Nature Day Camp
Updated: January 29, 2026
Lottery registration closes Monday, Feb. 2 at 5:00 PM
About Nature Day Camp
Get ready for Nature Day Camp 2026!
Since its inception in 1998 as a volunteer-led, one-week event, Nature Day Camp has evolved into a six-week program. The camp follows a ‘learning through doing’ philosophy, fostering emotional connections and appreciation for the local environment among participants. Camp leaders blend games, creative activities, scientific inquiry, and hands-on exploration to ensure a memorable week filled with fun and discovery. Harpswell’s twenty preserves serve as the camp’s learning laboratory, where children explore tide pools, salt marshes, rocky shorelines, forests, and fields.
Nature Day Camp is supported by camp fees, the Holbrook Community Foundation, the Alfred M. Senter Fund, and Harpswell Heritage Land Trust members.
Details
Each week, there will be two age groups running concurrently. Age groups and camp eligibility will be determined by your campers age on July 1st, 2026.
| Age Range | Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Ages 6-8 |
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (with optional aftercare from 2:00 – 3:00 PM) |
$275 per week* (with optional $75 per week for aftercare)
|
|
Ages 9-12 |
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
$300 per week* |
* HHLT members receive a $15 discount on camp fees.
NEW to Nature Day Camp
- Drop off / Pick up – this year we are featuring one drop off / pick up location per camp session. Our two locations are the Harpswell Community School and Bowdoin’s Schiller Coastal Studies Center.
- Harpswell Community School (Sessions 1, 3, 5, & 6)
- Schiller Coastal Studies Center (Sessions 2 & 4)
- Aftercare – We are offering an optional, one hour, aftercare service for 6-8 year old campers. We hope this makes pick up more convenient for families with multiple campers or those who can’t reliably make a 2:00 pick up time.
- Transportation – Sessions 5 & 6 will feature daily camp programing throughout our Harpswell preserves via staff-driven transportation. That means one convenient drop off/pick up location for you while your camper explores natural wonders throughout Harpswell.
Dates & Themes
This summer, Nature Day Camp offers engaging weekly themes—like Nature Detectives—that keep camp exciting while providing a familiar and supportive daily rhythm for children. Each week includes four activity-filled days featuring hands-on nature exploration, creative arts and crafts, age-appropriate science discovery, and active outdoor play, plus one special day designed for extra fun, imagination, and lasting memories. No matter the theme, campers spend every day outdoors, build friendships, and head home happy, tired, and full of stories from their adventures in nature.
| Week | Dates | Drop off / Pick up Location | Theme | Camp Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
6/29-7/3 |
Harpswell Community School (HCS) |
Nature Detectives: Campers become curious investigators as they follow tracks, solve nature mysteries, and uncover clues hidden in the land around them. |
Austin Cary Forest & Anna M. Tondreau Preserve |
|
2 |
7/6-7/10 |
Schiller Coastal Studies Center (SCSC) |
Sea-to-Forest Fun: From rocky shores to shady woods, campers explore how Maine’s coastal and forest ecosystems connect through play, discovery, and adventure. |
Schiller Coastal Studies Center (SCSC) |
|
3 |
7/13-7/17 |
Harpswell Community School (HCS) |
Forest Friends: Campers will meet the animals, plants, and tiny creatures of the forest while learning how all living things share and shape this woodland home. |
Austin Cary Forest & Anna M. Tondreau Preserve |
|
4 |
7/20-7/24 |
Schiller Coastal Studies Center (SCSC) |
Sea Coast Explorers: Campers dive into Maine’s rugged coastline with hands-on exploration of tide pools, marine life, and the rhythms of the sea. |
Schiller Coastal Studies Center (SCSC) |
|
5 |
7/27-7/31 |
Harpswell Community School (HCS) |
Harpswell Hikers: Campers hit the trails to discover Harpswell’s special places, build hiking skills, and explore the natural history of our own backyard. |
Multiple preserves throughout Harpswell via HHLT transportation to and from HCS. |
|
6 |
8/3-8/7 |
Harpswell Community School (HCS) |
Water World Adventures: From fresh water to salt, there is a Wide World of Water in Harpswell and during this week campers will splash into them to explore aquatic life, water science, and the wonders of Maine’s water ecosystems. |
Multiple preserves throughout Harpswell via HHLT transportation to and from HCS. |
Registration
Registration runs in 2 phases – (1) Lottery for early registration and (2) Open registration
Note: to ensure we best serve our local community, year-round Harpswell residents will get priority in the lottery.
(1) Phase 1
- Lottery Opens – Families are invited to submit a lottery application with their preferred camp session(s).
- Lottery Closes – All lottery submissions are then run through the lottery sorting process.
- See FAQ for the full order of operations for the lottery.
- Early Registration Opens – Families selected through the lottery process are invited to register for camp.
- Families not selected are added to the waitlist of their top priority.
- Early Registration Closes – All remaining camp slots become available on a first come-first serve model.
(2) Phase 2
- Open Registration – Remaining camp spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis.
- Wait List – As sessions become full, new registrations sill be added to a wait list in the order received.
Key Dates:
- Friday, January 30 – Lottery registration opens.
- Monday, February 2 – Lottery registration closes.
- Note: There is no benefit to registering early in the lottery registration process. All odds are the same.
- Friday, February 6 – Early registration opens.
- Lottery results are released and winners will be invited to register and pay for camp.
- Tuesday, February 17 – Open registration (i.e., first come, first served) for any remaining camp slots.
Current Registration Phase
Lottery Registration – Open
Lottery Closes on Monday at 5:00 pm.
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FAQs
Registration
How do I enter the lottery?
A form will be available on our website starting Friday, January 30. You can complete the form anytime between Friday, January 30 and Monday, February 2. There is no benefit to filling out the form earlier.
When do I pay for camp?
We will let you know about the results of the lottery on Friday, February 6th. You will be invited to complete camp registration and pay your fee by Monday, February 16th. If you do not complete your registration, you will forfeit your camp spot.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes, we have some scholarships available for financial assistance. These will be handled by family need on a case by case basis. If this applies to your family, register for the lottery (there is no cost) and we will discuss options during he registration process.
How will I know the results of the lottery?
All families will be emailed on Friday, February 6th. We will let you know if you received your first choice week or one of your backup weeks. You will then be invited to complete camp registration and pay the fee to confirm your spot for the week you were assigned. You will have until Monday, February 17th to do so, at which time we will open up any remaining camp slots on a first come, first served basis.
How many weeks can I sign up for?
Each camper will only be able to sign up for one week of camp during the lottery for early registration. After early registration is completed, any remaining camp slots will be available on a first come, first served basis during open registration. At that time, you can sign up for additional weeks if you choose.
Do I have to pay for the lottery?
No, there is no fee to enter the lottery.
Why does HHLT use a lottery system?
We only have a limited number of camp slots available and a lottery system helps us provide fair access to all families.
Do land trust members receive priority?
No, however we do offer a discount on camp fees for members.
What does "year-round Harpswell resident" mean?
A year-round resident is a camper whose primary residence is in Harpswell throughout the year. In other words, if your camper attends Harpswell Community School, goes to a private/charter school, or is homeschooled in Harpswell then they are considered a year-round Harpswell resident.
Why does HHLT prioritize campers with year-round residency?
As a Harpswell’s land trust, is important to serve our community. Prioritizing year-round campers helps ensure access for families who live, work, and attend school here throughout the year.
Can seasonal or non-resident families still attend camp?
Yes. Seasonal and non-Harpswell families are welcome to apply and may be offered spots through the lottery if space is available, as well as during first-come, first-served registration after the lottery.
What is the lottery order of operations?
- Lottery registration opens
- Lottery registration closes
- All campers are assigned a lottery number (i.e., random number)
- The lottery awards slots by session and age group over three rounds (i.e., campers 1st, 2nd, & 3rd session choices).
- In each round, slots are awarded by the following criteria:
- Year-round Harpswell campers assigned by their lottery number.
- Then, non-year-round Harpswell campers by their lottery number.
- After all available camp slots are filled with 1st choices, the lottery repeats for 2nd choices, then third choices.
Eligibility & Age Groups
How are age groups determined?
Age groups and camp eligibility will be determined by your campers age on July 1st, 2026.
Do you accept campers under 6 years old?
We are not providing programs for 5 and under children this year. As we relaunch Nature Day Camp, we are focusing on grade school ages and will reassess in 2027.
Is there another nature focused camp for 4-6 y/o in Harpswell?
Yes, Harpswell Nature School (the local preschool) offers a fantastic summer camp program that is uniquely suited to serve this age group. For more information, we encourage you to visit their summer camp page HERE.
Are you accepting Junior Counselors (JCs) this year?
Unfortunately, we will not be accepting JCs in 2026 while we relaunch the newest iteration of Nature Day Camp. We will reevaluate after this summer to explore reinstituting the JC program in 2027.