Nature Play Camp 2026

Nature Play Camp offers young explorers a full week of unstructured outdoor discovery at Monte Sano Nature Preserve, where curiosity takes center stage. Rather than following a rigid schedule, campers spend their days following their interests — whether that means splashing in Fagan Creek hunting for water critters, building elaborate forts, tracking animal signs, or quietly sketching in the shade. The Land Trust of North Alabama's approach balances gentle guidance (group hikes, fossil hunts, map reading lessons) with plenty of freedom to simply be kids in the woods, collecting treasures and making their own discoveries. The camp runs two separate weeks tailored to different age groups. The June 9-13 session welcomes children ages 6-8, with both drop-off and pick-up at the Bankhead Trailhead location. The June 16-20 week serves ages 8-11 and includes longer hikes, with drop-off at Bankhead and pick-up at the Cleermont Trailhead. Both sessions run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily. Cost is $300 for Land Trust members or $375 for non-members, with a limited number of scholarships available. Parents of 8-year-olds can choose either week based on their child's readiness for longer treks. Each camp day includes structured group activities, lunch, and quiet time, but the emphasis remains on choice and exploration. Campers might spend hours engineering creek dams, learning about animal adaptations, or organizing their nature finds on the communal display table. With four adult staff members and two teen volunteers supervising up to 20 campers, the setting offers both safety and space for independent discovery.