Summer Camp Basics
Our talented leaders craft each week to bring growth, fun and discovery through wilderness survival skills, nature mentoring and community resilience-based activities. Our summer camps offer a unique opportunity for youth to immerse themselves in the natural world for days at a time, experiencing life in more simple and affirmative terms.
Summer Camp Course Levels
Growing Wild
Nature is our teacher. And like a good teacher, nature can guide us and nurture us through our entire lives if we learn how to listen and move with the rhythms. At Growing Wild we facilitate this life-long connection. We help young children connect with their abilities, the elements of nature and each other within a safe, explorative space in the outdoors.A child must be 3 yrs old by May 1st to participate.
Forest Village Day Camps
Our Forest Village is an intimate space where younger campers get to know each other and their instructors, with an opportunity to return for more. This focus on belonging and familiarity provides nurturing for younger campers trying out full day camps for their first time and for campers who may not be as familiar with wild nature. Our goal is for each camper to experience all the physical and emotional health benefits of time in nature, while learning important life skills.
Forest Explorer Camps
The Adventure continues! Our brave band of Forest Explorers will venture farther into the forest to navigate the landscape and delight in nature’s gifts and mysteries. Each day will take us to a different forest location to learn the names of the plants and animals that live there, and play fun woodland games. We’ll spend time creating forest shelters, making cozy fires, harvesting and cooking wild edibles and crafting with the materials nature provides. With a focus on fostering curiosity and learning through skillful questioning, and empowering challenges—kids will grow their forest skills while experiencing delight in nature and self-discovery.
Pathfinder Day Camps
Blaze yourself some wilderness skills with camps that explore unique paths each week. These more peer-specific groups allow campers the opportunity to further develop the skills and experiences of their choosing. Each week offers a new adventure! And each week offers returning campers fun and creative challenges for improving outdoor skills and knowledge.
Advanced Day Camps
Advanced Camps provide campers an opportunity to push their skills to the next level. Some Advanced Camps offer overnight options where campers can gain confidence and self-reliance under the guidance of skilled wilderness instructors.
Specialty Day Camps
Specialty Day Camps include more intensive skills like bow making and hide-tanning, and may require higher levels of physical stamina and focus from participants.
Teen Leadership
We offer a CIT experience for teens 13-15 and Junior Counselor positions for teens 16-17. Please visit our Teen Program Page for CIT and Junior Counselor information.
Growing Wild - Half Day Camp
Each day at Growing Wild children wander in nature, sing sun-filled songs, and share heart-felt stories. Each week features a different theme to guide our journey, and a variety of natural materials, such as clay, rock-paint, bark, and leaves to create works of art that reinforce learning. Our 4-H Acres forest playground includes a meandering stream, towering oaks, logs and hills to climb, trails and forts to explore, a fire circle and our beloved peace-making bench. At Growing Wild children grow in their comfort, confidence, and appreciation for the wonders of life.
Ages: 3-5
Fee: Sliding Scale $265-$365
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM-1:00PM
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 12:45PM-1:00PM
Weeks Offered: 10 (offerings 14)
Forest Village - Day Camp
This focus on belonging and familiarity provides nurturing for younger campers trying out full day camps for their first time and for campers who may not be as familiar with wild nature.
The Forest Villagers play outside all day, trying out all the fun adventures we offer: hiding behind trees, building homes, playing imaginative games, discovering wildlife, telling stories and eating snacks around a fire – just to name a few! This is a time of laughter, song and nature wonder tailored specifically for our youngest full day campers. Come join the Village!
Ages: 5-7
Fee: Sliding Scale $365-465
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM-3:00PM
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 3:00PM-3:15PM
Forest Village - Day Camp
This focus on belonging and familiarity provides nurturing for younger campers trying out full day camps for their first time and for campers who may not be as familiar with wild nature.
The Forest Villagers play outside all day, trying out all the fun adventures we offer: hiding behind trees, building homes, playing imaginative games, discovering wildlife, telling stories and eating snacks around a fire – just to name a few! This is a time of laughter, song and nature wonder tailored specifically for our youngest full day campers. Come join the Village!
Ages: 5-7
Fee: Sliding Scale $350-450
Tuesday – Friday: 9:00AM-4:15PM
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 4:00PM-4:15PM
Weeks Offered: 10 (14 offerings)
Forest Explorers - Day Camp
Forest Explorers spend time creating forest shelters, making cozy fires, harvesting and cooking wild edibles and crafting with the materials nature provides. This camp focuses on fostering curiosity and learning through skillful questioning, empowering challenges and centering each child’s experience of delight in nature and self-discovery.
Ages: 6-8
Fee: Sliding Scale $365-465
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM-3:00PM
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 3:00PM-3:15PM
Forest Explorers - Day Camp
Forest Explorers spend time creating forest shelters, making cozy fires, harvesting and cooking wild edibles and crafting with the materials nature provides. This camp focuses on fostering curiosity and learning through skillful questioning, empowering challenges and centering each child’s experience of delight in nature and self-discovery.
Ages: 6-8
Fee: Sliding Scale $350-$450
Tuesday - Friday: 9:00AM-4:15PM
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 4:00PM-4:15PM
Weeks Offered: 10 (14 offerings)
Pathfinder - Day Camps
You might carve a stick to help forage for food. You might learn to shoot a bow and arrow or practice the art of invisibility as you explore the hidden trails within the forest. You might write and act in an original forest production...Together we will laugh, explore, and ignite the adventurer within!
Pathfinder Titles Include: Pathfinder Camp, Raven's Camp, and Adventure Academy.
Ages: 8-10
Fee: Sliding Scale $375-$475
Tuesday - Friday: 8:45AM-4:30PM
Drop off: 8:45AM-9:00AM
Pick up: 4:15PM-4:30PM
Pathfinder - Day Camps
You might carve a stick to help forage for food. You might learn to shoot a bow and arrow or practice the art of invisibility as you explore the hidden trails within the forest. You might write and act in an original forest production...Together we will laugh, explore, and ignite the adventurer within!
Pathfinder Titles Include: Pathfinder Camp, Raven's Camp, and Adventure Academy.
Ages: 8-10
Fee: Sliding Scale $375-$475
Tuesday - Friday: 8:45AM-4:30PM
Drop off: 8:45AM-9:00AM
Pick up: 4:15PM-4:30PM
Advanced Day Camps
Advanced Camps provide campers an opportunity to push their skills to the next level. Some Advanced Camps offer overnight options where campers can gain confidence and self-reliance under the guidance of skilled wilderness instructors.
Ages: 9-12
Fee: Sliding Scale $395-$495
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM-3:15PM
Drop off: 8:45AM-9:00AM
Pick up: 3:15PM-3:30PM
Advanced Camps Include: Capture the Flag, Forest Engineers, Forest Sports, Primitive Cafe, Archer’s Apprentice, Fire Wizards, Bear Camp (New!), and more!
Advanced Day Camps
Advanced Camps provide campers an opportunity to push their skills to the next level. Some Advanced Camps offer overnight options where campers can gain confidence and self-reliance under the guidance of skilled wilderness instructors.
Ages: 9-12
Fee: Sliding Scale $385-$485
Tuesday – Friday: 8:45AM-4:30PM
Drop off: 8:45AM-9:00AM
Pick up: 4:15PM-4:30PM
Advanced Camps Include: Forest Engineers, Forest Sports, Luna’s Fire, Enchanted Forest, and more!
Specialty Camps
Specialty Day Camps take older and returning campers to the next level. These camps include more intensive skills like bow making and hide-tanning. Specialty Camps are offered for one week only and have direct registration description cards on this overview page.
See individual camp offerings for timing, days and pricing.
Specialty Camps
Specialty Day Camps take older and returning campers to the next level. These camps include more intensive skills like bow making and hide-tanning. Specialty Camps are offered for one week only and have direct registration description cards on this overview page.
See individual camp offerings for timing, days and pricing.
Traveling Day Camps
Travel off the beaten path with Primitive Pursuits! Camps with transportation meet at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Traveling Camps Include:
- Finger Lakes National Forest (ages 9-12)
- Wilderness Explorers (ages 9-12)
- River Scouts (ages 11-14)
Ages: 9-14
Fee: Sliding Scale $380-400
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 4:00PM-4:15PM
Traveling Day Camps
Travel off the beaten path with Primitive Pursuits! Camps with transportation meet at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Traveling Camps Include:
- Finger Lakes National Forest (ages 9-12)
- Wilderness Explorers (ages 9-12)
- River Scouts (ages 11-14)
Ages: 9-14
Fee: Sliding Scale $380-400
Drop off: 9:00AM-9:15AM
Pick up: 4:00PM-4:15PM