Summer is one of the best times to discover and explore the wonders of our natural world! In 2026, The Nature Place is offering 34 different themes and 55 sessions of Summer Day Camp. Each nature-themed camp gives campers ages 4 -12 hands-on experiences in nature through hikes, crafts, games, and other meaningful activities.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Week-long sessions June 1 - Aug. 11. Daily sessions Aug. 17 - 21.
We are exploring the possibility of adding sessions to our most popular camps...so if the registration is full, contact Cindy to be put on the wait list.
Sessions
Littles
Ages 4 – 5
12 Campers per session
June 2026
Creature Feature
Compare the tails, toes, ears, noses and more of all kinds of animals!
Green and Growing
We'll take a closer look at plants, including sowing, tending, using and tasting!
Shells of All Sorts
Snails, turtles, beetles, eggs and others have shells. Do you know which ones can grow? Breathe? Can you make a suitable shell?
Water Wonderland
Bring a towel each day as we'll explore interesting aspects of water, what it is, how it's used and what lives in it!
Crafty Kids
Natural objects will be our muse as we'll collect and create inspired arts and crafts.
Play Like an Animal
We'll pounce, crawl, creep and dash as we learn why and how animals play to learn.
Hideouts and Habitats
We'll explore marsh, forest, park and prairie looking for where animals live and how they stay hidden.
Shapes and Sizes
Daily challenges to find shapes of all sizes by looking at flowers, feathers, rocks, trees and more!
July 2026
Winged Wonders
Learn how the wings of birds, bats, and many insects are alike, different and how they are used.
Stories, Songs and Charades
We'll get to know nature better by acting out tales and tunes with actions and antics!
Green and Growing
We'll take a closer look at plants, including sowing, tending, using and tasting!
Creature Feature
Compare the tails, toes, ears, noses and more of all kinds of animals!
Water Wonderland
Bring a towel each day as we'll explore interesting aspects of water, what it is, how it's used and what lives in it!
Play Like an Animal
We'll pounce, crawl, creep and dash as we learn why and how animals play to learn.
Crafty Kids
Natural objects will be our muse as we'll collect and create inspired arts and crafts.
August 2026
Shapes and Sizes
Daily challenges to find shapes of all sizes by looking at flowers, feathers, rocks, trees and more!
Hideouts and Habitats
We'll explore marsh, forest, park and prairie looking for where animals live and how they stay hidden.
Stories, Songs and Charades
We'll get to know nature better by acting out tales and tunes with actions and antics!
Winged Wonders
Learn how the wings of birds, bats, and many insects are alike, different and how they are used.
Middles
Ages 6 - 8
16 Campers per session
June 2026
Marsh Masterpieces
Art knows no bounds with nature and our imaginations for inspiration!
Eye Spy
Eagle eyes, compound eyes, color vision - we'll investigate many ways there are to look at the world.
Let’s Make Noise!
Learn to recognize and mimic nature's sounds, from cricket chirps, buzzing bugs, thunder claps and rattlesnake rattles to frog and bird songs.
Beaks, Feathers, Feet
Get hands-on with pieces and parts, then adventure outside to learn to find & identify complete live birds!
Treasure Maps & Geocache Stash
Ultimate hide & seek! We'll be stashing, making maps, leaving clues and looking for each other and buried treasure!
Excellent Exoskeletons
Find and compare outer covering of local creatures - cockroaches to crayfish, beetles to millipedes.
Gardens Galore!
Grow your interest in plants, rocks. water, calming art and more with a week of cultivating dedicated spaces!
Truth Behind the Tales
Test the fiction of beloved stories by proving the facts of our wild world.
July 2026
Good and Gross
Test how nature uses smells, slimes, farts and poop to attract, defend, mark territory and more!
Never Ending Nature
Spin with Earth as you investigate cycles of life, water, rocks and space!
Eye Spy
Eagle eyes, compound eyes, color vision - we'll investigate many ways there are to look at the world.
Marsh Masterpieces
Art knows no bounds with nature and our imaginations for inspiration!
Beaks, Feathers, Feet
Get hands-on with pieces and parts, then adventure outside to learn to find & identify complete live birds!
Let’s Make Noise!
Learn to recognize and mimic nature's sounds, from cricket chirps, buzzing bugs, thunder claps and rattlesnake rattles to frog and bird songs.
Excellent Exoskeletons
Find and compare outer covering of local creatures - cockroaches to crayfish, beetles to millipedes.
Treasure Maps & Geocache Stash
Ultimate hide & seek! We'll be stashing, making maps, leaving clues and looking for each other and buried treasure!
August 2026
Truth Behind the Tales
Test the fiction of beloved stories by proving the facts of our wild world.
Gardens Galore!
Grow your interest in plants, rocks. water, calming art and more with a week of cultivating dedicated spaces!
Never Ending Nature
Spin with Earth as you investigate cycles of life, water, rocks and space!
Good and Gross
Test how nature uses smells, slimes, farts and poop to attract, defend, mark territory and more!
Bigs
Ages 9 - 12
16 Campers per session
June 2026
Gamers Gone Wild
Take online game ideas outside as you create a community that explores, builds, masters and defends the natural world.
Wildly Creative
Make nature-inspired art of all kinds - visual, musical, physical, written, oral and others!
One Wicked Week
Hey animal lovers! Learn the lore behind Wisconsin's legendary, mythical & cryptic critters and how to protect them!
Inside Out
Uncover mysteries and hidden secrets as you dig in & peel apart natural objects and everyday items.
July 2026
Six Sevennn
We'll embrace 6-7, using randomness of nature discoveries to inspire adventures from camp classics to group-created games!
Beyond Basic Birding
In addition to working on attracting and identifying local birds, you'll get to design, construct & test basic bird blinds and more!
Foraging Frenzy
Many wild plants are edible, native rocks can be historical treasures, certain sticks are more useful than you know - and finding them all can be fun!
Wilderness Workshop
Learn to find your way, make a shelter, bear-proof your lunch and develop skills to survive and thrive in outdoor explorations.
August 2026
Gamers Gone Wild
Take online game ideas outside as you create a community that explores, builds, masters and defends the natural world.
From Dusk to Dark
What changes after sunset? Explore the park and marsh experiencing how your body and the natural world work at night.
(You may also view these camp sessions on our full calendar.)
Ages 4 – 12
8/17/26 – 8/21/26
9 am - 4 pm
August 2026
Water Day!
Bring a towel, extra shoes & clothes!
eARTh First!
Artistic creations of all kinds!
Rock Your World
Erupting volcanoes, finding fossils and more!
Explore More!
The creek is calling - as is the marsh, prairie & park!
Camptastic!
The best of camp in a single day!
(You may also view these camp sessions on our full calendar.)
Registration Notes
- Camp registration closes at 5 pm the Tuesday before the camp begins. (July 6 - 10 sessions close 2 weeks before camp)
- Please have your credit/debit card on hand as you cannot save the registration information to complete at a later time.
- Wait list: In the event a camp fills, a wait list will be established to fill cancellations.
- All campers must be able to independently use the toilet. The Nature Place staff and summer team members can only assist with the washing of hands.
- $10 Camp t-shirts are optional and must be self-purchased at https://www.ssactivewear.com/p/gildan/5000 The price includes a $2 donation to TNP.
- Some scholarships are available for one-week sessions.
Cost
$135 for each week-long half day session (Ages 4 - 8)
9 am – 12 noon, 1 pm – 4 pm
$275 for each week-long full day session (Ages 9 - 12)
9 am - 4 pm
$60 for each single One Day Wonder session - lunch care included. (Ages 4 - 12)
9 am – 4 pm
Additional Child Discount
10% discount for each additional child from the same household registered during a concurrent camp session.
*Discount does not apply to extended care options.
Extended Care
Extended care sessions are available for sessions in which you are registered. There is no sibling discount for extended care.
7:30 am – 9 am daily | $25/week per camper
12 noon – 1 pm Lunch care | $25/week per camper
- Meal not provided.
- Automatically included for Bigs ages 9 – 12
4 – 5 pm daily | $20/week per camper
Camp doors will open promptly at 9 am and at 1 pm. Campers not enrolled in extended care must be supervised by a parent/guardian until they are escorted into the open camp room. If campers are dropped off early or picked up late, they will be charged the extended care fee.
Camp Information
Director:
Cindy Blobaum
Email Cindy
Cindy has over 30 years of experience developing and delivering nature education and camp programs around the country. She will be training and supervising the 8 adult AmeriCorps service members who will be the primary camp counselors.
There are always a minimum two trained adult leaders with each group.
Communication:
An email will be sent to the primary address listed on the registration form the Friday before camp begins at the latest (may be sent earlier). This will include important information about the upcoming session – special days, a general schedule (subject to change as weather and camper conditions dictate), camp counselors’ names, the conduct contract, etc.
What to bring:
- Campers should be dressed to be outdoors (no flip flops!) in clothes that can get dirty.
- Water bottles
- Hats
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- Snacks for each session are the responsibility of each camper
- Bigs (ages 9 -12) and campers registered for lunch care must bring their own lunch that needs neither refrigeration or heating each day
Daily activities:
- Crafts
- Games
- Hikes
- Stories
- Activities related to the weekly theme
The majority of each day will be spent outdoors
– except in the event of extreme weather conditions.
Conduct Contract:
To make sure everyone is aware of behavior expectations, every camper must have a camper and guardian signed Conduct Contract on file at the beginning of their first session.
Health Policy:
Per our Health Policy, campers and staff are expected to arrive at camp in a state of good health. If they are experiencing any signs of illness or require medication to remain comfortable, they should remain at home. If a camper becomes unwell during a session, they will be immediately separated from the group and supervised as a parent is contacted for pickup.
Refund protocol:
Camp fees are due at the time of registration. Full refunds are issued only when a camp session is cancelled by The Nature Place (does not meet minimum enrollment of 5 campers). If you need to cancel a camp enrollment, you will receive at 50% refund if the request is made 3 weeks prior to the start of camp. Cancellations less than 3 weeks prior to camp receive no refund unless the slot can be filled.
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