We can’t wait for another wonderful season of summer camp at Stony Kill! Our 2023 Summer Explorers Camp dates and weekly themes are listed below.

Please note that all available spaces at camp this summer have been filled. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, you may still complete the application. Applications are processed in the order they are received.

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Stony Kill Foundation Summer Explorers Camp is a place where kids are empowered to explore the outdoors and experience a sense of curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Camp is held on the grounds of the beautiful and historic Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls, NY.

Summer Explorers Camp provides a balance of structured and free play with environmental exploration, enjoyment of arts and crafts experiences, and age-appropriate learning activities. These experiences encourage kids to be curious and appreciate the outdoors while building social and life skills.

Through camp, we hope to spark a lifelong love of learning and outdoor exploration, forge a deep and enduring connection with the natural world, and inspire kids to be environmentally conscientious citizens of the future…all while having a ton of fun in a beautiful farm setting. 

AGE
Summer Explorers Camp is for ages 4-12. Campers must be at least 4 years old before their first day of camp.

CAMP SCHEDULE
Camp takes place from 9 am – 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Campers may register for 1-8 weeks of camp, which run from June 19-August 11 (Weekly themes listed below). Campers bring their own snack, lunch and refillable water bottle.

CAMP FEES
$325 per child per week. Stony Kill Foundation Family and Patron-level memberships receive a $25 discount from their total. (Click for membership info)

BEFORE & AFTER CARE
$25 flat rate per day for before and/or after care (Before Care starts at 8:30 am and After Care runs until 5:00 pm)

SCHOLARSHIPS – Application is now closed.
Need-based Sliding scale scholarships are available thanks to the support of the Dutchess County, Learn, Play, Create program. If receiving discounted camp registration would help relieve financial stress for your family, please complete a scholarship application by February 23rd.

REGISTRATION PROCESS & REFUND POLICY
Following an accepted application, we will send you the full camp registration materials and invoice by email which can be paid by credit card or check. The invoice will be accompanied by an additional health and liability release form. Registration is complete once payment has been received and all forms are completed. Following payment, refunds minus the processing fees will be granted if we are notified before May 19, 2023.

COVID SAFETY
To read about our COVID-19 safety guidelines for 2023 camp, click here. A list of COVID-19 symptoms can be found here.

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WEEKLY CAMP THEMES

Project Discovery, June 19 – 23 – Waiting List Only During our first week of camp, campers will discover Stony Kill Farm starting with our barnyard and livestock. Each day, campers will discover various ecosystems throughout the property by hiking our trails and searching for birds and insects and visiting the pond to collect specimens for observation. Our diverse land offers campers an opportunity to learn about our local surroundings.

Life on the Farm 1, June 26 – June 30 – Waiting List Only Campers will learn how to care for our farm animals and discover our historic big red barn and tractor. Each day will focus on aspects of farm life through observation, creation and exploration. Campers will sample different foods that come from our farm, explore the greenhouse and start their own seeds while learning about the importance of composting and our friends the decomposers. If your child has a love of farm life, this is the camp for them.

Life on the Farm 2, July 3 – 7 (no camp on July 4th) – Waiting List Only Campers will explore aspects of farming and caring for the farm animals, this week learning about the history of Stony Kill and how early farmers lived and worked on the farm. Campers will spend time with livestock in the barn, and learn animal husbandry skills. This week will have a reduced rate of $260.

Farm to Forest, July 10 – 14 – Waiting List Only We’ll explore the similarities and differences between our domestic livestock and the wild animals that call Stony Kill Farm home. Learn the important connections our farm, fields and gardens have to our forest ecosystem and how they sometimes compete and work together.

Young Naturalist, July 17 – 21 – Waiting List Only

Campers will learn what it means to be a naturalist by observing, recording and caring for our surroundings. We’ll explore our creative side by expressing our appreciation of the natural world through artistic practices. We’ll practice mindfulness to fully appreciate our surroundings!

Outdoor Adventurer, July 24 – 28 – Waiting List Only

Spend the week outside in nature exploring and investigating the outdoors! We’ll learn some survival skills and use our senses to appreciate nature and our surroundings. We’ll check out how animals survive in the outdoors during all seasons and spend our days hiking, running and playing. If mother nature brings the rain, we’ll adapt just like our animal friends.   

Junior Environmentalist, July 31 – Aug 4 – Waiting List Only Join us for an important week of camp that will boost our environmental awareness through conservation and exploration of our surroundings. Campers will learn to appreciate our environment and its fragile ecosystem by exploring our forests and trails, fields, and gardens. We’ll learn the best practices for taking care of our earth by reducing, reusing and recycling and what it means to be an environmentalist.

Nature Makers, Aug 7 – 11 – Waiting List Only Come finish out the summer with a week of creating things related to or using the natural resources in our environment. We’ll be foraging, cooking, creating, building, imagining and appreciating all the beauty that nature provides.

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COUNSELORS IN TRAINING
Kids aged 14 and up can apply to join us as a volunteer Counselor in Training (CIT) to assist the lead counselors during camp. CITs must commit to at least one full week of camp and attend a training session on a Saturday in June. To apply please complete our CIT Volunteer Application.