Support the Ava jane Howerton Memorial Fund

Each year, Paul Sutera rides his bike in support of causes that he believes in. One summer he embarked on a week-long, 500-mile ride to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Ava Jane Howerton, the daughter of a family he’s become close to over the years as their dentist.

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Trillium Camp Cabin Campaign

Support our campaign to upgrade our Trillium Camp Cabin!

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Camp Store

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Preschool Programs

Ages 3-5

Youth Programs

Ages 5-12

teen Programs

Ages 13-17

Adult Opportunities

Ages 18+

Stories from our Programs!

Head over to our blog for stories from the forest, our latest news and periodic videos, and activities you can do at home.

Earthy Exploration – Week 4

Primitive Pursuits campers are all over the woods this week with groups at Ellis Hollow, Arnot Forest, and traveling camps in the forests! The Purple Finches, Yellow Warblers, Forest Village, and Pathfinders explored the trails and lush creek at Ellis Hollow while...

Plant Playmates! – Week 3

Delicious Pie, Black Bean Brownies, and Fritters from Primitive Cafe! Week 3 at 4-H Acres got off to a rainy but fun start. Our forests have been lush from all the rain, so it is very fitting that this week's theme is plants! One of my favorite camps is running this...

Overnight Camp- a Week Under the Stars

I had the absolute pleasure of joining the Full Moon Camp and Back to the Earth this week at Arnot Forest. We marched through the woods, rolled in the grass, ate under the stars and sang together. As camp went on, I witnessed kids gain confidence and friendship in the...

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We were BLOWN away by the community and engagement our son felt this summer. He came home excited to share all the new things he had learned that day (from day 1!) – as well as show us his impressive collection of sticks, rocks, bows and arrows, cordage, etc. Primitive Pursuits has fostered such a love of outdoor learning and he loved seeing counselors through the weeks (especially Pickle!) who shared his excitement for being outside and exploring. We can’t wait to send him – and his younger sister – again next year, and we’ll be ready for the muddy clothes, collection of sticks, and stories of their adventures each afternoon. Thank you, Primitive Pursuits, for making this nervous mom feel great about dropping my kiddo off at camp each day!!”

S. W.

Parent

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY:

The Primitive Pursuits team recognizes that the land where we live and work exists within the territory of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga Nation). We acknowledge the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy for their enduring stewardship of this place throughout the centuries and still today. We recognize a responsibility to learn about this history while also educating newer generations about how to live in good relation to the earth and with our neighbors. This learning and relationship building is ongoing and we welcome guidance and feedback along the way. If you have feedback or wish to engage with us on this topic please see visit our Cultural Repair Acknowledgment + Action + Reparations page.

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Primitive Pursuits is a non-profit 4-H program of Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County.