With our summer day camp season now concluded, we want to thank you for a fantastic summer with your children. We’re eagerly looking forward to next year. If you’re new here, explore our space to get acquainted. Visit us again after the new year to see what’s in store for Summer 2025!

The Preserve offers summer day camps for students ages 6-14. All camp sessions will include a blend of nature exploration, creative activities, and engaging games tied to the camp theme. We always aim to spend as much time outside as we can!

Campers will be placed in small groups with peers of a similar age to allow our educators to provide age-appropriate content.

Two snacks are provided each day, but campers must bring their own lunch. Your family is welcome to join us for multiple weeks.

Cancellation policy: Full refunds will be given to any cancellations made no less than 8 days before the start of the camp you are registered for. Cancellations (as well as any other inquiries) can be made by sending an email directly to Camp Director, Tom Hartzell at tom.hartzell@calvin.edu

Theme descriptions

Nature of God will help campers see how God is revealed in nature. We'll see how everything was made to work together for good by exploring different ecosystems. From woodlands to wetlands to gardens, we'll meet the plants and animals who live there, and see how they reveal God's character. These campers will get to see the big picture of the Preserve, and get a picture of their own to remember the experience.

Amazing Animals will focus on the animals of the Preserve. Whether they are furry, flying, swimming, slinking, large, or little, we'll learn together about what makes them amazing! Every animal is unique, and they all have amazing things to show us. Get ready for hands on experiences, acting like animals, and even creating your own critters!

Plant Power will give campers time in our Native Gardens and in the wilds of the Preserve. No matter where you look, different, beautiful, important plants are all around! We'll learn about all the special powers of plants - how they help us and how we can help them. These campers will get their hands in the dirt, create plant-based art, and even get their own plant to take home!

Earth Heroes is all about the many ways we can make our communities stronger and healthier. From recycling to saving water to composting, we'll go beyond just the "what" to the "why" and the "how". We can all be a part of making things better now and in the future! Not only will we learn how nature does it at the Preserve, but these campers will explore other parts of Calvin's campus to see Earthkeeping in action!

Wellness in the Woods is especially for middle school-aged students. Time in nature has huge benefits for our brains and our bodies. Campers will learn and practice some mindfulness techniques that can be useful for a lifetime! We'll engage in a mix of activities: solitary and group-based, hands-on and reflective, stationary and with movement. Campers will get a chance to "make their own mark" in a meaningful way.

Other camps at Calvin

Various departments at Calvin offer a variety of other summer camps for students ages 4-18 years old. Visit Camps at Calvin to find out more.