2010 Summer Nature Day Camp at Baltimore Woods

Schedule

Week 1...July 12-16

Week 2...July 19-23

Week 3...July 26-30

Week 4...August 2-6

Week 5...August 9-13

Week 6...August 16-20

Week 7...August 23-27

Week 8...August 30-September 3

Camp fills up quickly. Send in your forms now to reserve your first choices of weeks.

Click here to download the 2010 Summer Camp Registration full packet of forms

Click here to download just the 2010 Medical Forms

Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Cost per week:

Camp costs $140 per child per week. 

You must have a BWNC Family Membership ($40) to attend camp which can be obtained at the time of registration. There is a $5 sibling discount. In addition, if you sign up for more than one week of camp there is a $5 discount for each additional week. See the Camp Registration Forms for full details and policies.

Camp counselors are trained environmental educators or local certified teachers who are responsible for groups of 12 campers each. Counselors carry walkie-talkies and first aid kits when leading activities outdoors.

 

Children bring their own drinks and lunches. BWNC provides a morning and afternoon snack.

*The number of campers allowed during a week will be dependent upon the number of counselors available to work. Since almost all our counselors are certified teachers, many of them need time to prepare for the upcoming school year. Please call ahead for availability if you plan to register your child within two weeks of the start of any session.

Teen Volunteer Program

Click here for information on the 2010 Teen Volunteer Program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Summer Nature Day Camp at Baltimore Woods?
Groups of no more than 12 children per counselor spend their day hiking and exploring outdoors in a 182 acre nature preserve composed of woods, fields, pond and streams. Informal nature lessons are presented throughout the week on various plants and animals found at Baltimore Woods. Campers learn about nature through observations, hands-on activities, playing games, participating in nature-related programs and simply exploring their immediate environment.

Who Manages Summer Nature Day Camp?
Summer Nature Day Camp at Baltimore Woods is run and managed by BWNC for more than two decades. The camp director is Red Cross certified in First-Aid Responding to Emergencies and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Several other counselors have similar medical training. As part of the permit process with Onondaga County Health Department, the local hospital, the local emergency response team, Sheriffs Department and a local doctor are all notified about camp and, where necessary, have maps of the complete camp grounds.

The Camp Director remains in or near the main office throughout the day and is able to contact each counselor via walkie-talkie.

During Summer Camp, BWNC's main office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is the camp inspected or certified by a county agency?
Onondaga County Health Department inspects the camp each year and issues a camp permit upon satisfactory inspection of the facilities and acceptance of application. They will conduct two to three unannounced camp inspections throughout the camp session.

How old do you have to be to go to camp?
Camp is for children 5-12 years-old.

What are the camp hours?
Camp hours run from 10 am to 3 pm. There are extended Before Care and After Care hours available (see registration form).

What if it rains?
Camp is "on" even if it rains. There are all kinds of creatures and plants that become visible in the rain so the campers should be prepared to go hiking in the rain. During a dangerous thunder and lightening storm, campers will seek shelter (in the deep woods, Interpretive Center, Log Cabin, or Pavilion).

How long does camp go for?
Each camp session is one week long. There are eight weeks of camp beginning mid-July.

What is the cost? Camp costs $140 per child per week. 

You must have a BWNC Family Membership ($40) to attend camp which can be obtained at the time of registration. There is a $5 sibling discount. In addition, if you sign up for more than one week of camp there is a $5 discount for each additional week. See the Camp Registration Packet for full details and policies.

What does a camper need to bring?
Each camper should bring:

• Their own food (including snack) and drink for the day
• At least one or two bottles (no glass) of water each day
• A sturdy backpack. They cannot use hand-held packs or lunch boxes. Campers hands and arms will get too tired and they need their arms for balance when walking through woods and along streams.
• A hat
• Long pants for walking though heavy brush
• Sneakers or hiking boots (no open-toed sandals)
• A book to read or journal to write in during quiet rest times.

Who are the camp counselors?
The camp counselors are highly qualified adults. They enjoy working with children, being outdoors and staying active. Most are certified teachers (BS/MS degrees) with years of experience working with children. Others have years of experience as camp counselors or environmental educators. Each must go through an interview process including verification of their references and an orientation program. In addition, all names and addresses are submitted to the County Health Department.

Each counselor is equipped with a walkie-talkie so they can stay in touch with all the other counselors and the main office at all times. Each counselor is supplied with a small first-aid kit.

Each counselor works with an average group of approximately 12 children similar in age and physical abilities. When possible, one or more Teen Volunteers are assigned to a group. TVs are former campers running in age from 14-17 who volunteer to help counselors.

Some Baltimore Woods Camp Traditions
The Swamp: A highlight of camp for more than a decade has been the Swamp Romp, when the campers voluntarily immerse themselves in mud, getting as muddy as they possibly can. Prior to hitting the swamp, the campers make handmade-candles, hike deep into the woods, have a hotdog cookout over an open camp fire along Lost Creek followed by making s'mores for dessert.

Parents are notified in advance what day their camper will be going to the swamp so they can get clothing they can dispose of and prepare their vehicles to take the muddy campers home.

Kick-the-Can: The Kick-the-Can game tradition started on the first day of camp going back more than 20 years. It is a game of hide-and-seek. It is the most requested game by campers. Each group will get several opportunities to play the game throughout the week.

What's a Typical Day Like?
A typical day may consist of nature games/lessons, hiking and exploring (looking for snakes, catching frogs, finding salamanders, etc). In the last hour of camp each day, various groups come together to participate in games and activities.

Are there different activities for the different ages?
Yes, the activities are geared to the age groups. When hiking, children ages 5 & 6 will hike approximately a total of 1 mile each day as they go about exploring the fields, woods, pond and streams. Older children may put in 3-4 miles a day.

How many campers are returning campers?
Approximately 75-80 percent of the campers return.