Woodland Seekers Naturalist Camp

Meeting at Waring School in Beverly

for ages 7-13

Summer 2025 Information

Summary: A camp for children who love animals and plants and want to spend time learning more about them. At this camp, we venture into the woods for hikes during which we notice as much as possible. We build nature observation blinds in the forest. We have an outdoor home base where we can play nature games, catch insects, read, and relax. Whether your child wants longer hikes or chill time in nature, they will find it at Woodland Seekers Camp. This camp is closer to “civilization” than survival camp and has a few more modern tools and comforts.

Details: At Woodland Seekers Camp, our young naturalists practice finding and seeing wildlife, both obvious and secretive. We will practice basics including tracking and sneaking, journaling and sketching what we find, and catching small critters to study. We will compare living things from different environments, and learn about their behavior. We will read and make up stories about the wildlife around us. Each day we will see a little more of what hides around us and learn new skills. Grabbing our boots, binoculars, or nets, we will roam the waters and the woods. We will also dive into some higher tech methods, including using binoculars, trail cameras, and fun naturalist apps.

Our camp divides our time between the Waring School campus in Beverly, and the Beverly Commons nature reservation. This gives us access to field, forest, and wetland environments with abundant wildlife. The more we practice nature awareness, the more we realize is living all around us. At first we may only find obvious animals such as field insects and squirrels. Then, we learn how to look for tracks, trail wildlife from fresh tracks, use binoculars, listen for calls, and net in the mucky reaches of the wetlands, and we realize how much we were missing before. Much of our day comes with choices for campers to participate in high or low energy activities. We find some campers want to press farther into the forest to explore, while some dedicate themselves to sketching the insects, snakes, and frogs we tend to find in and around the field. At Woodland Seekers, we value various ways of connecting: hiking, running through fields, and sitting quietly in nature.

At the end of the week, your camper will have developed a deeper relationship with the wild and might be ready to teach you about animals! We end every week with a little project to share with families.

As an extra bonus, this camp has a canine staff member, the trained and extra cuddly Emma!

Woodland Seekers Camp is held entirely outdoor except in case of dangerous weather. We will set up canopy shelters for shade and to get out of the rain. We have portable toilets and a portable sink for sanitation, and a nice classroom to retreat to if lightning strikes.

Note that this is not a traditional summer camp in that we don’t offer sports or rotate through different activities. We are a full day nature immersion camp, and we tend to draw in campers who love to play and explore in and study the wild.

  • Dates: August 4-8, August 11-15 (Weeks one and two are independent and different in content. You can sign up for either one or both weeks.)

  • Times: 9:00am to 3:00pm

  • Price: $400 per week, sign up for 1 or 2 weeks

  • Location: Waring School in Beverly/Beverly Commons Reservation

    Full vaccination against covid-19 is required for campers and staff. Medical waivers only will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    to enroll:

    Please note: You must BOTH register and pay (or contact us to arrange payment plan) in order to hold your spot. We cannot hold spots for anyone who has not completed a registration form.

    1. Pay at this link: Select the week(s) you want

    2.enrollment form: You are not enrolled unless you complete the full form

    3. permissions form: please also complete this required form when enrolling

    4. Pre order your camp shirt (optional)

    Link will become live at 5pm on Sunday, January 14th, 2024

This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and is licensed by the local board of health

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
All educational and non-academic programs, activities and employment opportunities are offered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, age and/or, disability, and any other class or characteristic protected by law.