Summer Adventure Camp

Welcome to Summer Adventure Camp at the New Canaan Nature Center! This program provides your child with an amazing opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for the natural world through guided exploration, high adventure outdoor activities, and overnight camping experiences. Our trained staff will challenge your child and the group to go beyond their traditional comfort levels as they journey through a world of self-discovery and personal growth all the while creating strong, lasting bonds with other members of the camp community.

Our summer adventure programs for upper elementary through middle school campers are designed to let them experience the joys of the great outdoors while learning the basic skills of a naturalist. Campers will explore the basic tenets of wilderness survival and low-impact camping through activities aligned with each session theme. Each program involves off-site travel in state-inspected minivans driven by staff with clean driving histories. More info about our Adventure Camp staff can be found below.

What to Expect:
Since this is Adventure Camp, we highly recommended that campers arrive dressed appropriately and with the right gear. This includes closed-toe shoes that can get wet (we suggest something like a Keen sandal or Crocs) and clothes that can be dirtied. A pack list for our overnight adventures will be provided as we get closer to these days.

The majority of our days will be spent outdoors so we ask you please equip your child with the following:

• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray (if they are susceptible to bites)
• Water bottle
• Rain gear
• Hat or sunglasses
• Day pack to carry supplies (including their lunch)
• Lunch
• Closed-toe shoes
• Closed-toe water shoes
• For offsite days, please also include a swimsuit and towel as we may be getting wet.

Ages 10-12

Each two-week program for campers includes an off-site field trip as well as outdoor activities on Nature Center grounds. Possible field trips include paddling on a local waterway, hiking a section of the Appalacian Trail, visiting a working farm or going "behind the scenes" at a zoo or Vet's office.

• Each session will include one overnight camping experience on the Nature Center grounds plus one overnight camping experience off site (campers bring their own sleeping bag, sleeping pad & backpack).
• Maximum 14 campers per session with teacher-camper ratio of 1:7 max
• Sessions meet Monday-Friday from 9:00AM - 3:30PM (except when on an overnight campout)

Ages 12-15

NEW ENGLAND ADVENTURE EXCURSION: July 26-August 6
This special program takes campers on an extended adventure exploring a wilderness area of New England -- the amazing lakes and forests of Maine. Campers spend the first three days of the session at the Nature Center checking and assembling gear, learning about equipment use and safety, practicing basic skills, and doing team building exercises to prep for the adventure. The group departs July 29th and will spend 8 nights/9 days hiking, paddling and camping in Maine, returning on August 6.

• Detailed itinerary to come
• Space is limited to 13 adventurers who are mentally and physically ready for this intensive and life-changing adventure!
• The fee is $1510 and includes all activity and travel expenses, food while away, cookng gear, tents, canoe and other rental costs. Campers must bring their own sleeping bag, sleeping pad and backpack.

Meet the Adventure Camp Staff!

Meredith Staud
Originally from Ohio, Meredith graduated from Wittenberg University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and concentrations in Education. Post graduation, she received graduate credits in Outdoor Education and Natural History from Antioch College.

Following graduating in 2008, Meredith’s fondness for the natural world led her to work at the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center in Yellowsprings, Ohio as well as the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. As an enthusiastic hiker, she then chose to push her personal limits and immerse herself in nature by hiking over 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Upon completing this backpacking adventure, Meredith moved to CT where she began her career with us at NCNC. Meredith began as an Environmental Educator and currently serves as a full-time preschool teacher for the Nature Center.

In her spare time, Meredith enjoys hiking, volunteering at the ROAR shelter, camping, and, above all, ADVENTURE!

Meredith holds certifications in the following: Adult/Child/Infant CPR; Wilderness First Aid; Connecticut Child Care; Epi Pen & Medical Administration; and Quality Food Management.

Ruth Krumholz
Ruth grew up in Massachusetts and spent many summer attending and 4 summers working at an overnight camp in northwestern Connecticut, leading a variety of onsite and offsite programs. Ruth graduated from Michigan Statue University with a B.S. in Environmental Geoscience, while taking extensive coursework on systems science in the Canadian Rockies, Argentina, and the Antarctic.

During the non-summer seasons, Ruth has been working in California as an environmental educator for 5th & 6th graders at San Mateo Outdoor School. She is currently very excited to be heading up the Adventure Camp crew for Summer 2010. Ruth’s hobbies include hiking, climbing, crocheting, and canoeing. One day Ruth hopes to work as a naturalist leading polar expeditions!

Ruth holds certifications in the following: Wilderness First Responder (through NOLS); Waterfront Lifeguard; Small Craft Canoe & Kayak Safety; CPR (Adult/Child).