Day Camps 2023

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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.

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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.

Help Hildene continue to revitalize the Dene. In 2016 Hildene completed construction of an educational horticultural greenhouse and cultivated production and educational gardens around it. The 2023 youth corps team will complete a number of projects including raised garden beds, picnic tables and benches around the greenhouse, to make the area more productive and inviting. During the construction of this project, the Youth Corps team will develop basic carpentry skills under the guidance of Hildene’s Building Superintendent, TJ Lillie. The team will also spend time learning about and exploring the ecology of Hildene, helping with chores at Hildene Farm, researching nonprofit organizations, enjoying crafts and playing games. This is a two-week summer program for 8 highly motivated young people. Visit: https://hildene.org/learning/youth_corps for more information.

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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!

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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.

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From nature walks, to the formal gardens, to the goat dairy and beyond, campers explore the beauty of Hildene while gathering materials for projects. Campers create colorful drawings, paintings, sculptures and prints inspired by the styles and materials used by artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Picasso, Seurat and Monet.  Their imaginations soar as they learn about new techniques. The week ends with an art show for students’ families, exhibiting work created during this week-long artistic journey.

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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.

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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.

CAMP IS FULL

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.

Explore the natural world through the lens of caterpillars with investigations, hikes, crafts and games. Learn about unique species and ask questions such as “why is the Woolly Bear Caterpillar so hairy?” and “Are any caterpillars picky-eaters?” This three-day camp is a great introduction to the otherworldly biodiversity that is hidden just behind the next leaf.