Fledglings
Contact Us
Camp Hours
Please note, times are different for Peeps, Overnight and Winter Vacation camps.
MONDAY - THURSDAY
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FRIDAY
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
AFTER-CAMP*
After-Camp extends the camp day to 5:30 PM for additional fee.
*Not available all weeks or at all locations.
Registration opens January 21, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Dates and Rates will be available in December.
Get ready for camp registration!
Log in to our registration portal now to ensure your household information is up-to-date.
If you are new to VINS Nature Camp, email us at camps@vinsweb.org so we can send you an account activation link. Please allow one business day for a response. Note: Once registration is open, new users will be able to make an account without emailing for account activation.
Early Registration for VINS Members
January 14, 2026 - Registration Opens to VINS Members for 2026 Summer Camp season
Memberships must be purchased or renewed by January 12, 2026, to get early access to registration.
FLEDGLINGS
Children Entering Grades 1-3
The natural world is full of wonders and mysteries just waiting to be discovered. VINS Nature Camp is excited to take your child on an unforgettable adventure this summer. With camps for Fledglings at the VINS Nature Center and Storrs Pond Recreation Area and over 10 different weekly themes to choose from, VINS Nature Camp is proud to offer something for every child. Your camper will spend their week outside exploring the amazing creatures and habitats that share our world, all while making friends and forming a deeper connection to nature.
2026 Camp Prices:
Rates will be available in December.
FLEDGLINGS Camp Hours:
All VINS Nature Camp's FLEDGLINGS camps run from 9 AM - 4 PM, Monday through Thursday and 9 AM - 3:30 PM on Friday unless otherwise specified.
After-Camp:
VINS Nature Camp offers After-Camp care for sessions held at the VINS Nature Center and Storrs Pond Recreation Area locations. This program is an extension of the camp day – campers must be registered on a weekly basis.
Details
- Available for Fledglings, Falcons and Eagles camps
- After-Camp hours are from the end of the camp day until 5:30 PM
- Rate is $75 per camper per week unless otherwise specified
- Not available all weeks at all camp locations
VINS Member Discounts*:
Two-Person, Four-Person and Six-Person Membership levels receive a 10% discount on camp tuition. Use code MEM10 at checkout.
Supporter, Sustainer and Patron Membership levels receive a 15% discount on camp tuition. Use code MEM15 at checkout.
Memberships must be current to be eligible for these discounts. Questions about your membership? Log in to your membership profile to check your membership level, status, and expiration date, or email members@vinsweb.org.
*Please note: Individual Membership level not eligible for discounts on camp tuition. See member benefits summary for more information.
2026 FLEDGLINGS Camps at VINS Nature Center
JUNE 22 - 26 / Amazing Race: VINS
The Amazing Race starts, and all the animals have to make their way around VINS in just one week. How can land animals fly through the air? Flying animals travel underwater? Aquatic animals cross huge swaths of land? That is for you to figure out. Campers will put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test to engineer and build all manner of transportation methods to help their animals make it across the finish line. This camp will have campers working as a team to make sure no animal gets left behind. Join us for the journey.
JUNE 22 - 26 / Survival Superpowers
Can you spot a rabbit a mile away? Sniff out a scent trail that is 300 hours cold? Or hear a mouse under 2 feet of snow? Did you know that there are superheroes living among us? We share our world with amazing animals, and each of them has superpowers that are key to their success. In Survival Superpowers, discover the incredible abilities of animals to see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. Each day will be a new investigation into the incredible world of the five senses, and campers will test how their own senses stack up against those of animals.
JUNE 29 - JULY 3 / Tracks and Traces
Our world is full of animals going about their daily lives, and yet most of this activity goes unobserved by humans. So how do we know animals really do live here, and how do we know so much about their secretive lives? In fact, the forest floor is full of mysteries! Animals leave us many clues that tell us where they have been and what they have been doing. Spend a week investigating and practicing the art of tracking with VINS educators. By the end of the week, campers will be able to solve the mystery of who was here.
JULY 6 - 10 / Fantastic Fliers
Come explore the world of flight. From a tiny honey bee to the great Bald Eagle, there are so many amazing critters that have the unique ability to fly through the sky. Fantastic Fliers investigates the flying abilities of different animals and why it is crucial for their survival. Campers will go bugging in the meadow, discover the world’s only flying mammal, meet VINS’ resident raptors, and even explore how to engineer their own flying machines! Join VINS to learn all about the power of flight and the creatures of New England that flap, soar, and hover overhead.
JULY 13 - 17 / Art in the Wild
Chock full of hands-on projects and outdoor experiences, Art in the Wild will teach children to observe and respond to the patterns, forms, and colors of nature and express themselves through a variety of creative art projects.
JULY 13 - 17 / Woodland Scouts
Join VINS’ very own woodland scout troop and become at home in the forests surrounding the VINS Nature Center. During this camp, scouts will gain comfort traveling through the woods and be introduced to beginner wilderness skills through exciting themed activities as well as games, stories, crafts, and more. Daily mini-hikes will encourage campers to expand their scout knowledge by learning skills such as how to build a survival shelter, follow a map, identify trees and plants, and build a campfire safely. A walk in the woods will never be the same again after this week of “tree-mendous” fun. Campers who successfully master these skills will assist in building a campfire at the end of the week for a closing ceremony.
JULY 20 - 24 / Amazing Race: VINS
The Amazing Race starts, and all the animals have to make their way around VINS in just one week. How can land animals fly through the air? Flying animals travel underwater? Aquatic animals cross huge swaths of land? That is for you to figure out. Campers will put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test to engineer and build all manner of transportation methods to help their animals make it across the finish line. This camp will have campers working as a team to make sure no animal gets left behind. Join us for the journey.
JULY 20 - 24 / Habitat Hunters
Every animal needs a habitat, but not all habitats are the same. Our Habitat Hunters team will explore the diverse ecosystems of the VINS Nature Center and discover how animals make their homes in the meadow, forest floor, tree tops, river's edge, and all the spaces in between. Treks in search of food, water, shelter, and space will take campers on in-depth explorations of what makes up an animal's habitat as they discover who is living at the VINS Nature Center or in their very own backyard.
JULY 27 - 31 / Animal Builders
Campers will become experts in animal architecture as they explore how animals of all kinds build their homes. From the smallest caddisfly larva case to the largest beaver dam, discover how and why certain creatures build homes the way that they do. Campers will investigate the special characteristics, functions, and habitats of each dwelling and even practice their engineering skills by picking a few favorite examples and attempting to recreate these amazing structures. You will be fascinated by all of the different ways animals create a place to call home sweet home.
AUGUST 3 - 7 / Art in the Wild
Chock full of hands-on projects and outdoor experiences, Art in the Wild will teach children to observe and respond to the patterns, forms, and colors of nature and express themselves through a variety of creative art projects.
AUGUST 3 - 7 / Survival Superpowers
Can you spot a rabbit a mile away? Sniff out a scent trail that is 300 hours cold? Or hear a mouse under 2 feet of snow? Did you know that there are superheroes living among us? We share our world with amazing animals, and each of them has superpowers that are key to their success. In Survival Superpowers, discover the incredible abilities of animals to see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. Each day will be a new investigation into the incredible world of the five senses, and campers will test how their own senses stack up against those of animals. During the week, there will also be opportunities for beginner yoga to learn how to move and bend like the animals of the world.
AUGUST 10 - 14 / Fantastic Fliers
Come explore the world of flight. From a tiny honey bee to the great Bald Eagle, there are so many amazing critters that have the unique ability to fly through the sky. Fantastic Fliers investigates the flying abilities of different animals and why it is crucial for their survival. Campers will go bugging in the meadow, discover the world’s only flying mammal, meet VINS’ resident raptors, and even explore how to engineer their own flying machines! Join VINS to learn all about the power of flight and the creatures of New England that flap, soar, and hover overhead.
AUGUST 10 - 14 / Tracks and Traces
Our world is full of animals going about their daily lives, and yet most of this activity goes unobserved by humans. So how do we know animals really do live here, and how do we know so much about their secretive lives? In fact, the forest floor is full of mysteries! Animals leave us many clues that tell us where they have been and what they have been doing. Spend a week investigating and practicing the art of tracking with VINS educators. By the end of the week, campers will be able to solve the mystery of who was here.
AUGUST 17 - 21 / Animal Builders
Campers will become experts in animal architecture as they explore how animals of all kinds build their homes. From the smallest caddisfly larva case to the largest beaver dam, discover how and why certain creatures build homes the way that they do. Campers will investigate the special characteristics, functions, and habitats of each dwelling and even practice their engineering skills by picking a few favorite examples and attempting to recreate these amazing structures. You will be fascinated by all of the different ways animals create a place to call home sweet home.
AUGUST 17 - 21 / Woodland Scouts
Join VINS’ very own woodland scout troop and become at home in the forests surrounding the VINS Nature Center. During this camp, scouts will gain comfort traveling through the woods and be introduced to beginner wilderness skills through exciting themed activities as well as games, stories, crafts, and more. Daily mini-hikes will encourage campers to expand their scout knowledge by learning skills such as how to build a survival shelter, follow a map, identify trees and plants, and build a campfire safely. A walk in the woods will never be the same again after this week of “tree-mendous” fun. Campers who successfully master these skills will assist in building a campfire at the end of the week for a closing ceremony.
AUGUST 24 - 26 / Fantastical Beasts
Imagine a world where mythical creatures, extinct monsters, and mysterious animals of the night all exist together. In this magical week of camp, they will. Spend the week exploring a realm where the line between what is real and what is imaginary blurs. Throw in a little magic and mystery, and you may not be able to believe what beasts appear before your own eyes.
AUGUST 24 - 26 / Magnificent Magic
Charms, potions, and spells, oh my!
At VINS, there is magic to be found for those who are willing to believe. In an enchanted forest where trolls guard the bridges and villains cast curses, campers will practice their potions, cast their spells, and unleash their totem animal to make it through this week of mystical fun.
So, we only have one question. Do you believe in magic?
2026 FLEDGLINGS Camps at Storrs Pond Recreation Area
JUNE 29 - JULY 3 / Habitat Hunters
Every animal needs a habitat, but not all habitats are the same. Our Habitat Hunters team will explore the diverse ecosystems surrounding Storrs Pond and discover how animals make their homes in the meadow, forest floor, stream, pond, and all the spaces in between. Treks in search of food, water, shelter, and space will take campers on in-depth explorations of what makes up an animal's habitat as they discover who is living at Storrs Pond or in their very own backyard. Storrs Pond Recreation Area in Hanover, NH, offers exceptional opportunities for on-water adventures, including fishing, canoeing, and swimming.
JUNE 29 - JULY 3 / Water, Water Everywhere
Where swimming lessons meet nature exploration, join VINS and Storrs Pond for a week of exploration and aquatic escapades. Students will learn swimming fundamentals from the experts and discover why humans have been so inspired by a frog’s kick, a turtle’s stroke, and the beats of a butterfly’s wing. Storrs Pond swim instructors will build campers’ confidence in the water during daily swimming lessons while VINS educators will cultivate your child’s curiosity for science and the great outdoors as they lead adventures in the wetland habitats around the pond. Through swimming, play, and nature exploration, campers will learn how plants and animals have adapted to a world where water truly is everywhere.
JULY 6 - 10 / Art in the Wild
Chock full of hands-on projects and outdoor experiences, Art in the Wild will teach children to observe and respond to the patterns, forms, and colors of nature and express themselves through a variety of creative art projects. Storrs Pond Recreation Area also offers exceptional opportunities for water adventures including canoeing and swimming in the pond.
JULY 6 - 10 / Water, Water Everywhere
Where swimming lessons meet nature exploration, join VINS and Storrs Pond for a week of exploration and aquatic escapades. Students will learn swimming fundamentals from the experts and discover why humans have been so inspired by a frog’s kick, a turtle’s stroke, and the beats of a butterfly’s wing. Storrs Pond swim instructors will build campers’ confidence in the water during daily swimming lessons, while VINS educators will cultivate your child’s curiosity for science and the great outdoors as they lead adventures in the wetland habitats around the pond. Through swimming, play, and nature exploration, campers will learn how plants and animals have adapted to a world where water truly is everywhere.
JULY 27 - 31 / Woodland Scouts
Join VINS’ very own woodland scout troop and become at home in the forests surrounding Storrs Pond. During this camp, scouts will gain comfort traveling through the woods and be introduced to beginner wilderness skills through exciting themed activities as well as games, stories, crafts, and more. Daily mini-hikes will encourage campers to expand their scout knowledge by learning skills such as how to build a survival shelter, follow a map, identify trees and plants, and build a campfire safely. A walk in the woods will never be the same again after this week of “tree-mendous” fun. Campers who successfully master these skills will assist in building a campfire at the end of the week for a closing ceremony. Storrs Pond Recreation Area also offers exceptional opportunities for water adventures, including canoeing and swimming in the pond.
