YMCA Prarie and Woods (1/2 Day Camp): 5-7 year olds, Incredible Earth, Rocks, and Land

1/2 Day - Nature Day Camp

Beginning this summer, we are pleased to announce a new collaboration between the Y and Carleton College.  Prairie and Wood will now be managed by the Northfield Area Family YMCA.  The Prairie and Wood program will continue its long tradition of providing unique summer day-camp experiences for the youth in our community.

• Explore nearby prairie, woodland, bog, marsh, lake, and river ecosystems
• Learn about rocks, trees, animals, and other natural phenomena
• Create environmental arts and crafts projects
• Games Galore with an emphasis on cooperation and teamwork
• Make music, bake, conduct experiments
• Weekly trips to local parks, farms and fossil sites
• New & old friends having a ton of fun

Camp activities include exploring nearby prairie, woodland, bog, marsh, lake and river ecosystems, learn about rocks, trees and animals, create environmental arts and crafts, make music, bake, conduct experiments and take trips weekly!

Students from Carleton are busy working on curriculum for this summer.  If you’d like to take a peek at a draft of our summer trip calendar, visit our website at http://northfieldymca.org/day-camp/prairie-wood 

This program is a 5 day a week ½ day program and is based at Carleton’s Farm House, on Hwy 19, just outside of town. Come one week or come all summer! Each week is unique, educational and tons of fun.

Weeks and Weekly themes:
Week          Theme
June 22-26 Farm House Voyage
June 29-July 3 Bogs, Swamps and Quagmire
July 6-10 Icky, Nasty, Foul Nature
July 13-17 Prairie and Woodland Treasure Hunt
No program July 20-24th
July 27-31 Incredible Earth, Rocks and Land
Aug 3-7 Endangered Species
Aug 10-14 Arboretum Birds and Critters
Aug 17-21 You Want to Eat What?

The curricular components of the program will remain unchanged with a focus on creating a fun, cooperative learning environment that fosters an appreciation of nature.  Space will continue to be utilized at the Farm House, and Carleton students will be actively recruited to participate in the planning, curriculum, and administration of activities for the children in the program.  In turn, the Northfield YMCA will add its resources and programming expertise to make the Prairie and Wood experience even better.

For over 33 years, the Prairie and Wood program at Carleton has provided hundreds of children memories for a lifetime.  The Y is pleased to carry on this tradition.

Who: Campers ages 5-12 years
What:  A week long, 1/2 day camp experience
Where: Carleton College’s Farm House (east on Hwy 19) with easy access to the Arboretum.
When: Camp starts June 22, join us for one week or all 8 weeks
*Ages 4-7 Monday - Friday 8:30-11:30 (drop off:  8:15-8:30, pick up: 11:30-11:45)
*Ages 8-12 Monday - Friday 1:00-4:00 (drop off: 12:45-1:00, pick up: 4:00-4:15)
Cost: $95/week
Deposit: $20 per week to guarantee a spot
Note: Campers should be dropped off and picked up at the Farm House each day.

To register for the Prairie & Wood Nature Day Camp, visit our website at http://northfieldymca.org/day-camp/prairie-wood or complete a registration form and mail to 519 DIvison Street, Northfield MN 55057.

Thanks to the generosity of our community and donors, the YMCA will not turn anyone away from its membership or programs because of an inability to pay. Please let us know if we may assist you in this way by calling Virginia directly (507-645-0088) or by completing a Financial Aid form located under the “Membership” tab on our website (www.northfieldymca.org).