Capitalizing on Summer!
Gorgeous warm days draw old and young alike to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Summer Programs, with a variety of activities for children, is a great way for kids to enjoy the outdoors while learning something new and exciting.
Check out the summer FUN below for kids of all ages—the return of popular programs like Summer Stories, Wee Wonders, Art in the Park summer art camp for kids, and a fly fishing camp—plus several NEW summer adventure day camps!
Call (717) 762-0373 or contact us by email at jessica@buttonwoodnaturecenter.org for more information about Summer Programs.
An overview of our Summer Programs season is below.
Children’s Summer Stories
Tuesdays, June 9, 16, 23, 30 and July 7, 14, 21, 28
10–11 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area near Waynesboro, Pa.
Preschoolers and up
Children gather under a tree to listen to stories and enjoy related hands-on activities. Free admission. (If inclement weather, call 717-762-0373 to confirm.)
Wee Wonders
Five Monday mornings, June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
10–11:15 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area near Waynesboro, Pa.
Wee Wonders programs are a series of outdoor adventure programs, designed for our youngest budding naturalists, age 2 and a half to 5. Registration for entire series is required.
Taught by Buttonwood educators, age-appropriate program activities make learning fun, and include exploring the outdoors, hikes, nature stories, rhymes, finger plays, nature games, and puppets.
Wee Wonders is sponsored by Diana Dale, in memory of Mary Ann Payne.
DISCOVER! Fly Fishing Adventure Camp
Monday & Tuesday, June 8 & 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orvis Hill Country near Fairfield, Pa.
For students completing grade 5 and through grade 12 (ages 10 to 17).
Join Buttonwood Nature Center staff at Orvis Hill Country for a 2-day summer camp. Campers will learn fly fishing essentials like gear and knots, fly tying, plus freshwater biology and aquatic “critters.”
Splash & Science Day Camp—THREE Fun Sessions, choose any or all
Thursday, June 11 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at Red Run Park near Waynesboro, Pa.
Also offered on July 9 and August 13.
For students ages 7–12.
Spend the day with Buttonwood educators as you explore the wonders of water!
Art in the Park
Summer Art Camp for Kids—A one-week art immersion program designed to inspire students to creative expression through visual art.
REGISTER HERE!
Monday–Friday, June 15-19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Pine Hill Recreation Area near Waynesboro, Pa.
For kids completing grades K – 7
In an outdoor park setting surrounded by nature, students spend a full week exploring and creating with a variety of mediums and techniques like drawing, painting, sculpture, clay, fiber arts and collage.
With guidance from professional art educators, each student will complete one project in the morning and another in the afternoon, with a lunch break in between. Working with a wide range of mediums, students will develop and build upon their pre-existing skills to create new artworks.
Maximum enrollment: 50
Art Show open to artists and families
EXPLORE! Insect Investigations
Wednesday, July 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
For students ages 7–12.
Did you know a bug is different from an insect? Come learn all about insects in our Summer Explore series!
Textile Arts and Nature Day Camp
Tuesday, July 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
For students who have completed grade 3, and through age 17.
A day of creativity and learning new skills. In the morning, students learn skills with textiles and create special items to take home. Afternoon nature activities include a hike and nature craft.
DISCOVER! Rocks & Relics Camp
Wednesday, July 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stoner Farm near Waynesboro, Pa.
For students completing grade 5 and through grade 12 (ages 10 to 17).
In a workshop program combining earth science, geology, archaeology and history, students explore the secrets of a 200-year-old homestead and how its environment influenced early settlers.
Offered in partnership with Little Antietam Creek, Inc. (LACI) as part of a series of Discover programs for students in grades 5–12 (ages 10 to 17).
Students join Buttonwood educators and LACI archaeologists to “dig into the past” at historic Stoner Farm—digging and working with artifacts, scientific testing of the properties of limestone and soil, using remote sensing, learning how limestone is cut and mortar is made, and more.
Underwriting support for this program by Steve and Maxine Beck.
EXPLORE! Basics of Birding
Wednesday, July 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
For kids ages 7–12.
Join a Buttonwood Naturalist to learn about the wonders of birdwatching!
EXPLORE! Fun with Fairy Houses
Wednesday, July 22 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
For kids ages 7–12.
Join Buttonwood as we forage for materials in nature like leaves, twigs and more to make fairy houses.
EXPLORE! Painting with Nature
Wednesday, July 29 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
For kids ages 7–12.
Nature is beautiful to look at, but did you know it can also be used to create beautiful artwork?
DISCOVER! Advanced Fly Fishing Camp
Monday & Tuesday, July 20 & 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NOTE: Two locations for this 2-day summer camp—Orvis Hill Country in Fairfield, PA (Day 1) AND Carroll Valley Park (Day 2)
For students completing grades 5 through age 17.
Campers must have completed a previous fly fishing camp, or be experienced in the sport. Enhance your fly fishing skills with the experts!