Nature Inspired, The Works of James R. Darnell – Wildlife Art Exhibit Open to the Public Monday-Saturday, 10a-3p, through April 19, 2024 – Collaboration between Elachee Nature Science Center and The Arts Council, Inc.

Camp Elachee 2024
Presented by

Annual Platinum Sponsor

Northside Hospital

with

Annual Gold Sponsor

Cargill, Inc.

Summer Break

Experiences for 4-Year-Olds through rising 6th Grade

REGISTER YOUR CAMPER

At Camp Elachee, we blend traditional outdoor camp activities with lively exploration in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.

We tailor age-appropriate adventures to give campers experiences that bring each weekly theme to life.

Best of all? Campers forge friendships, make lifelong memories, try new things and get to be kids!

Unplugged and Outside

2024 Weekly Themes

WEEK 1: June 3-7, 2024
Forest Forensics…
Campers will take a deep dive into all things that call the forest home. They will explore animals, plants and waters that flow through our woods to discover their many habits and secrets. Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 2: June 10-14, 2024
Ancient Elachee… Let’s dig back to a time long ago. Campers will learn about native people, dinosaurs, rocks, minerals and so much more! Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 3: June 17-21, 2024
Space Bound…
Blasting off to faraway places, campers will take a closer look at the solar system, stars and even Earth by working to solve mysteries through experiments and exciting activities. Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 4: June 24-28, 2024
Water Wonders…
Get ready for lots of water fun! This week campers will be diving into lots of new knowledge while exploring Walnut Creek and all the critters that call the water home! Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 5: July 1-3, 2024 (3-day week)
Buggy Business…
Take a look at the small world around us. Campers will examine bugs in a way that we have not in the past by exploring the small critters that call the wild home. Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $150 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $120 per camper

WEEK 6: July 8-12, 2024
Expedition Explorer…
Put on those thinking caps! Campers will be learning how to survive in the woods without technology and modern equipment. Campers will learn how to build a fire, make a shelter, tell which plants are safe and much more! Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 7: July 15-19, 2024
Taking Flight… Discover the world of birds. We will explore birds from the small hummingbird to the large Great Horned Owl. Campers will learn more about how and why these creatures use flight for movement. Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper

WEEK 8: July 22-26, 2024
Camp Rewind… Campers will be reliving some of the most loved parts of the summer! We will be circling back around to the activities and topics that were the most fun and exciting from previous camp weeks. Campers will also participate in many traditional camp activities.

  • Elementary Camp = $250 per camper
  • 4-Year-Old Camp = $200 per camper
4-Year-Old Camps

4-Year-Old Summer Day Camps

  • 8:15am to Noon (Daily)
  • Eight (8) Camp Weeks, June 3 to July 26, 2024

ELIGIBILITY: Age 4*

CAMP GROUP SIZE: 10 Campers Per Week

4-Year-Old SUMMER DAY CAMP FEE SCHEDULE:

  • $200 Per Camper = Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 (June 3-28) and 6, 7, 8 (July 8-26)
  • $120 Per Camper = Week 5: July 1-3

To be eligible for a camp discount, Elachee Family Adventurer or Elachee Patron Membership must be current for the camp dates requested.

*PLEASE NOTE: Elachee’s 4-Year-Old camp policy is that all campers MUST be age 4 by the start of the camp week for which they are registered AND be able to toilet completely independently (ex: pull pants up and down, wipe, etc.). Accidents for children of this age are understandable and expected. However, a child who is clearly not toilet trained, or has excessive accidents (one or more per camp day), will result in parents being contacted to pick up the child. Additionally, should this happen, the camper’s registration for the week will be dropped without a refund.

Elementary Camps

Elementary Summer Day Camps

  • Eight (8) Camp Weeks, June 3 to July 26, 2024
  • 8:15am to 2:45pm (Daily)

ELIGIBILITY: Ages 5 to 12, entering Kindergarten up to rising 6th Grade for 2024-2025.

CAMP GROUP SIZE: 114 Campers Per Week

2024 SUMMER DAY CAMP FEE SCHEDULE:

  • $250 Per Camper = Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 (June 3-28) and 6, 7, 8 (July 8-26)
  • $150 Per Camper = Week 5: July 1-3

To be eligible for a camp discount, Elachee Family Adventurer or Elachee Patron Membership must be current for the camp dates requested.

General Information

When does registration open and how do I register?

We are excited to open registration for Elachee Family Adventurer Members on February 1 at 10am. We invite you to learn more about Elachee membership on our web site.

Registration for the general public opens on March 1 at 10am.

Registration for all campers is completed using the Campsite platform.

What are Camp Elachee hours?

Camp hours for elementary campers are from 8:15am to 2:45pm. Drop-off begins at 8:15am and pick-up begins at 2:45pm.

Camp hours for 4-year-old campers are from 8:15am to 12:15pm. Drop off begins at 8:15am and pick-up begins at 12:15pm.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide before or after care.

Late fees of $1/minute may apply for campers who are consistently picked up late.

How do I know what my child is doing each day?

You will receive an email with a weekly newsletter on the Monday of your week of camp.

The newsletter will provide highlights of the week. We encourage you to use this information to talk with your camper about all of their camp activities. We also post a reel to Facebook and Instagram with highlights of the week each Friday evening. Be sure to follow us on social media to see all the fun!

Camp Elachee 2024 weekly themes for Elementary and 4-Year-Old camps are listed above. Creek Days are generally scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.

Are meals or snacks provided?

Please send your camper with lunch and at least two (2) snacks each day. Your camper will be using a lot of energy to participate in camp, so remember that they may be more hungry than normal!

Camp Elachee is a nut-free environment. For the safety of all campers, we ask that when packing food items that you please refrain from packing any items containing nuts.

What does my camper need to bring each day?
  • Daily: Your camper should bring a water bottle (preferably refillable), bug spray, lunch, two (2) or more snacks, and a bag to put their belongings in. They may also bring a hat and sunscreen if desired.
  • Creek Days: Your camper will need to bring all of the items listed above as well as a towel and closed toe water shoes. They will also need to come dressed in the clothes or swimsuit they will be wearing into the creek, as they will not have an opportunity to change.

Pricing

How much does Camp Elachee cost?

Elementary Camp is $250 per camper each week, and 4-Year-Old Camp is $200 per camper each week.

The shortened camp week of July 1-3, 2024 will be prorated to $150 for Elementary Camp and $120 for 4-Year-Old Camp.

Are discounts or financial aid available?

Member Discounts
Elachee Family Adventurer Members receive a camp discount of 10-percent (in addition to the other great benefits of being a member).

And we love siblings!
Families are eligible for a 5-percent discount on all registrations when multiple children from the same family are registered at the same time. Please email the Camp Director sam@elachee.org or call 770-535-1976 ext. 223 to receive the discount code for sibling registrations.

Financial Aid
Generous Elachee supporters make possible financial assistance for Camp Elachee participants.

We are pleased to also be able to offer limited financial aid, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please email the Camp Director sam@elachee.org or call 770-535-1976 ext. 223 for more information. There is no guarantee of financial assistance.

 

Policy

Who qualifies as an Elementary Camper?

Elementary Campers are children who are entering Kindergarten through entering 6th Grade.

Who qualifies as a 4-Year-Old Camper?

Campers in this group must be 4-years-old by the time that their first camp week begins.

Campers in this group must also be able to toilet completely independently. We define this as knowing that they need to use the bathroom in time to get there, pulling pants up and down alone, wiping independently, and being able to help dress themselves should they have an accident.

What are creek days?

Creek days will be held on Thursday and Friday of each camp week. Occasionally, circumstances necessitate that we cancel Creek Day. Your child does not need to know how to swim to participate in creek or water play. Water in most areas of the creek is no higher than ankle deep.

Can I request that campers be placed in the same group?

To provide appropriate staffing structures, we are unfortunately not able to accommodate friend requests. Campers who are close in age and/or grade are often grouped together or have the opportunity to participate in joint activities throughout the day.

Can you accommodate campers with special needs or medical conditions?

While we work hard to make our camp atmosphere inclusive we want to ensure that we are able to provide the best experience possible. Please email the Camp Director sam@elachee.org or call 770-535-1976 ext. 223 to discuss options if your child has special needs or medical conditions.

What is your refund policy?

Refunds or cancellations will be issued until May 24, 2024. Any requests for refunds received May 25, 2024 or later will require a doctor’s note. Transfers to other camp weeks will be permitted as space allows. This policy will allow us to ensure proper notice for our families on waitlists for this summer.

Counselors In Training

Leadership Program for Teens

Who better to carry on the Camp Elachee tradition than former campers?

Camp Elachee provides teens (rising 9th-12th Grade) the opportunity to gain collaborative workplace and team-building skills.

Supervised by the Camp Director and mentored by the Program Assistant, CITs will help Camp Counselors provide activities to campers in a safe and well-supervised outdoor setting.

The CIT Registration and Application Period is open February 28–May 22, 2024. Please email the Camp Director, sam@elachee.org, with any questions or to receive an application.

Camp Elachee adheres to guidelines and policies that ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of participating children, their families and camp personnel.