Frequently Asked Questions

In recent years, our camps have been filling up very early.  Many of our camps will fill the day that registration opens. 

If you are new to VINS Nature Camp, we recommend that you create your online account, add family members and fill in your household details in advance to simplify your registration process.  To get started, go to our registration portal.

If you already have an account in our registration portal, you can log in with your email and password and make sure that all your household information is up-to-date as well as add any additional children who will be attending camp this summer.

VINS Nature Camp runs day camps at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, VT and at Storrs Pond Recreation Area in Hanover, NH.  Camps with overnight experiences take place at VINS' Old Pepper Place Nature Reserve in Washington, VT.  To learn more about each of our unique camp locations visit our camp locations page.

At VINS Nature Camp, each day is different.  The camp instructors leading your child's camp session plan out an exciting week of activities and will fit those activities into our daily schedule.*

*Note: Schedules will differ for Peeps, Overnight and Vacation camps.

Once your child's camp registration is complete, you will receive an email with your VINS Household Confirmation Letter attached.  Review the information contained in that letter to ensure that your camp details are correct.

Log into your account in our registration portal.  Once there:

• Submit the required VINS Nature Camp Health and Emergency Care Form so that your child's paperwork is complete before they arrive at camp.
• Upload a photo of your camper(s).  This is optional.

As the start of camp approaches, you will receive emails from VINS with details about your child's upcoming camp week, including a tentative weekly schedule.

Our waitlists can get very long.  At any time, if your plans have changed, please contact VINS Nature Camp about cancelling your camp registration so that we can connect with another family on the waitlist.

VINS must have a copy of the VINS Nature Camp Health and Emergency Care Form on file for all children attending camp.

If your child is already enrolled in camp, fill this form out securely by logging into your account in our online registration portal.

If you prefer, you may complete a hard copy of our Health and Emergency Care Form and email or mail it to us.

Parents/guardians must provide VINS with a list of all adults who are authorized to pick up their child, including themselves.  All adults (including parents/guardians) should be prepared to show ID when picking up a child from camp. 

VINS will not release a child to an adult who is not on their Authorized Pick-up List.

If you need to add someone to the Authorized Pick-up List, please contact VINS Nature Camp at camps@vinsweb.org or call (802) 359-5000 x245.  Additionally, you can add to or remove a name from the list by logging into your account in our registration portal and managing your household information.

Your child should come to camp each day in casual, comfortable clothes, ready to hike, run, and likely get wet and dirty.  Your camper should be dressed for the weather and be prepared to spend most of the day outdoors.

What to Pack/Wear

• Day pack to carry belongings
• Lunch
• One or two snacks
• Water bottle (water is available for refills)
• Complete change of clothes
• Sturdy walking shoes (ex. sneakers or closed-toed sandals)
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Baseball cap or sun hat
• Sweatshirt or lightweight jacket
• Raincoat
• Rain boots/shoes, if desired
• Empty plastic bag for bringing home wet clothes
• Medications (complete list of medications sent to camp must be provided in the VINS Nature Camp Health and Emergency Form)
• Bathing suit and towel*
• Water shoes, if desired (ex. aqua socks, water sandals, or old sneakers)

What NOT to Pack/Wear

• Video games, iPods, cell phones or any other electronic toys or devices
• Personal items or toys
• Flip flops or open-toed sandals
• Nice clothing that should not get wet or soiled
• Prescription or over-the-counter medications not listed in the VINS Nature Camp Health and Emergency Form

*Not all camp locations have a swimming facility, however there are options for water play on hot days.

Add the Extended Day to your child's camp registration by contacting VINS Nature Camp at camps@vinsweb.org or call (802) 359-5000 x245.  Regular office hours are Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM.

May 1, 2024, is the deadline to cancel your camp registration and receive a full refund (less a $35 cancellation fee).

If you must cancel your child’s camp registration after the deadline, refunds will be issued according to the following schedule:

• Cancellations made at least one month before the first day of your camp session will receive a 50% refund.
• Cancellations made less than one month before the first day of your camp session are not eligible for a refund.
• VINS will not provide refunds if a child misses one or more days of camp due to dismissal, illness, unexpected family obligations, or any other unforeseen factor.

Our camps are very popular and our waitlists can get long.  When a waitlist reaches our maximum capacity of 20 children, we will close the waitlist and no longer accept new waitlist registrations.  Over time, if the waitlist shortens, we will re-open our waitlists for more sign-ups.

If you have questions about how long a given camp waitlist is, contact VINS Nature Camp at camps@vinsweb.org.

Yes, VINS Nature Camp offers scholarships and financial aid so that all interested youth have the opportunity to attend camp, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.  Each summer, VINS receives grant funds and generous donations in order to provide these opportunities to families who need assistance affording camp.

For more information about scholarships visit our Scholarships page.

Youth who have aged out of attending our camp programs can still stay involved in VINS.

Summer volunteer opportunities for teens include joining VINS Nature Camp's Leader-In-Training program to learn what it takes to be a VINS camp instructor while working directly with our campers. 

Another way to volunteer with VINS during the summer months is as a Baby Bird Volunteer for our Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation helping to raise the hundreds of nestling birds we care for each year.