Roll up your sleeves and get ready to have a blast. Your nature-loving little one will adore these nature, farm, and cooking summer camps in and around Bergen County, NJ where exploring is encouraged!
Friends Neighborhood Nature School Summer Camp Preschool-aged campers (3 to 6 years old) strengthen their love of the great outdoors at this inviting summer camp. They'll be exposed to arts & crafts, stories, sensory play, STEM, and gardening — all with nature-inspired themes. They'll gain confidence while learning about plants and animals, digging in the garden, and so much more. Kids can make new friends while exploring during the eight, one-week sessions that are offered from 9 am-1 pm or 9 am-3 pm, with nearly every activity held outdoors. (224 Highwood Ave., Ridgewood, Camp runs from June 30 - August 22)
The Nature Place Day Camp Is your child age 4 to 16 a true nature lover? This non-competitive, nature-oriented camp offers traditional camp activities along with nature-based programming so campers can take advantage of the 200-acre property and explore the camp’s organic gardens and farm, and get hands-on experience with animals, hang out in teepees and cook with fresh, locally grown ingredients. (285 Hungry Hollow Rd., Chestnut Ridge, NY, 845-356-1234, Camp runs from June 30 - August 8)
HealthBarn USA Summer Camp Adventurous eaters and food enthusiasts get hands-on (and mouths-on) fun at HealthBarn Summer Camp (ages 4-12) and Summer Seedlings program (ages 3-5). HealthBarn’s intimate program brings campers outside to plant and harvest crops, creating fresh food in their commercial kitchen with a garden-to-fork experience. Each week has a theme and culminates in a Friday Finale that could include your child "opening" their own restaurant or farm stand. Weeks include lots of cooking, organic gardening and environmental activities. (1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood; 201-444-2955; camp runs from June 16 - August 27)
Tenafly Nature Center Nature Day Camp Immerse your child in nature this summer at Tenafly Nature’s expert-run program. Kids will explore the surrounding forests, hike, engage with wildlife, and create nature-inspired crafts, with all activities happening outdoors. The summer program offers exciting, week-long themes like weather, the seasons, insects, animals, and astronomy. Campers are grouped by age into small groups to maximize learning. (313 Hudson Ave, Tenafly, 201-568-6093, camp runs weekly from June 23–August 29)
Closter Nature Center With more than 136 acres of ponds, streams and forests, campers learn to nurture nature at Closter Nature Center’s summer camp. The outdoor program lets campers ages 4 to 14 hike, dig and wade it the water, while learning about all of their discoveries they find along the way. (154 Ruckman Rd., Closter, 201-750-2778, [email protected], camp runs from June-August)
Abma's Farm Kids ages 5-10 get their hands dirty in this fun and educational program at the farm. Gardening, farming, animal and environmental education are all part of the program, which also uses the farm's greenhouses and vegetable fields. Each week, campers will have the opportunity to visit the animals in the barnyard, make take-home projects, and conduct experiments while spending time outside and meeting new friends. (700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff, 201-891-0278, camp runs from July 7-August 15)
Wild Earth Summer Camp Keep kids outdoors and in nature this summer at Wild Earth. The 20-plus-year-old camp has camps for ages 4 to 17 that helps them learn wilderness skills, get to know plants and animals, and be inspired by the great outdoors. Older teens can get involved in the Teen Leadership Camp, where they can prepare for an overnight camp out and prepare for a mentorship role. (2307 Lucas Turnpike, High Falls, camps run in two sessions from July 7-August 8)
The Flavor Labs For the fifth summer, The Flavor Labs is back with its popular cooking camp, with 3-hour sessions for ages 6 to 13 and 2-hour sessions for ages 12 and up. Week-long camps let kids create at least two treats — one sweet, one savory — with themes such as Willy Wonka week, Baking Bootcamp, Around the World, and Food Science Lab. (514 Livingston St., Norwood; 59 E Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, camps run from June 23-August 29)
Brookhollow's Barnyard Camp Home to plenty of farm animals including alpacas, goats and bunnies, this popular farm is offering two camps for the summer. Kids ages 4 to 10 will enjoy nature hikes, gardening, crafts, sandbox play, tractor rides, water balloons and of course, helping to care for the animals. (301 Rockaway Valley Rd., Boonton, 973-917-3060, camp runs for four weeks between June 23-August 22)
