Summer Explorer Kits

If you’re interested in an at-home option to help your kids explore and have fun in nature this summer, sign up for a Summer Explorer Kit! Kits are available every week from June 15 – August 14, and include instructions and materials for daily activities, inspiration for outdoor exploration, ideas for reflection and exploration, and instructions from our camp instructors to tie it all together. They are created to be fun, educational, and flexible to your family’s schedule and needs. Kits are available for elementary schoolers as well as early learners.

preschoolers looking at flowers up close during summer camp

Elementary-aged Summer Explorers are also invited to join your naturalist instructor for an optional, but encouraged, Zoom activity each day in the morning. These gatherings will include games, discussion, opportunities to reflect on and learn more about what they explored that day, and a chance for campers to connect with each other and with their camp instructors. This time together is optional (we know some of you don’t want any more Zoom!). Our online gatherings will be fun, interactive, and will encourage kids to get outside to explore! Early Learner Summer Explorers will receive a series of recorded story time readings with our Naturalists, linked to the theme of the day, in lieu of live Zoom meetings.

Themes vary by week, and are crafted to help kids explore nature in their backyard and community:

June 15-19: Outdoor Olympics
June 22-26: Nature Explorers
June 29-July 3: Fantastic Fish and Where to Find Them
July 6-10: Geology Rocks!
July 13-17: Fantastic Fish and Where to Find Them
July 20-24: Outdoor Olympics
July 27-31: Nature Explorers
August 3-7: Earth Art
August 10-14: Geology Rocks!

Sign up for a Nature Explorer Kit! If you were in a summer camp that has been cancelled, please sign up for a Nature Explorer Kit using the fee choices form you received in your email.

Cost: $50 per kit

Example* Summer Explorers Kit: Nature Explorers (ages 6-10)

Monday – Outstanding Observations: What is a Naturalist? Learn about some important naturalist tools, practice making observations and create a nature journal entry, and be a track detective!

Tuesday – Predators and Prey: Dissect an owl pellet, then make owl pellet art. Go outside and find a food chain!

Wednesday – Pondering Plants: Explore plants with a scavenger hunt. Press flowers and create nature art. Make some poet-TREE!

Thursday – Magnificent Maps: Make a Sound Map. Create an Event Map. Hide some treasure!

Friday – Habitat Hoopla: Hunt for habitats, discover animal homes, and make a recycled bird feeder!

Example* Summer Explorer Kit: Nature Explorers (ages 4-5)

Monday – Nature Detectives: Go on a scavenger hunt for animal signs and dissect an owl pellet!

Tuesday – Bug Bonanza: Make a bug collecting jar and go on a bug hunt!

Wednesday – Hooray for Habitats: Explore habitats and make a room for a salamander!

Thursday – Nature Artists: Paint with nature and make a spore print!

Friday – Treasure Hunt: Go on a nature treasure hunt and make a beautiful decoration with your discoveries!

* Actual activities offered may vary from this sample schedule