Summer Nature Camp at DPNC

We are excited to welcome new and returning kids for summer nature camp! Our goal is to send campers home content, tired, probably dirty and definitely nature centered! Our eleven weeks of camp each have a different natural history theme that helps focus the fun and key the interest of the campers. We also have Specialty Camps that expand on the week’s theme and Collaborative Camps that connect with other organizations in Mystic.

BROWSE ALL CAMPS BY WEEK, AGE & THEME!

Classic Camps

Fledglings- Age 3 & 4
Week 1,  2 , 5, 7, 8, 9

Eagles (Half Day)- Age 4-6
Week 1, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10, 11

Rangers- Age 5 & 6
Week 1, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10, 11

Investigators- Age 7 & 8
Week 2, 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10, 11

Explorers- Age 9 & 10
Week 2, 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10, 11

Naturalists- Age 11 & 12
Week 5, 11

Adventurers- Age 13-15
Week 3, 6, 10, 11

Shared Camps

Trails & Sails/MSM – Age 10-13

Week 6 (July 15-19)

ART Gone Wild/MMOA – Age 8-12

Week 3 (June 24-28)

ART Gone Wild/MMOA- Age 8-12
Week 8 (July 29- Aug 2)

ART Gone Wild/MMOA- Age 8-12
Week 10 (Aug 12-16)

Specialty Camps

Survival Skills – Tool Making – Age 11-15
Week 2 (June 17-21) 

Exploring CT Trails- Age 13-15
Week 3 (June 24-28) 

Giving Garden- Age 11-15
Week 4 (July 1-3)

Knot Tying- Age 11&12
Week 5 (July 8-12)

Tree Trails- Age 12-15
Week 5 (July 8-12)

Counselors in Training-Age 13-15
Week 6 (July 15-19)

Art and Nature-Age 11-15
Week 7 (July 22-26)

Peace, Paddles and Pastries- Age 10-13
Week 7 (July 22-26)

Survival Skills – Fire – Age 11-15
Week 8 (July 29-Aug 2)

Fish Camp – Age 11-15
Week 9 (Aug 5-9)

Animal Care Camp – Age 13-15
Week 10 (Aug 12-16)

Weekly Camp Themes

Animal Babies
Week 1 (June 10-14) 

Wings & Things
Week 2 (June 17-21) 

Surviving the Wild
Week 3 (June 24-28) 

Plant Power
Week 4 (July 1-3)

Games Galore!
Week 5 (July 8-12)

Cold Blooded Creatures
Week 6 (July 15-19)

Aqua-zone!
Week 7 (July 22-26)

No Backbone Required!
Week 8 (July 29-Aug 2)

Camouflaged Critters
Week 9 (Aug 5-9)

Superb Senses
Week 10 (Aug 12-16)

Nature’s Art
Week 11 (Aug 19-23)

If your child needs medication administered during the day, the medication form must be completed by their doctor and submitted to the camp director by May 1.

If your child has a specific physical, emotional and/or learning difficulty our staff should know about, please complete this form and return to the camp director by May 1.

Medical forms are due to the camp director by May 1. Physical exam and immunizations must be within the last three years.

Drop Off & Pick Up

Each day you’ll drop off and pick up your campers at the Nature Center on 109 Pequotsepos Road.

Monday mornings, the first day of the camp week, will begin under the front porch at your check-in time. Then, from Tuesday through Friday, parents will check campers in at their designated home base, where counselors will greet you.

Camp drop-off and pick-up times are assigned according to the camper’s last name, staggered between 8:30am – 9am in the morning and  3:30pm – 4pm in the afternoon.

If you need to request an adjusted drop-off or pick-up time, please contact Camp Director Jess Morris at [email protected] or speak to a counselor.

  • Last names A-H: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
  • Last names I-Q: 8:45 am – 3:45 pm
  • Last names R-Z: 9 am – 4 pm

The camp day ends by 4 pm each day. If you need an extended day of activities and care for your child in summer, we invite you to learn more about our Neighbors & Nature program, which provides care between 7 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday in summer, as well as before school and after school during the school year.