For 19 summers, Coastal Rivers’ Camp Mummichog, a nature-adventure day camp, has offered kids the opportunity to learn, play, and be creative on the rolling hills of Salt Bay Farm and the shores of the Damariscotta River estuary. This summer, campers can touch a wriggling, iridescent polychaete worm in the mud; witness young osprey on fledgling flights; follow deer trails; dissect flowers in search of the embryos that become seeds, and much more. Coastal Rivers has announced that registration for Camp Mummichog is now open for the summer of 2025.

When asked, “Why is nature camp important for kids?” Sarah Gladu, Coastal Rivers’ Director of Education and Community Science, shared, “There is all kinds of science backing up the importance of getting kids active outdoors for health and development. And, learning new things or having new experiences boosts dopamine levels, which not only makes learning feel exciting but also makes you seek to repeat the experience. This is how we ensure kids develop a lifelong love of learning and the outdoors. Usually at camp, kids do not even know they are having an educational experience.”

At Camp Mummichog, nature education takes many forms: kids explore, play nature-focused games, create art, play music, keep a nature journal, and more. All of this takes place on a beautiful 120-acre nature preserve, with fields, forests, and fresh and saltwater marshes along the Damariscotta River estuary.

From June 30 through Aug. 22, eight camp sessions range from three to five days in length. Each session has a different theme and is designed for a specific age group. This year, a new session will highlight archaeology and kids will have a chance to try making sandpaper petroglyphs, pottery, and put together a time capsule. Campers will have the opportunity to try their hand at being an archaeologist in a fabricated dig site. The group will also take a day to visit Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.

During the “Firekeepers” session, campers will try their hands at basic survival skills, learn about Wabanaki culture, and build debris shelters. At “Ukulele Camp,” music and nature go hand-in-hand during this three-day session with local professional musician Heather Hardy. Heather will teach basic chords and some simple songs using ukuleles. Campers will also spend time exploring and playing and, if they choose, they may compose their own songs and even perform them on the last day of camp.

Other sessions include: Earth Art!, Marine Adventures, Amazing Avians, Grandparents and Kids Camp, Nature’s Detectives, and Marvelous Mammals. All camp sessions are held at Coastal Rivers’ Nature and Education Center at Salt Bay Farm, on Belvedere Road in Damariscotta, though some sessions include a field trip. Camp Mummichog is certified by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more, download a flyer with the schedule, or register, go to https://www.coastalrivers.org/events-programs/camp-mummichog/. Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Coastal Rivers donors and members.