Many aspects of our society have changed over the past 30 years, most notably our reliance on the internet and the time we spend on smartphones and computers.
One thing that has remained constant over the decades is Raritan Headwaters’ belief that children thrive when spending time outdoors—breathing fresh air, experiencing nature, and engaging in creative play.
This year, RHA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of our summer Nature Day Camp program, whose guiding philosophy is to “let kids be kids” through a mix of unstructured outdoor play and activities like nature observation, crafts, games, and storytelling.
“Our aim is to nurture children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder,” explains Lauren Theis, RHA’s education director. “Our nature camps are tech-free, allowing campers and counselors to be more creative and imaginative. Without screens, everyone is fully present with one another and having fun.”
Then and now, the camps are held at RHA’s Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve in Bedminster, a former dairy farm spanning 170 acres of forests, meadows, trails, streams, gardens, a pond, and historic barns. It’s an ideal place to nurture kids’ love of the outdoors and help them form lasting friendships.
When RHA’s Nature Day Camps began in the mid-1990s, the modern internet era was in its infancy. Not all households had computers or cell phones, yet many parents were concerned that their children were spending too much time indoors watching television and playing video games.
Nature camps offered a return to an old-fashioned idea: that children should spend their summer days outdoors. At nature camp, kids could catch frogs and salamanders in streams, learn to identify wild birds and flowers, and run freely through fields and along wooded trails, all under the supervision of trained counselors.
RHA’s summer camps began small – just a few Monday-Friday sessions geared toward early elementary students. The program and counselors were provided by a nonprofit organization called the Roving Nature Center.
As demand for nature camps grew over the years, we hired our own camp staff and expanded the program to include more weeks, more age groups, and optional extended hours to accommodate working parents.
This year, Nature Day Camp runs for seven weeks, from Monday, June 22, through Friday, Aug. 14. Nearly every week, there are separate camps for four age groups: “Bumble Bees” (ages 3-4), “Red Squirrels” (ages 5-6), “Tree Frogs” (ages 7-9), and “Bobcats” (ages 10-12).
In addition, there will be two camps for high school students. The Art in Nature camp will run from July 13-17 and will use the grounds and gardens of Fairview Farm as inspiration for artworks created with watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, collage, clay, and photography. The class will be led by local artists and educators Julie Goetz and Alison Kavchok.
Watershed University, a camp for high school students interested in exploring careers in environmental fields, will be held the week of June 22-26. Each day features a different speaker, hands-on scientific exploration, and team-building activities. Additional activities include morning meditation and yoga, organic gardening, visual art projects, pond fishing, and a kayak trip.
Lauren said RHA’s education staff and volunteers are looking forward to the camp’s 30th anniversary year. “They’re all excited about our 30th, so we will have special celebrations over the summer,” she said.
She added that the Nature Day Camps have had a lot of continuity over the years. “Some of our campers from the early years have later returned as counselors and volunteers. It’s so nice that they are staying part of the community.”
For more information about Nature Day Camps, visit www.raritanheadwaters.org/naturedaycamp
