Parent Portal
Willow in the Woods:
Join Our Summer Nature Camp
Registration for Summer 2026 is open!
This Summer, Campers Will…
Wade through the stream to observe macroinvertebrates and hidden ecosystems. Build forts. Splash in mud puddles. Invent imaginative games with friends old and new. Plant, harvest, and cook from our school garden. Create bold artwork, make music together, and turn big ideas into real projects.
At The Willow School’s summer nature camp, joy, curiosity, and wonder guide every day as children in mixed-age groups organically choose from hands-on experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration, and care for one another and the natural world.
A Natural Learning Laboratory
Willow in the Woods takes place across Willow’s stunning 34-acre campus in the New Jersey countryside, a true natural learning laboratory. Campers spend their days outdoors exploring the interconnectivity of the natural world while developing confidence, resilience, and a sense of responsibility through play, exploration, and creative risk-taking. Each day is filled with discovery across our gardens, streams, outdoor spaces, and creative studios.
Rooted in Willow’s core virtues, our program emphasizes compassion, respect, curiosity, and community. Children are encouraged to slow down, notice deeply, help one another, and approach challenges with openness and kindness.
How Camp Works
Campers spend their days grouped in mixed-age communities, where they are encouraged to make thoughtful choices, collaborate across ages, and engage deeply in experiences that match their interests, strengths, and energy.
Our dedicated Willow faculty design experiences that ignite children’s natural curiosity and invite them to think like scientists, artists, builders, and teammates. In addition to open exploration, campers rotate through classic camp activity stations including arts and crafts, music, cooking, games, water play, and more. All intentionally designed to support cooperation, creativity, and joyful learning.
Willow summer programs are led by Willow faculty and staff, supported by alumni counselors and Leaders-in-Training, who serve as mentors and positive role models.
Schedule & Location
Willow in the Woods runs weekly from June 16–August 14, 2026 on the beautiful Willow School campus:
The Willow School
1150 Pottersville Road
Gladstone, NJ
Seedlings (Ages 3-5)
9:00 am-1:00 pm for our youngest campers
+ 1:00-3:00 pm Stay and Play optional add on
+ 1:00-3:00 pm Afternoon Enrichment Workshop optional add on
Saplings (Ages 6-11) & Leaders-in-Training (Ages 12-15)
9:00 am–3:00 pm daily (weekly sign up)
+ 1:00-3:00 pm Afternoon Enrichment Workshop optional add on
Families may enroll for one week, multiple weeks, or the full summer.
Willow summer programs are led by Willow faculty and staff, with the assistance of alumni counselors and leaders-in-training. Please contact summer@willowschool.org with questions.
Camp Dates and Times
Willow in the Woods runs weekly from June 16 to August 14, 2026
Sign up for just a week or two, or join us for the whole summer! Camp will be closed for Juneteenth (June 19). Rates are prorated for that week.
Willow in the Woods takes place on The Willow School’s campus at 1150 Pottersville Road in Gladstone, NJ.
Seedlings: Rising Preschool (Ages 3-5)
Our youngest campers begin their Willow journey in a nurturing, play-based environment centered on kindness, safety, and connection. Days are filled with creative play, gardening, storytelling, art-making, games, and plenty of time outdoors. With guidance from our preschool teachers and counselors, Seedlings develop emerging social and communication skills while building comfort, independence, and confidence within a caring community.
Camp Day
9:00 am-1:00 pm
Rate: $475/week
*Campers must be fully potty trained
Stay and Play* (optional add on)
1:00-3:00 pm
Rate: $150 per week
*must stay until 3:00 pm
Saplings: Ages 6-11
Students entering grades K-5 in the fall will get to explore Willow’s expansive campus through hands-on outdoor experiences that blend movement, creativity, teamwork, and STEM-based exploration. Children engage in activities including stream investigations, gardening, music-making and sound exploration, campus hikes, yoga and movement connected to body science, arts and crafts that encourage design thinking, creative engineering. Cooperative games and challenges that emphasize sportsmanship, respect, and collaboration over competition. Children help shape their day by choosing from a range of activities in mixed-age groups, strengthening independence and responsibility and curiosity as young scientists, engineers, and creators. Campers can also choose a weekly 1:00–3:00 pm enrichment, adding a specialized experience like robotics, cooking, leatherworking, or STEAM investigations, to extend their learning and try something new each week.
Camp Day
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Rate: $675/week
Young Tree Leaders-in-Training: Ages 12-15
Middle schoolers engage in a Leaders-in-Training experience designed around mentorship, skill-building, and personal growth, while remaining fully immersed in the joy of camp. Participants learn alongside counselors as they explore leadership strategies, communication skills, and collaborative problem-solving through real camp experiences. Through guided mentorship, reflection, and hands-on practice, students develop confidence, empathy, and responsibility while deepening their understanding of group dynamics and community care. The program nurtures emerging leaders by emphasizing learning how to lead, while still enjoying the creativity, play, and outdoor adventure that define Willow summers.
Camp Day
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Rate: $575/week
New This Year: Enrichment Workshop Add-Ons!
During registration, families may also opt into the following:
Afternoon Enrichment Workshops from 1:00–3:00 pm
Willow in the Woods’ Afternoon Enrichment Workshops offer additional, hands-on learning experiences designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. Open to all children: including those not enrolled in our day camp. These workshops offer immersive afternoons and provide structured opportunities for children to investigate ideas, develop competencies, and engage deeply with content through hands-on, guided experiences. Rooted in Willow’s commitment to community access and meaningful learning, each workshop stands alone as a rich experience while reflecting the values and spirit of our summer program.
Open to all ages 3+ with or without camp enrollment.
Rates:
$250 per week as an add-on to the camp day
$500 per week for workshop-only enrollment (no day camp)
Registration, Payment & Policies
- Camp fees must be paid in full by May 1
- Cancellations require written notice prior to May 1
- Health forms are required for participation and will be shared after registration
Questions? Contact Willow’s summer camp team at summer@willowschool.org.
Request our ebook on Outdoor Learning. We will email it to you immediately.
Summer Camp Co-Director Nakita Paul is here to answer any questions. Email her at: summer@willowschool.org
Summer Camp Co-Director Caitlin Ayers is here to answer any questions. Email her at: summer@willowschool.org