WHAT TO EXPECT The mission of Nature’s Classroom is to provide innovative hands-on learning experiences that engage, educate, encourage, and excite students. We immerse students in authentic, real-world, hands-on activities at spectacular lakeside or ocean settings, surrounded by woods and hills. This living classroom provides the backdrop for powerful learning and bonding experiences that can’t be replicated at school.
FOOD Students eat three delicious and nutritious meals daily in our dining facilities. Each meal is approximately one hour long. During this time, students have an opportunity to catch up with peers, instructors, teachers, and chaperones, and eat some amazing food! This is another opportunity to build community: all students pitch in before, during, and after the meal. Students are educated about food waste and the resources used to produce food.
We are able to accommodate students, teachers, and chaperones, with specific food allergies or special food requests such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. We invite you to contact us to speak about any dietary or medical needs in your group.
CELL PHONES. Nature’s Classroom is about unplugging from technology and reconnecting with each other. We ask that students leave cell phones and other electronic devices at home.
HEALTH & SAFETY The health and safety of our guests is our number one priority. All of the Host-Sites are well-equipped and staffed by a licensed resident nurse or EMT. The nurse will dispense all medications and is there to care for any injuries or illnesses that may arise onsite 24/7.
We require that all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, remain locked in your personal vehicle or kept with our medical staff. For the safety of the campers, chaperones are not permitted to keep medications on their person. Medications submitted to our medical staff will remain confidential and can be accessed at any time. Rescue medications like epi-pens and inhalers will be managed by the nurse carried by the Instructor who is working with your student during the day. At night and during free time, they will be kept in a safe and accessible location.
ARE OTHER SCHOOLS AT OUR SITE WHILE WE ARE? Our goal is to give amazing outdoor education experiences to all schools that want to participate. This means that sometimes sharing a site. When sharing a site, your school will have its own cabins, field groups, instructors, dining tables, and activities. Multiple schools may share the dining hall during meals, and at the end of the day, we all come together right before bed to recap the day. We also share recreational spaces during “free time” which happens for 30 minutes before lunch and an hour before dinner and is supervised by the school teachers/chaperones. Sharing a site with another school is a great opportunity for students to meet people from different places.
HOW ARE INSTRUCTORS QUALIFIED? Our instructors are individuals who have experience in outdoor programming or working with youth and most importantly a passion for providing an unforgettable experience for students and teachers in New England. All of our instructors are trained in First Aid and CPR. They also participate in extensive training at the start of each season led by our expert leadership team. This training is designed to prepare our staff to execute a program that meets students' educational, social, emotional, and physical needs.
WHAT IF MY CHILD GETS HOMESICK? Spending a few days away from home is a great way for students to build confidence and independence. It’s normal for some students to experience feelings of homesickness during the trip, especially if they have not taken a trip away from home before. Our staff is trained to help your students work through these feelings and still have a fantastic time while at Nature’s Classroom. School teachers and chaperones will also be there to help your student. At night, cabins are supervised by school teachers, chaperones, or trained Nature’s Classroom staff.
CAN I CONTACT MY CHILD? Sending letters ahead of time is a great way to communicate with your student. If there is an emergency and you need to contact your child, you can contact Nature’s Classroom by calling the phone number provided for your site. For non-emergencies, we ask that you do not try to call to speak with your child during the trip. Phone calls with parents and family members almost always result in feelings of homesickness, even if the student was doing great.
WHY ARE CELL PHONE/INTERNET DEVICES PROHIBITED? Now more than ever, students need a break from screens and social media. Nature’s Classroom is all about having real experiences in nature without the distraction of cell phones!
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS? Our facilities are nut-free and also accommodate gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, shellfish, egg, lactose, vegetarian, and vegan allergies, intolerances, and restrictions. If you have any questions concerns your child’s dietary needs, please contact Trish at trish@naturesclassroomne.com.
WHO DO I CONTACT FOR EMERGENCIES? Please call the main number listed for the site your student is attending. You will also be able to find this information on the Family Packet which you will receive from your school.
WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD BRING? We provide the mattress, but your student will need to bring everything else. This includes bedding, toiletries, and enough clothing for the duration of their stay. For a full list of items to bring, please check out our recommended packing list which can be found in the Family Packet which you will receive.
WHAT SHOULDN’T MY CHILD BRING? Food (including gum, candy, and soda), electronics (including hairdryers), money, and weapons (including pocket knives) should stay home. Expensive and valuable items should stay at home as well.
DO YOU HAVE A CAMP STORE? If you would like to pre-order clothing, please contact info@naturesclassrooms.com for more information. Your school will let you know if students will be visiting the camp store during the trip. Items in the camp store range from $10-$40.