Nature Nuts Summer Camp
Discover. Explore. Connect.
Nature Nuts Summer Camp aims to connect youth to the wonders of nature and to plant the seeds for lifelong stewardship and outdoor enjoyment. Each child connects to the natural world in their own unique way and we hope to foster that interest in the environment by creating personal experiences with nature.
Nature Nuts maintains small group sizes, enabling strong relationships between all the children and instructors, as well as the mobility to travel all over Bainbridge Island. Each day the Nature Nuts can be found exploring the island’s beaches and forests, while engaging in games, learning activities, and free exploration.
Summer Day Camp 2024
Get ready for a summer of sun, fun, and friendships! The Nature Nuts 2024 summer schedule will provide ten* weeks of day camps for youths entering grades K-4 (must be ages 5-9). Our programs will run from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. While we spend most of our time exploring the outdoors at various locations on and near Bainbridge Island, we base most of our summer programs out of Hyla School – a lovely facility with incredible outdoor and indoor spaces for us to relax, others will be at other predetermined locations. Summer camps run weekly from the end of June through the end of August. Families can sign up for just one week or all ten* weeks, depending on your needs!
*depending on BISD school schedule
Summer 2024 registration will open to the general public on the website here on Thursday, March 14th at 12:00pm, please email naturenuts@peacockfamilyservices.org with any questions
Forest Stewards – $445
June 24th, 2024 through June 28th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
* Subject to change pending BISD school schedule
Are you ready to become a steward of the forest? Join a group dedicated to the protection of our planet! Help migrating birds, save bee habitats, and dig deep into dirt and other eco-topics during this “tree-mendous” week!
Activities Include: Citizen Science, Stewardship Projects, Identifying Invasive Species, Leave No Trace Principles
Sasquatch Seekers – $267
July 1st, 2024 through July 3rd, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Did you know that Kitsap has more Bigfoot sightings than almost anywhere else on earth? We’ll hone our outdoor observation skills while trying to track this friendly, yet elusive creature.
Activities Include: Animal Tracking, Plant Identification, Storytelling
Brush with Nature – $445
July 8th, 2024 through July 12th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Discover the budding artist if you and the beauty of the natural world from mosaics to music. Join us as we draw, paint, and sculpt our way toward natural works of art.
Activities Include: Sculptures, Nature Painting, Forest Art, Nature Journaling
Camp Skills – $445
July 15th, 2024 through July 19th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Let’s experience the wild in the wilderness! This week is all about boning up on our camping skills. We’ll forage for food, build fires for cooking and warmth, set-up tents and create shelters of our own.
Activities Include: Basic First Aid, Fire Safety, Edible Plant Identification, Leave No Trace, Tent Set- Up, Using a Water Filter, Shelter Making
Awesome Animals – $445
July 22nd, 2024 through July 26th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
From beetles to bears, help us create a safer community for and learn about all creatures! Become an animal steward as we investigate animals, their behaviors, and needs.
Activities Include: Safe Interactions with Animals, Animal Body Language, Bird Watching, Tracks
Aquatic Explorers – $445
July 29th, 2024 through August 2nd, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Splash into summer fun as we search for shells, build boats, and explore the shorelines of Bainbridge Island. Make sure you are ready for this wild week in the water!
Activities Include: Beach Explorations, Boat Building, Nature Crafts, Reading Tides Charts
Foraging and Foods – $445
August 5th, 2024 through August 9th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Cap off summer with an exploration of the awesome plants around our island. From seaweeds to salal, we will learn the differences between natives and invasive species, forage for delicious berries and herbs, plus make our own ice cream and teas using edible plants we’ve picked ourselves.
Activities Include: Beach Explorations, Nature Crafts, Foraging, Cultural Knowledge
Myths, Magic, and Make Believe – $445
August 12th, 2024 through August 16th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
Discover the hidden magic of the outdoors. Let your imagination run wild as we explore a world of fantastic beasts, mythical characters, and magical stories.
Activities Include: Fairy and Gnome Houses, Potion Making, Storytelling, Wand Waving
Treasure Hunters – $445
August 19th, 2024 through August 23rd, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
*Location for this week is TBD, all other weeks are at Hyla Middle School*
Uncover clues that will lead us to hidden trails and treasures! Crack secret codes, discover amazing gadgets, and master mapping while learning about history, art, science, and more.
Activities Include: Code Cracking, Orienteering, Geocaching, Intro to Mapping, Treasure Hunting, Hiking and Exploring
Being an Ethnobotanist – $445
August 26th, 2024 through August 30th, 2024
(9:00am-4:00pm)
* Subject to change pending BISD school schedule
*Location for this week is TBD, all other weeks are at Hyla Middle School*
Join us in a deep exploration into the relationship between people and places. Ethnobotany, the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants, will guide our exploration into Bainbridge Island, past and present.
Nature Nuts acknowledges that we inhabit the ancestral lands and waters of the Suquamish people (suq̀ʷabš), which they have called home since time immemorial and continue to serve as stewards of these lands. Also with historic connections to the area are the Filipino and Japanese American people with their agricultural heritage on Bainbridge Island.
Activities Include: Plant Identification, Storytelling, Foraging
*Mobile Programs will start and end their day at a TBD park on the Island and will utilize the van throughout the day.
Nature Nuts Summer Camp Information
Daily Drop-in
Campers may have the option to join Nature Nuts on a day by day basis. Spaces are limited and drop-in eligibility is based on enrollment. Registration for camp is ongoing, so the Program Director may wait until closer to the requested day to confirm your child’s drop-in dates, since priority must go to full-week campers.
Refund Policy
We understand that things come up in life, and that you may need to cancel a registration for a camp. You can always contact the Program Director to inquire about moving your child to a different week (if space is available) at no cost. Please contact the Nature Nuts Program Director if you would like to reschedule or cancel a camp registration following the guidelines.
- Cancellations made at least one month prior to the camp start date will receive a full refund, less a 10% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations made 2-4 weeks before the camp start date will receive a 50% refund.
- Cancellations made within 2 weeks of the camp start date will not receive a refund unless the reserved space is filled prior to the first day of camp. If the space is filled, you will receive a 50% refund.
Daily Drop-in
Campers may have the option to join Nature Nuts on a day by day basis. Spaces are limited and drop-in eligibility is based on enrollment. Registration for camp is ongoing, so the Program Director may wait until closer to the requested day to confirm your child’s drop-in dates, since priority must go to full-week campers.
Refund Policy
We understand that things come up in life, and that you may need to cancel a registration for a camp. You can always contact the Program Director to inquire about moving your child to a different week (if space is available) at no cost. Please contact the Nature Nuts Program Director if you would like to reschedule or cancel a camp registration following the guidelines.
- Cancellations made at least one month prior to the camp start date will receive a full refund, less a 10% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations made 2-4 weeks before the camp start date will receive a 50% refund.
- Cancellations made within 2 weeks of the camp start date will not receive a refund unless the reserved space is filled prior to the first day of camp. If the space is filled, you will receive a 50% refund.
SAFETY & COVID-19 POLICY
Peacock Family Services is committed to doing our part in maintaining the health and safety of our community during this time of COVID-19. Our measures are based on the guidelines of the CDC, Washington Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). More information regarding Peacock’s COVID-19 Response can be found here
Inclusivity
Inclusivity is a core value of Peacock Family Services. If someone would like to participate in one of our programs, though cannot afford to do so, please contact Zoe Vrieling, our executive director, at zoe@peacockfamilyservices.org to discuss Peacock’s Tuition Assistance Program.
