2024 Camp Registration is now OPEN! To access the online registration and waitlist option, click here. 

Summer Camp registration begins in March.

Week-long sessions for 2024 begin the week of June 24 and run through August 16.

View 2024 Summer Camp Brochure to get an idea of how our camp sessions work. 

2024 Camp Overview

Dates	SPROUTS Entering K - 2nd Grade $330 per week	EXPLORERS Entering 3rd - 6th Grade $330 per week	SPECIALTY CAMPS 3 & 4 Year Olds w/adult 9th-12th Grade 12-14 Year Olds
June 24-28	Hello! It's Nature Calling!	Branching Out	Junior Buddies (12-14 year olds) $200 per week
July 1,2,3,5	Doodlebugs	Wingin' It	Junior Buddies
July 8-12	Growing Up Wild	Picture Perfect	Junior Buddies
July 15-19	Marvelous Mammals and More!	It Just Makes Scents	Junior Buddies
July 22-26	Splish, Splash!	Hoo's Hunting Who?	Early Childhood Discovery (Ages 3-4 with an adult) $200/week Junior Buddies
July 29-August 2	Ants in my Pants: Bug Safari	Wild Jobs	Junior Buddies
Aug 5-9	Forest Fairytales	Aquatic Odyssey	T.R.I.P. (9th-12th grade)  $385 per session Junior Buddies
Aug 12-16	Creature Features	Exploring Mario's Magic Mushroom Kingdom	Junior Buddies

The Sharon Audubon Center Summer Nature Program offers themed and general nature camps for children ages 3 through entering Grade 12. The camps have a small student-to-teacher ratio and are interactive, educational, and lots of fun! Get ready for an exciting outdoor adventure, learning about animals and plants. Sessions include outdoor exploration, hikes, live animal programs, hands-on activities and experiments, games, and crafts—so there is something of interest for everyone. 

*Any information on this site or in the camp brochure is subject to change at any time. 

The Sharon Audubon Center Summer Nature Program is a Connecticut state-certified day camp. Camp sessions are week-long and take place at the Sharon Audubon Center, located on Route 4 in Sharon, Connecticut. Sessions are held primarily outdoors, except during thunderstorms.

For Sharon Audubon Center camp questions and queries, contact Wendy Miller, Camp Director, at wendy.miller@audubon.org or 860-364-0520 ext. 105.

CAMP HOURS

Sprouts, Explorers, and Junior Buddies: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday - Friday

Early Childhood Discovery: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., One week only

T.R.I.P.- Teen Rehabilitation Internship Program: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., one week only

PAYMENTS/ CANCELLATION/ REFUND POLICY

Camp fees must be paid in full at the time of registration unless special circumstances are approved by Audubon staff. We are not able to register children for camp over the phone.

Payment (minus 20%) will be refunded for cancellations received at least two weeks prior to the first day of camp to be attended. Cancellation/Refund requests must be done through the online registration platform CampDoc.  NO REFUNDS will be given for cancellations within two weeks of the first day of camp to be attended. Registrants will be asked to sign off on reading and understanding this policy during registration. 

If Audubon must cancel a session, you will receive a full refund for that session only, less $25 per participant per session.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Limited financial assistance is available. If you are in need of assistance, contact the center for scholarship information and applications, preferably before camp registration opens.  Scholarships will only be awarded for one camp session per student.

Lend a Helping Hand - Camp scholarship donations provide critical assistance to families in need. If you are interested in helping another student attend summer camp, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Summer Camp Scholarship Fund.

Please send donation checks payable to Sharon Audubon Center (with “Camp Scholarship Fund” written in the memo) to: Sharon Audubon Center, Summer Nature Camp, 325 Cornwall Bridge Road, Sharon, CT 06069.

COVID AND OTHER ILLNESS-RELATED GUIDELINES (last updated 1-25-24)

Be sure to familiarize yourself with our current COVID-19 guidelines. Please note, in-person camp may be canceled at any time up until and during the camp season if COVID cases rise and we feel it would not be safe for our staff and campers (see our Cancellation Policy).  Due to the ever-changing local recommendations, these guidelines are subject to change at any time.

• If you or your child are feeling ill, or are showing any signs of COVID symptoms, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO CAMP! Contact our Camp Director to notify us of any illness.
• We are a nature camp. Camp is primarily held outdoors and under tents, unless there is severe weather such as a thunderstorm. If the weather forecast is calling for rain, please be sure to send your camper with a raincoat, rain boots, or even a change of clothes, as we will be outside.
• Masks are optional when inside the center building, and strongly encouraged if COVID cases are high in our area.
• Hand washing is encouraged throughout the day
• Frequent cleaning and sanitizing of supplies, restrooms, and program areas will be practiced.
• If a camper becomes ill during camp, an emergency contact will be called and asked to pick the child up asap. They will not be permitted to return to camp unless fever free and no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours (without medications.) For COVID-19 related symptoms, a negative test result will be required in order to return to camp and it will be recommended that the child wears a mask when in close spaces with other staff and campers. If a camper tests positive for COVID-19, the child will not be permitted back at camp until they have a negative test result, and guardians of campers in that session will be notified and given any further instructions.
• We follow Audubon, CDC and CT State Guidelines.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES​

• We will continue to do the drop off and pick up method we’ve done the past couple years.
• Drop off will take place from 8:45 - 9:10 a.m. Follow the signs around the driveway circle to the drop-off area and pull up as close as you can to the stop sign and stay in your vehicle. Staff will come to your vehicle to check your child in, and at that time campers will be escorted out of the vehicle to their correct camp group on the front lawn. This method has proven to work well and creates far less tears from campers than in previous years. We found that the children settle in and adjust much quicker to the camp day than when a parent hangs around at drop off. Thank you for your cooperation!
• If your child needs assistance getting out of a car seat, you may, of course, get out to assist them. For our youngest campers, we understand that going to drop-off camp for the first time can be scary (for the kids and parents,) so we will do our very best to help everyone feel comfortable! We ask that you do not hang around, as it often makes saying good-bye harder for your child.
• Please be sure to have any sunscreen and bug spray on your child and give big hugs and kisses before coming to camp.
• At the end of the camp day, parents will again line up in the driveway circle and your child will be called to your vehicle by staff for pick up. Parents/guardians are once again asked to stay in the vehicle. 
• Pick up will be from 2:50 - 3:10 p.m.

 

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP

 An email will be sent out to all camp participants one week before their session begins explaining everything you need to know for the first day of camp.

ED ADVANCE FREE LUNCH AND SNACK PROGRAM

Our camp program qualifies for the free breakfast and lunch program distributed by EdAdvance.  This organization distributes healthy snack and meal options to local schools and summer camps and ALL CAMPERS are able to receive a free breakfast (more of a snack for our camp) and a free cold lunch and milk.  There will be multiple options to choose from each day (such as a chef salad, sunbutter and jelly sandwich, or fresh bagel and fruit) and our counselors will take a lunch count each morning at drop-off and the lunches will be packaged and delivered directly to us.  If you prefer not to take part, you may also send a bagged lunch with your child. The calendar for lunch and snack options will be attached to the “first day of camp” email sent one week prior to your child’s camp session.  *Please note that there may be changes made to the lunch program before the start of the camp season.

DISCRIMINATION & HARRASSMENT-FREE CAMP

Audubon is committed to providing an inclusive space that is free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal laws ("protected status").   We strictly prohibit and will not tolerate harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment.  This policy includes all participants, instructors, staff and volunteers.  Anyone who violates this policy is subject to removal from the property at the individual's expense.