Wildlings Camp is a joyful, play-based nature camp
for kids entering K through 5th grade.
This camp is once a week, Wednesday mornings from 9 am to 11 am at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area in South Williamsport, home to beautiful, rugged wetlands and fields, September 29th through November 3rd.
Currently, masks will be worn in the program.
Planned activities for the fall session include:
hiking
shelter building
animal tracking
bird watching
map making
nature journaling
mindfulness exercises
lots of free play with other kids
What's a typical day like at camp?
After arrival between 9-9:30 am and handwashing, campers will free play until everyone arrives. At 9.30 am, we will sit at our Gathering Place around to sing our Good Morning, Dear Earth song, a traditional Waldorf morning song:
“Good morning, dear earth
Good morning, dear sun
Good morning, dear resting stones
And beast on the run.
Good morning, dear flowers
And birds in the trees
Good morning to you
Good morning to me.”
We will pause for a beat of gratitude and then share what we are thankful for. I will then share a nature provocation, such as a story of an owl flying overhead, so close I could feel its wings stir my hair. Or maybe we'll play a sensory game, like Eagle Eyes: kids hide but are still able to see the 'eagle.' The eagle stays in one spot and scans for the other kids.
We will then hike along the trail. We may stop at our "Roxaboxen"-inspired camp or maybe explore a whole new section of the natural area. The kids will decide. The bulk of the day is campers exploring nature and playing with each other, teachers around to supervise and keep safe but also to ask questions and encourage inquiry.
Handwashing again and socially-distanced snack at 10 am are followed by a 5- to 10-minute Sit Spot practice. Afterwards free play will follow until 10:45 am, where we sit back at our Gathering Place and share about our day and sing our closing song:
“The wind will blow, will blow, will blow.
The wind will blow, it will.
And you will grow and grow and grow.
And I will love you still.”
Clean-up and pick-up is between 10:55 and 11:05 each day.
What is the cost of camp?
The cost for Wildlings Camp (for kids in K through 5th grade) is a sliding fee scale to promote equity.*
$15 to $25 per morning ($90 to $150 for all six 2-hour mornings)
1 scholarship is available at $7 per 2-hour morning ($42 for all 6 mornings) and 1 scholarship is available for free tuition for a caregiver who is interested in being a co-teacher.
Scholarships are limited to two per class.
*Payment is expected in full before camp starts. No refunds for missed days.
Your place is confirmed once payment is received.*
Wildlings Camp Family Handbook: Click here to view the family handbook