Day Camp

COVID-19 Safety Plan for Day Camp

ACNC is running Day Camp this year in accordance with New York State Guidelines for Day Camps. The pandemic has had a significant impact on children and their families and ACNC feels it is more important than ever to give kids a safe, positive, outdoor experience and to provide parents with the reassurance that their child is safe while engaging in some familiar experiences and traditions.

ACNC developed a COVID-19 Safety Plan based on recommendations from the CDC, New York State, and the American Camp Association. The plan involves distancing indoors, group-specific materials, child-specific craft supplies and discovery tools, wellness checks, and preventing mixing of groups and supplies. As many activities as possible will take place outdoors, and ACNC will employ the use of both physical distancing and face coverings.

If ACNC must cancel any camp due to COVID-19, they will give full refunds if they cannot fit you into a later camp.

ACNC may combine some camp sessions if enrollment is too low to meet the minimum. They will notify you before moving your child(ren) into another camp. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Hatfield at (716) 569-2345 or shatfield@auduboncnc.org.

*Friends of the Nature Center receive discounted rates. Click here to learn about financial need and merit-based camp scholarships.

Day Camp is designed for children in pre-K through grade 12 to get out and explore the natural world. Structured and unstructured activities and play create a well-rounded, free-choice experience for all children. Camps run four days per week for eight weeks during the summer. Different age breakdowns occur on different weeks.

ACNC offers early drop-off and later pick-up for campers. These are offered every week of camp and are titled Pre-Camp and Post-Camp for each week. This extends the camp day with activities and adventures for campers and gives adults more flexibility in their schedule. Prices and times are listed on the registration page.

Counselor-in-Training / Junior Counselor

ACNC uses assistants in most camp sessions. Counselors-in-Training (CITs) and Junior Councelors (JCs) are teenagers wanting to gain experience working with children, volunteer with community organizations, or increase their level of responsibility. ACNC holds a training session for all CITs and new JCs. Interested teens should fill out an online application. CITs are 13 – 15 and must attend a training. Trainings are three hours and are held on Mondays, by appointment, and must be completed before the first week of camp with which they are assisting. ACNC requires a week of observation during the June 29 – July 2 camps for all new CITs and JCs. Audubon encourages experienced CITs and JCs to attend for a refresher and to learn about COVID-specific changes. JCs are 16+ who either have been a CIT or JC previously, or must attend the training week.

Contact the Camp Director, Sarah Hatfield, at shatfield@auduboncnc.org or (716) 569-2345 with questions.