Summer Camp at Reflection Riding

Summer is for muddy shoes and wild adventures. Summer is for Camp at Reflection Riding.

Sponsored by Local 3 News and Rock/Creek, Summer Camp at Reflection Riding is more than just a day at the park. It's a 300-acre classroom filled with hands-on discovery, wildlife encounters, and outdoor adventures that ignite young minds. We’ll make amazing memories, explore the forest, meet new friends, and have a ton of fun doing it!

Whether your camper is here for one week or the entire summer, each camp at Reflection Riding offers campers a chance to try something new! This year, we are offering eight weeks of camp for our Nature Explorers, ages 5-10, and four weeks of camp for our Junior Naturalists, ages 11-13. We are thrilled to welcome your child to experience the beauty of nature and learn new things in a safe and fun environment!

Thank you to our 2024 camp sponsors!

Local 3 News and Rock/Creek

Nature Explorers

For campers ages 5–10*

Nature Explorers, assemble! Are you ready for a summer unlike any other, where every week explodes with wild fun and epic nature adventures? At Reflection Riding, we're not just playing in the dirt (although there will be some AWESOME mud day action!), we're becoming super sleuths of the forest, crafting nature masterpieces, and turning science into the coolest experiments ever! We'll be trekking through hidden forests, splashing in the most epic puddles you've ever seen, and learning all the coolest animal secrets from our expert nature guides.

Camps run weekly Mon–Fri
From June 3–Aug 2
9:00 AM–4:00 PM ET

Dropoff starts at 8:45 AM. Pickup starts at 3:45 PM.

$200 / week member rate before April 15
$250 / week non-member rate before April 15

$50 rate increase after April 15

*Campers will be divided into groups based on age.

  • June 3–7 & July 8–12

    Get outside and discover your wild side! During Wild Adventure Week, campers will embrace their wild side as they explore Reflection Riding’s campus and learn how native plants and animals use adaptations to survive in the wild. Our experts on staff will lead up-close encounters with some of our amazing wildlife. Plus, they’ll learn about the important work being done to protect threatened and endangered species and ways to help make a difference.

  • June 10–14 & July 15–19

    Are you ready for Eco Explorer week?! During this week of camp, we will focus on learning the life cycles of animals and plants, exploring the interconnected web of food chains, and discovering how native plants and animals fit into these chains. There will be lots of games, hands-on activities, water (and mud!) adventures, and exploration to help us understand the importance of biodiversity!

  • June 17–21 & July 22–26

    Grab your hiking boots! This week we’re going into the woods to explore the incredible diversity of forests right here in our region. With acres upon acres of woodland to explore, campers will have the chance to compare and contrast the unique plants and animals that call each forest ecosystem home. From the towering trees of the upper woodland forests to the lush undergrowth of the lower woodlands, every inch of Reflection Riding is teeming with life waiting to be discovered. We’ll dive into the rich biodiversity of native forests and explore all the incredible flora and fauna that make this area so special!

  • June 24–28 & July 29–Aug 2

    Embark on an unforgettable ecological journey at Biodiversity University Week! Campers will branch out and explore the diverse habitats on our campus, delving into the secrets and wonders of meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands. They will learn about how different animals and plants coexist and work together with the different ecosystems, all while having fun! We’ll get fully immersed in nature, and create unforgettable memories as we discover the beauty and importance of biodiversity!

Junior Naturalists

For campers ages 11–13

Gear up for a summer of unforgettable adventures with our Junior Naturalist camps! Each week brings hands-on projects, like battling invasive species and tackling river clean-ups that will ignite their eco-warrior spirit. Unleash their inner explorer with hikes, orienteering challenges, and more, building crucial survival skills, curiosity, resilience, and lifelong friendships. These epic memories will spark a passion for the outdoors that echoes long after camp ends!

Camps run weekly Mon–Fri
From June 3–Aug 2
9:00 AM–4:00 PM ET

Dropoff starts at 8:45 AM. Pickup starts at 3:45 PM.

$200 / week member rate before April 15
$250 / week non-member rate before April 15

$50 rate increase after April 15

  • June 10–14 & July 15–19

    Get ready for an unforgettable adventure during Eco Warrior Week! Campers will learn amazing ways to protect and preserve their local environment, from getting hands-on experience with invasive species removal to participating in a thrilling river clean-up as we canoe down Lookout Creek to the Tennessee River. And that's not all! As future Junior Naturalists, campers will also develop and sharpen their survival skills as they hike to Sunset Rock using our Blazed Trail system. So don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore the great outdoors and become a true champion of the environment!

    Eco Warrior Week Includes:

    • All-day canoe trip to the Tennessee River
    • Bamboo removal
    • LookOut creek clean-up
    • Hike to Sunset Rock via Blazed Trail
    • And more…!

  • June 24–28 & July 29–Aug 2

    Calling all Nature Navigators! Gear up for wild adventures: build crackling fires and rustic shelters, navigate like a pro, and conquer the Kiddie Trail to Sunset Rock! Test your skills in an epic orienteering capture-the-flag game across our 300-acre wilderness playground. Spark curiosity, build resilience, and make memories that roar as loud as the campfire!

    Nature Navigator Week Includes:

    • Hike the Kiddie Trail to Sunset Rock
    • Fire and shelter building
    • 300-acre capture-the-flag game
    • All-day canoe trip
    • And more…!

Member Benefits for Summer Camp

Priority camp registration and discounts on camp fees are just two of the many benefits of becoming a member so, join or renew today!

  • "My kids have looked forward to Reflection Riding ALL year. They love their counselors, friends, and freedom to be a kid! They get in the car in the afternoon FULL of stories to share and fun facts! We will definitely be back next year!"

    Summer 2023 Camp Parent

  • "My boys love nature camp! We absolutely love the staff! I love that my boys are well cared for, have fun, active and learning!!"

    Summer 2023 Camp Parent

  • "They came home covered in mud from head to toe which is how I know they had the best week ever!"

    Summer 2022 Camp Parent

  • "My child was introduced to the Red Wolves and can’t stop talking about them. I appreciate you all helping my child fall in love with nature."

    Summer 2022 Camp Parent

Frequently Asked Camp Questions

  • Yes, you will need to pack lunch for your child. Snacks will be provided by Reflection Riding but if there is an allergy, please pack your own snacks.

    We would be super grateful if your child could bring a refillable water bottle to camp instead of disposable ones. This small step can make a big difference in reducing plastic waste on the campus. We've even got a filtered water refill station in the Welcome Center to help make this easy for everyone!

  • Yes! All campers will need:

    • a full change of clothes
    • a non-refrigerated lunch
    • a reusable water bottle
    • sunscreen
    • bug spray
    • hat
    • a raincoat

    Please do not send your child with toys or electronics to camp. We are here to enjoy nature, and those items can be a distraction. Reflection Riding cannot be held liable for lost or stolen items.

  • Please read these instructions in full because dropoff and pickup are different on Mondays!

    On Monday mornings at 8:45 AM, you will park your car in the field behind the Welcome Center and walk your child to the registration table under the trees. We will sign the campers in, introduce them to their counselor, and guide them to their group.

    The rest of the week, Tuesday through Friday, you can remain in your vehicle and proceed through the main parking lot in a line. Dropoff and pickup will be directly in front of the Welcome Center.

    You must sign your child in and out every day at pickup and dropoff. We are happy to accommodate you if you need to drop your child off late or pick them up early. We are unable to accommodate early dropoffs (before 8:45 AM) or late pickups (after 4:00 PM.)

    If your child is participating in our Junior Naturalist camps, please discuss late dropoffs and early pickups with their counselor at the beginning of the week. Some of their activities include extended hikes and canoe trips that the campers will be unable to leave during.

  • Every day during summer camp is an exciting new adventure! We will be making unforgettable memories as we explore the great outdoors, meet new animal friends, play in the mud, hike through the forest, and engage in exciting games and activities.

    Our mornings start off with a fun icebreaker game, designed to help us get to know each other better and build lasting friendships. After a quick snack and restroom break, we gear up and head out for our first activity of the day.

    We aim to squeeze in one to two activities before lunchtime, depending on the distance we need to cover.

    We generally try to get in one to two activities before lunch, around noon, depending on how far we have to hike.

    In the afternoon, we'll continue with one to two more activities, and before you know it, it'll be time for pickup.

  • We do offer a sibling discount! Register multiple campers and receive 15% off for the second and subsequent ones.

  • Yes! Our members receive priority registration and $50 off camp registration fees. In addition to camp registration perks our members receive year-round daylight access to 300+ acres of natural beauty and reciprocal admissions at more than 300 AHS botanical gardens and 180 ANCA nature and science centers across the US and Canada. If you are not a member, join today!

  • Our camps are designed for children ages 5-13 years old. In order for our youngest campers to have a positive experience, they should have had previous experiences in group settings where they are required to follow a leader's instructions and stay with a group. If they have attended pre-K or kindergarten or have been in a collaborative learning experience previously, they should be well prepared for camp.

    Campers in our Nature Explorers camps (ages 5-10) will be sorted into smaller groups by age.

  • Absolutely! Sign up for as many weeks as you like!

  • We ask that your child is physically and mentally able to attend summer camp, they have no medical condition that prevents them from engaging in summer camp, or you have discussed necessary accommodations with summer camp staff and feel confident that those accommodations can make summer camp attendance and participation the best and safest choice for your child.

    If you have reservations about camp activities, would like to seek clarification, or request an accommodation, please contact our summer camp staff at ailani@reflectionriding.org or call 423.821.1160.

  • We're excited for a summer full of fun, learning, and adventure at Reflection Riding! We understand life can be unpredictable, so here’s our cancellation policy:

    Oops! Changed Your Mind? There's a $30 fee for any cancellations, just to cover our admin costs.

    Plans Changed? If you cancel more than two weeks before camp starts, you get back everything except the $30 fee.

    Close to Camp Time? Cancelling within two weeks of camp start means you’ll receive a 50% refund (minus the $30 fee).

    Last-Minute Cancellation? Unfortunately, if it’s less than a week to go, we can’t offer a refund.

    Quick Tips:

    Please email us for cancellations – it’s the easiest way to keep track!

    Life’s curveballs (like medical emergencies) might need special consideration, so do reach out.

    We hope this helps plan your summer with a bit more ease. Can’t wait to see your camper for an unforgettable experience!

  • If you would like your camper to attend a different week than you signed up for, we will make every effort to accommodate you based on availability. Please email ailani@reflectionriding.org to request a transfer.

  • Contact our Summer Camp Director, Ailani Ramirez-Pineda at ailani@reflectionriding.org or call 423.821.1160.

Best Summer Camp in Chattanooga

Fun, outdoor, nature-based summer camps at Reflection Riding, located just minutes from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.