Summer Camp at Reflection Riding
Summer is for muddy shoes, curious minds, and wild adventures.
Summer is for Camp at Reflection Riding.
Our weekly summer camps run Monday-Friday from June 1 through July 31, with camp days from 9:00 AM—3:00 PM ET. Drop-off begins at 8:30 AM, and pick-up starts at 2:45 PM. After care is available for families who need extended coverage.
Summer Camp at Reflection Riding is more than just a day outside—it’s a 300-acre classroom where campers explore, play, and learn through hands-on experiences. Each week is filled with outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, creative play, and meaningful connections to nature that spark curiosity and confidence.
Whether your camper joins us for one week or the whole summer, every session offers new opportunities to explore, try something new, and build lasting friendships. Our experienced staff create a safe, supportive, and joyful environment where campers can be themselves, get a little muddy, and make memories that last long after summer ends.
Camps run weekly Mon–Fri
From June 1—July 31
9:00 AM–3:00 PM ET
Dropoff starts at 8:30 AM. Pickup starts at 2:45 PM.
Registration Opens Soon
Priority Registration for Members: January 29th
Public Access Registration: February 5th
Early Bird Rates (through April 2nd)
$275 members/$300 non-members
Regular Rates
$300 members/$325 non-members
Summer Camp Themes and Session Dates
No matter the theme, every week of Summer Camp at Reflection Riding is rooted in exploration, play, and connection to nature. Our programming is thoughtfully tailored by age group so campers are challenged, supported, and having fun at a level that’s right for them.
Campers spend their days exploring our campus through age-appropriate hikes, imaginative play, and hands-on activities in favorite places like the Bamboo Forest, Taco Rock, Playscapes Pods, and the Dawn Redwood Climbing Tree. Water play, games, and theme-inspired crafts are woven into each week to keep campers cool, creative, and engaged.
Every session includes hands-on learning through pond studies, native animal tours, and animal encounters with our animal ambassadors. Older campers may also have the opportunity to go canoeing on Lookout Creek.
Each week wraps up with a special end-of-week celebration featuring a bonfire, s’mores, popsicles, and bubbles—ending the session with fun, connection, and lasting memories.
Art in the Wild—Nature’s Canvas
June 1-5 and July 27-31
Campers will explore their creativity in the great outdoors as nature becomes both their studio and inspiration. Using natural materials found around our campus, campers create one-of-a-kind art projects inspired by the colors, textures, and patterns of the natural world.
Activities are thoughtfully adapted by age, allowing younger campers to experiment through sensory play and exploration while older campers dive deeper into creative techniques and artistic expression. Throughout the week, campers build a stronger connection to nature while practicing observation, mindfulness, and self-expression.
In addition to art-focused activities, campers will also enjoy all of the classic Reflection Riding Summer Camp experiences—including outdoor exploration, animal encounters, imaginative play, games, hikes, and time with friends—making this a fun and engaging week for campers of all interests.
Nature Detectives: Tiny Worlds
June 8-12
Tiny Worlds invites campers to slow down, look closely, and explore the incredible lives of insects, fungi, and other small-but-mighty organisms that help keep ecosystems healthy. Throughout the week, campers become nature detectives, using tools like hand lenses, bug boxes, and observation journals to discover hidden habitats in soil, leaf litter, logs, and native plants across our campus.
Activities are adapted by age, with younger campers focusing on sensory exploration and guided discovery, while older campers dive deeper into observation, investigation, and ecological connections. Campers learn how decomposers recycle nutrients, how insects support pollination and food webs, and why even the tiniest creatures play an important role in native landscapes.
In addition to theme-based exploration, campers will also enjoy all of the classic Reflection Riding Summer Camp experiences—including outdoor play, animal encounters, games, hikes, and time with friends—making this an engaging and fun-filled week for campers of all interests.
Survival Quest: Mastering the Wild
June 15-19 and July 13-17
Campers step into the role of outdoor adventurers as they explore foundational wilderness skills through hands-on, age-appropriate activities. Throughout the week, campers practice skills like shelter building, knot tying, and learning about campfire safety—building confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving as they explore our campus.
Activities are adapted by age, with younger campers focusing on cooperative play and guided exploration, while older campers take on more complex challenges and leadership opportunities. Campers also learn about the fascinating ways plants and animals are adapted to survive in their natural habitats, helping them better understand the connections between people and the natural world.
In addition to adventure-themed activities, campers will also enjoy all of the classic Reflection Riding Summer Camp experiences—including animal encounters, imaginative play, games, hikes, and time with friends—making this an exciting and well-rounded week for campers of all interests.
Eco Warriors: Adventures in Sustainability
June 22-26 and July 20-24
Campers become Eco Warriors as they explore what it means to care for the natural world through hands-on activities and outdoor adventures. Throughout the week, campers hike our campus, take part in eco-friendly challenges, and learn simple, meaningful ways people can help protect land, water, and wildlife.
Activities are thoughtfully adapted by age, with younger campers focusing on exploration and everyday stewardship, while older campers dive deeper into conservation concepts and problem-solving challenges. Campers will also explore local ecosystems and learn about native plants and animals, discovering how everything is connected and why healthy ecosystems matter.
In addition to sustainability-themed activities, campers will also enjoy all of the classic Reflection Riding Summer Camp experiences—including imaginative play, animal encounters, games, hikes, and time with friends—making this an engaging and fun-filled week for campers of all interests.
EcoTech Innovators: Building a Green Future
June 15-19 and July 13-17
Campers explore how science, engineering, and nature work together as they become EcoTech Innovators through hands-on, outdoor challenges and creative problem-solving. Throughout the week, campers take part in activities like animal enrichment, pond studies, dam building, and helping manage invasive plant species—learning by doing as they explore real-world connections to caring for the environment.
Activities are adapted by age, with younger campers focusing on exploration and building confidence through guided play, while older campers dive deeper into teamwork, design thinking, and problem-solving. Campers learn how small ideas and thoughtful actions can lead to meaningful change, all in a supportive and fun camp environment.
In addition to innovation-focused activities, campers will also enjoy all of the classic Reflection Riding Summer Camp experiences—including outdoor exploration, animal encounters, imaginative play, games, hikes, and time with friends—making this an exciting and engaging week for campers of all interests.
Thank you to our 2025 Summer Camp Sponsors!
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!
Meet Your Camp Director
Ailani Ramirez-Pineda
Interim Summer Camp Director
Ailani is the oldest of 7 siblings and was raised in Dalton, GA, since she was a toddler. She graduated from Dalton State College with a bachelor's in psychology. She enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. She is also an animal lover and has a soft spot for working with nonprofits and children. She loves sparking a passion for nature and a love for animals in every child she works with, and she believes she learns as much from them as they learn from her. Ailani was first introduced to Reflection Riding in 2021 when she first applied for a summer camp counselor position and again in 2023. She is excited to continue her summer camp journey for her second year as Summer Camp Co-Director.
Education Cell: 423.443.0082
Email: camp@reflectionriding.org
Get Camp Ready!
Watch Camp Director Ailani get her backpack ready for camp.
Plus, check out our Summer Camp gear page where we answer some of the most common questions parents and campers have about what to wear and what to bring to camp.
Frequently Asked Camp Questions
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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!
Learn more about what to pack for camp here. -
Yes! Check out our gear guide here.
All campers will need:
• a full change of clothes
• a non-refrigerated lunch
• a reusable water bottle
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• plastic bag for wet clothes
• hat
• a raincoatPlease apply your child’s sunscreen and bug spray before arriving to camp.
Also, 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.
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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.
Each day, pickup begins at 2:45 PM and ends at 3:00 PM.
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 3:00 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 to Sunset Rock or Skyuka Spring that campers will be unable to leave unless accommodations are made ahead of time.
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After Care is available from 3:00–5:00 PM and offers campers a relaxed, low-key way to wind down after a full day of outdoor adventure. This time is intentionally less structured, giving campers space to rest, recharge, and enjoy casual activities in a supportive, supervised environment.
During After Care, campers continue to spend time outside on our campus, choosing from calm, creative, and play-based options such as nature-inspired games, drawing or crafting, reading, imaginative play, and gentle exploration. An additional afternoon snack is provided to help campers stay comfortable and energized.
On occasion, campers may watch a short, nature-inspired film or educational video as part of this wind-down period. Any screen use is very limited, intentional, and aligned with Reflection Riding’s mission, serving as a quiet transition rather than a primary activity.
Pickup during After Care requires parking and checking out your camper inside the Welcome Center, where staff will assist with dismissal.
After Care is designed to feel like a natural extension of the camp day—calm, flexible, and grounded in nature—while supporting families who need a little extra coverage in the afternoon.
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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.
Check out our blog on the Day in the Life of a Summer Camper.
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.
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We do offer a sibling discount! Register multiple campers and receive 15% off for the second and subsequent ones.
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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!
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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 Young Explorers camps (ages 5-10) will be sorted into smaller groups by age.
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Absolutely! Sign up for as many weeks as you like!
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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 camp@reflectionriding.org or call 423.443.0082.
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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!
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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 camp@reflectionriding.org to request a transfer.
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Contact our Summer Camp Co-Directors at camp@reflectionriding.org or call 423.443.0082 with questions.
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We understand that delays can happen, but to ensure the safety of all campers and staff, we have a strict late pick-up policy.
Camp pick-up begins at 2:45 PM and ends at 3:00 PM each day. A 15-minute grace period is allowed until 3:15 PM. Any pick-up after 3:15 PM will result in a late fee of $1 per minute per child.
If a camper is not picked up by 3:45 PM, and we are unable to reach a parent or emergency contact, we will notify the non-emergency police line for assistance.Late fees must be paid in full before the camper can return to camp. Repeated late pick-ups may result in dismissal from the program.
Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a smooth and safe experience for everyone!
Best Summer Camp in Chattanooga
Fun, outdoor, nature-based summer camps at Reflection Riding, located just minutes from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.