Connect a child to Nature through a Week of Camp!

This summer we have been busy on a nature exploring expedition to the far away wilds of… Raleigh! In addition to our full range of popular nature camps at our home base in Durham, we are also hosting six weeks of summer camp in Raleigh at beautiful William B. Umstead State Park. According to local parents, our Umstead camps have been a great success. “It was a great way for our son to get to know our local fauna and flora and also learn to appreciate it,” one camp parent told us. Another shared that “… this was my son’s favorite camp ever. He attends another local camp and we wanted to try something different this year.”

We are grateful that many Raleigh families wanted to “try something different” and joined us to get dirty and learn outside in Raleigh. Each day campers explored a different corner of the natural world - mammals, reptiles, birds, ecology, trees, and insects. However, like true explorers, they were always ready to investigate treasures that appeared even if they did not fit the topic of the day – and nature rewarded them with some amazing experiences. One day, campers encountered a yellow-bellied slider turtle and watched her lay eggs!  Another week, campers observed a copperhead snake – from a very safe distance, of course! 

Summer is almost over, but we know that our Raleigh campers will remember their experiences with nature throughout the year and that those experiences will help to shape the way they view the natural world. “Our kids had an amazing time. It is such a privilege to have our kids in the Piedmont Wildlife Center's camps. The counselors (and CITs) are fantastic and the overall program is an up-close experience in nature unlike anywhere else,” said camp parent Hayden. What do the campers themselves think? "I like camp because I can walk in the creek and get my feet wet," said a young girl. One boy said simply, "Playing in the woods is really fun!" Another camper chimed in, "I hope we can go find crawdads today!" And we hope their experiences at camp will inspire these children to explore and appreciate the simple joys of nature throughout their lives.

One of our fantastic counselors Bryan summed up why he, too, loves going to camp in Raleigh. “Umstead State Park truly offers endless possibilities for our campers with tons of trails, rocky creeks stock-piled with crayfish and minnows, and cool shady forests to explore,” he said. Piedmont Wildlife Center is very thankful to the park management for granting us the use of this incredible resource and we plan to make the most of this opportunity to connect young people with nature at Umstead.  

Visit our website for more information on our Raleigh camps. Coming soon, this fall Piedmont Wildlife Center is excited to host three weeks of Raleigh fall camps for year-round students!