Outdoor Adventure Summer Day Camp
Our summer camp offered to children ages 3 to 12 years old is based outdoors, so the day is spent in the forest, fields, at the ponds and stream on Dahlem’s 300 acres of beautiful property. There are plenty of opportunities to choose more than one week to fill your camper’s need for outdoor fun and adventure this summer! Sign up for 1-week half day sessions and 1-week all day sessions.
Registration will open at the end of January 2025
Please complete all Forms from the Links Below. We must have these forms complete before we can enroll your camper:
- Camper Registration Form
- Camper Release Form
- Camper Health Form
Please review Important Info for Camp Families document. Lots of good information; Covid-19 Response, Camp Packing List, Important Reminders, Medication at Camp, Special Programs and Visitors, Typical Daily Schedule for All-Day Camp (Half-Day camp follows the same morning schedule), Camper Behavior Policy, Team Requests, Session Limit and Waitlist Policy, and Cancellation and Refund Information.
Financial Assistance (Campership) is available for families unable to send their child to one session of day camp without financial assistance.
To apply for financial assistance; 1) Please complete the Campership Financial Assistance Application form (link is below). You may upload supplemental documentation directly on the form or submit copies to the Dahlem Office Manager, Denise Bigham. 2) Complete the Camper Release and Camper Health Forms, and 3) Contact the office to verify your documentation, camp forms, and $35 non-refundable administration fee are received. Your application will be reviewed and we will be in contact with you soon.
Thank you to our generous community members for their support to help at-risk children attend a week at summer camp.
Thank you for choosing Dahlem! We look forward to seeing your camper this summer!
Camp Employment Opportunities
scroll to the bottom of the page to for additional camp employment information, link to application, and directions to apply. Thank you
2024 Summer Schedule
All sessions are now full for 2024.
Fee Per Session
Half Day Camp (5 days) … $125 Member; $150 Non-member
All Day Camp (5 days) … $175 Member; $200 Non-member
All Day Camp (3 days; session 4) … $105 Member; $120 Non-Member
Early drop off or late pick up (30 minutes max.) is available for additional $25 per family, per session. Must request service two weeks in advance of selected camp session.
Unscheduled late pick up (over 10 minutes from end of camp day) will be charged the Late Pick up fee of $25.
Refund Policy: Refunds (less a $35 administration fee per session cancellation) will only be provided if cancellations are received one week (7 days) minimum prior to the beginning of the selected week of camp.
Session 1 – Welcome to the Wilderness (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
3 & 4 years old (14 campers max.)
June 3-7, 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Our youngest campers will be on a week-long discovery to explore the natural world through hands-on activities, play, and trail walks. Required to be 3 years by May 1, 2024, and have independent bathroom skills.
Session 2 – Budding Naturalist (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
4 & 5 years old (16 campers max.)
June 10-14, 8:30 am – 11:30 am
An exciting week to develop an appreciation of the natural world by introducing the forest, wetland, and grassland habitats through trail walks and hands-on activities.
Session 3 – Hop, Slither and Crawl (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
6 to 10 years old (20 campers max.)
June 24-28 , 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Frogs, turtles and snakes! Learn all about hopping, slithering and crawling amphibians and reptiles during this week. Campers will explore the woods, fields and ponds of Dahlem in search of these critters.
Session 4 – Backwoods Explorers (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
5 to 12 years old (Two Teams of 20 campers = 40 campers max.)
July 1-3, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm All Day Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Let’s go deep into the woods to explore, playing exciting games, scientific inquiry, learn new skills, and engage in lots of outdoor discovery in ways that will inspire your young naturalist to gain an appreciation for the natural world!
Session 5 – Modern Wilderness Survival (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
5 to 12 years old (three Teams of 20 campers = 60 campers max.)
July 8-12, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm All Day
Campers learn a variety of outdoor skills, from debris shelter building & camouflage to fire building, knot tying, orienteering and mapping. Lessons are developed as appropriate for age levels.
Session 6 – Get Out & Get Dirty (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
5 to 12 years old (three Teams of 20 campers = 60 campers max.)
July 15-19, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm All Day
The best thing about people is that we are washable! So no amount of dirt is going to keep us from spending the days outside and exploring. We’ll build forts, catch frogs and other aquatic critters, turn over rocks, chase bugs, climb trees, play predator-prey games, go on daily hikes, and so much more!
Session 7 – Builders, Diggers and Spinners (THIS SESSION IS FULL)
5 to 12 years old (two Teams of 20 campers = 40 campers max.)
July 22-26, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm All Day
Find out what beavers, birds, insects and humans all have in common…. they love to build! We’ll become architects and design natural shelters, webs, and learn about homes for all sorts of animals from birds to spiders.
Session 8 – Creepy Critters (This Session is Full)
4 to 6 years old (two Teams of 18 campers = 36 campers max.)
July 29-August 2, 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Our naturalist detectives will go on adventures to search and learn about creepy critters that call Dahlem home; insects, mammals, frogs and toads, snakes, and turtles. Come explore it all with us!
Session 9 – Nature Explorers (This Session is Full)
3 & 4 years old (14 campers max.)
August 5-9, 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Our last camp session takes our youngest campers in search for interesting insects, frogs and toads, turtles, snakes, and mammals that call Dahlem home. Required to be 3 years by May 1, 2024 and have independent bathroom skills.
NOTE: Unscheduled late pick up (over 10 minutes from end of camp day) will be charged the Late Pick up fee of $25.
–> Refund Policy: Refunds (less a $35 administration fee per session cancellation) will only be provided if cancellations are received one week (7 days) minimum prior to the beginning of the selected week of camp.
Camp Employment
ALL CAMP COUNSELOR POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED.
Dahlem is hiring enthusiastic Counselors and Assistant Counselors (18+ years) for our Outdoor Adventure Summer Day Camp. To apply, click on the following link; camp employment application, and follow the instructions. Applicants have experience working and interacting with children, enjoy being outside in nature all day, and are committed to a short term summer job.
Camp staff must have valid First Aid/CPR/AED and Bloodborne Pathogens certifications. If you need to take the course(s), Dahlem will reimburse your total course fees up to $70. Staff must also provide proper ID for Dahlem to conduct a background check.
Weekly earnings will depend on the session. Pay range for half-day sessions is $210-$230. Pay range for all-day sessions is $420-$460.
Camp staff must attend mandatory camp staff training (receive $150 pay for 1 1/2-day workshop) scheduled for Wednesday June 19, 8:30am-4:30pm and Thursday June 20, 8:30am-12:00pm. Training materials and Wednesday’s lunch will be provided.
Volunteer
Adult volunteers are welcome to help where needed, present lessons/programs (especially for Modern Wilderness Survival – Session 5, July 10-14, 2023), lead craft projects, storytelling/read stories, camp songs, yoga, or submit your own ideas. We’re always open to hear about new ideas. Please contact us for more information and down load the Volunteer Camp Application 2024 form, then follow the instructions to apply. We will set up an interview to discuss opportunities. Thank you kindly!
Teen Volunteer opportunities are available this summer, however spots are limited. Teens are ages 15 to 17 years old. Please download the Teen Volunteer Camp Application Form and Teen Volunteer Health Form, complete and return to Carrie Benham, Camp Director at cbenham@dahlemcenter.org or Fax to 517-782-3441. An interview time will be set up to meet you and discuss teen volunteer opportunities. We look forward to having enthusiastic helpful teens this summer! Thank you for your continued support for Dahlem.
Questions? Eager to sign up?
Register today by completing the online forms! You can find the forms in the links above or select each form from the Camp drop down menu.
If you have any further questions, please give us a call at 517-782-3453 ext. 0 or stop in at our gift shop Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Thank you Summer Camp Sponsors
