Connect a child to Nature through a Week of Camp!

This was an exciting summer for Piedmont Wildlife Center as we were able to operate our programs out of three North Carolina parks, something we hadn’t been able to do since before the pandemic. At all three locations, we ran twelve weeks of outdoor programming with themes such as Wildlife Science, Web of Life, and Creek Crawlers. 

Because of past donations, thirty-two campers were granted scholarships that covered the cost of tuition. Over 1,800 kids of all ages were able to attend camp as they experienced exploration through the woods, animal encounters, and competitive games. During each week campers learned to identify trees and other edible plants, how their actions impacted the animals in their community, and how to play together as a team. 

One of our campers, Jeremiah, was always ready for all things mud and bugs but had a hard time when it came to group games. He was frustrated by unfair teams or games with too many rules and sometimes tried to play by his own rules. As the summer progressed and Jeremiah become more connected to the other campers and his counselors who encouraged him to be a helpful leader we saw him grow into a more patient and engaged game player. As he always loved to share the discoveries he made in nature, Jeremiah continued to do this during games as he helped younger campers complete more complicated games and encouraged his friends when he was tagged out.

Throughout the entire summer, we have seen the impact of our program on campers, families, and staff and are excited to continue our mission of connecting people to nature in the coming seasons. 

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