After a hiatus during the pandemic, Frazer Center’s summer camp is back in action—with an outdoor twist.

Thanks to the implementation of our nature-based curriculum throughout the year, campers are being treated to weekly camp sessions under the guidance of Kim Corson, our Nature-based Curriculum Coordinator.

“The kids are excited and having fun, the counselors are enjoying it, and we’re getting positive feedback from parents,” says Kim.

There are seven camp sessions this summer, and all filled up quickly once registration opened in late winter. Campers are rising kindergarteners and first-graders. 

Their typical day begins with mindful yoga before heading outside into Frazer Forest to explore and play. Sometimes a visiting expert will join the campers for a morning session, sharing their wisdom and leading fun activities. After lunch and a rest period, the children head back outside, perhaps to Frazer’s courtyard garden, Cator Woolford Gardens, or back into the forest.

“We want all of it to be child-led,” Kim says. “We give them parameters, and together we come up with ideas for craft projects using materials found in nature,” such as decorative walking sticks, flags, and picture frames for Father’s Day gifts.

Several guest instructors have visited so far this summer. 

• A naturalist from Eco-Addendum taught the campers about identifying native species in the forest and led a scavenger hunt.
• An expert from the Wylde Center shared about different kinds of soil, and the children sifted through the various types and used craft sticks to dig in compost to search for worms. 
• An educator from Trees Atlanta shared about “sensational seeds” that we find in Frazer Forest, and the campers experimented to see which dispersal method—water, wind, or attachment to fauna—would be most effective for different types of seeds.
• A local gardener taught about planting seeds, and the campers got to plant flowers and herbs in our courtyard garden.

During free-play in the forest, fallen trees make for excellent pirate ships with plenty of opportunities to dig for buried treasure. 

When children are given freedom—within boundaries—to explore outdoors, the imaginative possibilities are endless. The result? Happy campers!