Nature Day Camps
Voted the #1 Day Camp in Charlottesville!
The Living Earth Day Camps are a one-of-a-kind nature camp experience. We have been voted a favorite summer day camp for over 10 years!! We will spend the week exploring the beautiful Virginia mountains, streams and other wild places. Campers work together in small groups learning about the natural world, plants, mammals, tracking, birds, wilderness survival, awareness and so much more. We do this with hands-on activities, games, adventures and fun challenges. Our instructors are “Nature Connection Mentors” and guide campers into experiences that nurture their connection to the earth and allow them to feel at home in the natural world.
Explorers
Explorers is our flagship day camp for all children aged 7-13. For new and returning campers with all the classic favorites of Living Earth. This introduction to nature camp exposes campers to a bit of all our specialty camp activities and fun all day. If you are signing your child up for our day camps for the first time, please register for the Explorers Day Camp, held several weeks throughout the summer.
Theme Camps
Themed Day Camps are available for campers ages 9-14 who have attended one previous Explorers Day Camp this summer or a previous summer! Themed Day Camps still keep the favorite core routines, but the daily focus centers around the particular theme of the week with some new challenges and activities. LES reserves the right to cancel a themed camp registration if the participant has not met the prerequisite requirement of attending at least one Explorers Day Camp session first.
* Campers will use knives and learn knife safety in this camp.
Fort-Topia
A week of massive fort building awaits! Forts to camouflage, forts to keep you warm and dry, forts to make with your friends—we will do it all!
Elements of Survival*
Fire, Water, Shelter, Food. Begin to learn the skills you need to live in the woods. Each skill will be tested with a fun, special challenge!
Forest Ninjas
We will get down and dirty with wild camouflage, scouting techniques, hiding and sneaking games, honing in with our intuition, and fine-tuning our senses.
Animal Lovers
Learn how to spot animal homes and habitats, go wildlife tracking, understand bird language, and connect with the trees, bees, plants, birds and scat.
Art in Nature
Get ready to be CREATIVE! This camp is for those who love making things (2D AND 3D) from natural materials and/or want some coaching in their drawing/painting skills.
Fire Lovers*
Learn the ins and out of fire safety skills before setting off on all kinds of fire making challenges, cooking wild teas, and making tasty campfire cooked meals.
Fishing Skills*
Campers will make all of their own rods, lines, and hooks from natural materials. They will learn how to catch and release, use field guides, and find good stream sit spots.
2024 Schedule
Click here to see Day Camps for Teens
Is your favorite camp marked FULL? Register to be on our waiting list (no cost)!