eco-Camp 2023 Themes and Full-Day Fees

Prices listed are per camper, per week, and reflect the extension activities planned for campers in grades 3-5 that week. Don’t want to send your child for a full day of camp? We offer half-day, morning Eco-Camp at a rate of $165/week per child (preschool (potty-trained) through kindergarten, ages 3-5) and $150/week per child (1st through 5th grade, ages 6-10). Full-day Eco-Camp begins at 9am and runs until 4pm. If you choose our half-day option, you can expect to drop your camper off at 9am and pick them up at noon. Before and After Care options are available for $25/per week.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) This week campers will explore nature by creating different forms of art. They will participate in activities involving music, movement, performance and sensory art. This week’s activities might include creating musical instruments, paintings/paper Mache’, songs/dances, natural tie-dye and other interactive performances. We will also host a special guest, Shayla Bradley to lead the campers in a Zumbini session.

1st-5th grade (6-10) Campers will look to nature for artistic inspiration exploring natural dance, music making, and art creation. They will immerse themselves in nature to find inspiration for painting, writing poetry, journaling, and creating music. This week’s activities might include painting, dancing, natural tie-dye and exploring other ways to express their relationships with nature. We will also be hosting a special guest, Shayla Bradley to lead the campers in a Zumbini session.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10, $250/camper 6th grade & older

Preschoolers (3-5) Eco-Camp’s annual bike week returns for the 8th! This week campers will participate in rides of varying distance along with our ever-popular bike rodeo at The Nature Place. Guest speakers from BAMBA (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association) will teach campers about bike safety and bike maintenance. They will also make custom license plates and create a car wash to ride their bikes through!

1st-5th grade (6-10) Eco-Camp’s annual bike week returns for the 8th year! This week campers will participate in rides of varying distance in and around Algelica Creek Park. Guest speakers from BAMBA (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association) will teach campers about safety and maintence of their bikes. At the end of the week, campers will ride the trail to Gibraltar and stop at Scoop DeVille for a cool treat before returning to The Nature Place.
NOTE: Bike rides and activities will be based on ability rather than age. Training wheels are not permitted for the Friday bike ride to Scoop DeVille.

6th grade & older This week campers in middle school and beyond will spend the week participating in long rides. On two days (Tuesday and Thursday) parents will drop off and pick up the campers from two remote locations: Blue Marsh and Grings Mill (more details to come). Campers will need a backpack to carry their snacks, lunches, and water, as we will spend as much time as possible on the trails. On Friday the campers will be “helpers” as they ride with the younger campers to Scoupe Deville.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) Preschool campers will participate in role playing survival situations, requiring them to build shelters and choose which survival supplies they would utilize to help them survive in the wilderness, incorporating 4 basic survival needs. They will also learn how animals adapt to their environment while learning how to track them. This week’s activities might include making shelters, crafting fishing rods, team building games and hikes of varying distance.

1st-5th grade (6-10) Campers will survive in the wilderness using the bare essentials in a backpack. They will learn about the principles of ‘Leave No Trace,” situations that could occur when going for a short or long hike in the woods, and strategies to track animals. A large portion of the week (3 days) will be dedicated to learning how to properly shoot a bow and arrow (with a qualified instructor) and fishing using a rod and bait!

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) This week Preschoolers will participate in all things water! They will experiment with the changing shape of water, learn how plants use water, and make art using different forms of water. Some of our time will be spent in the creek! This week’s activities might include a recycled boat race, water games, ice cube art, water experiments, and lots of time getting wet!

1st-5th grade (6-10) This week campers will explore all things water! They will learn about water conservation and the water cycle by participating in experiments and hands on activities. They will also spend time in the creek and play water games. Expect to get wet every day!

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) This week Preschoolers explore animal tracks in the wetlands, woods, and trails throughout Angelica Creek Park. They will learn how different animals live and what they use to make their homes. This week’s activities might include making animal fossils, animal track matching games, identifying tracks while hiking, and designing/creating a specific animal’s home. Campers will experience LIVE birds, animals and reptiles with special guests, Red Creek Wildlife Center and Kelsey Frey.

1st-5th grade (6-10) This week campers will learn about NSI (Nature Scene Investigation) by hunting and identifying animal tracks found in the wetlands, woods and trails. This week’s activities might include identifying animal tracks, interactive games, and learning about the birds, animals and reptiles that visit The Nature Place. Campers will experience LIVE birds, animals, and reptiles with special guests, Red Creek Wildlife Center and Kelsey Frey.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) This week Preschoolers will practice the 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Campers will conduct experiments, make art and create a sensory bin using only recycled materials. This is the week of our famous boat race and egg drop extravaganza! By week’s end, campers will have a better understanding about how waste affects our planet. This week’s activities might include making recycled bird feeders, boats, and egg drop vessels.

1st-5th grade (6-10)This week campers will practice the 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. They will create masterpieces out of recyclable materials ‘aka’ junk art. Campers will participate in our famous boat race and egg drop extravaganza by creating their own boats and vessels for the event. By week’s end, campers will have a better understanding of how waste affects our planet. All material used will be recycled.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10

Preschoolers (3-5) This week Preschoolers will engage in a variety of STEAM activities. STEAM integrates science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math into learning activities. STEAM is designed to teach children to be innovators, to think critically, and to use creative approaches to solving real-world problems.

1st-5th grade (6-10) This week campers will engage in a variety of STEAM activities. STEAM integrates science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math into learning activities. STEAM is designed to teach children to be innovators, to think critically, and to use creative approaches to solving real-world problems.

$265/camper ages 3-5, $250/camper ages 6-10, $250/camper 6th grade & older

Preschool (3-5) This week campers will explore nature through organic farming, farm-to-table cooking, and crafting using items found on a farm or in a garden. They will channel their inner chef, making delicious recipes using the fruits and vegetables grown in our Eco-Camp teaching garden. Campers will not only cook, they will plant, cultivate and harvest the vast array of fruits, vegetables and plants. Quiver Farms, our special guest, will bring 11 different kinds of animals on their traveling farm to teach the campers about the food/drink they provide for us.

1st-5th grade (6-10) This week campers will explore nature through organic farming and farm-to-table cooking. They will channel their inner culinary expertise by creating delicious recipes using the bounty found in the Eco-Camp teaching garden as well as local businesses. This week might also include activities on native plants, seed spreading/pollination, and botany. Quiver Farms, our special guest, will bring 11 different kinds of animals on their traveling farm to teach the campers about the food/drink they provide for us.

6th grade & older – COMMUNITY SCIENCE WEEK – This week campers in middle school and beyond will spend the week exploring fun experiments and real world citizen science data collection that will then be uploaded to NASA’s GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to benefit the Environment) program. Rather than just playing in the creek, our campers will experience one of our newest programs, creek snorkeling!

$265/camper ages 3-5

Preschool (3-5) For campers who missed our first Biking Through Berks week or for those who love it so much they would like to participate again, Bike week returns to close out our Summer Eco-Camp 2023!
*Preschool Campers only this week*