SUMMER CAMP @ BHNP
ENJOY SUMMER CAMP IN NATURE
Join us at Blue Heron Nature Preserve for multiple weeks of summer camp filled with hands-on activities focused on discovery, exploration, creativity and a connectedness to nature within our 30-acre greenspace. Each week of summer camp at Blue Heron, educators will explore a new theme that will get campers digging in the dirt, flipping over rocks, building forts and wading in Nancy creek.
2026 SUMMER CAMP
March 2026 Update:
We are excited to share good news regarding Summer Camp 2026! The City of Atlanta has granted us permission to remain in our building for camp this summer, so we will no longer need to use Sarah Smith Elementary’s building.
Thanks to this development, we are excited to welcome all of our campers to our main building located at 4055 Roswell Rd NE. Drop off and pick up will remain the same as previous years.
Additionally, we are opening 3 extra weeks of camp for Little Blue Herons during the month of July!
During July, we will still be offering Outdoor Skills Camp for Great Blue Herons! Sharpen skills and learn the ways of the outdoors with our skilled counselors.
Sign up for Summer Camp
Registration is now opened for Summer Camp 2026.
Weeks fill up fast, but you may join the waitlist and will be emailed if a spot becomes available.
CAMP DETAILS:
Little Blue Herons
(4-6 yrs.)
Half Day (9am – 1pm): $295/ week
Full Day (9am – 4pm): $425/ week
GBH JUNE DETAILS:
Great Blue Herons
(7-12 yrs.)
Full Day (9am – 4pm): $425/Week
Bringing Back the Favorites During June!
WEEK 1: Creek Week, June 1st - June 5th
June 1st – June 5th
Join us for an exciting time at Nancy Creek during Creek Week at Blue Heron Nature Preserve! Cool off this summer with water games, creek exploration, and tons of fun in the refreshing water. Campers will wade through the creek with nets, catch fascinating critters, race handmade boats, skip rocks, and enjoy splashing around with friends. Don’t miss out on the chance to beat the heat and dive into adventure at Blue Heron!
WEEK 2: Art in Nature, June 8th - 12th
June 8th – June 12th
Get ready for a fun-filled week of creativity in the outdoors! During Art in Nature week, campers will create upcycled crafts, eco-friendly art projects and art made from natural materials. This unique experience blends artistic expression with a focus on conservation, encouraging campers to not only create beautiful works of art but also learn how to care for the environment. Dive into a week of hands-on activities, where nature and creativity come together to inspire and nurture the artist and environmentalist in you!
WEEK 3: Wildlife Investigators, June 15th - 19th
June 15th – June 19th
This week, campers will take on the role of environmental detectives, investigating the preserve’s various ecosystems as they search for animal tracks, signs, and small creatures to study up close. They’ll explore different habitats, build terrariums to observe animals in their natural settings, and use tools like binoculars and field guides to deepen their understanding. Through this immersive adventure, campers will develop a strong appreciation for wildlife diversity while sharpening their skills in scientific observation and research.
WEEK 4: Creek Week, June 22nd - 26th
June 22nd – June 26th
So fun we have to offer it twice this summer!
Join us for an exciting time at Nancy Creek during Creek Week at Blue Heron Nature Preserve! Cool off this summer with water games, creek exploration, and tons of fun in the refreshing water. Campers will wade through the creek with nets, catch fascinating critters, race handmade boats, skip rocks, and enjoy splashing around with friends. Don’t miss out on the chance to beat the heat and dive into adventure at Blue Heron!
New and Exciting Themes in July!
WEEK 5: Diggin’ in the Dirt, July 6th - July 10th
July 6th – July 10th
Diggin’ in the Dirt is a hands-on camp for curious children! We will dig, scoop, plant and investigate soil, rocks, worms and tiny creatures while learning how plants and nature grow.
WEEK 6: Preserve Explorers, July 13th - July 17th
July 13th – July 17th
Preserve Explorers will explore the trails of Blue Heron Nature Preserve while observing plants and animals, learn about habitats through guided walks, games, stories and hands-on- activities. This playful camp encourages curiosity, teamwork and a love of nature as young explorers investigate the world around them.
WEEK 7: Camp Rocks! July 20th - July 24th
July 20th – July 24th
Camp Rocks! is a hands-on adventure for campers who love to explore and discover. Campers will investigate the local geography of Blue Heron by learning about rocks, soil, and land features through digging, sorting, simple experiments and nature walks. With games, stories and creative projects children will uncover how rocks are formed and why they matter, all while building observation skills and a deeper connection to the natural world.
OUTDOOR SKILLS CAMP:
Great Blue Herons
(7-12 yrs.)
Full Day (9am – 4pm): $425/Week
This camp is only for Great Blue Herons!
New Opportunities at Great Blue Heron Outdoor Skills Camp!
WEEK 1: Introduction to Wilderness Skills, July 6th - 10th
July 6th – 10th
Learn essential outdoor skills through hands-on lessons in shelter building, basic safety practices, and wildlife awareness. Build confidence and teamwork throughout the week within the forests of the Preserve. At the end of the week, we’ll solidify those skills through an Outdoor Challenges Day that’ll put those new skills to work under safe, supervised watch. Come challenge yourself in the outdoors!
WEEK 2: Adventure Skill and Exploration, July 13th - July 17th
July 13th – July 17th
Engage in hands-on learning focused on navigation and environmental awareness! Develop foundational skills in compass use and orienteering, explore forest science and wildlife tracking. Then, show off your skills with a supervised Adventure Quest, working together to problem solve outdoor challenges and apply those new skills in an exciting and supportive setting. Show us what you can do!
WEEK 3: Survivor Skills, July 20th - July 24th
July 20th – July 24th
Become immersed in hand-on outdoor learning designed to build confidence, teamwork and environmental responsibility. Sharpen sensory awareness, practice fort building, learn the principles of Leave No Trace, and explore plant safety. At the end of the week, show off what you know during the Team Challenge, where everyone works together on shelter-building and navigation activities in a safe and supportive outdoor environment.
Camp Scholarship Program
With community support, we can open the Preserve to dozens of additional children this year, giving them the chance to learn, explore, and connect with nature in a safe and nurturing environment. Access to nature shouldn’t be limited by circumstance.
SUMMER CAMP DETAILS
Early Drop off/Late pick-up is available for $5 for each camper per day OR
$25 for either early drop-off OR late pickup per week
$50 for both early drop-off AND late pickup per week
Late pickup is not available for half day campers
CAMP LOCATION:
During June (and during LBH Camp in July), summer camp will be based at our main building on 4055 Roswell Rd NE.
Campers will be picked up and dropped off from there.
OUTDOOR SKILLS CAMP DETAILS
Early Drop off/Late pick-up is available for $5 for each camper per day OR
$25 for either early drop-off OR late pickup per week
$50 for both early drop-off AND late pickup per week
CAMP LOCATION:
During July, our Outdoor Skills Camp will meet at our main building before moving over to the Field Research Center located in the Land O’ Lakes side of the Preserve.
Drop off and pick up will remain at our main building.