Weekly Themes

Week 1 - July 6-9: Fascinating Flora - From the tiniest spring wildflower to the tallest trees in the forest, plants create the essential habitat for the wildlife that lives all around us. This week we look closely at the secret lives of plants through science experiments, flower pressing, games, and observation hikes.

Week 2, July 12-16: Babbling Brooks - Come splash around and keep cool by stomping through the stream, swimming in the pool and running through the sprinkler, all while learning about the water itself! By the end of this week, campers will know all about water in the streams, water in our drinking glasses, and water in the landscape and watershed.

Week 3, July 19-23: Cryptic Creatures - There are many familiar animals we see on our hikes win the forest, but what about those animals that are not so noticeable? This week we become investigators looking for signs and hopefully glimpses of the more cryptic animals in the forest like foxes, coyotes, snakes, salamanders, bears, rabbits, as well as insects like caterpillars, and beetles that are usually out of sight. 

Week 4, July 26-30: Bright Wings - This week is all about wings, feathers, and flight! The stars of the show will be all the flighted creatures; from birds to bats to butterflies and dragonflies. We will use binoculars, butterfly nets, and other tools to get a close look at both the biology and ecology of these animals, while playing games and hiking along the way.

Week 5, August 2-6: Tracks & Trails - Get your adventure on for this week of hiking and exploring! From the most popular overlooks and caves to the almost secret nooks and crannies of the forest, we will be taking to the trails this week to get to know our forest. We will learn how to be prepared hikers, plan a hike, and read a trail map as we discover new places every day!

Week 6, August 9-13: Bugs & Slugs - The tiniest animals make up most of the diversity of the forest, so this week is all about those bugs! We will explore all sorts of habitats bugs live in, like on plants, in the soil, in the stream, under rocks, inside logs, and more. Get ready to get dirty and look closely to explore this wonderful world of crawly creatures.

Week 7, August 16-20: Backwoods Survival - Everyone’s favorite: learning and testing our knowledge of how to live through a forest survival situation. We will pretend we are lost in the woods for the week while we learn about the essentials of survival: water purification, shelter building, foraging, fire building, and preparedness.

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

• 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 new vegetable, herb and native plant garden.​

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

9:00am - Camper drop off and health check at The New Weis Center's main gate. We cannot accommodate early drop-offs

9:30am - Daily welcome, review of the day ahead
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, swimming 1-2 days/week (at the Highlands Natural Pool)
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​​

Is our camp right for your child this summer?​

• Does your child love being outdoors? Camp will be all outdoors, except for bathroom breaks.
• Does you child love nature? Camp is focused on exploring local ecosystems and learning about the plants and animals found there.
  
• Are you and your child willing to follow increased rules and procedures? Camp rules for masks, safety and social distancing MUST be followed.

Looking for something for older kids? Check out our "Highlands Jr. Naturalist" program for teens/tweens!

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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 1:9 ratio provides a safe and attentive environment for all campers.
  

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2021 CAMP FEES & DATES Price (per week, per camper)

Full Week

Week 1 (4 days: Tue-Fri, July 6-9)

   $270 - Standard

   $250 - Siblings & Multi-week

   $230 - Members*

Weeks 2-7 (5 days/wk: Mon-Fri, July 12-August 20)

​   $315 - Standard

   $290 - Siblings & Multi-week

   $270 - Members*​

Partial Week (4 or 3 days per week; days must be chosen in advance during registration)

​   $270 - 4 days, Standard

   $250 - 4 days, Siblings & Multi-week

   $230 - 4 days, Members*

   $230 - 3 Days, Standard

   $210 - 3 Days, Siblings & Multi-week

   $195 - 3 Days, 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!

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
Payment in full is required to confirm your registration. Once both registration and payment is received, we'll send an email 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​ (due 1 week prior to the start of camp) 

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​CANCELLATION & REFUNDS

• $25 processing fee applies to refunds.
• Full refunds (less the $25 fee) will be issued for cancellation requests received by June 7.
  
• 50% refund (less the $25 fee) will be issued for cancellation requests received by June 21.
  
• If your request to cancel is received after June 21, no refund will be given; a tax receipt will be issued to you indicating that the program fee was converted to a charitable donation.
  
• ​Refunds due to major illness and/or family emergency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• FULL refunds (less the $25 fee) will be given for cancellations due to COVID-19 related exposure or illness.
  

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

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​7 Weeks: Jul 6-Aug 20  |  Monday-Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm  |  Ages 7-12

​We follow all guidelines and procedures recommended by the American Camp Association, the NJ Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control. We are confident that the small group size and safety and sanitation procedures will provide a wonderful camp experience.

​Camp will be held outdoors on our beautiful 152 acre property. Our outdoor facilities include a picnic grove, recreation field, covered pavilion, fire circle, hiking trails, raingarden, butterfly garden, bird feeding station and a brook.

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 active, nature-focused activities. The featured daily activity, observation hikes, nature-based arts & crafts projects, and field and forest games will incorporate STEM concepts and the local ecology, watershed and flora & fauna.​​

2021 SummerNature Camp

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We are following guidelines from the NJ Department of Health 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:​​

• COVID guidelines: Please send your child with a mask, as masks will be required for using indoor restrooms. Outdoors, masks are optional for campers. Staff will wear masks when social distancing cannot be maintained. Please screen your child each morning before camp to ensure they are not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.​
• ​Small groups; approximately 16 campers per day.
  
• Counselor to camper ratio will be 1:9, to ensure campers receive individual attention and masks and social distancing guidelines are followed.
  
• Camp will be outdoors, with the exception of restroom breaks, extreme weather or emergencies.​
  
• Tented outdoor station with extra water, hand sanitizer, first aid supplies, plus a place to keep camper’s belongings.