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For Kids Who’d Rather Be Outside--Nature-Filled Days Await
Week 1: June 2-6
Week 3: June 16- 20
Week 2: June 9-13
Desert Seedlings: Cultivating Life in the Arid Land
Explore the hidden potential of the Sonoran Desert's unique ecosystem by learning to grow food in dry, water-scarce conditions. Campers will get hands-on experience in desert gardening, discovering drought-resistant plants and the intricate balance of water conservation, soil health, and desert ecology.
Week 2: June 9-13
Week 3: June 16- 20
Week 2: June 9-13
Growing from Seed: Growing Food in the Desert
Step into the world of desert farming as we dive into the art of growing food in the Sonoran Desert's challenging climate. Through lessons on soil amendment, companion planting, and harvesting, children will learn how to transform the desert's harsh conditions into a thriving, self-sustaining garden.
Week 3: June 16- 20
Week 3: June 16- 20
Re-wilding the Desert: Restoring Balance with Nature
This week is all about reintroducing native plants and animals into our ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity. Campers will discover the benefits of re-wilding efforts and participate in hands-on restoration projects to help revive our local habitats, focusing on the role of our keystone flora, the mesquite.
Week 4: June 23-27
Being Water Wise: Harvesting and Conserving in the Desert
Water is the lifeblood of the desert, and this week, campers will learn sustainable practices for harvesting, conserving, and reusing water in their gardens. Through rainwater catchment systems, drip irrigation, and mulching techniques, kids will gain skills to create resilient, water-efficient ecosystems in the desert.
Week 5: July 7-11
Week 6: July 14-18
The Sun's Kitchen: Solar Cooking in the Desert
Harness the power of the sun to create delicious, sustainable meals with solar cooking techniques. Campers will learn how to use solar ovens to cook a variety of dishes, discovering the science behind solar energy and how to prepare meals using nothing but the desert's natural heat.
Week 6: July 14-18
Week 6: July 14-18
Desert Foraging: Discovering Wild Edibles in Our Backyards
Unlock the edible treasures of the Sonoran Desert through foraging and wild food identification. Children will embark on nature walks, learning to recognize and harvest native plants, and discover how indigenous cultures thrived on these wild foods for thousands of years.
Week 7: July 21-25
Week 8: July 28- August 1
Week 8: July 28- August 1
Sustainable Harvest: The Art of Preserving the Desert’s Bounty
Learn the ancient art of food preservation by turning your desert garden’s harvest into lasting nourishment. From drying and fermenting to canning and pickling, campers will gain the practical skills needed to preserve food and reduce waste while embracing a sustainable lifestyle.
Week 8: July 28- August 1
Week 8: July 28- August 1
Week 8: July 28- August 1
Magical Mesquite: The Desert’s Hidden Treasure
Campers will explore the mesquite tree, discovering its historical and cultural significance in the Sonoran Desert. They’ll learn how to identify our local species and harvest and uses of every part of the tree-- from grinding its pods into flour to crafting and building with its wood to cooking over fires fueled with its wood. Through hands-on activities, campers will uncover how the mesquite has sustained desert communities for generations and how it plays a vital role in the desert ecosystem.
About Summer Camp at Gilbert Nature School
Our Vision
At Gilbert Nature School, our Summer Camp vision is to be the leading provider of outdoor-based summer camp in the East Valley. We aim to create a community of budding outdoor enthusiasts who share our passion for creativity, nature, and exploration. Through our Summer Camp program, we hope to inspire students of all backgrounds to explore the great outdoors and develop a lifelong love of fresh air, sunshine, and the natural world.
This year, our Summer Camp theme is Growing Our Food. We will celebrate the traditional agricultural heritage of the Sonoran Desert and students will learn about gardening in the desert, seed saving, re-wilding with planting trees, solar cooking, rainwater harvesting with Monsoon rains, and more!
As proud recipients of the Community Seed Grant from Native Seed/SEARCH in Tucson, AZ, we are thrilled to spend this summer growing traditional Sonoran crops and sharing our gardens with our community. We look forward to sharing the harvest with you!
Our Commitment to Sustainability
As an outdoor school, we understand the importance of protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for future generations. That's why we're committed to operating sustainably and minimizing our impact on the environment. From using eco-friendly products to implementing waste reduction measures, we're always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Staying Safe in the Summer Heat
As an outdoor school in the Valley of the Sun, we know how important sun and heat safety is. We monitor the temperature, Heat Index, and UV index to ensure all of our students stay safe and comfortable. Students always have access to drinking water, shade, misters, and can go inside into the air conditioning any time they need to. In instances of extreme dangerous heat we will spend our time engaged in indoor activities.
Tuition
Weekly Tuition Rates:
Half Day: $295 per week, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Full Day: $395 per week, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Monthly Tuition Rates:
Half Day: $995 per month, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Full Day: $1,295 per month, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The first week of tuition is due upon enrollment to secure your child's space in our Summer Camp program.
Subsequent weeks will be billed on a monthly basis with all fees due on the first of the month for the upcoming month.
Camp Tuition includes an organic, no-added-sugars morning snack, our famously low teacher to student ratios (1:6!), and all camp activities and supplies.
We are an ESA vendor and accept payment via ClassWallet.
Summer Camp: Sign Up Now!
Summer Camp is now open for enrollment.
This year's theme is Growing Our Food. Camp is 100% Screen-Free and full of enriching hands on, project based, and Montessori inspired learning activities in the fresh air with highly qualified educators.
Space is limited to ensure low teacher to student ratios.
Half Day and Full Day options available.