​​For teens & tweens entering 6th-9th grade

Tue-Thu: Tue & Wed 9am-3pm; Thu 3pm-9pm​

Register for one or both weeks!

Week 1 (Jul 29-Aug 1): ​
Week 2 (Aug 5-7 ): 

We offer discounts for New Weis Center Members and Siblings!​​​

The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation  |  150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456  |  973-835-2160

Owned and operated by the Highlands Nature Friends, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization

Emerging Ecologist summer program will be held primarily outdoors on our beautiful 152 acre property. Our facilities include a picnic grove, recreation field, covered pavilion, fire circles, private hiking trails, raingarden, butterfly garden, vegetable & herb garden, bird feeding station and a clear mountain brook.

Our mission is to create a safe and supportive space for 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 experience and a lifelong connection to the natural world around them.

Each day incorporates fun and immersive experiences and a variety of nature-based activities, exploration, science and fun. Activities incorporate STEM concepts and focus on the local ecology, flora and fauna.

​Camp is rain or shine; in inclement weather we'll take cover in the pavilion or move the fun inside to our large main room or classrooms.​​

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​STAFF

• Camp Director & Health Director: Nicole Vaccaro; Counselors are trained adult Weis staff.
• Certified by the State to meet all NJ Department of Health Youth Camp standards. Certificate #27106.
  
• Lead Counselors are CPR/AED and Wilderness First Aid certified.
  
• Low Counselor to Camper ratio 1:10 ratio provides a safe and attentive environment for all campers.​

CODE OF CONDUCT

• Campers are entitled to a safe and supportive environment while participating in summer camp. All campers are expected to follow our main rule of RESPECT: respect each other, respect the natural world, respect the leader (Counselor), and respect themselves.
  
• Fighting, physical contact (pushing, shoving, kicking, etc.), name-calling, harassment and bullying are not permitted under any circumstances.
  
• Campers must be willing and able to follow the Counselors' directions, stay with the group, and participate safely in activities.
  
• Campers who don't comply with camp policy will receive a warning and the Camp Director will discuss the situation with the parent/guardian. Repeat incidents may result in the camper being removed from all or part of their remaining registered days.**
  

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2025 CAMP FEES & DATES (per week, per camper)

(3 days/wk; Tue-Thu)

​   $270 - Standard

   $255 - Siblings & Multi-week

   $240 - Members*​

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JULY 15TH!

​*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!

​CAMP T-SHIRT (optional)
Please choose the size on the registration form and include an additional $20  with your payment if you would like a t-shirt. Shirts are short-sleeve "Safety Green" with The New Weis Center's logo on the front and "Nature Camp" on the back in dark green lettering.

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
Payment in full is required to confirm your registration!

• We will send an email at least 2 weeks prior to the start of camp with a parent/guardian handbook, including what your child should bring and wear, directions for drop off and pick up, camp rules, and other useful information.
  
• A universal health form (or equivalent) signed by the parent/guardian and physician and latest vaccination record are required.
  

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​CANCELLATION & REFUNDS

• A $35 processing fee applies to ALL refunds.
  
• We cannot offer partial refunds if you miss a day; refunds due to major illness or family emergency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis​
  
• Refunds are not available after the registration deadline of JULY 15th.

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

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2025 EMERGING ECOLOGISTS SUMMER CAMP​

FOR GRADES 6-9

​Weekly Themes

Citizen Science: Hands on Ecology (7/29-7/31)

Calling all hands on ecologists! Join us for a week full of outdoor observational studies and learn how they are used by scientists to study the natural world! We will be learning how to set up and participate in a plant bioblitz, how to study and monitor insects, and how to set up camera traps to monitor animal diversity. Whether you are interested in plants, insects, animals, or ecology; there will be something exciting for everyone! To see how your observations will impact the scientific community in real time, all observations will be uploaded to iNaturalist.

• Nature Bioblitz
  
• Insect Monitoring
  
• Camera Traps Survey
  
• Habitat & Adaptation Exploration
  

Eco Warriors- Sustainability, Conservation & Stewardship (8/5-8/7):

Join us for a week filled with hands-on stewardship projects, exploration and fun! We’ll be studying the main causes and types of pollution and different organisms that are known to absorb pollutants and how we can look out for the little plants doing some of the hardest work. Learn the best conservation ecology practices for NJ’s forests, investigate the methods of green infrastructure, and study the local flora to become an Eco Warrior! 

• Pollution
• Conservation Ecology
  
• Sustainability
  
• Green Infrastructure​​