In this Section:
ABOUT THE CAMP
Previous TDNC Campers
Founded in 1976 and sponsored by the Bolton Conservation Trust.
Our dedicated and enthusiastic staff supports Bolton’s commitment to environmental education and to kids. The goal of our camp is to create a safe, enjoyable outdoor learning experience, providing opportunities for children to learn about themselves and develop understanding, respect and responsibility for the environment while making new friends, taking on new challenges, and most of all having fun!
This is a unique experience for children who are currently in Kindergarten-7th grade that offers fun and learning in the beautiful natural setting of Bolton's Bower Springs conservation area.
Camp Schedule: Five one-week sessions; Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm, during July and early August.
The cost per week is $250 ($370 for the older campers Eco Adventures program). Scholarships are available for any camper in need and no camper will be turned away for financial reasons. Activities vary from session to session, however more than two sessions could be repetitive. There is a low ratio of campers to counselors and camp fills up every year, so register early. Session lists tend to fluctuate so don't be discouraged if the session you want has a waitlist.
Registration opens early to mid February. Check this website or look for flyers around town or in school backpacks and school newsletters for the exact date. Bolton Conservation Trust family members or higher receive the benefit of choosing their camp weeks early (you can become a member on the camp website at any time or while registering for camp). http://tdnc.boltonconservationtrust.org
TDNC Program:
This program is for campers who are currently in Kindergarten-7th grades. Activities include swimming, group games in the field and woods, Mystery Animal, Predator and Prey, The Amazing Race, arts & crafts, songs, stories, tracking, scavenger hunt, hiking, exploring, campfires, building a shelter & more.
TDNC ECO ADVENTURES Program:
This program is for campers who are currently in the 5th-7th grades. Campers this age may choose this program or the TDNC program. Please realize that the Eco Adventures campers will mostly be separate from the regular TDNC campers, so if you want to be with specific campers then we suggest you register them in the same program. Campers must be able to swim to participate in the half-day boating component of Eco Adventures. All EA campers will take a swim test at camp on the first day and must be able to swim a strong stroke for 150 feet, tread water for 30 seconds, then swim 100 feet. If a camper fails the test on the first day, then they will be allowed a second chance on the second day. If they fail both days, then they will not be able to participate in the boating component. This is only a half-day of the week of camp. There are options for the camper who either fails the swim test or opts out of the boating component by choice. They can join the regular camp for the few hours, bring something to do (e.g. read a book) on the shore, come to camp either before or after the boating is held, etc. We are willing to work with the camper to make the experience enjoyable. Even if they fail the swim test they will be able to participate in all the other water activities since they are in shallow water]. Eco Adventures has one overnight per week (typically on Thursday) and ends at noon on Friday.
What you can expect in Eco Adventures:
· Explore the wildlife of Bolton while learning how to safely and responsibly enjoy the outdoors
· Travel to Central Rock Climbing Gym and hook up to ropes with harnesses and climb on the wall
· Kayak on the pond with Still River Outfitters
· Navigate through a ropes course
· Camp overnight: eat dinner cooked on the campfire, go for a sunset swim, roast marsh mellows, sleep in the big tent, wake up and go to camp the next day
(A few notes: it is one night of the week - usually Thursday / campers can stay after dismissal and then overnight through until the next day's special early dismissal at noon OR choose to only stay for after camp activities and dinner until 9pm and then come back for breakfast at 8am / campers will sleep on tarps under the big tent in the woods and must supply their own bedding / a menu will be provided ahead of time and campers may bring their own food if they wish / there will be a changing area and an area to “wash up” / there will be both male and female counselors spending the night)
· Get to know your fellow campers with team building activities
· Work on a conservation project
· Learn how to: set up a campsite and break it down without a trace, plan for a hike or weekend camping trip, navigate with a GPS and use simpler forms of guidance, safely hike through various environments, prepare for emergencies in the wild, build and cook over a fire and much more.
TDNC/EA Counselor in Training Program:
Applicants must be currently in 8th grade or above. CITs must attend Orientation (three days from 9am-3pm around the end of June or beginning of July) as well as work a minimum of two weeks (the director has to approve if they want to work more weeks). CITs must pass the swim test given at camp (swim a strong stroke for 150 feet, tread water for 30 seconds, then swim 100 feet).
The Bolton Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. The tax identification number is 510-143-182.
If you have questions please contact the Bolton Conservation Trust. bcttdnc@gmail.com or call 978-429-3004.
Camp Location: 40 Flanagan Road, Bolton. Rt 117 to Harvard Road. Go two miles on Harvard Road. Left onto Flanagan Road; proceed 500ft to 2nd driveway on left.
· The campers meet in the Bower Springs parking lot at 9:00AM (no earlier than 8:50AM) each morning and are picked up at 3:00PM each afternoon (except on Friday when Eco Adventures campers are picked up at 12:00PM and families/friends of Tom Denney campers are invited to attend a skit performance at 2:00PM).
What to bring in a backpack every day:
· Water – lots and filled with ice on hot days
· Lunch and snacks
· Small trash bag for personal garbage
· Hand sanitizer/antibacterial wipes
· Sunscreen and insect repellent
· Swimsuit, towel, plastic bag for wet items, flip flops ONLY to walk to pond for swimming
· Extra socks (especially important for EA campers)
· Hat with brim
· Raingear and warm clothes if necessary due to weather
· EA overnight - additional items listed below
· Old sneakers are recommended for footwear. No open-toed shoes are allowed!
· There are bathroom facilities and changing areas available.
· Since we are in a conservation area please note that it is a carry in-carry out system and campers will need to carry out their own trash.
· Food sharing will not be allowed due to possible food allergies of campers.
· Friday for TDNC campers: Hike day – campers carry their packs so pack lightly (i.e. there is no swimming or camp fire so do not bring suit/towel and food that needs to be cooked). Skit day – families and friends are invited to come to camp at 2:00pm to see the performance.
· The camp will be held in all but the worst weather. If there is serious weather you will be notified* of the cancellation of camp. An example of serious weather would be thunder and/or lightning.
*IMPORTANT: Please review your own and the other the emergency contact names and phone numbers. Parents/guardians will be called first. Even if the info appears correct please check again. Go in as if to register for the exact same week and program which brings you to the "Family Members" page and hit the "Edit" button next to the camper's name. This brings you to the "Participant Information" page. Once you decide that is all correct, you go to the bottom and hit the "Submit" button and it will bring you to the "Supplemental Information" page. Make sure that if you make changes you go to the bottom of this page and hit the "Submit" button; otherwise the changes will not be saved. Important note: if you do make a change, then please email the camp to tell us you made a change or we won't know.
Eco Adventures Overnight Information:
The overnight will be scheduled for Thursday night. If there is a forecast of thunderstorms for that evening, the overnight may be moved to another night.
Required/Recommended to bring:
· Wear comfortable clothes for rock climbing on Thursday afternoon
· Campers mess kit [plastic or metal bowl & plate and strong plastic (not disposable kind) or metal fork, knife & spoon]
· At least 2 extra water bottles besides what normally bring for day at camp
· Sleeping bag
· Pillow
· Flashlight
· Bug spray, bug fan, bug net
· More extra socks
· Warm clothes, cool clothes, extra clothes for Friday
· Sleeping pad (campers will be sleeping on tarps on the ground under the big open tent in the woods)
· NO cell phones, video games, MP3 players, I Touch, etc. are allowed
· NO Tents are allowed
· Cameras are allowed but to be brought at your own risk
The Bolton Conservation Trust and Tom Denney Nature Camp take no responsibility for anything brought to the camp overnight.
Food to be provided by the camp:
Dinner (e.g. burgers & dogs, fruit, desert), breakfast (e.g. Pop Tarts, fruit) and lunch (e.g. mac & cheese, chips, fruit).
Campers will be notified of the menu ahead of time to check with their parents regarding food allergies or taste preferences (i.e. campers may prefer to bring their own non-cooking food).
Parents may pick-up their campers who are not spending the night either around 3:30PM when they are expected back from the rock climbing gym or after dinner and activities at 9:00PM and bring them back after 8:00AM the next morning. Parents will not be allowed to stay overnight with their child.
Eco Adventures Swim Test Information:
A swim test will be given first thing Monday morning. Everyone will take this test even if they took it last year, even if they are on a swim team, etc. We are required to do this by the state. The campers will be required to show a strong swimming stroke for 150 feet, tread water for 30 seconds and then swim 100 feet.
If your child fails the swim test:
They will not be allowed to participate in the half-day boating activity scheduled for Tuesday morning (weather permitting). The options are to bring a book or something to do on the shore during the activity, join the regular camp activities, come in at noon, etc. Even if they fail the swim test for the boating, they will still be able to participate in all other water activities since they are in shallow water.
Counselor Expectations of Campers:
In planning for an enjoyable, safe and successful camp experience we ask that you read these camp rules and discuss them with your son/daughter before camp begins.
1. Listen to counselors
2. Keep your hands to yourself
3. Be kind in words and actions
4. Respect others
5. Talk to a counselor if you have a question or problem
6. No running, except in the field as part of a game
7. No swimming without a lifeguard and always with a buddy
8. Always stay with your group
9. Tell a counselor when you need to use the bathroom
10.Carry In Carry Out: whatever you bring in, take it out with you
11.Buddy: If you’re leaving the group with permission, take a buddy
What Campers Say About Tom Denney Nature Camp
“I liked the 'Predator-Prey' game and the fun and funny counselors.”
JTL, Grade 3
“I really liked ‘Splash, Splash, Pour’ and playing the game ‘Tracking.’ It’s fun. I like free choice; you can do different outdoor activities every day.”
WB Grade 4
“I loved ‘Capture the Flag’ and toasting marshmallows over the campfire. I learned some new crafts, we went for nature hikes and they showed us plants that were in the woods.”
AR Grade 3
“I enjoyed learning about survival in the woods. It was exctiing when our group built a shelter and the counselors poured water over it to see if we got wet.”
ER Grade 5
“Kayaking in the pond and playing games in the boats was cool."
SM Grade 8
“Sleeping in the tent after swimming in the dark and sitting around the campfire was an experience I'll never forget."
OB Grade 7
“I liked being outside and playing ‘Camouflage.'”
BF Grade 6
“I enjoyed the treasure hunt, arts and crafts and swimming.”
MM Grade 2
“Climbing through the ropes course and maze was excellent.”
GM Grade 8
“I can't believe I rock climbed. I never thought I could do it and it was fun to see I can.”
DN Grade 6
“I never knew all the fun I could have in my own backyard, but after being at camp I see how fun and exciting nature can be.”
BW Grade 4
“It’s an exciting and different camp. I caught a snake; it was cool.”
CG Grade 3
BROCHURE & REGISTRATION
Registration is now online at http://tdnc.boltonconservationtrust.org.
COUNSELOR IN TRAINING(CIT)
If you are interested in becoming a CIT, please register online at http://tdnc.boltonconservationtrust.org.
INFORMATION & CONTACTS
Bolton Conservation Trust
PO Box 14 Bolton, MA 01740
Phone: 978-429-3004
Email: Email">Email
