A Day in the Life of a Summer Camper
An Adventure-Filled, Nature-Rich Day at Chattanooga’s Best Outdoor Summer Camp
Parents and campers alike tell us all the time that Reflection Riding is Chattanooga’s best outdoor summer camp, presented by Local 3 News. But what does a typical day at the Best Outdoor Summer Camp in Chattanooga look like? We have lots of thoughts, but really, it’s impossible to say, because there really is no typical day! Summer camp at Reflection Riding is an ever-changing, nature-immersed, hands-on experience campers will never forget.
We asked our camp leaders to tell us what just one day could look like at summer camp… and here’s what fun you may encounter:
8:45 - Arrive at the Welcome Center, meet new friends, connect with old ones, and get to know each other as counselors help campers feel comfortable and welcome.
9:15 - Warm up for the day with free play in the field.
9:55 - Collect sticks, leaves, and flowers along our trails for a fun craft!
10:20 - We’re staying energized and hydrated with a quick water and snack break… who knows, some unexpected popsicles or ice cream might even make an appearance one day!
10:40 - Use your nature finds to craft picture frames. These cute crafts can display your favorite pet, friends, or favorite discovery in nature!
11:15 - This may be the very best part of the day as we meet all kinds of native animals, from watching Winnie the Barn Owl fly overhead, to meeting Charlie the Virginia Opossum up close… it’s Animal Encounter time!!
11:50 - Rest up for lunch while taking in the sights and sounds of nature!
12:35 - Cool down during those summer afternoons with a splash in the mud—Mud Day is here (a fan favorite)!
1:15 - Clean up time! All that fun can be dirty, so we’ll change into a new set of clothes and move to our next adventure.
1:40 - Make a pollinator finger puppet as you learn about how bees and butterflies help our world.
2:10 - Enjoy nature play at the Forest Pod where only your imagination is the limit!
2:45 - We’ll pack up all our belongings, check for missing items, clean up a little for the ride home, and head out for the evening… ready for a long sleep and another day at Chattanooga’s best outdoor summer camp again tomorrow!
We took a (very) informal poll, and here are a few of our camper’s favorite things:
Mud Day is nearly every child’s favorite thing. Who doesn’t love getting dirty?
Lots of kids learn to paddle on Lookout Creek with us every summer and love it!
Hiking up Lookout Mountain, from Reflection Riding to Sunset Rock, is a big camper accomplishment each year.
Nature art projects are a regular favorite, like building fairy houses, solar prints, leaf rubbings, and rock painting, to name a few.
Outdoor experiences many of us adults take for granted, like climbing trees (which many kids have never done before), outdoor games, exploring our wetland areas, and participating in pond studies, really engage our campers.
Animal Encounters, especially when a snake is involved, are always crowd-pleasers.
Join us for summer camp, and your kids will make nature memories to last a lifetime!
Special thanks to Local 3 News, Volkswagen Chattanooga, and RockPoint Bank for sponsoring Summer Camp 2024!
“I think what RR offers is the freedom to be a kid, just like wild freedom. It’s really hard to find [a summer camp] that’s not super structured and guides through nature while still being education. I think that’s a gift that is super hard to find our world that’s very mechanized and processed and scheduled.”
