Youth Force-of-Nature Camp

Daily Camp: June 24- 28
9:00 AM-4:00 PM

13 to 18 years 

This summer, from June 24-28, Natural Lands Trust’s land stewardship staff is partnering with the Upper Main Line YMCA’s (UMLY) environmental education staff to offer teens ages 13-18 the opportunity to become a “Force of Nature.” Campers will travel to five of Natural Lands Trust’s nature preserves in Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties to learn how to care for nature from conservation pros. They’ll cover trail maintenance, tree planting and care, stewardship planning, wildlife management, and invasive plant management. (One skill will be focused on each day). Daily excursions will each include a hands-on project at the preserves where teens can apply their new skills.

This week-long day camp program is modeled after Natural Lands Trust’s highly successful adult Force of Nature volunteer program, and is offered through UMLY’s club chapter of the YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC), a youth-led program that empowers students to take a hands-on role in creating a healthier environment in their schools, communities, and region while nurturing a respect for diversity within the natural world. In the course of the Youth Force-of-Nature program, campers will develop their own stewardship project for an open space in their community. 

Whether participants’ interest in caring for nature stems from simply enjoying time spent outside or they are interested in an environmental-based career, they will gain skills that will foster more meaningful interactions with the natural world, in the backyard and beyond.

The cost for the camp is $300 (which includes $25 for a summer membership to YESC) or $275 for summer YESC members.

For more information about the Youth Force-of-Nature Camp with Natural Lands Trust and UMLY, including how to register your teen, please visit http://www.natlands.org/event/youth-force-of-nature-camp-2-4/.