The Mayapple School offers creative outdoor summer camps in and around Blacksburg, VA. Camp offerings include Science Lab, Outdoor Engineers, How to Catch a Monster, Animal Adventures, Fairies and Gnomes, Dairy Camp at a working dairy farm, Yes! Paint!, Mess Makers Inc., Elements of Survival, and Story and Stage. Age range and half or full day camp scheduling varies by camp, with camps for preschool, lower elementary, and upper elementary available. While no two camps are alike, all Mayapple School camps are designed to foster connection to the land and a sense of belonging. Through farm experiences, adventuring and exploration, or creative projects, our nature-rich camps renew campers’ love and excitement for the outdoors. All camps are outdoor camps. Registration is open until all spaces are filled.
| Mayapple Summer Camp Website |
| CAMPS AT A GLANCE: |
Dates/Times: | Name: | Ages: | Cost (check) *online payment is extra |
June 3 – 7 8:45 AM – 3:45 PM | Animal Adventures Glade Church and Heritage Park | 6 – 9 | $315 |
June 10 – 14 8:45 AM – 3:45 PM | Yes! Paint! Glade Church and Heritage Park | 7 – 10 | $325 |
June 17 – 21 8:45 AM – 12:45 PM | How to Catch a Monster The Mayapple School | 3 – 6 | $180 |
June 24 – 28 8:45 AM – 2:45 PM | Mess Makers, Inc. The Mayapple School | 3 – 6 | $275 |
July 1 – 5 8:45 AM – 3:45 PM | Outdoor Engineers The Mayapple School and Price Park | 7 – 10 | $315 |
July 8 – 12 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM | Science Lab The Mayapple School and Price Park | 4 - 8 | $295 |
July 15 – 19 8:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Story and Stage The Mayapple School | 4 – 8 | $180 |
July 22 – 26 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Elements of Survival The Izaak Walton League | 8 – 11 | $315 |
July 29 – Aug 1 8:45 AM – 1:15 PM | Dairy Camp Keffer Dairy, Sinking Creek Valley | 4 – 7 | $165 |
August 5 – 9 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Fairies and Gnomes The Mayapple School | 3 – 6 | $145 |
| CAMP DESCRIPTIONS: |
Each day, campers will inhabit the world of a different animal through dramatic play and games that hone special animal skills. Our adventures will straddle the line between appreciation of the real and delight in the imaginary as we make maps, build animal homes, and participate in art and story. We’ll hone our tracking skills as we look for and learn about animals and their signs.
This camp is held rain or shine from our base at Glade Church. In cases of very heavy or all-day rain, or for specific projects, up to 1/3 of the day may be held indoors. Please provide a morning snack and lunch for your child. The Mayapple School will provide an afternoon snack.
Experience life on a working dairy in the Sinking Creek Valley of Craig County at the Keffer Dairy, a three-generation farm. Campers will learn about farm animals and crops, insect pollinators, and farm machines from experienced farmers and educators. We’ll make dairy products, learn and experience proper calf feeding and handling first hand, hike the cow hill, explore tractors and farming implements, and play games on the hay bales. Keffer Dairy will offer early drop off for one day (date TBD) at 8 AM so campers can see the milking process. Please note there is no camp on Friday. This outdoor camp is held rain or shine. Campers should bring their own snack and lunch. This camp is not recommended for campers with a dairy allergy.
Human beings are designed to not just survive but also thrive in the natural world. Even in today’s busy modern world, returning back to the wild is essential for our well-being. But do you know how? In this camp, we’ll explore that question – both with and without pre-made materials.
In this camp, we’ll explore various tools, skills, and gear that people can use in a nature immersion experience, with a focus on the most elemental – food, shelter, and water. We’ll learn how to set up a tent, and also learn how to make waterproof shelters with only the materials that the landscape provides. We’ll build and cook over fires, harvest and bake with wild yeasts, go fishing, filter and harvest water, and use plant fibers to make our own rope.
This camp is held rain or shine at the club house and surrounding grounds of Izaak Walton League in Christiansburg. Archery and target practices are not included as activities at this camp. Please provide a morning snack and lunch for your child. The Mayapple School will provide an afternoon snack.
The natural world glimmers with magic and fantasy at this summer camp where it’s all about fairies and gnomes! Children will participate in themed read alouds, storytelling, and dramatic play. We’ll also play with size and scale as we make maps of fairyland and build gnome houses. We’ll mix up “magic potions”, work in the garden, and create art while exploring The Mayapple School’s outdoor classroom and woodland area. This outdoor camp is held rain or shine. Campers should bring their own snack.
Maybe you know the Big Green Monster, or perhaps Nibbles, the Terrible Whatzit, Wild Things, or the Gruffalo. During this camp, we’ll enjoy meeting these and other monsters in their books, and we’ll also imagine an escape! Yes, that’s right– it’s up to us to find and catch a monster, which we can only do by solving a set of “escape room” style puzzles that use all of our smarts and creativity. Through books, pretend play, a food-making project, and art, children will practice becoming masters of their own imagination, allowing the world of monsters to thrill them before packing that monster away (because after all, monsters are only pretend). Like all of our camps, we will be outdoors rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather. Campers should bring a morning snack and a lunch.
Young artists and materials scientists will explore their creativity with a variety of process-art and sensory filled experiences. We’ll make goop with psyllium husk powder, host a mud pie bakery, and make our own playdough. Of course, this camp can’t be complete without a paint-and-tape filled art fort, face and body painting, and water play! From too much glue to watermelon volcanoes, be prepared to make a mess! (And don’t worry, you can wash your hands when you’re done!)
Like all of our camps, we will be outdoors rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather. Campers should bring a morning snack and a lunch. To accommodate some activities and in cases of heavy rain, we may spend up to ⅓ of the day inside.
Young architects, engineers, and makers will build structures and solve problems during four STEAM-filled days. Campers will experiment with simple machines, solve problems using unlikely materials, and practice teamwork. We’ll look at how fire works, and experiment with the properties of water, earth, and wind. Pulleys and ramps, levers and fulcrums, robotic mice, shoes made out of newspaper, magnets, circuit boards, team building games, or a little bit of paint could make an appearance at this camp.
This camp is held rain or shine from our base at Glade Church, In cases of very heavy or all-day rain, or for specific projects, up to 1/3 of the day may be held indoors. Please provide a morning snack and lunch for your child. The Mayapple School will provide an afternoon snack.
Every day holds a new opportunity to explore science demonstrations and experiments. In this hands-on camp, budding scientists will use the power of the sun to make art, build and cook over a fire, make their own musical instruments, and experiment with wheels, gravity, magnetism, and more. Ask “why” as much as you like, and try to find the answers! Bring a bicycle, ride-on, scooter, or tricycle with helmet on our “wheels” day and ride on a short bicycle path above the school.
Like all of our camps, we will be outdoors rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather. Campers should bring a morning snack and a lunch.
Does your child live for the immersive, complex imaginary play that seems to take over and become their whole world for an afternoon… or more? This camp is for them! In this session, campers will role play different parts in stories and create and act out their own, with a performance for families held at 12:15 PM on Friday. Other activities can include storytelling and song by the campfire and making and using props, costumes, and puppets. Like all of our camps, we will be outdoors rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather. Campers should bring a morning snack and a lunch.
At this art-filled camp, painting is just the beginning. Artists will experiment with design and color in the world of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and constructing in order to bring their creative visions to life. Along the way, we’ll adventure on some nature explorations to inspire us and play games to hone our visual skills. Let’s experience summer fun while taking our love of arts and crafts to the next level!
Like all of our camps, we spend time outdoors rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather! Campers should bring a morning snack and a lunch. Afternoon snack is provided by The Mayapple School. Our drop off and pick up location will be Glade Church every day, from which we will adventure into nearby Heritage Park.
| Mayapple Summer Camp Website |
