Day Camps 2025

Explore the largest group of animals in the world – insects. These six-legged wonders abound in our fields, forests, ponds and rivers. We’ll investigate their amazing adaptations, life cycles and ecology through field investigations, games, stories and art activities. Highlights include wading in a nearby stream in search of aquatic insects, setting up insect motels, creating pattern block insects and celebrating and exploring the vital role of insect pollinators.

Calling all nature explorers! How does a water scorpion breathe, a beaver eat under water without drowning or a Great Blue Heron catch fish? Come and learn the answers to these and other questions during our week exploring and comparing river, pond and wetland communities. We’ll catch and identify aquatic insects, build a river food web, investigate a beaver pond and identify common wetland plants. We’ll also play, do crafts, and read stories.

Come and discover how the forest is more than just trees! Campers explore the forests in and around Hildene and learn about the woodland ecology of the region from the ground up. Through the exploration and identification of the flora and fauna, habitat and life cycle studies, games and wild crafting, we’ll get to know the diverse forest communities of the Taconic and Green Mountains that surround us.

Campers explore the beauty of Hildene through nature walks, time at the goat dairy, and visits to the gardens, gathering materials for their original projects. They create colorful drawings, paintings, sculptures, prints, and fiber art, inspired by artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Anni Albers, Picasso, Seurat, Yayoi Kusama, and Monet. Campers work with a variety of materials and learn tactile techniques like weaving and felting. The week ends with an art show for families, showcasing all the artwork created during this creative journey.

Deep dive into exploring the ecosystems of Hildene. Campers learn about the plants that grow and the animals that roam the forests, wetlands and farms through hikes, field study, games, and crafts. How do these ecosystems stay balanced and what can we do to protect the beauty of Vermont’s Green Mountains are among the questions campers explore. Their curiosity and stewardship of nature are inspired during this fun-filled week of adventures!

Explore gardens, fields and forests of Hildene to discover and learn how the human and natural worlds are interconnected. We will be foragers of the field and forest! As naturalists, we will observe and identify plants through activities, games and projects including hunting and gathering for wild crafting and eating. From teas to dream pillows to terrariums and vine baskets, we will make crafts and foods to eat to become closer to the natural world around us.

Campers tend to the care of sheep, chickens, pigs and cows at Hildene Farm in the Dene. They learn about the importance of composting, while getting their hands in the soil, cultivating and harvesting vegetables. They explore the operations of our greenhouse, including planting and harvesting micro-greens. At the goat dairy, campers learn about raising goats and the cheese making process. Farm-based crafts, stories and foods are also part of the mix, with the week ending in a mini farm-to-table celebration.
Both farm camps are the same. Please register for only one.

Campers tend to the care of sheep, chickens, pigs and cows at Hildene Farm in the Dene. They learn about the importance of composting, while getting their hands in the soil, cultivating and harvesting vegetables. They explore the operations of our greenhouse, including planting and harvesting micro-greens. At the goat dairy, campers learn about raising goats and the cheese making process. Farm-based crafts, stories and foods are also part of the mix, with the week ending in a mini farm-to-table celebration.
Both farm camps are the same. Please register for only one.