We’ve been visiting the Isles of Shoals for years with kids, and often we are asked, “What it would be like to sleep on the island?” This summer, we’ll find out! Imagine sleeping under stars, listening to the gulls beckon before dawn, and soaking in some rich and salty history as we swap pirate and ghostly tales of these historic islands. With a small group of teens, we’ll camp overnight on Star Island, explore Smuttynose, and visit the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore. We have just a handful of spots left. Teens aged 13-15 are invited to join us the week of July 1-3 (overnight July 2). The cost is $645 per teen; scholarships available. For more information give us a call, 978-463-2233, email Garry@boatcamp.org, or register online.

We are a rapidly growing 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that connects 1,500 kids and school teachers to the natural world through the use of six passenger boats, 30 private acres in Newbury and across miles of conservation land and nearby coastal waters. While we are proud to operate on upwards of 80% earned income, we rely on philanthropy and volunteers to help us sustain and refine the high quality programs we offer each year.

If you would like to join our circle of sustaining donors by making $10-$25 monthly recurring donations, or a one-time meaningful gift, you may do so right now, right here, but clicking this link.

Thank you.

We invite you to download a (click link)  LittleRiverOtters_Registration form and mail in with a $100 nonrefundable deposit.

Each day we’ll embrace the weather, the forest, and our friends with songs and greetings of thanks. Then we will embark on our time together with natural hands-on learning, storytelling, and exploring the world around us. This is a great opportunity for children to spend quality kid-time enjoying freedom outside and connecting with our natural world, their own self and each other.

Core Activities
Seasonal Cycles
Natural Arts and Crafts
Literacy, Numbers, and Music
Exploration
Sensory Awareness
Physical Activity
Free Play

Seasonal Cycles
We’ll investigate evidence of the changing seasons, sled, slide, and glide our way through the forest, and welcome spring’s arrival.

Natural Arts and Crafts
We’ll build, sculpt, and create by using natural material and our wildest imaginations. Along the way, we’ll learn about wild edibles, hazardous plants, and other hands-on earth skills.
Literacy, Numbers, and Music
Storytelling and dance will be used for both motivation and reflection. We’ll count our way through the day as we gather natural materials, and our songs will help children learn musical expression, rhythm, and tempo.

Exploration
We will make time to follow our curiosity and explore the wilderness with the company of friends and adult nature mentors.

Sensory Awareness
We will intentionally build awareness of our senses so as to connect more deeply with nature. This is done through awareness games, exploration and curiosity-driven conversation.

Physical Activity
We will run, jump, play, roll, swing, and climb through the forest as we build gross motor skills, balance, and coordination.
Free Play
While our time  in the forest will be packed with adventure, education and fun, we respect the time each child needs to take their own steps towards a deeper nature connection.

Preliminary Schedule

We respect that families enjoy crafting a mosaic of Pre-K experiences for their child, so we are offering multiple time slots from which to choose, in any combination that suits your family best. We require a minimum of two classes per week.

Class times are Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Also,  Tuesdays and/or Thursdays 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Tuition: $2200 for two sessions. (Payment plans, multiple session discount, and limited scholarships available)

October 7, 2013 through June 5, 2014 (Winter break December 23 to January 31). Sessions are limited to 8 kids with an adult ratio of 4:1.

___

While steeped in our own unique outdoor learning style, BOAT CAMP Nature School’s new forest kindergarten program is inspired by similar programs offered in other parts of the country, including our friends at Fox Tracks Nature Program,  Cedarsong Nature School, and Forest Gnomes at Natick Community Organic Farm.

More Recommended Reading and Visiting

Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv

The Nature Principle, Richard Louv

The Geography of Childhood, Gary Paul Nabhan & Stephen Trimble

“Look, Don’t Touch,” David Sobel, Orion magazine, July 2012 http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6929

Green Hearts Institute for Children in Nature, http://www.greenheartsinc.org/Resources___Links.html

Children and Nature Network, http://www.childrenandnature.org/

Sir Ken Robinson, http://sirkenrobinson.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zDZFcDGpL4U