Each session, your camper will dive into exciting activities, games, and nature crafts built around a unique theme! They will explore both on and off-trail as they uncover diverse habitats and wildlife, learn outdoor living skills, and develop a deeper connection with the natural world. Campers might canoe on the lake to investigate a beaver lodge, cook lunch over a campfire, catch frogs and salamanders in the pond, build a shelter in the forest, and play trail games as they hike, turning every path into a brand-new adventure!
This summer’s themes deliver high-quality, nature-based programming rooted in adventure, discovery, and outdoor skill-building. Campers will explore how animals survive in the wild, investigate birds and insects up close, and uncover the hidden stories within local habitats and ecosystems.
They will examine nests, dams, and other animal-built structures; practice real outdoor skills like shelter building, fire basics, and navigation; and take part in hands-on activities that build awareness of environmental stewardship, recycling, and sustainability.
Campers will also enjoy creative forest play, nature-inspired art, citizen science projects, native plant identification, and STEAM challenges that blend science and imagination.
With this strong mix of outdoor skills, ecological learning, and engaging activities, families can be confident that each day offers meaningful educational value—while still feeling fun, active, and full of discovery.
During our two-week sessions, campers will build community in their age-based field groups through shared experiences, gain new skills, and boost their self-confidence. They'll also get to explore the neighboring Bushy Hill Preserve, and for campers ages 8 and up, each session includes a special overnight campout! This summer, campers can also dive into Explorer’s Choice, a new block where they pick from rotating hands-on adventures and projects. They’ll try new skills, explore different topics, and meet campers from other groups—all guided by a staff member with a fresh perspective. Check back soon to see the exciting options coming for 2026!
We are thrilled to offer the Saplings program, a Bushy Hill experience designed especially for campers ages 5-7! Based at the Activity Center, Saplings campers pack only the essentials as they set out on exciting hikes with no heavy backpacks weighing them down! Each session alternates between days of age-appropriate hiking, exploring, and free play in nature, and days filled with hands-on environmental education activities, creative games, and nature-inspired crafts. Lunchtime is a chance to relax at the shaded picnic tables near the field and unwind with some stories before gearing up for waterfront adventures at the lake! Throughout it all, our trained staff inspire curiosity, imagination, and active learning while helping campers build cooperation and communication skills and self-confidence. Saplings is more than camp--it's a place where young adventurers grow, explore, and make memories that last a lifetime!
Growing confident, curious kids through outdoor exploration--completely unplugged.
camp families looking to sign up for our Saplings program, please sign up for Bushy Hill Day Camp. Any campers aged 5-7 will automatically be placed into age-appropiate Sapling groups at time of registration.
New for 2026: Saplings!
Introducing our new program: Saplings!
imagine what your camper will do this summer!
AM CARE (OPTIONAL)
ARRIVAL HOUR
Does your family's schedule require an earlier drop-off time for your campers? Register for AM Care and drop your camper off as early as 7:30am! During this half hour, campers can ease into their day with quiet activities in a calm, welcoming environment.
Campers arrive between 8am and 9am and check in with our friendly, welcoming staff. At check-in, swing by the Activity Board to discover the day's adventure for your camper's field group, and then they'll jump into a variety of fun, choose-your-own activities on the field. At 9am, everyone comes together for a quick icebreaker and Morning Circle to launch an awesome day at camp!
FIELD GROUP MORNINGS
LUNCH TIME
Each session, your camper's age-based field group becomes their own close-knit community, exploring the outdoors together and taking on new adventures each day. One morning they might head out on a hike to a favorite Bushy Hill landmark, discovering hidden trails, tiny creatures, and natural wonders along the way. Another day, they might step into the role of wildlife detectives--reading animal tracks, investigating habitats, testing their own beaver dam creations, examining insects up close, or discovering adaptations. Campers might paddle across the lake or around the pond in a canoe, learn to safely build a fire, or work as a team to create a sturdy shelter in the woods. They'll also have a chance to slow down, finding a quiet spot in nature to observe and reflect in their journals or create art inspired by their surroundings.
Depending on the morning's adventures, campers will either enjoy their lunch in a shady spot at their hiking destination or regroup at a picnic table, the Stone Table, or the Stone Circle. Lunchtime is also when counselors connect individually with each camper, offering a chance to share highlights, challenges, check in, and make sure everyone's doing well. It's a relaxed break in the day, perfect for refueling, unwinding, and getting ready for the fun ahead!
Morning
changing time
After lunch, campers transition to one of the most anticipated parts of the day, waterfront time on our mile-long private lake. Campers change into their swimming gear, gather towels and water bottles, and follow the trail down to our sandy beach for lifeguard-supervised swimming and lakefront activities. Saplings campers can change in the Activity Center before other field groups return from lunch, ensuring a smooth and comfortable transition. Older campers may change in either the Activity Center or in pop-up changing tents located at the waterfront for added convenience.
AFTERNOON
Waterfront Time
SNack, Skits, and Stories of the Day
At the start of each session, our certified lifeguards conduct a swim assessment for every camper. Based on demonstrated swimming ability, campers are assigned access to specific swim areas to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. When campers choose to take a break from swimming, they are welcome to play on the beach or relax in the shade. Each day also features a rotating water adventure, which may include the water slide, water trampolines, or the rope swing. Campers may also opt to spend time at the fishing dock, where they can learn the basics of catch-and-release fishing.
Once campers have changed out of their swimming gear and into dry clothes, they come together at our shaded natural amphitheater for an afternoon snack and a chance to reflect on the day's adventures. This time fosters community, creativity, and connection across field groups. Campers and staff lead skits, share stories, test their peers with camp and nature trivia, and showcase skills they are learning, such as cordage making, or artwork they created during the day. This gathering also provides an opportunity for staff to share daily announcements and highlight important information about the next day's activities, ensuring everyone is prepared for the fun that awaits!
PICK-UP HOUR
PM CARE (OPTIONAL)
At 4pm, campers return to the Activity Center field for pick-up. While they wait for parents, guardians, or camp buses/vans to arrive, they may choose from a variety of options, including group games or relaxing in the shade with quieter choices. This final portion of the day is designed to provide a positive transition from camp back to home. Our goal is always to send campers home tired, happy, and excited to return for another day of exploration, learning, and outdoor fun.
For families who need additional scheduling flexibility, we offer PM care daily from 5pm to 6pm. During this extended hour, on-duty counselors keep campers engaged with a selection of activities, including games, arts and crafts, and other rotating options. This add-on provides a convenient and dependable solution for later pick-up needs while maintaining the same high-quality supervision and positive camp experience.
Session Dates
Session A (2 weeks) June 15-June 26
Session B (2 weeks) June 29-July 10
Session C (2 weeks) July 13-July 24
Session D (2 weeks) July 27-August 7
Session E (2 weeks) August 10-August 21
