2025 Summer Nature Camps

2025 Summer Nature Camps Graphic

Our Summer Nature Camps, designed for youth entering grades 1st – 6th, get kids outdoors, developing a deeper connection with the natural world through fun and educational activities. We provide a professional environmental education specialist for each camp and limit group size based on optimal teacher-student ratios. Meeting live animals, hiking woodland trails, role-playing, making art and craft projects, learning from scientists and special presenters, exploring natural areas, telling and listening to stories, and conducting experiments fill the campers’ days. Off-site trips may be included to study water creatures or explore regional highlights.

Cost: $300, $250 for Members
(unless stated otherwise)

Hawk Mountain Members receive $50 off of each week of camp. To become a member, please visit us at hawkmountain.org/join.

Campers entering grades 4th-6th:  8:30 AM – 3:15 PM, daily
Campers entering grades 1st-3rd:  8:45 AM – 3:30 PM, daily

Due to limited parking space camp start times are staggered by age groups; more information will be sent upon registration. Accessible parking is available directly in front of the Education Building. For questions, please email [email protected].

Once registered, parents/guardians must complete release forms digitally via Docusign. The release forms will be emailed to you automatically upon registering, but you can also find them here. Campers registered for multiple weeks only need to submit release forms once. Please note that these forms must be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the start date of your children's selected camp program(s).

Click here to read the Summer Camp Cancellation and Refund Policy.

Joining us for 2 weeks of camp or more? Receive a $25 off promo code to be used towards 1 week of camp. Promotional code can only be used twice. Discount is valid if you register for 2 weeks total which is equivalent to registering 2 campers for 1 week of camp each. Contact Jess Gary at [email protected] to inquire. 

Do you know a young person who would benefit from time outdoors? The IDEA Fund Nature Camp Scholarship will cover the full tuition costs of Summer Nature Camp for each scholarship recipient. Partial aid may also be awarded. For more details and to submit an application, please click here.

*  Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reserves the right to modify and/or change camp program activities and structure based on health, safety, and other variable factors.
 

Post Camp Care Information:

Post-Camp care will be offered this 2025 Summer Camp Season till 5 PM each day. Offered for the convenience of our camp parents so their children can attend our summer camp while allowing them to balance the demands of professional responsibilities. Campers are welcome to bring along appropriate activities including summer reading materials, drawing or journaling.  Board games, cards, puzzles, coloring, age-appropriate books and nature themed videos will be made available. This is not additional teaching time. Please pack an extra snack for your child.

Post-Camp care is $50 a week per camper unless stated otherwise. Camper must be pre-registered for aftercare at least 24 before the start of the camp day. Campers not registered for post-camp and not gathered at regular camp times and/or picked up after 5 PM will incur an extra fee.

Get Outdoors PA Logo
New equipment funded in part by the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society and a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Counselor-in-Training positions are available for local students ages 14-17!

Click here for more info and to apply!

Children Hiking through Hawk Mountain Trails and Lookouts

Mountain Adventure

3 DAY CAMP! | June 11-13
Cost: $200, $150 for Members

Start your summer off right with this action-packed THREE-DAY camp! Perfect for first time campers or those who can't wait for summer camp fun. Meet up with some birds of prey or chill out with some reptiles while learning about Appalachian wildlife. Together we will explore all Hawk Mountain has to discover! 

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Children participating in several crafts including paper mache and feather painting

Creative Creatures

June 16 - June 20


Explore nature and creative expression through art, music and movement. Uncover the natural world and meet live animals to inspire your imagination! Make art and new friends under the shade of Hawk Mountain this summer.

Click here to register!
Post-Camp Care

Children petting a turtle and holding a snake

All About Animals

June 23 - June 27
  

Fur and scales and feathers, OH MY! Get up close and personal with mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, and much more. Discover the animal kingdom through crafts, games, special guests, and of course LIVE ANIMALS!

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Child using binoculars in forest and a child practicing raptor handling with a stuffed animal

Tales and Tails

4 DAY CAMP! | June 30 - July 3
Cost: $250, $200 for Members

Come uncover the magic behind Hawk Mountain! Learn about legendary creatures and meet their real-life counter parts. During this FOUR-DAY camp we will read epic tales, do amazing crafts, play pretend, and discover what magical secrets Hawk Mountain is hiding.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Children gathered on the River of Rocks boulder field, and children sitting in a wooden tent structure

Wild Survivors

July 7 - 11

    
Challenge yourself in the great outdoors! Learn survival skills through hands-on experiences while building new friendships. Discover how humans, plants, and animals survive in the wilds. Learn to build a shelter, start a fire, and put your sills to the test during an offsite adventure.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Educator and vet demonstrate examining a screech owl, children petting a large lizard

Junior Veterinarian

July 14 - 18

    
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a vet? Immerse yourself in the veterinarian world with hands-on activities, live animals, and special guests. Take a look behind the scenes at what it takes to help injured wildlife and other animals.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Children roasting marshmallows over a fire pit, a line of children hiking through a forest

Wilderness Quest

July 21 - 25

    
We are back at it again to put our outdoor skills to the test. Meet new friends as you learn to survive in the wilderness! Learn to build a shelter and start a fire, and also embark an offsite adventure.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Child looking at a snake crawling through the grass, landscape view of a wildflower field

Science Safari

July 28 - August 1

    
Come to the camp where we will ask: why and how? Campers will investigate the wonder of the world through hands-on activities, and live animals and special guest presentations are sure to be a blast! Together we will travel to a local wildflower field to conduct an experiment.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care

Children exploring wildlife from a creek

Nature Trailblazers

August 4 - 8

    
Discover the amazing connections of nature! Observe plants and live animals up close in their natural habitats. No stone will be left unturned as we explore Hawk Mountain! Offsite stream study included in this week.

Click here to register!  
Post-Camp Care