Is our camp right for your child this summer?

Please review the questions below to ensure your camper is a good fit for this year's modified camp program, including a smaller camp size (max 10 campers) and added safety and social distancing rules to follow:

  • Does your child love being outdoors? There will be no indoor time this year other than bathroom breaks.
  • Does you child love nature? Our camp is focused on exploring local ecosystem and learning about the plants and animals found there.
  • Are you and your child willing and able to follow increased rules and procedures? There will be new safety, sanitary and social distancing rules which MUST be followed.

Registration is CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who registered and we look forward to seeing you soon!

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STAFF

  • Camp Directors Sarah Crosby (Weis Sr. Educator/Naturalist) and Anne Siebecker (Weis Director/Trustee) and trained adult Weis staff.
  • Certified by the State to meet all NJ Department of Health Youth Camp standards. Certificate #27106.
  • Counselors are CPR/AED and First Aid certified.
  • Low Counselor to Camper ratio 1:5 ratio provides a safe and attentive environment for all campers.


DETAILS

  • Ages 7-12
  • July 13-Aug 21, 9:00am-3:00pm (no early drop-offs or late pickups) 
  • Must signup for 3-day weeks, no individual day signups
  • ​​Enrollment is limited to 10 campers per week


2020 CAMP FEES & DATES

Price (per camper). No individual day signups accepted.
3-Day
Week (Mon, Wed, Fri)
   $245​​ - Standard Rate
   $225 - Current New Weis Center "Supporter" & up Members*

*Membership at the "Supporter" ($75) level or above is required to take advantage of camp discounts. Membership is a tax-deductible donation with year-round benefits, and is non-refundable. Not sure if you're a member? Contact Us or Join/Renew NOW!


Week 1: July 13-17  FULL

Week 2: July 20-24  FULL

Week 3: July 27-31   FULL

Week 4: August 3-7  FULL

Week 5: August 10-14  FULL

Week 6: August 17-21  FULL


REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
Once we receive your registration, we'll send an email within 1 week with the following:

  • Parent/Guardian handbook (what to bring, how to dress, directions for drop off and pick up, camp rules, and other useful information).
  • Universal Health form
  • General waiver
  • Photo release
  • Additional 2020 COVID-19 health and safety policies and procedures

All forms must be completed and returned by July 6th. 


​CANCELLATION & REFUNDS (tentative, may be adjusted)

  • A $25 processing fee applies to ALL refunds.
  • FULL refunds (no processing feel) will be given for cancellations due to COVID-19 related exposure or illness, and in accordance with our "COVID-19 Policies & Procedures", which provided to each registered camp parent/guardian.
  • ​Refunds due to major illness and/or family emergency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.


> We reserve the right to remove any child without refund due to unacceptable behavior, and to reschedule or change programs as needed.​


2020 SummerNature Camp

Looking for something for older kids?

Check out our NEW "Highlands Jr. Naturalist" summer program for teens/tweens!

2020 Camp - Revised Schedule
6 Weeks: Jul 13-Aug 21  |  3 days/week: Mon/Wed/Fri

9:00am - 3:00pm  |  Ages 7-12

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we've modified summer nature camp this year so we can provide a safe and enjoyable experience for a limited number of campers.


We are consulting and will follow all guidelines and procedures recommended by the American Camp Association, NJ Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, and we are confident that the small group size combined with additional safety and sanitation procedures will allow us to safely provide a wonderful camp experience.


Each 3-day week will have just 10 campers, plus at least 2 adult counselors. Due to the small number of campers we can accommodate each week, only 3-day/week signups will be accepted (no individual day signups), but you may signup for multiple weeks.​ ​Camp will be held outdoors on our beautiful 152 acre property, and activities will be structured to maintain social distancing when possible. Our outdoor facilities include a picnic grove, recreation field, covered pavilion, fire circle, hiking trails, raingarden, butterfly garden and a brook. Swimming will not be included this year.


Our mission continues to be to create a safe and supportive space for our campers to express themselves, build confidence and social skills, grow friendships - and learn some cool science along the way. By engaging campers in outdoor learning, we strive to provide them with an unforgettable summer camp experience and a lifelong connection to the world around them.


Each day incorporates fun and immersive experiences and a variety of nature-focused activities. The featured daily activity, nature-based arts & crafts projects, and field and forest games will incorporate STEM concepts, and the local ecology, watershed and flora & fauna. Observation hikes and special guests enhance the camper experience, and are always a big hit!

"The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning, and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas and even beyond home and school."


Michael Popkin, Ph.D., family therapist & founder of Active Parenting

Examples of Featured Daily Activities
Adventure & Exploration

  • Hiking, search for blueberries, wild edibles, and invasive plants or wild mushrooms. Explore the Blue Mine brook and learn to 'Leave No Trace', prepare for adventure, trail markers and navigation.

Nature Makers

  • paper making, forest jewelry, sundials, rope making, rock and landscape painting, forest weaving.

Wilderness Survival Skills

  • Shelter building, fire making, wilderness first aid, camouflage, natural navigation, survival scenarios, wild edibles, water sourcing, forest movement and awareness.

Highlands Ecology

  • Decomposers, aquaponics, butterfly garden & pollinators, stream study, plant and animal ID, lifecycles and metamorphosis, and a NEW camper garden (herbs, native plants and vegetables).​


Sample Daily Schedule (9:00am - 3:00pm)

9:00am - Camper drop off and health check at The New Weis Center's main gate

9:30am - Daily welcome, review of the day ahead, camper garden
10:00am - Featured daily activity

12:00pm - Lunch - campers will eat at various outdoor locations around the property, and social distancing will be maintained when possible
12:30pm - Open rec time - field activities, arts & crafts, individual learning and education
1:00-2:30pm -
Adventure challenge games, nature-based art and science projects (separated by age group)
2:30pm - Daily recap, sharing, nature journaling 
3:00pm - Camper pickup (we cannot accommodate late pickups)

Note: the schedule above may be rearranged or updated to accommodate the weather, site conditions and special guests​​

​​
We are following guidelines from the American Camp Association, NJ Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control to help keep our campers and their families safe. We are also implementing specific measures tailored to our site, which will be followed at camp all day, every day:


  • We will have a maximum of 10 campers per day on our premises, and the same campers for the week.
  • Our counselor to camper ratio will be 5:1, to help ensure social distancing guidelines will be followed.
  • Camp will be 100% outdoors, with the exception of restroom breaks.
  • Each camper will have an assigned bathroom stall & sink they will share with no more than one other camper
  • Masks and gloves will only be required in the restrooms, or indoors in case of emergency.
  • Daily health checks at drop off (including temperature).
  • We will rotate outdoor spaces throughout the day to minimize contact with the same surfaces (i.e. if we have lunch at the pavilion, we may do a craft at the picnic grove).
  • We will have a tented home base station to replace going indoors, where we will have extra water, hand sanitizer, first aid supplies, and a place to keep camper’s things.
  • Each camper will have their own “Camp Pack” with all the supplies they will use for the week (stream net, bug box, magnifying glass, etc). No one will share supplies, and they will be the only one using those supplies for as long as they come to camp with us.