Day Camps

Maine Audubon offers day camps at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth (Greater Portland) and Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden (Greater Bangor).

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available for all day camps. Through the generosity of local businesses, organizations and individuals, partial scholarships are available for Maine residents who need financial assistance. For more information, please call: (207) 781-2330, ext. 224 or email scholarships@maineaudubon.org.

Priority Deadline for summer camp scholarships: March 31, 2024 

Download the form here.

SUMMER CAMPS AT GILSLAND FARM

Summer Camp registration will open on Tuesday, March 5 (Preschool) and Wednesday, March 6 (K-3) at 7 pm EST. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest updates. Summer Camp is SOLD OUT at this time, waitlists are available for specific weeks.

Summer Camp Schedules and Themes 2024
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Registration
Frequently Asked Questions: Elementary Day Camp
Frequently Asked Questions: Preschool Day Camp

Who: Ages 3-5 (children must be fully toilet trained; please see Preschool Camp FAQs for more information)

When: Monday-Friday, 9 am-1 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

$275 members, $315 nonmembers for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available! 

Our half-day camps provide a gentle introduction to camp for children ages three through five. We will spend each week learning about the plants and animals at Gilsland Farm through hands-on exploration, outdoor play, art, music, and more! Our daily adventures will foster an understanding of and appreciation for the natural world.


July 1-3 (no camp July 4-5): Our Five Senses: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Prorated Pricing: $165/member, $189/nonmember for 5-day session
Why does a slug feel slimy? Can you tell the song of a chickadee from a robin? Join us for a week of sensory exploration as we challenge ourselves to look, listen, hear, and feel more carefully while learning about animals with super-senses, too.


July 15-19: Wacky Wildlife: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
How does a frog swallow its food? Did you know some wasps lay their eggs inside other living insects? Nature is full of other ‘wacky’ phenomena and there is still so much left to learn! We’ll take a look at some of the often overlooked creatures of Gilsland Farm.


August 5-9: Animal Families: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Animal families take many shapes and sizes! This week, we’ll discover the many ways animals raise their young. By comparing our families or other human families from stories, we’ll see what would be different if you were a beaver, an owl, an opossum, a salamander, or a cowbird.


August 19-23: Small Wonders: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Scaling down play can lead to BIG discoveries! Campers will spend this week creating fairy houses, creating small worlds and habitats, and searching for some of the tiniest creatures at Gilsland Farm.

Who: Ages 4-5

When: Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

$345 member, $390 nonmember for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Take a closer look at nature with full-day camps designed for a preschooler’s pace! Each day includes games and outdoor play, plenty of hands-on exploration, art, music, and quiet rest time.


June 24-28: Naturalists in Training: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
How do naturalists explore their surroundings? What tools do scientists use to study nature? Wonder will abound this week as we take in all that Gilsland Farm has to offer.


July 8-12: Animal Helpers: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
There are many people who work as community helpers for animals and wildlife. Learn about the work of ornithologists, wildlife rehabilitators, arborists, properties managers, and community scientists just like us! We will learn about their jobs and meet some real helpers who work here in Maine.


July 29-August 2: Create with Nature: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Nature and natural materials will inspire us this week! We will build and play outside, use found materials to create art, work collaboratively, and explore scientific phenomena through different art forms.


August 12-16: Aquatic Adventures: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Here at Gilsland Farm we are lucky to have fresh and salt water to explore and compare. We’ll visit the pond and the marsh to see who calls these places home. This week involves art, music, games, and sensory play all about water.

Who: For campers enrolled in grades K-3 during the 2023-2024 school year (rising 1st-4th graders)

When: Monday – Friday, 9 am-3 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

$345 member, $390 nonmember for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Our campers spend their days engaged in hands-on science, open-ended exploration and discovery, and activities designed to foster stewardship and build connection to the natural world–all while developing friendships, building community, and having fun!


June 24-28: Amazing Adaptations: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
How do animals do what they do?! This week we will learn about the amazing ways animals use their physical and behavioral adaptations to survive in the wild.


July 1-3 (no camp July 4-5): Metamorphic Marvels:  SOLD OUT: Click here to join waitlist!
Prorated Pricing: $207/member, $234 nonmember for 5-day session
What is the life cycle of a dragonfly? How do monarchs metamorphose? What does a ladybug larva look like? This week, we’ll focus on creatures that undergo drastic changes throughout their lives, looking to the pond, the meadow and the forest for inspiration.


July 8-12: Birds of a Feather: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
With binoculars, field guides, and our own keen observation skills, we’ll get to know the birds of Gilsland Farm this week! We’ll also explore the adaptations that help birds survive in so many different environments.


July 15-19: Predator Prowl: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Calling all carnivore lovers! This week we’ll celebrate the creatures at the top of the food chain – how they find their food, care for their young, and help keep ecosystems balanced.


July 29-August 2: Nature Art: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
There is so much to discover at the intersection of science and art! Campers will create individually and collaboratively this week while we experiment with different techniques, perspectives, and media.


August 5-9: Tails & Tales: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
This week is all about perspective and storytelling, as we practice seeing the world through the eyes of an ant or imagine what it’s like to be an oak tree. We’ll look to favorite books and stories for inspiration, and tell some tales of our own, too.


August 12-16: Animal Architects: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
Spend a STEM-filled week learning about the structures animals build and how they use them. With a little inspiration from spiderwebs, beaver dams, honeycomb, and more, campers will build and create all week long!


August 19-23: Nature Navigators: SOLD OUT: click here to join waitlist!
How do animals find their way? How can we use, create, and learn from maps? Campers this week will explore some special spots at Gilsland Farm and in order to creatively and collaboratively map them as they go!

SUMMER CAMPS AT FIELDS POND

Fields Pond 2023 Summer Camp

Summer Camp registration is now open for Preschool and Grades K-3. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest updates.

Frequently Asked Questions: Online Registration
Frequently Asked Questions: Elementary Day Camp
Frequently Asked Questions: Preschool Day Camp

Who: Ages 4-5 (please see Preschool Camp FAQs for more information)

When: Monday-Wednesday, 9 am-3 pm

Where: Fields Pond Audubon Center

$165 members, $195 nonmembers for 3-day session. Partial scholarships available!


July 1-3: Nature Detectives: REGISTER HERE! 
Any walk outdoors turns into an adventure when you’re a nature detective! We’ll investigate using our five senses to inspect leaves, bark, seeds, and mud for hints about our world. Join us for this week packed with fun as you find clues in nature and solve some wild mysteries.

Who: For campers enrolled in grades K-3 during the 2023-2024 school year (rising 1st-4th graders)

When: Monday – Friday, 9 am-3 pm

Where: Fields Pond Audubon Center

$275 member, $325 nonmember for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!


July 8-12: Wing it! REGISTER HERE! 
Birds are all around us and have so much to teach us.  This week we’ll dive deep into the world of birds, from feathers and flight to eggs and nest building.  See how our Nature Center’s Motus Tower can uncover the mysteries of migration and help us learn how to protect our feathered friends.


July 15-19: Web of Life: REGISTER HERE! 
Join us on a journey to unravel nature’s interconnected web! We will explore and gain a deep understanding of the relationships and connections that exist between organisms and their environment.


July 22 – 26: Wet & Wild: REGISTER HERE! 
Dive into different water habitats and explore creatures above and below the surface.  During this week of wet water adventures, you’ll learn about animals associated with water habitats and learn how to keep our waterways clean, healthy, and happy!


August 5-9: Wildlife Olympians: REGISTER HERE! 
Humans aren’t the only animals who can jump, run, swim, and fly through the air.  During this “Olympic week” we’ll learn about the amazing ways animals use their physical and behavioral adaptations to survive in the wild.  Discover who the gold medal winners are!


August 12-16: Earth Guardians: REGISTER HERE! 
Join us for a week of fun, friendship, and fostering a sense of responsibility towards our planet. Become an Earth Guardian and leave with memories, new skills, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world!


August 19-23: Buzz, Flutter, Crawl: REGISTER HERE! 
Join us for a fun-filled week exploring the fascinating world of insects. At Bug Camp we’ll learn many reasons to “love bugs” as we explore our insect neighbors through a variety of games, crafts, nature walks, and science activities. 

VACATION CAMPS AT GILSLAND FARM

(SOLD OUT)

Who: Ages 3-5 (children must be fully toilet trained; please see Preschool Camp FAQs for more information)

When: February 20-23 (Tuesday to Friday), 9 am-1 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth

$220 members, $255 nonmembers for 4-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Join us as we explore and enjoy nature through hands-on exploration, art, stories, and songs. Each day will include indoor play and outdoor adventures, designed to celebrate winter and wildlife while fostering a love for the natural world.

Who: Grades K-3 (SOLD OUT)

When: February 20-23 (Tuesday to Friday), 9 am-3 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth

$275 members, $315  nonmembers for 4-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Young scientists and nature lovers will delight in all that winter has to offer at Gilsland Farm during our February Vacation camp! Each day includes time for outdoor exploration and play, plus plenty of science, art, and teambuilding, with a special seasonal focus on topics like winter wildlife adaptations, tracking, and snow science.

 SOLD OUT: join waitlist here!

Who: Ages 3-5 (children must be fully toilet trained; please see Preschool Camp FAQs for more information)

When: April 15-19 (Monday to Friday), 9 am-1 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth

$275 members, $315 nonmembers for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Join us as we explore and enjoy nature through hands-on exploration, art, stories, and songs. Each day will include indoor play and outdoor adventures, designed to celebrate and foster a love for the natural world.

SOLD OUT: Join waitlist here!

Who: Grades K-3 

When: April 15-19 (Monday to Friday), 9 am-3 pm

Where: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth

$345 members, $390 nonmembers for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!

From returning migratory birds to the newly awakening creatures in the pond, each new sign of spring brings more to discover during April Vacation Camp! Each day will include exploration of different habitats at Gilsland Farm as we learn about wildlife through games, science, art, and teambuilding.

VACATION CAMPS AT FIELDS POND

Who: Grades 1-3

When: February 20-23 (Tuesday to Friday), 9 am-3 pm

Where: Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden

$220 members, $260 nonmembers for 4-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Maine Audubon winter vacation camp is an opportunity for children in grades 1-3 to learn about winter wildlife through hands-on activities and outdoor adventure. Our daily schedule includes time for art, hiking, science, games, and stories.  Each day will have a different theme and include topics about animal adaptations, snow science, tracking, and winter ecology. 

Who: Grades K-3

When: April 15-19 (Monday to Friday), 9 am-3 pm

Where: Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden

$275 members, $325 nonmembers for 5-day session. Partial scholarships available!

Registration is now open. Click here to register!

From returning migratory birds to the newly awakening creatures in the pond, each new sign of spring brings more to discover during April Vacation Camp! Each day will include exploration of different habitats at Fields Pond as we learn about wildlife through games, science, art, and teambuilding.K

CAMP INFORMATION
Camp Cancellation Policy

  • If a camp session is cancelled by Maine Audubon, attendees will be notified and full refunds will be issued.
  • If camp registration is cancelled by the attendee, no refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 14 days of the start of the camp session. For cancellations made more than 14 days in advance, refunds will be issued minus a $30 processing fee.
  • For cancellations resulting from exposure to COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 symptoms, refunds will be issued minus a $30 processing fee.

Program proceeds benefit the work of Maine Audubon.

Become an Environmental Education Assistant!
Are you a 15-17 year old who wants to spend time exploring outdoors with campers during the summer? Do you want to build skills, gain experience, and have fun while volunteering? If so, we hope you’ll apply to be an Environmental Education Assistant (EEA) with Maine Audubon’s summer day camps for children ages 3-9 at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth!