Trekkers Camp Information
Counselor to camper ratio is at least 1:6, with minimum two counselors per group.
Monday-Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 9:00am-Friday, 9:00am (overnight)
Friday No camp
Before Care 8:00-9:00am (must be registered for separately)
After Care 4:00-6:00pm, only available Monday-Wednesday (must be registered for separately)
In this exclusive group, campers venture off-campus for special field trips focused on nature discovery and environmental learning inspired by the session theme. Trekkers will also go canoeing and experience Earthplace through trail exploration, animal care activities, science experiments and team building exercises. Each week Trekkers have a Thursday overnight at Earthplace. Campers go on a night hike, pitch their own tents, cook their dinners over the campfire and make s’mores for dessert. In the morning Trekkers enjoy a pancake breakfast at Earthplace. Pick-up from the overnight is at 9:00am on Friday, and there is no camp for Trekkers that day.
Session Themes
At Earthplace Summer Camp, our week-long sessions are designed to bring nature alive for campers. Each week’s theme is developed to be engaging and fun, while instilling a sense of wonder and responsibility for the natural world. Campers will also enjoy weekly spirit days and camp-wide sing-alongs to foster camp spirit and camaraderie.
June 15-June 19 - Mammals, Spirit Thursday: Mismatch Day
Mammals are fun and fluffy animals. This week we will learn all about the mammals that live here at Earthplace. Some mammals are wild, and some mammals can be pets. We will learn from the Earthplace animal care technicians how to care for mammals as pets.
June 22-June 26 - Farms, Spirit Thursday: Plaid & Denim Day
How does the food we eat get from the farm to our dinner table? This week at camp, we will learn about local produce, and we will discover how farmers grow and harvest their crops. We will also get our hands dirty in the vegetable garden at Earthplace when we harvest our own crops and get to taste a delicious local bounty.
June 29-July 3 – Invertebrates, Spirit Thursday: Crazy Hat Day
Did you know that of the over one million animal species in the world, more than 98% are invertebrates? The word invertebrate means “without a backbone.” Insects, arachnids and crustaceans are all examples of invertebrates. This week we will analyze the invertebrates that live here at Earthplace and those that live in the wild.
July 6-July 10 - Space, Spirit Thursday: Backwards Day
A scientist who studies outer space is called an astronomer. What are the tools that scientists use to study space? What makes each planet unique? Become a space explorer and uncover how our solar system works! This week we will learn about the stars, the planets, the sun and the moon.
July 13-July 17 - Dinosaurs, Spirit Thursday: Safari Day
What are the unique characteristics of each dinosaur? How do scientists study dinosaurs? This week we will observe, study and touch the fossils in our museum collection. We will also investigate our resident birds and reptiles to discover which animal is the closest living relative of the dinosaurs.
July 20-July24 - Oceans, Spirit Thursday: Hawaiian Shirt Day
Did you know the ocean is the largest animal habitat on the planet? This week we will learn just how diverse the world’s oceans are and examine what makes Long Island Sound unique. What are the threats to the health of Long Island Sound, and what can we do to help?
July 27-July 31 - Birds, Spirit Thursday: Inside-out Day
Did you know that birds have hollow bones, and that they may be descended from dinosaurs? This week we will determine what else makes birds unique. We will study the Earthplace Birds of Prey, and we will locate wild birds in the forest.
August 3-August 7 – Life Cycles, Spirit Thursday: Pajama Day
How do tadpoles turn into frogs? How do caterpillars become butterflies? How does a plant grow from a tiny seed? This week we will learn all about life cycles. We will examine the plants and animals that live here in our pond and discover how living things change as they grow.
August 10-August 14 – Go Green, Spirit Thursday: Green From Head to Toe Day
This week, be Green with Earthplace as we discover all the things we can do for a healthier environment. What does it mean to reduce, reuse, and recycle? How can we pack a trash-free lunch? What are some alternate energy sources? Learn about the Earthplace Solar Array to see how using alternative energy is one way to go green.
