Nature Connection Summer Camp

In 2025, as part of a continuation of the Nature Connection Summer Camp project, DARC Earth spent two full weeks with Horizons campers, teaching the basics of fire safety, shelter-building, tent set-up, and general survival skills. Simultaneously, the campers played in, learned about, and built up a connection with nature and the natural environment as a whole, leading to increased confidence, increased excitement to go outdoors, and even strengthening friendships around shared outdoor activities.

ACTIVITIES: 

This year, we were able to expand the curriculum substantially, allowing for much more in-depth learning, thorough engagement of a variety of subjects, and more subjects overall. This year, we engaged:

• Natural Observation: Developing skills and experience around ways one can observe, appreciate, and experience nature, achieved through group-based exploration, interest-based lessons, and even a 5-senses scavenger hunt!

• Shelter-building: Developing skills and experience around the creation and customization of basic natural shelters, such as the teepee and the lean-to, achieved through hands-on learning. Numerous groups of campers worked together to build and maintain natural shelters, and in so doing actively learned about the sites that were better/worse for shelters, which materials they preferred, building techniques, and even how animals made their shelters, knowledge that they could, and did, incorporate into their builds.

• Tent Set-Up: Learning about the basics of tent set-up, including preferable locations, how to make camp, and tent etiquette. The campers learned how to play in tents, how to keep them clean, and how to set them up extremely quickly in tent set-up competitions, possibly the highlight of the camp as a whole. The tents used were generously donated by REI Co-Op, whom we thank from the bottom of our hearts.

• Fire Fun/Safety: Learning about the basic process of starting a campfire, but more extensively how to be safe around it, and how to have fun. Smores were made, songs were sung, stories told, and each camper left with a smile.

• Water Filtering: Developing skills around the basics of water filtering and water safety

• Aquatic Exploration: Spending time in and around aquatic ecosystems, using the Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration Kits generously donated by Causewave Community Partners. Due to the generosity of Causewave, the kids were able to magnify subjects of interest, identify aspects of aquatic ecosystems, and even safely interact with aquatic fauna, such as crawfish and minnows!!

While the campers did spend a large amount of time learning new skills and concepts, the focus of the camp was nature connection, or building an emotional connection with nature. Henceforth, we spent much time over the two weeks playing games together outside (such as Red Light Green Light, Statues, and Hide and Seek), having fun around the campsite that the campers themselves built (playing Go Fish in tents, building up canopies and seating areas using sticks and logs, and asking the three questions that, all together, may as well have been the camp motto: “What’s this? What does it do? Can we learn about this one?” Naturally, all questions were followed by attempts at identification, thoughtful conversation, playful exploration, and thorough excitement from all.

Overall, it was extremely successful. We hope to continue and expand the camp next summer, but can only do so with donations! Find our Venmo below and help us with our mission.

HELP US FUND FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS CAMP:

http://venmo.com/u/darcearth

Written September 6, 2025