Nature Kids

Spring 2026 Season 

This spring we run Thursdays, May 7 to June 4, 2026 from 4:30pm - 6pm, drop-off as early as 4pm at 22 Veevers Drive!

NEW: Our spring season will focus more heavily on exploration and free time. Participants can expect fun-filled evenings packed with eco adventures, nature exploration, nature-based crafts, outdoor games, and a trip to our local creek. We have outdoor gear available for children to borrow as needed, and we provide a healthy snack each week! 

Registration is now OPEN and will close on May 1st, 2026. Spot offers will be sent out to applicants no later than May 3rd, 2026.

 

Spring Registration Form

---

 

 

 

Summer Camp 2026 

Summer camp is back, and registration is now open! 

Summer 2026 Nature Kids will run for four weeks in July-August, daily from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. Participants may request to register for one or more weeks but your spot is not confirmed until we send you notice and we receive your payment. In cases of high demand, you may not be able to sign up for multiple weeks as we try to accommodate as many families as possible. 

 

Nature Kids is for children ages 5-13*, with priority given to individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups. Please reach out to us if you would like to discuss any barriers to participation that you or your child may experience. Owning appropriate outdoor gear is not a requirement to participate as we are able to lend this to participants as needed. Snacks are provided and are included in the program fees but children should bring a nut-free, low-waste lunch each day. More details on what to bring will be provided to registered families.

 

Week 1: July 20 - 24 

Week 2: July 27 - 31

Week 3: August 4 - 7 (short week)* 

Week 4: August 10 - 14

Drop off: 9:00 am - 9:30 am

Pick up: 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Pricing options

We are following the "Green Bottle" sliding scale framework for our program costs.

Full price (you are comfortably able to meet all of your basic needs): $385 ($308 for week 3*)

Partially subsidized - available only to Hamilton residents (you may stress about meeting your basic needs): $180 ($144 for week 3*)

Fully subsidized (you frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don't always achieve them): No charge Must be referred by a partner organization and confirmation is pending available funding

Extended care

Before care is available from 8:00 - 9:00 am at $30.00 for the week

After care will run from 3:30 - 5:00 pm and cost $50.00 for the week 

Summer Registration Form

 

Registrants who receive a place in our program will be sent a follow-up form to sign off which will include space for some follow up information such as emergency contacts, as well as some things to sign off on such as our policies, and optional consent to take pictures. Signing these forms is a requirement for participating in our program. All potential participants that we are unable to accommodate will be added to the wait list and notified if a spot opens up. We will let all families know if they have a spot in the program or are on the wait list by the first week of June (specific date pending.) We will also send information on how to pay at the time of acceptance. Your spot will be held for 2 business days and If we do not receive payment within that time we will release the spot to the next person on the wait list. 

If we do not receive sufficient registration we reserve the right to cancel the affected week(s). 

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or for more information.

*Children must be turning 5 by the end of this calendar year. Children between the ages of 11 and 13 can register for a regular spot, or, if they are interested, they can request a "helper" spot and act as a role model for the younger participants.

Volunteer with Nature Kids

We currently have 2 seasonal opportunities to become a Nature Kids Guide! Sign up today for both the Spring and Summer sessions below! 

Spring 2026

Spring 2026 applications are OPEN! This session will run weekly on Thursdays from May 7th to June 4th from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm at 22 Veevers Drive. Join us to earn volunteer hours, build skills working with kids aged 5 - 13, spend time outdoors, and meet new friends. Mandatory training date will be April 30th from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Apply to volunteer below. 

Spring Application Form

 

Summer Camp 2026
It's back, and we need volunteers! 

Summer 2026 Nature Kids will run for four weeks in July-August, daily from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. We will need volunteers with us from 8:30 am - 4 pm. Volunteers can choose to sign up for one or more weeks in the program. There will be a mandatory training day in-person on July 17, 2025 from 10 am - 3 pm. 

 

Please reach out to us if you would like to discuss any barriers to participation that you may experience. Owning appropriate outdoor gear is not a requirement to volunteer as we are able to lend this to volunteers as needed. Volunteers should bring a lunch, a reusable water bottle, and a snack each day. More details on what to bring will be provided to registered volunteers. See camp dates below: 

 

Week 1: July 20 - 24 

Week 2: July 27 - 31

Week 3: August 4 - 7 (short week)* 

Week 4: August 10 - 14

 

Volunteers who are accepted into our program will be sent a follow-up form to sign off which will include space for some follow up information such as emergency contacts, as well as some things to sign off on such as our policies, and optional consent to take pictures. Signing these forms is a requirement for volunteering in our program. 

Summer Application Form

If we do not receive sufficient registration we reserve the right to cancel the affected week(s) of camp, and will notify scheduled volunteers immediately should this occur. 

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or for more information.

*volunteers must be 14 years of age to volunteers. Children between the ages of 11 and 13 can register for a regular spot, or, if they are interested, they can request a "helper" spot and act as a role model for the younger participants. Volunteers 18 and older are required to submit a police background check.

 

Nature Kids Through the Seasons

Nature Kids runs in all seasons!

Summer 
In 2025, we ran a a summer camp! Summer is a wonderful time to spend quality time outdoors. Kids join staff and volunteer helpers at EcoHouse and enjoy fun, engaging activities. Some of our favourite nature activities included: visiting the local creek to explore and splash in the water, creating nature crafts, building shelters and forts, and simply having time and space to play, observe, get dirty and make connections in nature.

Fall
The crisp air, bright leaves and abundance of insects and seeds make fall an exciting time to be outside. Some of our favourite activities included: bug observation, scavenger hunts, shelter building, leaf mask painting, fall hikes ,and so much more!

Winter
Yes, we still run in the winter! Campers bundle up and we embrace the cold and the snow. We’ve gone box sledding down our small hill, built snow forts and castles, played winter animal games and made clay paints using natural materials. We also take time to warm up and get cozy playing games and creating indoors in our heated yurt.

Spring
The world is waking up again! In spring, we’ve searched for signs of frogs, made seed balls, sang frog songs, built shelters, hunted for crawfish, created nature art and planted in the garden. We love the joy of mud season and observing bugs, buds and birds in the warmer weather.

Program Supported By: