Summer Camp

Each camp group contains a maximum of 20 children and will be supervised by at least two staff members.

Each week offers a different theme with fun lessons, games, activities, live animal encounters, and crafts so your camper can keep the fun going all summer long. In addition to nature-based themes, Camp WILD empowers campers to get involved with our resident animals in a new way by helping out with Chicken Chores! They’ll get to help feed, water, and provide enrichment for our barnyard chickens, rabbits, and goats! Then, on Fridays, we’ll wrap up the week with a Friday Fun Day Camp Out, where campers will have a water war with the Fayette County Fire Department, make messy s’mores by the campfire, and chill out with popsicles the way summers are meant to be enjoyed!

Attending is not required all summer long, but many families do, as each week offers a different theme with fun games, activities, live animal encounters, and crafts, so your camper can keep the fun going all summer long. Prices for members for each week is $250 and $300 each week for non-members. ***Members must register through their member portal to receive the discount. The discount will appear on the final checkout page. [Member Portal LINK]

 If you become a Member of Southern Conservation Trust, at Level 3: Family Membership, your family will receive a discount on Camp WILD in addition to several other perks. Additional benefits can be found HERE.

***Members must register through their member portal to receive the discount. The discount will appear on the final checkout page. [Member Portal LINK]

Download Camp Wild Rules & Expectations

The first thing covered on day 1 of each week of camp is Camp Wild’s Camper Agreements, which are listed and explained below. The agreements are reiterated as needed but almost daily throughout the camp week. 

Respect! The Camp Director defines respect as treating people and things KINDLY. Treat the teachers and other campers kindly. Treat the room, tables, chairs, and materials kindly. Treat nature and all animals kindly. And treat the people working upstairs kindly by using indoor voices while inside. Screaming and yelling are encouraged when outdoors. 

Stay together - This is an open campus, and we don't know who our visitors are. For all of our safety, we need to stay together. If you can’t see the camp leaders, they can’t see you. Stay with the group at all times.

Try new things - The Camp Director understands that a camper may not like all of the activities, but it is, however expected that campers try everything. They may find that they like it after trying it. If, after trying it, the camper decides that they still don't want to do it, campers are not forced to participate. They can sit or opt-out, but you must still stay with the group.

Take turns - Sometimes, camp leaders may not have tools or materials for every single camper, so we have to share and take turns. This also includes taking turns to speak. When it is the teacher's turn to talk, it is expected that campers will listen and raise their hand (and wait to be called on) to talk. When it is a camper's turn to speak, everyone will be quiet and listen, including the teachers. 

Campers are asked if there are agreements that they believe should be added to the list, but the above are the core agreements for every week of camp. The following are not official agreements, but as the need arises, I will add:

• Follow instructions the FIRST time given - this allows us time to get to all of the fun activities that the Camp Director has planned. A good portion of the camp budget goes towards purchasing supplies for campers to make and take educational crafts and games. It is the intention of the Camp Director to ensure these activities are not missed if at all possible. The first thing to do if too much time is spent on transitioning or reminding campers of the camp agreements is the Chicken Chores. This is intentional teaches consequences for actions, and is meant to be motivation to campers to use their time wisely. 
• When the opportunity presents itself, the Camp Director will split the group and take the campers who adhere to the camper agreements to do Chicken Chores while those who struggled that day stay at the playground and enjoy free time instead. It is always explained to campers that if they can’t be trusted to follow the camper agreements, then they can’t be trusted with the live animals. It also explained that they could try again the next day to earn the opportunity to interact with the animals. When discussed with the campers, they tend to understand that this is not only fair but important for the safety of the animals. 

Download Protocols for Camper Agreement Violations

First Violation:

More often than not, this is a failure to keep our hands and body parts to ourselves. Kids will be kids, and often, during free time, play, and occasionally during organized games, a camper may tag or push too hard. In this instance, the Camp Director will remind the campers involved in our agreement to be respectful and treat each other kindly. The Camp Director will often ask the hurt camper if they believe their injury was intentional or an accident. Again, more often than not, they agree that it was not malicious in intent. The Camp Director checks to see if anyone needs a break, bandaid, or ice pack and then returns them to the activity, encouraging them to avoid anyone they may not enjoy being around. This is a freedom and right they are all made aware of that they have.

If the camp staff witness an altercation that escalates to a physical one, the Camp Director will intervene and give a break to one or both campers. Depending on the severity of the interaction, the aggressor will be excused from the remainder of the activity, lose some free time, or have the privilege to participate in Chicken Chores. 

Straying from the group, actively hiding from the camp leaders, or holding up the group by not following instructions the first time given is a safety concern that will result in the same consequences as a violation of the camper agreements (excused from the remainder of the activity, lose some free time or the privilege to participate in Chicken Chores). 

Parents are often not made aware of these minor violations as they are thought of as just that, minor. Typically, it only happens a handful of times as campers learn their new boundaries and consequences. This is expected. 

Continued Violation of the Camper Agreements:

If a camper’s actions seriously injure another camper, camp staff, animal, or property (repeated violation of the Respect Agreement), a conversation will be had with the camper’s guardian either at pickup or via email. This is an appeal to the guardian to reiterate the Camper Agreements with the camper, understanding that privileges like free time and Chicken Chores may be withheld if the behavior does not improve. 

Inappropriate conversations are considered a larger violation of the Respect Agreement and will not be tolerated. Instructions to choose a different, more appropriate topic will happen only once. A second offense, especially with the intent to be funny or willfully defiant, will result in the camper being immediately pulled from the activity. Furthermore, a guardian will be made aware of the inappropriate behavior, words, or actions with the expectation that a larger conversation will be had with the camper about what is and is not appropriate at Camp Wild. 

This camp is upheld as a safe space for kids to be kids. Conversations should never tip into the realm of dating, sex, or sexual acts/activities, or even to a camper’s genital and bodily functions. I respect a parent’s right to address these topics with their camper when and how they see fit to do so. It is not my intention to expose campers to “new content” that is not related to science and nature. Occasionally, reproduction does come up when discussing nature. It is handled in a scientific manner and explained in terms of exchanging genetic material or DNA. The Camp Director is happy to discuss what this entails so that parents/guardians can feel confident and comfortable with the summer camp content. 

In the event that a camper is a repeat offender and determined to be willfully defiant of the camper agreements throughout the entire week, particularly those that put other campers and animals at risk or threaten the integrity of Camp Wild, and SCT, the Camp Director reserves the right to ask the family of that camper to not return for any remaining weeks of camp they may be registered for with NO refund since those weeks and spaces may or may not be able to be filled. 

Please feel free to contact the Camp Director for any questions, clarifications, or concerns. 

Requests received 17 or more days before your registered week of camp – you will receive 100% of the total camp fee. Requests received within 16 days before your registered week of camp – you will receive 50% of the total camp fee. Requests made after the Friday before the start of camp will not be refunded.