Nature Center Offers New and Old Favorites

Old favorites and new fun are coming this summer to the .

Once again, the center is holding its annual Summer Camps for kids ages 4 to 12. Among the highlights this year is the return of the popular “Adventure in the Sea” from July 11 to 15. It’s filled with activities aimed at creatures living in the oceans and culminating with a Friday “beach day.”

Following along the water theme is the launching of a new program called “Let’s Go Fishing.” That one, running from Aug. 8 to 12, will include the chance to look for bait and learn how to make both fishing line and Native American bone hooks, as well as how to cast. The last day features a trip to Core Creek Park to do some actual fishing.

“The camps are open to all residents of Buck County and surrounding areas,” said Camp Coordinator Peg Mongillo. “We are actually open to anyone. We have kids from South Carolina who are coming up for a few weeks to stay with relatives.”

Both of those camps are for ages 4 to 9, with three different sections (4-5, 6-7 and 8-9)  broken down to accommodate certain age groups.  “Adventure in the Sea” is one of the full-day offerings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other full-day camps for 4- to 9-year-olds are “Prehistoric Times” from June 20 to 24, “A Bug’s Life” from June 27 to July 1, “The Arts in Nature” from July 5 to 8  and the “Wild West Camp” from July 18 to 22.

Additionally, there are four half-day camps, which are offered as either 10 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. sessions. One is “Let’s Go Fishing,” while the others are “Butterflies in my Yard” from July 25 to 29, “Pet and Animal Care” from Aug. 15 to 19 and “Lenape Life Camp” from Aug. 22 to 26.

“The goals of the programs are to keep kids enthralled with learning and having fun at the same time,” Mongillo said. “We stick with our mission – Instilling an awareness and appreciation of the natural world.”

Each camp includes a day open to families, which is normally on Friday. The “Arts in Nature” camp holds an art show for this, while “A Bug’s Life” includes a “Bug Olympics” and “Lenape Life Camp,” a feast and games event.

“Our camps are fun and the kids do learn a lot,” commented Mongillo. “We teach about dinosaurs, geology, compass reading, Native American culture, native fishes, invertebrates, history and caring for wildlife, just to name a few.”

Four full-day camps are also available for 10- to 12-year-olds. One is a higher level “Arts in Nature” camp from July 5 to 8 that includes construction of a natural musical instrument. There is also “Wildcrafting” from July 25 to 29 that is timed to be run at the same time the center’s wild raspberries peak. Campers will further learn how to identify edible and potentially toxic plants and berries while looking for them.

The climax of the “Woodcarving and Woodcrafting” camp (Aug. 8 to 12) is the construction and testing of a small raft, while the “Churchville Explorers” camp (Aug. 22 to 26) features a chance to explore some of the less-visited, far-reaching spots in the center.  

Twenty-two volunteers will be aiding organizers with this summer’s programs. Costs for the camps vary based on hours, length and Churchville Nature Center Membership. Full-day sessions range from $135-191, while the half-days run between $60-80.

A pretzel or ice pop snack will be provided daily for participants, but full-day campers are required to bring lunch.

The center is located at 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville, Pa. 18966. For questions or to register, call Mongillo at 215-357-4005. Ext 14, or go to www.churchvillenaturecenter.org.