The Damariscotta River Association (DRA) has announced that Camp Mummichog still has a limited number of openings for children to participate this summer.

Camp Mummichog is a nature-adventure day camp featuring nature discovery time with a naturalist, hands-on outdoor living skills including fire building, field trips to islands, and games. Sarah Gladu, the DRA education director, who has worked for more than 20 years as a naturalist and environmental educator, said that this is the ninth year that DRA has offered Camp Mummichog.

“We strive to teach love of nature by inviting the campers to explore the world around them,” Gladu said. “We hope to inspire young people to forge a deep connection with the natural world.”

The sessions that have openings are Marine Adventures, July 13 to 17; Firekeepers July 20 to 24; Music and Nature, July 27 to Aug. 7; and the Teen Institute for the Environment, Aug. 10 to 14. The highlight for Marine Adventures, open to ages 9 through 12 years old, is a trip to Monhegan Island for a day hike. Firekeepers will focus on learning outdoor living skills. It is open to ages 9 through 12 years old.

Throughout the two weeks of the Music & Nature Camp, each of the 9-12-year-olds in the camp will compose an original piece of music. The Damariscotta River Association has partnered with Salt Bay Chamberfest to provide the Music & Nature Camp and Concert to Damariscotta region communities. 

A music educator will work with Gladu to blend the Very Young Composers curriculum project of the New York Philharmonic with the popular Camp Mummichog curriculum, which Gladu developed and has directed since 2006. By the end of the session, each camper will compose an original piece of music which will be performed by Salt Bay Chamberfest musicians at a culminating concert.

The Teen Institute for the Environment is offered through Camp Mummichog but, according to Gladu, it is not a camp session as much as a special program for teens interested in natural sciences and being outdoors. Highlights will include gathering data on wildlife, visiting Big Huckleberry Island and meeting with professionals who work in the natural sciences. The group will also spend a day with scientific illustrator David Wheeler.

The camp sessions are held each day at the DRA Headquarters on Belvedere Road, Damariscotta. The sessions runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., depending on the week, Monday through Friday. The cost is $220 per week for non-members and $195 for members. Limited scholarships are still available.

For more information about the camps or other programs and events call 207-563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or view their website at www.damariscottariver.org.