At Treetops, the idea of a “nature program” is almost redundant, as the natural world is in almost everything we do:
- hearing the call of a loon while canoeing
- using plants for natural dyeing or weaving
- walking barefoot along streamside moss and rocks.
Learning in Nature
Redundant or not, we have several naturalists on staff, a butterfly house, plus the natural classrooms of the lake, meadow, and woodland trails. As they explore firsthand the world around them, campers learn to:
- identify planets and constellations with field glasses or a telescope
- gather edible plants and flowers as snacks or garnish
- catch frogs in the reflecting pond or butterflies in the meadow
- distinguish species of trees by their distinctive leaves.
Perhaps most important of all, exploring nature fosters children’s appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and a desire to protect it.
Nature & Creativity
At Treetops, many of our crafts activities incorporate elements of nature. Campers for instance might:
- create weavings with grass, feathers, and other natural materials
- make hand-made journals with birch bark covers
- press wild flowers for hand-made paper
- make lip balm with mint and lavender picked from the gardens
- dye silk scarves using natural dyes found on the property.