Boothbay Region Land Trust kicked-off the month of August the right way: outside in the sunshine with a week-long Junior Naturalist Camp. The camp, hosted in partnership with Boothbay Region YMCA, consisted of a small group of campers ages 7 to 10 who spent a fun-filled week exploring BRLT’s preserves and learning about the natural world through observation, activities, and play.

Each day of camp focused on a distinct aspect of the natural world including trees, animals, insects, and marine life. Under the guidance of Environmental Educator, Tracey Hall, and BRLT Intern, Emma Heffner, campers explored these topics through nature-themed games and exploratory walks. Participants worked on identifying common species and learned about how species interact in a balanced ecosystem. Some of the group’s favorite activities included adopting a tree at Oak Point Farm, catching and identifying insects, and going on a “Senses Walk,” using all five senses to learn more about their surroundings.

The camp utilized Oak Point Farm as its home base with easy access to fields, forest, fresh and salt water habitats as well as classroom facilities in the farmhouse. This year the camp also enjoyed the preserve’s new natural playground for some unstructured play at the end of each day. On one particularly special day, campers ventured to Porter Preserve, where they worked on their directional skills in a geocaching activity. Using a GPS map and a list of clues, the group worked together to find two treasures, known as “Geocaches” hidden in the preserve. The campers then hit the beach to search for critters hidden amongst the seaweed and driftwood.

This was the third year of the collaborative Junior Naturalist Camp, and the first following a two year pause due to the pandemic. “BRLT was pleased to partner once again with Boothbay Region YMCA to bring campers out onto our local preserves” Hall notes. “Through outdoor play and discovery campers connect to nature and develop an appreciation for our wild places. We hope these experiences will be in their hearts and minds throughout their lives.”