A session (week) of full day camp costs $425. This includes a weekly non-refundable deposit of $25/week.

Nature Day Camp 2026 welcomes campers ages 6-11 years old. Campers will be part of specific age-appropriate cohorts.

What to Pack:

• Refillable water bottle

• Lunch

• Snack (x2- pack more than you think they need!)

• Sun hat

• Properly fitting closed toe shoes

• Sweatshirt/jacket

• Spare clothes (socks, pants, underwear)

• Rain coat

• Water shoes (or shoes that can get wet)

• Sunscreen & Bug spray

What NOT to Pack:

• Flip flops

• Umbrellas

• Dress up clothes/costumes

• Clothing that needs to stay “‘clean”

• Electronics (including game devices, smart watches, tablets, cell phones, etc.)

• Toys from home

Sample Daily Schedule

• 9:00 am: Drop off/Check-in

• 9:30 am: Morning Meeting

• 10:00 am: Morning Snack

• 10:15 am: Morning Activity Time

• 12:00 pm: Lunch/Free Play

• 1:15 pm: Afternoon Activity Time 1

• 2:30 pm: Afternoon Snack

• 2:45 pm: Afternoon Activity Time 2

• 3:30 pm: Pack up to head home

• 4:00 pm: Pick up/Check-out

Who doesn’t love rocks?! This week we’ll transform into Junior Geologists. We will get wet in Jack’s Creek panning for pebbles, crack open geodes, start our own rock collection, make our own fossils, and even search for Michigan’s famous Petoskey Stones by the Boardman-Ottaway River!

Tag along as we learn more about the Great Lakes Incubator Farm for a week of gardening and all things green! We’ll investigate the mysterious critters that call soil home, meet nature’s recyclers and get our hands dirty in the garden. Join us for Nature Day Camp’s first visit to the Great Lakes Incubator Farm as we cultivate friendship, curiosity and a better understanding of where our food comes from! 

Join us this week to learn all about our flying friends! From birds to bats and beyond, we will cover all things in the sky. We will explore the gardens, woods, and fields in search of the most interesting inhabitants and play games to learn about echolocation, pollination, migration and more!

Come see all the magic that Jack’s Creek and the Boardman-Ottaway River have to offer! Gear up in search of macroinvertebrates and peer under the surface to discover tadpoles, frogs, and turtles. Come prepared to get muddy, wet, and have fun as we learn about what makes our aquatic areas so special.

Science, technology, engineering, art, and math–oh my! Did you know that STEAM can be done in nature? Join us as we explore the outdoors through a variety of STEAM activities that all include elements of nature!

Have you ever wondered what life looks like below your feet or underwater? Join us as we take a journey to the center of the earth, investigating the many critters that call soil home, take a deep dive into the lives of aquatic animals and understand how these worlds play a role in our ecosystem. Of course, we’ll venture to tree tops and hillsides to see the world from an eagle’s eye view, too!

Journey back in time to discover how the land around us has changed and what once lived here. Campers explore ancient habitats, investigate past landscapes, and learn how today’s plants and animals came to be through hands-on outdoor adventures. This theme brings history to life and helps campers see their natural world with fresh curiosity.

Looking for all animal lovers to join us as we learn about the amazing animals that call Michigan home! We’ll transform into biologists as we observe wildlife on the Natural Education Reserve and explore local skulls and pelts. We’ll also get up close and personal with a feathered friend through a visit from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary!

Unleash your creativity and take a walk on the wild side this summer! From nature inspired crafts to original songs and skits, we’ll spend time exploring the great outdoors and honing our creative skills and confidence. Campers will showcase their skills through a talent show on the last day of camp where families can support and celebrate all of their achievements!

Come one, come all! Join your fellow campers to compete in the GTCD Nature Olympics! An exciting week filled with strategy, skill, and fun - Nature Olympics will help us round out the last week of camp in exciting competition and teamwork-based activities. Who will win gold?!