At The Willow School’s summer nature camp, Willow in the Woods, joy and wonder guide every day as campers explore the school’s beautiful 34-acre campus—a natural learning laboratory situated in the New Jersey countryside. Campers build forts, explore the campus stream and its inhabitants and plant and play in the school garden.
The weekly summer camp invites children in mixed-age groups (kindergarten through eighth grade) to organically choose between hands-on activities outdoors in the beauty of nature, as well as participate in classic camp act ivity stations such as arts and crafts, music, games and more. Willow in the Woods’ preschool camp is designed to delight the littlest campers and give them the opportunity to engage with the older children.
“Our forest school-style camp allows children to make their own decisions about the activities they participate in, so while they’re outside connecting to nature they’re also developing their creativity and executive functioning skills,” says Head of School Francisco Ayala. “Students tend to have busy schedules during the school year, so this is a way for them to have time to explore their interests uninterrupted.”
The summer program is led by Willow faculty and staff with the assistance of counselors and leaders-in-training. The older students help curate activities to support and guide the younger children; almost all of the camp’s junior counselors are Willow alum.
“Our teachers are really thoughtful about curating engaging experiences that are fun and foster creativity, but that are also academic and purposeful,” Ayala says. “Our junior counselors are excited to recreate their experiences for the next generation.”
1150 Pottersville Rd., Gladstone
908-470-9500
willowschool.org