REGISTER NOW - NATURE EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

The Summer Nature Day Camp is a cooperative program between NJ Audubon and the Essex County Environmental Center.

All camps run Monday through Friday. For children entering prekindergarten, kindergarten, first, and second grade, camps begin at 1:00 and end at 4:00 P.M. For children entering third and fourth grade, camps begin at 1:00 and end at 5:00 P.M.  The Essex County Environmental Center is a facility of the Essex County Park System and is located in West Essex Park in Roseland. The grounds include approximately one mile of trails, a raised boardwalk, and a wooded wetland habitat with access to the upper Passaic River. Weather permitting, all children will be expected to explore outdoors. Upon registration, each child will receive an information packet detailing what they can expect and how to prepare for camp.

SUMMERTIME SAFARI - Monday through Friday

 July 11 to 15 - 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

For children entering pre-K and kindergarten in September. Campers must turn 4 or 5 before October 1, 2011.

We’ll journey all over the park using binoculars and magnifiers, examining frogs, salamanders, turtles, insects, and birds in this superfun adventure.

COMMON SENSES - Monday through Friday

July 18 to 22 - 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

For children entering pre-K and kindergarten in September. Campers must turn 4 or 5 before October 1, 2011.

Butterflies taste with their feet, salamanders smell to find their food, and a fox can track down an earthworm by listening to it underground. Discover how your senses stack up to the very best of the animal world.

NATIVE AMERICAN LIVING - Monday through Friday

July 25 to 29 - 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

For children entering 1st and 2^nd grades in September. Campers must turn 6 or 7 before October 1, 2011.

Ever wonder what it would be like to be a Native American? Come join the Essex County Environmental Center tribe and learn about the Native American tribes of New Jersey. Have fun with art, clothing, music, and tales. Enjoy our wigwam and Native American garden.

WILD ART - Monday through Friday

August 1 to 5 - 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

For children entering 1st and 2^nd grades in September. Campers must turn 6 or 7 before October 1, 2011.

Do you love nature? Do you like to draw, color, paint, perform, or write? Then Wild Art is for you! Using our five senses and our backyard habitat, let’s see how creative we can be. Campers will craft an amazing art portfolio!

SURVIVOR! - Monday through Friday

August 8 to 12 - 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.

For children entering 3rd and 4^th grades in September. Campers must turn 8 or 9 before October 1, 2011.

Campers will be challenged with scavenger hunts, shelter building, fire building, and much more. Campers will learn to work together as a team.  There will be one onsite canoe trip and one offsite field trip to South Mountain Reservation.

FEATHERED FRIENDS - Monday through Friday

August 15 to 19 - 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.

For children entering 3rd and 4^th grades in September. Campers must turn 8 or 9 before October 1, 2011.

 Become a junior birder. Campers will head out to “Bird Lane” with binoculars and field guides to find bird species. Campers will play games that teach about bird behaviors and build bird houses. There will be one onsite canoe trip and one offsite field trip to the Great Swamp and the Raptor Trust.

SUMMER CAMP FEES:

For children entering pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade: $115 per week per child if you are a member of New Jersey Audubon, $150 per week per child for nonmembers. Children may be signed up for one or two weeks in their age group. 

For children entering 3rd or 4^th grade: $155 per week per child if you are a member of New Jersey Audubon, $190 per week per child for nonmembers. Children may be signed up for one or two weeks in their age group.

Contact New Jersey Audubon at 908.204.8998 for membership information. Scholarships are available for families in need through the Bill Brach Scholarship Fund. Contact NJ Audubon for more information on eligibility: 973.226.6082 or kelly.wenzel@njaudubon.org.   Preregistration and advance payment required for camp through the Essex County Environmental Center. Call 973.228.8776 for more information and/or to register. Please make checks payable to “Essex County Park System.” Cash and money orders are also accepted.