Camp!
Week of July 6, 2025 – July 12, 2025
by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator
Summer camp at Baltimore Woods is right around the corner! The staff has been working hard to prepare the trails and make sure the camp spots are safe and set up for fun. Soon we’ll be hosting kids looking forward to exploring the wonders of Baltimore Woods. From flipping rocks in the stream to building forts deep in the forest, there are endless ways to connect with nature at Baltimore Woods!
Every camper (even the four year old preschoolers) have already developed a relationship with nature which they get to nurture in their own way here at camp. Campers interested in wilderness survival can observe their counselor building the fire for the camp cookout day or practice building shelters. Others fascinated with creatures can see turtles lounging on logs in Philip’s Pond or even Garter Snakes slithering through understory plants. And, if campers are quick enough, they can catch a big Green Frog chilling at the water’s edge!
Towards the south end of the preserve, campers can embark on a bug catching adventure through the Meadow and Bluebird Trails. Butterflies can be seen fluttering from flower to flower, busy bees buzz through the path of White Clovers, and grasshoppers seem to lead the campers onward as they quickly leap and hop in front of the group. These trails offer a much different experience to our campers who are familiar with our forest ecosystems and a chance to see new plants and new animals! Red-winged Blackbirds yell their alarm call from Goldenrod plants, Indigo Buntings relax atop the deer fence, and American Goldfinches make everyone hungry as they sing po-ta-to chip while flying over the meadow.
Back down in the depths of the preserve, campers request their favorite “camp spots” to play their favorite camp games like camouflage (a reworked take on hide and seek), kick the can (another tribute to hide and seek, involving a can that must be kicked), and poacher (a mystery game). While these camp games may seem like just, well, games, they are a great way for each group to build comradery, get to know each other, and enjoy each other’s company! Sometimes challenges arise during these games and instead of stepping in I like to see how the respect they’ve cultivated for each other manifests in their ability to problem solve. Camp isn’t all about building a camper’s connection to nature but also about personal growth and discovery and how those building blocks shape a camper’s experiences!
We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!