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Summer Camp

Hiking, stream-stomping and bug-catching are a few of the key ingredients that have made Riverbend's summer camp a sensation since 1982. Riverbend campers aren’t afraid to get a little dirty in our weekly program that runs from mid-June to Labor Day. Children have fun as they connect with nature and build upon skills and knowledge. Our qualified and enthusiastic educators (some who were campers themselves!) guide children in hands-on nature exploration and investigation, games, crafts, hikes and more. Your child’s favorite summer memories await!

REGISTER HERE

Program Description by Age Group

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Adventurers: Ages 5 - 6

Description:

  • Adventurers will explore natural habitats and conduct investigations to discover something new.

Pricing:

  • $650 Per Week

Explorers: Ages 7 - 8

Description:

  • Explorers will conduct science-based experiments in nature and embark on hikes around the preserve.
  • Explorers will have the opportunity to stay on Thursday evenings for a cook-out from 4:30pm to 8:00pm. (Additional fee of $25 per camper.)

Pricing:

  • $650 Per Week
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Discoverers: Ages 9 - 10

Description:

  • Discoverers will practice new skills and hike to various habitats around the preserve for exploration.
  • Discoverers will have the opportunity to stay on Thursday evenings for a cook-out from 4:30pm to 8:00pm. (Price included in tuition.)

Pricing:

  • $650 Per Week

Trailblazers Program: Ages 11 - 13 

Description:

Join a team of Trailblazers that will help Riverbend Camp as nature stewards, environmental educators, or animal care experts. Each week, the group will work on a project of their choice that benefits the Riverbend community. Trailblazers will meet Riverbend staff, interns, and younger campers to learn what goes on behind the scenes on the preserve. Each week will involve about 15 hours of volunteer service and end in a field trip.  Camper's project track can be selected during the registration process. 

Pricing:

  • $625 Per Week

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND CAMP THEMES HERE

 

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We’re excited to return to McKaig Nature Centerin 2024.

This innovative partnership brings together McKaig's expertly preserved land with environmental education leadership from Riverbend to offer summer camp designed specifically for McKaig families. 

Camp will feature stream stomping, nature exploration and hands-on learning with the guidance of trained Riverbend camp counselors. Campers will spend their full day outdoors, exploring 91 acres of preserved parkland at McKaig.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT MCKAIG SUMMER CAMP

Rangers Program: Age 4 at Wetherill 

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Riverbend is excited to announce that we will be offering camp for 4 year old campers this summer at The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, located just 10 minutes from Riverbend’s main campus. Camp will be run by trained Riverbend camp counselors.

 Please contact our Camp Director, at info@riverbendeec.org with any questions. 

Location: 1321 Beaumont Dr, Gladwyne, PA 19035

Price: $625 per week 

Dates: TBD

Camp Hours: 9:15 AM -4:00 PM

REGISTER HERE

 

Riverbend at Central Nursery School

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Unfortunately, summer camp will no longer take place at CNS in 2024, and registered families may request a refund or be transferred to Riverbend's 4 and 5 year old summer camp at the Wetherill School. Riverbend and CNS wish to provide families with young children an optimal camp experience. Both organizations require more time to design a truly wonderful summer camp program together.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Feel free to contact Riverbend Executive Director Erin Reilly (ereilly@riverbendeec.org) and CNS Director Trisha Macrone (trishamacrone@cnsinc.org) with inquiries.

Summer Camp Theme Descriptions

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Messy Science

At Riverbend, we are all Scientists, no matter your age or experience level. During our Messy Science camp, campers will practice asking questions, gathering data, and using scientific tools to explore our natural world. Campers will conduct experiments, invent tools, and most importantly, get messy! 

Available: June 10 - 14, July 22-26
Wetherill Dates:  July 8-18, Aug 12-16

Mini-Worlds

Nature is full of wonders, big and small. Our mini-worlds camp encourages campers to slow down, crouch low, and discover what mysteries lie beneath the leaves, rocks, and logs around Riverbend’s preserve. Campers will create their own worlds using Riverbend’s habitats as inspiration. Activities include exploring the range of different ecosystems at Riverbend, story writing, and stream exploration.

Available: June 17 - 21, July 29 - Aug 2
Wetherill Dates:  July 15-19

Riverbend Rangers

Do you love nature, but don’t have much outdoor survival experience? Join us for our Riverbend Pathfinders camp where our trained educators will teach you everything you need to know to become a confident nature explorer. The week will cover a range of outdoor skills including hike safety, orienteering, and shelter building.

Available: June 24-28, Aug 5-9
 

Water Warriors

Where does Riverbend’s stream flow to? What do our ponds provide for the living things that call our preserve home? These are just a few of the questions that campers will be investigating during Riverbend’s Water Warriors camp. Campers will go on a creek walk, find out what water looks like under a microscope, and become environmental stewards of our local watershed.

Available: July 8-12. Aug 12-16
Wetherill Dates:  July 22-26

Caring for Critters

Get ready for a week filled with creepy crawlies! If your child is an insect or animal lover, this is the camp for them! Campers will have the unique opportunity to meet Riverbend’s animal ambassadors and learn how to care for them. Throughout the week, we will explore the different types of habitats that Riverbend provides for living things, imagine and create our own critters, and build animal homes.

Available: July 15-19, Aug 19-23
Wetherill Dates:  Aug 5-9

Nature Art

Let your creative energy flow using nature as your muse! Nature art is the perfect camp for those who love to create art, find creative inspiration from nature, and love to be outside. Campers will enjoy nature-based art projects such as making their own paint, sculpture building, and nature journaling. No artistic experience is required to have fun this week!

Available: July 1-3, Aug 26-30
Wetherill Dates:  July 29-Aug 2


Registration and Information

Camp Hours: 

  • Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM with extended care offered in the morning and afternoon.
  • Before care will run from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM and aftercare will run from 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM.
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Camp Tuition:

Riverbend Summer Camp is committed to providing a nature based, child centric camp experience. Our counselors are integral in creating the community and activities that make your children's summer so great. To give our staff the living wage they deserve, we have increased our camp prices. We thank you for your help in keeping Riverbend a desirable place for talented folks to work with your families.    

$650 Adventurers (ages 5 - 6), and Explorers (ages 7 - 8) per week

$650 for Discovers (ages 9 - 10) per week

$625 for Trailblazers (ages 11 - 13) per week 

Extended care is offered in the morning and afternoon:

  • Before care will run from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Aftercare will run from 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM.
  • Parents can choose the extended care add-on at checkout. Before Care is $75/week. After Care is also $75/week. The cost for both Before Care and After Care is a flat fee of $150/week. 

Registration Policies

  • $100 per week deposit due upon booking. Please note: This is an administration fee and is non-refundable.

  • Transaction fees will be charged in addition to tuition fees and are non-refundable.

  • Tuition balances are due in full and become non-refundable as of June 1, 2024

  • Schedule changes will be accommodated to the best of Riverbend's ability. However, many weeks are full by summer and changes may not be possible.

  • Please Note: All children must be potty trained to participate in Riverbend's summer camp program.

Registration for 2024 Is Now Open!

REGISTER HERE
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Registration FAQs

Friend Requests:

Our registration form contains a question that will allow you to request that your child be in a particular friend’s camp group. We ask that all friend requests be made at time of registration. We are sorry. We will not be able to accept friend requests via email.

Waitlists:  

We monitor waitlists to get as many campers into camp as possible. Some weeks are more popular than others. We often have plenty of capacity in several weeks of camp. If you prefer that siblings or friends be in the same group, we encourage you to look at available weeks in June and July. Due to the high volume of requests and the dynamic nature of waitlists, we cannot provide you with an estimate of when your child may be released from a waitlist.  

If a slot opens on the waitlist, you will revieve an time-sensitve email to claim your spot. Please note: if you miss the time window, the spot will be sent to the next family on the list.

Age Groups: 

We have arranged our camp by age group to benefit all children in the group. While we can be flexible if your child is within 2-3 weeks of their birthday, we generally will not be able to move children to a different age group.

Caregiver Guide and Health and Safety Information

Guides will be evaluated and is subject to change prior to the first camp week. Watch this space for updated information.

 

SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS

Riverbend is excited to announce that we are offering a limited number of Summer Camp scholarships to families in need. Preference will be given to applicants who are PA ACCESS card holders. If you are in need of financial assistance, please contact Summer Camp Director at info@riverbendeec.org

Donate to Camp Scholarship Fund
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We have great seasonal opportuities for our Summer Nature Camps at our Gladwyne and McKaig Locations!

Why you should work for us:

Riverbend Summer Camp is the perfect place for someone looking for a fun and rewarding job in the great outdoors. Spend your summer outside with us as we nurture the future generation of earth-lovers. If you are considering a career in education or environmental sciences, this job is the perfect resume-builder for you!

Check out our Job Opportunities and apply today!

 

Teen Volunteers Needed!

Educators-In-Training Volunteers (EITs) are important helpers at Riverbend's summer camp. If you love kids and spending summer days outside consider applying to become an EIT to develop your leadership skills and positively impact younger children. Riverbend has six openings every summer for energetic, motivated students to assist with our camp program. EITs must be able to volunteer for a minimum of the three weeks over the course of the summer.

EITs will assist lead and assistant educators with group management, daily activities, modeling of appropriate behavior, and providing nurturing support of campers. They will participate in game playing, nature exploration, field trips, and more. EITs work primarily with our youngest campers and are a vital part to the success of the program.

Please head to our Job Opportunities page to apply TODAY! 

NEW THIS YEAR! EITs entering their Junior or Senior year in the fall of 2024 will now be paid $10/hr for the three weeks they commit to Riverbend during the 2024 summer season!

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For more information please contact

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Arionna Hart

Camp Director