February Break Winter Camp 2025
Make winter memorable! Join our experienced museum educators to explore the majesty and mystery of the Vermont winter landscape. Campers can expect to adventure, play, learn, and build friendships through wildlife tracking, snowshoeing, sledding, shelter building, group games, cozying up by the campfire, and more. Registration is available for single days of camp. See each camp day’s theme for more information.
Important: Camps will occur outdoors as much as possible. Camp agendas are subject to change. In the event of hazardous weather conditions, we will contact camp registrants as soon as possible. There will be a make up date of Friday 02/21/25. Our registration and cancellation policy can be found here.
Brave Bears (ages 6-8) and Wild Walkers (9-11)
Tuesday 02/18/25 - Thursday 2/20/25
Camps Run 9:30- 3:30, Drop off 9:00 - 9:30, Pick up 3:30 - 4:00
Single-day camp options or all three with a different topic/theme each day
$75 per camper on Tuesday and Wednesday, $90 on Thursday includes Grafton Trails fee
The Nature Museum offers camp scholarships for families in need of financial assistance thanks to the Agnes Lindsay Trust, local organizations, and Nature Museum donors. See our Camp FAQ page to learn more.
Makeup day of Friday, 2/21/25
Note: Exact camp agendas are subject to change at the discretion of camp staff based on weather conditions, organizational capacity, and camper interests. Any major changes will be communicated by camp staff via email.
Tues. 02/18/25
Day 1: Winter Trekkers
With the mountains missing most of their leaves and sometimes covered in snow, life in wintery forests slows down. We’ll take an exploratory approach to discovering that the landscape is still teeming with life – in overwintering buds, bumpy bark, and clues left behind by wildlife. We’ll use museum materials, mounts, and nearby trails to experience the joys of life in winter through the eyes of our wild neighbors.
Camp Day Overview:
9:00 - 9:30 Drop Off
9:30 - 10:15 Camp Welcome
10:15 - 10:30 Morning Snack
10:30 - 11:30 Winter Hike / Snowshoe
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch
12:15 - 1:30 Core Routines (Sit spot, free play in playscape & meadow, story telling/reading)
1:30 - 1:50 Afternoon Snack
1:50 - 2:45: Winter Hike / Snowshoe
2:45 - 3:30 Campfire basics: Safety, starting, etc. Closing Circle
3:30 - 4:00 Pick Up
Wed. 02/19/25
Day 2: Fire & Ice
Through hands-on, exploratory activities, we’ll learn about the science of snow and fire, practice campfire safety, and learn about how wild communities adapt to winter. With these lessons in mind, campers will work together to prepare, cook, and share a meal around the campfire. Teamwork, storytelling, problem solving and play are at the heart of this memorable experience.
Camp Day Overview:
9:00 - 9:30 Drop Off
9:30 - 10:15 Camp Welcome
10:15 - 10:30 Morning Snack
10:30 - 11:30 Snow & Ice Science
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch
12:15 - 1:30 Core Routines (Sit spot, free play in playscape & meadow, story telling/reading)
1:30 - 1:50 Afternoon Snack
1:50 - 2:45 Campfire Learning & Cooking
2:45 - 3:30 Closing Circle
3:30 - 4:00 Pick Up
Thurs. 02/20/25
Day 3: Flurries of Fun
This camp day is all about snow play and adventure! Winter offers special opportunities to play, move, explore, and learn outdoors. There’s no better place to have a fun-filled winter day with the museum’s access to nearby Magic Forest Playscape, sledding hill, indoor exhibits, and the Grafton Trails & Outdoors Center. We’ll be collaborating with the Outdoors Center to offer a variety of snow sport options in the afternoon (all activities are conditions permitting).
Camp Day Overview:
9:00 - 9:30 Drop Off (at The Nature Museum)
9:30 - 10:15 Camp Welcome
10:15 - 10:30 Morning Snack
10:30 - 11:15AM Museum Exploration
11:15AM - 11:30AM: Pack up transition time
11:30 - 12:00: Hike to GTOC
12:00 - 12:30: Lunch
12:30 - 1:30: Activity session 1
1:30 - 1:50: Afternoon Snack
1:50PM - 3:00PM: Activity session 2
3:00 - 3:30 Closing Circle, pack up to go
3:30 - 4:00 Pick Up (from GTOC)
Fri. 02/21/25, Makeup day if needed.
(Note: Exact camp agendas are subject to change at the discretion of camp staff based on weather conditions, organizational capacity, and camper interests. Any major changes will be communicated by camp staff via email.)