Green Heron Nature Camp

Green Heron Nature Camp 2023

This exciting nature immersion camp connects youth to the Petaluma River Watershed through exploration, earth-based skills, wild crafting and play. Each week will offer youth:

Paddling on the Petaluma River*

Swimming at the pond at Open Field Farm*

Nature-based art, crafts, and games

Exploring, hiking, outdoor play

Working with edible and medicinal plants

Whittling and knife skills (ages 10 & up)

Sit spots, nature journaling, and more!

*Lifejackets provided & required for all water activities. _____________________________________________________________________________

In addition, GHNC 2023 offers 4 themed weeks of camp which include the above activities and more!

Makers by Nature Makers by Nature invites youth to unleash their inner artist! Throughout the week, youth will learn to identify and responsibly harvest natural materials that can be processed into natural pigments for painting, dyes for textiles, or arranged for a sunprint! We will forage for raw clay to sculpt with our hands and make dolls, garlands, and regalia from fresh grasses, wildflowers, and herbs.

Storytellers of Rivertown Storytellers of Rivertown invites youth to strengthen their connection to the natural world through storytelling and expressive arts. Improv games, skit-writing, and sharing circles will help us develop our creative storytelling skills. Youth will have the opportunity to showcase their expertise and bring their own watershed-inspired stories to life through acting, poetry, comedy, song, costuming, prop creation and more – culminating in a grand variety show performance on the final afternoon of camp!

River Stewards River Stewards invites youth to more deeply explore the local ecosystem and our roles within it. Youth will expand their relationship with the diverse plants and animals of the Petaluma landscape as we identify, artistically represent, and discover ways to support our wild neighbors. Through curiosity and play, we will become ambassadors for the watershed, form a Council of All Beings, participate in a river clean up project, and use found items to create a sculpture in celebration of the river!

Wild Wayfinders Wild Wayfinders invites youth to deepen their knowledge of the land and their own capabilities within it. Youth will build confidence in earth skills practices such as wildlife tracking, orienteering, and wilderness first aid. We will become more grounded in the landscape as we create maps and work with compasses, heighten our sense of community with nature as we follow wildlife trails and identify footprints, and develop a stronger sense of safety outdoors as we learn about medicinal plants and wilderness first aid techniques.

Golden Eagles This program focuses on supporting teens, 13-16 years old, in developing their leadership skills, nature competency and healthy communication skills with peers. During this week of camp teens will deepen their connection to nature while having fun in the beautiful Petaluma River Watershed. Campers will spend time paddling along the Petaluma River, engage in daily nature connection routines, craft with earth based materials, play nature games, learn basic orienteering and more. We will end the week with an overnight campout on Thursday night. ________________________________________________________________

Times & Locations

Times: 9am – 3pm (drop off begins at 8:45am)

Open Field Farm: 2245 Spring Hill Road, Petaluma

Steamer Landing Park: D Street and Copeland, Downtown Petaluma

Petaluma Marsh: 745 Baywood Dr, Petaluma

*River Otter and Coyote cohorts will share locations, making convenient pick-up/drop-off for sibling sets!