Habitat Nature Camp Rates & Dates

Below are the programs offered by Habitat Nature Camp in 2023. Campers may register for a maximum of one session per summer. All camp families must be Mass Audubon members at the Family level or higher. 

One-week Theme Camp

 June 26–30 • Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–3:30 pm

Radical Rodents (Age 5, Entering Kindergarten)

Are you as busy as a beaver? As cheery as a chipmunk? Or as prickly as a porcupine? Get to know our long-toothed friends who scamper about, searching for acorns, digging burrows, and climbing trees.

Wonders of Water (Ages 6–9, entering Grades 1–4)

Cruise over to Habitat’s ponds and vernal pool! Discover amazing adaptations of underwater creatures. Learn why objects float or sink and how the water we drink has existed since the dinosaurs!

Two-week Nature Camps

Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–3:30 pm (half-day ends at noon)

Session 1: July 3–14*
Session 2: July 17–28
Session 3: July 31–August 11
Session 4: August 14–25

Ramblers (Age 4, entering pre-K, half-day)

Ramble through the woods, using your senses to investigate the world around you. Get to know the plants and animals that can be found at Habitat as well as in your own backyard. 

Pathfinders (Age 5, entering Kindergarten)

Choose a path to follow and uncover Habitat’s secret places. Go on a hike to search for critters in the places where they live and grow. Learn what makes different animals unique and what we have in common with them. 

Explorers (Ages 6–9, entering Grades 1–4)

Stroll to Turtle Pond, peer under logs, hide in the meadow, and climb through the forest layers. Find out who lives in all of Habitat’s different habitats and the adaptations animals and plants have to survive. Engage in a variety of activities, such as nature crafts, cooking, outdoor skills, science experiments, and fun games. Finish the day with camp songs and silly stories.

Ecologists (Ages 10–12, entering Grades 5–7)

Deepen your understanding of how nature works by taking a closer look at soil, water, plants, and animal populations. Discover how animals and plants are connected to their environment in a fascinating web of life. 

Be a steward of the sanctuary by participating in conservation activities such as invasive species removal and bird box monitoring. Embark on a field trip to a local Massachusetts river and investigate by canoe. Complete the experience with an all-day hike on nearby conversation land and an overnight campout at Habitat.

The field trip occurs on the first Thursday and the on-site overnight component takes place on the second Thursday of each session. Camp begins at 9:00 am on Thursday and ends at 9:00 am on Friday. Habitat Nature Camp provides tents, dinner, and breakfast for all campers during the overnight.

Teen Programs

Trekkers (Ages 12–14, entering grades 7–9)

Expand your horizons and discover habitats beyond Habitat! Go hiking, canoeing, and camping to investigate the natural and cultural history of rivers in New England. Explore nearby areas on day trips, then broaden your knowledge on three-day, two-night camping trips, leaving Habitat on Wednesday morning at 9:00 am and returning by 3:30 pm on Friday. Habitat Nature Camp provides allergen-free meals and tents.

Campers may register for only one two-week session:

Session 1: Charles & Merrimack Rivers
Session 2: Connecticut River
Session 3: Merrimack River
Session 4: Connecticut & Charles Rivers

Counselors-in-Training (Ages 14–16, entering Grades 9–11)

Are you looking for something fun to do this summer? Do you enjoy working with children? Gain valuable leadership experience and community service hours as you assist our teachers in directing nature activities and supervising campers enrolled in our Pathfinders and Explorers programs. CITs play games, read stories, participate in skits, and prepare materials for activities. Each CIT has the opportunity to lead an activity with campers.

There is no fee to participate in this volunteer program, but to be eligible, CITs must participate in training and be available for at least one two-week camp session. CITs will receive additional information and forms upon registration. Please contact the Camp Director with questions.

Required training for all CITs takes place June 26–30 (9:00 am–3:30 pm).

Optional Extended-Day Program

After Camp

Daily, 3:30–5:30 pm

Ages 5–14 (Entering grades K–9)

This optional extended-day program is available to our full-day, two-week and theme-week session attendees. It is not available for Ramblers.

Campers are given a snack and can choose from activities such as hiking, free play, arts and crafts, and nature games. Pre-registration is required.

2023 Camp Session Pricing

Please note that the prices below are rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity. Actual prices may include cents. Learn more about our registration and pricing policies including deposits, refunds, financial aid, and membership discounts.

Sliding Scale

Mass Audubon is committed to ensuring that every family that wants their child to experience summer camp should have the opportunity to do so. A sliding scale model helps us work toward that goal through an easy and dependable process for families. Learn more about sliding scale

Please note that all prices are rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity.

Prorated Pricing for Session 1

*There will be no camp on Tuesday, July 4. Camp sessions for that week are prorated accordingly.