Summer Ecology Adventure Camp
Enroll your child in a summer camp they'll talk about all year. Our Summer Ecology programs immerse rising 5th to 9th graders in 6 days of exploration across River Bend Farm's amazing 313-acre campus. Led by our team of experienced Ecology Educators, campers get hands-on experience with various ecosystems such as forests, fields, and rivers. Each day is packed with activities like canoeing, forest hiking, and art projects, and ends with a campfire gathering (and of course, stargazing!). This isn’t just a camp; it’s a week of adventure that helps campers build confidence, form lasting friendships, and develop a deeper connection to nature.
2026 Sessions:
Sunday, 6/28 - Friday, 7/3
Sunday, 7/5 - Friday, 7/10
Take a sneak peek at our Summer Ecology Adventure Camp below!
Session 1:
Farm, Forest, Forage
Campers connect with nature through planting, tending and harvesting from our produce and flower gardens. They'll cook over campfires, explore food journeys from the farm to the table, and enjoy a make-your-own pizza night. At the end of the week, campers will have the opportunity to take home seeds to continue growing their skills. Campers will also enjoy classic camp activities like canoeing, arts and crafts, forest exploration, and evening campfire gatherings.
More about Farm, Forest, Forage:
Field Trip to University of New England Marine Lab and Tide Pools
Salsa Making
Pest control
Harvesting
Bouquet Making
Seed collecting
Planting
Cooking over a campfire
Session 2:
Outdoor Explore
Get ready for an exciting week exploring the River Bend Farm campus. Campers will hike our expansive forest trail system, paddle canoes on the Saco River, and get some practice with their orienteering skills. Our talented camp staff will offer a range of camper choice activities from outdoor survival skills, team building, and campfire cooking.
More about Outdoor Explore:
Field Trip to Mackworth Island to explore beach, tide pools, and coastal forests
Campcraft and fire building
Hiking & orienteering
Canoeing
Campfire cooking
Tents and Shelters
Scavenger Hunt
Nature art
Bird Watching & bird feeder making
Foraging
All about Bugs
Our Commitment to Affordable Summer Camps for Kids:
Over the past 26 years, The Ecology School has provided over $3,000,000 in scholarships and discounts to support youth across the Northeast and beyond. With our new state-of-the-art Living & Learning Green Campus at the magical 313-acre River Bend Farm, we are taking this commitment to the next level.
This Summer Camp Season of 2026 we will be offering our 6 day/5 night summer camp programs for just $750 per child (significantly below our true cost of $1,100) to help make camp as accessible for as many kids as possible!
Questions about Summer Camp? Contact Alex Grindle, Director of Programs & Rentals
Where Do Campers Stay?
Campers will stay the night in our state-of-the-art dormitory at River Bend Farm.
Each room has four twin-sized beds (two bunk beds) and campers will be in rooms of 2-4. Each floor has two counselors and a total of five camper rooms. Bathrooms are singles, each including a shower, sink, and toilet.
Campers will have an opportunity to request roommates upon registration, which we will do our best to honor but cannot guarantee. Campers will be roomed by similar age/grade.
Gender Inclusive Housing
As part of the registration process, caregivers/campers will have an opportunity to request same-gender, gender-inclusive, or no preference in housing. Floors in the dormitory will be dedicated to ensure that campers are housed as requested. At The Ecology School, we strive to create a safe living and learning environment for all our participants - inclusive of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression. Providing gender-inclusive housing is an important aspect of that effort.
Where Do Campers Eat?
Food is energy. Food is community. Food is ecology.
Meal time at The Ecology School is a time for campers to eat delicious and nutritious, kid-friendly foods, re-energize, and connect. Learning focused on food systems and social-emotional skill building are intentionally integrated into meal time. Campers are active participants in meals, helping to clean up or volunteering to read a short description of the meal’s sponsor. (Sponsors are aspects of the food system that are critical to bringing food to our plates, like transportation and farmers!). Meals in our Poland Spring Dining Commons® are a time to connect food, humans, and the environment.
** Our productive farm fields provide our kitchen with fresh vegetables when seasonally available and we do our best to source our food as locally as possible, in fact, some of our meals will have been picked by our campers and staff earlier in the week! Fruit is always available to campers during mealtime and as a snack between meals. The menu is varied and The Ecology School works with parents to address the needs of campers with food allergies or sensitivities. Counselors sit with campers during the meal and help ensure everyone is satisfied and nourished.
Screen-Free & Outside All Day!
A focus of The Ecology School in general, and the Summer Ecology Adventure specifically, is the opportunity to connect with each other and the world around us, as well as build independence. Campers are not permitted to bring cell phones and other connected devices to camp, as they work directly against that goal.
We recognize this can be a new thing for both campers and parents. Parents are always welcome to call The Ecology School and we are happy to let you know how your child is doing. Rest assured that if we need to be in touch with you about something, we will certainly reach out. Also, there are few things at camp more exciting than mail call each day - taking the time to exchange good old fashioned snail mail letters can be a really special way to connect!
The Ecology School’s no device policy isn’t about secluding or cutting off contact, but rather about helping campers to be in the moment, connect with one another on a deeper level, and giving them a break from the day-to-day burden of keeping up on social media. We often hear from students and campers that despite their skepticism about being without their phone, the opportunity to connect directly with peers without the distraction of devices was a favorite aspect of their camp experience.
Payment & Cancellation:
$150 non-refundable initial deposit to reserve spot
Payment plan available. Email Alex Grindle, Director of Programs & Rentals, for more information.
Balance due May 15th. (unless in a payment plan)
Enrollments after May 15th: Payment due in full, unless alternative arrangements have been made.
Refund policy:
Initial deposit is non-refundable; the remainder is refundable up until May 15th
May 15-June 1 50% of total tuition is refundable
June 1st is non-refundable (except in the case of documented illness or death of a family member)
Refunds are not granted for homesickness, dismissal, or voluntary withdrawal.