Check Out These Summer Camps In Mercer County

The Mercer County Park Commission’s Nature Programs will host summer camps for children ranging in age from pre-K to eighth grade, county officials said. The summer camps are developed and run by the Park Commission’s team of naturalists. The following information was provided by county officials:

Baldpate Mountain Nature Camp is a weeklong camp packed with hands-on nature explorations, science experiments, hikes through the forest and unstructured nature play. Camp days are devoted to a nature-specific topics and may include bugs, forest ecology, birds and tracking.

Two different camps accommodate children entering grades 1 through 3 and those entering grades 4 through 6. Campers have the option to register for one or two weeks of camp. Camp sessions will be offered July 8 through 12, July 15 through 19, July 29 through Aug. 2 and Aug. 5 through 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Aquatic Adventure Camp will be held at Mercer County Marina, June 24 through 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If your child loves being on the water observing nature, then Aquatic Adventure Camp will be a perfect fit.

Designed to balance the fun of summer with science, Aquatic Adventure Camp will have your child diving into freshwater ecology, testing Mercer Lake’s water, kayaking creeks and coves, and observing wildlife.

Aquatic Adventure Camp is for children entering grades 7 through 9 and includes activities such as fishing, taking a ride on the pontoon boat, hiking and a cookout. Campers will memorialize their week by making a gyotaku T-shirt to take home.

The Aquatic Adventure Camp will also offer a new Anglers session for children entering grades 4 through 6 where campers will spend mornings casting their fishing lines into Mercer Lake. Species identification and size limits of the lake’s finned friends will be studied while practicing catch-and-release fishing. Children will also gain a better understanding of the lake’s biology.

Wild Discovery Camp will be held at Baldpate Mountain, Aug. 12 through 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. This half-day summer camp is a playful introduction to the wonders of nature designed to capture the curiosity of children entering pre-K and kindergarten. Story time, nature-themed art projects, walks and explorations will make up your child’s morning. Campers will hunt under rocks and logs for crawlies and observe live animals to increase their awareness of our wonderful, wild world.

All summer nature camps and programs of the Mercer County Park Commission are led and taught by naturalist staff. Camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and spots are limited. At this time, the Park Commission is unable to provide before- or after-care for children attending camp. For more information on the summer camp sessions, visit http://www.mercercountyparks.org/#!/activities/summer-nature-camps. To register, visit https://register.communitypass.net/mercer.

The attached image was provided by Mercer County officials: Campers playing in the rain at Baldpate Nature Camp.