Riverbend Environmental Education Center offers beloved summer nature camps that give children the chance to unplug, explore, and grow through hands-on outdoor experiences. Riverbend is a trusted destination for families seeking meaningful, screen-free summers rooted in curiosity, creativity, and connection to the natural world. Camps run June through Labor Day and serve children ages 4–13, with age-specific programs designed to meet campers where they are developmentally.
Days are spent hiking wooded trails, exploring streams, catching bugs, creating art, playing field games, and conducting fun, inquiry-based science activities. Campers are encouraged to get a little muddy, ask big questions, and build confidence through play and discovery. All programs are led by qualified, enthusiastic educators, many of whom were Riverbend campers themselves. Counselors foster a supportive, inclusive environment where children feel safe to try new things, make friends, and develop a lifelong appreciation for nature.
Camp Programs by Age Include: - Rangers (Ages 4–6): A preschool-friendly introduction to nature *Wetherill location only* - Adventurers (Ages 5–6): Hands-on habitat exploration and nature investigations - Explorers (Ages 7–8): Science-based experiments, hikes, and outdoor challenges - Discoverers (Ages 9–10): Skill-building, habitat exploration, and offsite Nature Quest Days - Trailblazers (Ages 11–13): Leadership opportunities and projects Weekly themes rotate throughout the summer and include favorites like Summer Camp Classics, Wild & Well, Riverbend Animals, Messy Science, and Sunny Science, giving families flexibility to choose weeks that best match their child’s interests.
Riverbend camps are offered at multiple locations: - Riverbend Preserve in Gladwyne, PA - The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, PA (ages 4-6 only) - McKaig Nature Education Center in Wayne, PA Extended care is available at select locations, and Riverbend offers a limited number of camp scholarships to help make camp accessible to more families. If you’re looking for a joyful, nature-filled summer where your child can learn, play, and make lifelong memories, Riverbend Summer Camp is a place they’ll want to return to year after year.
