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Registration Opens Online in February
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Young Naturalists:
Ages 6-7, Entering grades 1-2
Explorers:
Ages 8-10, Entering grades 3-5
Leaders in Training:
Ages 11-13, Entering grades 6-8
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For more camp information and to register
click here:
Registration opens February 2nd for members and February 16th for non-members.
Please limit registration to two sessions per camper.
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Meet Our 2016 Nature Summer Camp Director
While
 long-time Camp Director Katie Koerten enjoys time with her family on maternity leave, we are excited to welcome Jeff Mazur as Camp Director for the 2016 season. Read more about Jeff
here.
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Session 1: No Place Like Home
 Ages 6-7, 8-10
June 27 - July 1 (one week)
$275 members/ $305 non-members
Do you know who is living in your backyard and beyond? Come explore a variety of habitats in our community- fields, farms, and forest - and find out who and what is living and thriving there. We'll discover fascinating connections among the plants, animals and humans where we live. Through hands-on experiences within these habitats, mixed with stories, songs, games and crafts, we will build our sense of place as we investigate where our food comes from, the human and natural history of this place, how our ecosystems work, and all about the many creatures who all call this place home.
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 Ages 6-7, 8-10
July 5-8 (one week; no camp July 4)
$220 members / $244 non-members
Do you love bugs, snakes and slugs? Do you love digging in the dirt? Then this is the session for you! During this week we'll make slime, play in the mud and discover the insects and other creatures that live in the soil. We'll find out who's who in the creepy crawly world and learn about the important jobs these animals have in their environment as decomposers, predators and food for other animals. Hands-on animal observation, field trips, hikes and crafts are all part of the fun!
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 Ages 6-7, 8-10
July 11-22 (two weeks)
$495 members / $ 525 non-members
What is the best way to cool off on a hot day? How can we save energy powering trains? Animals, plants and other organisms have been adapting to challenges like this for the whole history of our planet. Nature has a lot to teach us about how to solve problems in ways that are good for the Earth. Through hands-on inquiry, games, art and outdoor investigations we will discover the efficiency of nature's adaptations and ask what we can learn from nature about how to live more sustainably.
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Session 3: Leadership Training
 Ages 11-13
July 11-22 (two weeks)
$595 members / $625
Leadership Training Camp is back for its third season in Summer 2016! We are thrilled to be continuing this program as a two-week session jam-packed with outdoor adventures, group challenges, nature hikes and leadership discussions. This exciting camp is a combination of all the usual Hitchcock camp games and songs and leadership skills that will apply to being a Junior Counselor at Hitchcock and just in life! We hope to incorporate our favorite activities from last year, such as rock climbing, the ropes course challenge and our camping overnight, and go on new trips too. We'll get a chance to both work with the younger campers to put what we learn into practice and to be campers ourselves playing in the woods and exploring nature. This camp is designed for all Hitchcock campers ages 11-13 (entering sixth through eighth grade) whether you're a first-time Leader in Training or returning from last year.
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 Ages 6-7, 8-10
July 25 - August 5 (two weeks)
$495 members / $525 non-members
Come find out what the Pioneer Valley was like millions of years ago! With day trips, crafts, songs and nature hikes, we will make connections between our local ecosystems of today and those of prehistoric times, including the animals, dinosaurs and plants that lived back then. We will learn the stories of the rocks around us, finding evidence of shifting plate tectonics, fossils, volcanoes, glaciers and the power of water.
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Session 5: Rube Goldberg Machines Week
 Ages 6-7, 8-10
August 8 - 12 (one week)
$275 members / $305 non-members
Rube Goldberg is back by popular demand in the summer of 2016! You'll love this camp if you love watching energy flow from one thing to another, like in marble runs, water walls and falling dominoes! We will spend this camp session collaborating and building Rube Goldberg machines - contraptions that perform a simple task in the most complicated way possible. In both individual and group settings, campers will get to experiment with everyday objects to create Rube Goldberg machines and complete challenges. While this session has a physical science focus, we will still hike outside and play active running games each day.
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 The Hitchcock Center Nature Summer Camp has openings in our Junior Counselor program in summer 2016. Our junior counselors (JCs) are young people 13 or older who love nature and working with children. Hitchcock JCs volunteer for one or two weeks assisting counselors with all the activities of nature camp, such as leading hikes, activities, games, and songs. Working alongside the counselors, JCs have fun learning in the outdoors while gaining leadership experience at the same time.
Find out more about this opportunity and apply, here.
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About Us
The Hitchcock Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works to inspire people to learn about our natural world through innovative, hands-on environmental education programs. We help people to explore the interconnections between the health of humans and ecosystems, reinforcing our innate bonds with our environment, and looking to nature as a model and measure to improve our quality of life.
Learn more...
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Thank You to Our Business Sponsors
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Sustaining Partners
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Support and Funding Provided By
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525 South Pleasant St.
Amherst MA 01002
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413-256-6006
Tuesday - Friday | 9AM - 4PM
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Let's Keep in touch!
   
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