From Frogs to Clay Brook: Highlights from CREA Camp’s Summer Season

There’s a Moose on the LOOOOOOSE! If you happened to be near the CREA Ecology Center during the seven weeks of camp this summer, you may have heard our campers singing these very words. If you were even luckier, you might’ve seen Fred the Moose on the Loose…

This year, CREA Camp welcomed 224 campers from 180 unique families onto the trails at the Cathance River Preserve. Campers learned about the Panawahpskek Tribes’ culture and language from our Cultural Knowledge Keeper, Brianne Lolar, learned to build survival shelters, caught too many frogs to count, cooled down in the River, hiked to Clay Brook, and of course, made many new friends. The excitement for being outside not only grew for those who had experienced CREA Camp before, but was unleashed for many who had never been able to interact with the great outdoors. One family reports,

“Our family cannot thank you enough for providing such an exciting, nurturing, fun-filled experience for our daughter. My husband and I both agree, the experience was what we had wanted for [our daughter] – something reminiscent of what we experienced as kids – time well spent outdoors…we weren’t sure how [she] would acclimate to the program, but by the pick up on day 1 she was hooked and by collection on the last day, she said how much she would miss camp and everyone involved. Not an easy feat when you are 6.”

No camp season is complete without a hike out to Clay Brook, a space along the trails that encourages messy, interactive play! This tradition provides campers with the best memories and is something that they look forward to at the start of the week. A CREA parent reflected, “Clay Brook is, as [camper] says, the best day of the entire summer. She loves it so much. Both my kids loved that hike, and these are kids who often complain about hiking!”

Our time outside brought immense joy to everyone who attended camp. What brings us even more gratitude is knowing that our campers want to share this experience with their families. We learned from one parent that their, “ … child came home eager to share about his experiences with the river animals/creatures. He was eager to bring us to the trails so that he could show us where he’d spent time exploring.”

As always, we hope our campers will continue to explore the outdoors, be curious about the creatures around them, ponder how they participate in the world, and share in their excitement for connecting with nature. New CREA Camp Director Macy Galvan did a fantastic job leading counselors, CITS, and campers throughout a safe and fun summer and we’re already planning and excited for CREA Camp 2025!