2023 Summer Camps
Important Information
We’re gearing up for a wonderful summer full of camps at the Highlands Nature Center, and we hope your camper will be able to join us!
Nature Camps will be held between June and August 2023 for children ages 4 to 12 years. Each camp runs for four days (Tuesday – Friday) and are a wonderful way for kids to connect to nature, foster an appreciation for the environment, and learn about the many things that make the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau so unique.
Registration
2023 Nature Camp themes and dates will be posted here on Monday, January 30th.
Members of the Highlands Biological Foundation (HBF) will have access to early registration for Nature Camps. Camp registration for HBF members will open Monday, February 27th. Registration will be available to non-members on Monday, March 6th. Our main means of communication for camps and registration is email, so be sure you are subscribed to our email list (click the button above to subscribe). If you are subscribed but do not receive our email communications in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you have trouble or need to check on the status of your membership, please call our office at 828.526.2221. Donations to HBF of $30 or more come with a complimentary membership which will give you the camp benefit listed above. Click HERE to make a donation today.
Please note: HBF members no longer receive a $10 discount on Nature Camps. Membership does not guarantee a spot in camp. Camps fill quickly! Once registration opens, register as soon as possible for the best chance to get a spot. If the camp you want is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist.
Cancelation/ Refund Policy
- If you cancel your camp registration 30 days prior to the start of your camp, you are eligible for a full refund. If you need to cancel your camp registration, you may choose to have your camp fees converted to a donation to HBF.
- If you cancel 30 to 14 days prior to the start of your camp, you are eligible for a 50% refund.
- If you cancel within less than 14 days prior to the start of your camp, you are not eligible for any refund.
- Membership fees are non-refundable.
- Membership is subject to verification. If you register as a member but do not have current qualifying membership, your registration is subject to cancellation and your fees refunded, minus a 20% administrative fee.
- No refunds for missed days of camp.
- To cancel your registration, please contact Holly Theobald at holly@highlandsbiological.org
Scholarship Opportunities
A limited amount of need-based scholarships are available. To inquire about eligibility, please email charlotte@highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221
Special Needs
Our primary goal is providing safety and a positive camp experience for all. Camp staff is unable to provide one-on-one supervision for a special needs situation, but we would be happy to assist the family in making those arrangements with a care facilitator of your choice. Parents/Guardians are asked to discuss this need with our Education Specialist, Holly Theobald, prior to registration at holly@highlandsbiological.org
Available Camps (in order by age)
We understand that our camps fill quickly. This season, we have adjusted our capacity to accommodate as many campers as possible. We have added afternoon sessions for our younger kid camps (4 – 6 years). Campers can be registered for a morning OR afternoon session of a camp, not both. If a camper is registered for both a morning AND an afternoon session of camp in the same week, registration to one of the sessions is subject to cancellation.
Ages 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st):
Buggy Bonanza
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: June 6 – June 9 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: June 6 – June 9 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
Embark on a journey on the near and small to meet our insect friends! Learn how to identify insects found in the garden, and how they make themselves at home in our own backyards.
Nature Sensing
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: June 13 – June 16 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: June 13 – June 16 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
Follow your nose to explore the natural world! We will participate in games, explorative hikes, and activities to heighten our sense, and awareness, of the natural world.
Buggy Bonanza
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: June 27 – June 30 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: June 27 – June 30 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
Embark on a journey on the near and small to meet our insect friends! Learn how to identify insects found in the garden, and how they make themselves at home in our own backyards.
Plant Paradise
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: July 4 – July 7 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: July 4 – July 7 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
What’s a plant, anyway? Join us to about their life cycles, what they’re made of, and learn how we depend on each other through hikes and crafts!
Nature Sensing
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: July 18 – July 21 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: July 18 – July 21 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
Follow your nose to explore the natural world! We will participate in games, explorative hikes, and activities to heighten our sense, and awareness, of the natural world.
Plant Paradise
Ages: 4 – 6 (pre-K to rising 1st)
Morning camp: July 25 – July 28 | 9am – 12pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Afternoon camp: July 25 – July 28 | 1pm – 4pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $120 per child
What’s a plant, anyway? Join us to about their life cycles, what they’re made of, and learn how we depend on each other through hikes and crafts!
Ages 7 – 9 (rising 2nd to rising 4th):
Wilderness Walkers
Ages: 7 – 9 (rising 2nd to rising 4th)
Dates for camp 1: June 6 – June 9 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Dates for camp 2: June 27 – June 30 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $200 per child
Uncover the secrets of surviving in the wild! Practice “Leave No Trace” principles, construct shelters, and sample wild edible plants.
Aquatic Adventures
Ages: 7 – 9 (rising 2nd to rising 4th)
Dates for camp 1: June 13 – June 16 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Dates for camp 2: July 18 – July 21 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $200 per child
Take a plunge into the wonderful world of water! Learn about the water cycle, splash in a creek, and conduct scientific studies to learn about the animals who call it home.
Nature Tales
Ages: 7 – 9 (rising 2nd to rising 4th)
Dates for camp 1: July 4 – July 7 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Dates for camp 2: July 25 – July 28 | 9am – 2pm | FULL – join waitlist HERE
Cost: $200 per child
Ever wonder what stories the land has to tell you? To investigate, we’ll go on daily “Voyages of Discovery,” conduct habitat studies, and record our memories through nature journaling.
Ages 10 – 12 (rising 5th to 7th):
Appalachian Investigators: Secrets of the Earth
Ages: 10 – 12 (rising 5th to 7th)
Dates: June 20 – June 23 | 9am – 4pm | Register HERE
Cost: $300 per child
Take part in scientific explorations to uncover the wonders that form the planet! Learn how the mountains came to be through its geologic history, and how that history created one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet.
Appalachian Investigators: Wonderous Waters
Ages: 10 – 12 (rising 5th to 7th)
Dates: July 11 – July 14 | 9am – 4pm | Register HERE
Cost: $300 per child
Learn about how this key element shapes and defines our lives on planet Earth! Test the waters, scientifically speaking, to see how we influence its quality and how we impact the organisms who call them home.
Appalachian Investigators: Beautiful Biomes
Ages: 10 – 12 (rising 5th to 7th)
Dates: August 1 – August 4 | 9am – 4pm | Register HERE
Cost: $300 per child
Explore the connections that give rise to the tapestry of life here at the Highlands Biological Station! Discover how each living organism connects itself to the planet, each other, and us.