The Nature Place focuses on creating a socially-nourishing atmosphere that puts campers first. With an emphasis on connection and skill-building, campers 4-16 make friends and feel comfortable in their space, so they can be their best selves. Campers grow in creative and adventure activities (in addition to the best learn-to-swim program around) giving them confidence by the end of the summer. Our non-rushed schedule allows for logical transition time, giving campers room to experience program areas in addition to making connections and breathing out from a busy school year. Convenient busing from NYC (Manhattan, Astoria), Hoboken, Maplewood, Bergen and Westchester Counties make it the perfect summer escape for campers from all over the greater New York/New Jersey metro area.
- Type: Day / Outdoor Camp
- Dates: June 30th – August 8th 2025 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM
- Location: Chestnut Ridge, NY
- Contact info: Jason Samuel at camp@thenatureplace.com / 845-356-1234
- Grades: Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School, & High School
- Registration: Enrollment details can be found on our website. Schedule a camp tour today. https://thenatureplace.com/enrolltoday/
- Financial Aid: Limited Scholarship Funds Available via The Nature Place Campership Fund: https://thenatureplace.com/about/donate/ – Email The Nature Place to inquire
- Transportation: The Nature Place offers small (20 passenger) air conditioning school buses staffed by professional drivers AND at least one camp counselor. Most bus routes are kept to 3 central location stops to minimize campers time on the bus. We service all neighborhoods of Manhattan, Astoria, Hoboken, Jersey City, Bergen, and Westchester County. We are excited to offer, new for 2025, a Maplewood, NJ express bus!
- Lunch provided: Yes, with additional cost
- Activities offered: Swimming, climbing and the high ropes course, team building with the low ropes course, day hiking, archery, and stream and nature exploration. For younger campers, there are onsight overnight camping (ages 8-10) and almost overnight campouts (ages 4-8). Older campers can enjoy offsite campouts (ages 10+), canoeing (ages 10+), and various outdoor activities like Earth art, games, and animal encounters. Other activities offered are woodworking, music, drama, gardening, working with chickens and bunnies, garden-to-table cooking, African drumming and dance, and farming.
- Safety Protocols: Our number one priority is the health and safety of everyone at The Nature Place. We are proud to say we have best in class protocols and sound decision making to keep everyone safe. We are ACA Accredited and licensed by the State of New York. We have an onsite Registered Nurse in addition to an EMT in our health center to provide care. The swim area is overseen by our swim area lifeguards and Water safety instructors. We hire only experienced and mature Outdoor Trip Leaders, who then go through training and certifications for The Nature Place specifically. We go above and beyond by hiring social workers and guidance counselors for our Social Behavioral Team, ensuring everyone is supported both emotionally and socially. Finally, we dedicate a full 40+ hour week to train our entire staff and prepare them for day one.
