Escape to Nature 2022 Summer Camp - That’s a Wrap!
It’s time, once again, to say farewell to our summer campers, counselors, parents and volunteers that made Summer 2022 an awesome success! Thank you to our dedicated and caring summer staff for providing incredible experiences for the 300 brave and energetic campers that attended. Priceless memories were made and everyone loved exploring our campus and sharing in the wonder of nature. While every day was filled with adventure, there really is no typical day at Reflection Riding Summer Camp. Each day was ever-changing and immersive with lots of hands-on experience we are sure the campers will never forget. We have loved getting to watch campers blossom into nature-loving, wilderness-seeking kids and we look forward to doing it again next summer!
Thank you to Local 3 News for being our media sponsor this year, and thank you to everyone who made our Escape to Nature Summer Camps so awesome this year! We’ll see you all again next year for the best outdoor summer camp in Chattanooga!
“I love that the kids were able to be kids, playing in the swamp and getting muddy and climbing trees! Fun stuff and great outdoor learning that all kids should get the chance to experience!”
Campers loved taking advantage of Reflection Riding’s natural playgrounds, the Playscapes. Each playscape represents an area in nature. There is a grassland pod, a rock crop, a creek pod, and a woodland pod that is the perfect place for nature play.
Every week campers got to meet numerous animal ambassadors. Here, the campers are meeting Phoebe, the Virginia opossum! Not only is this a unique experience for them, they learn how important native species are to our backyard and surrounding ecosystems.
When it rains, it pours…and we are totally okay with that! Come rain or shine, we are outside. Who said that you need to go indoors when it rains? Not us! When the majority of the summer is 100 degrees, we welcome the rain and love to jump in puddles.
Reflection Riding has two ponds that have seen quite the foot traffic this summer, as you can see! Here, our campers investigate macro-invertebrates, water quality, and get a better understanding of our local watersheds and the importance of clean water.
What’s better than playing in actual dirt? Campers are puttin’ down their roots in our Native Plant Nursery. Here, they propagated and planted their own seeds with our land conservation team.
What better way to cool off than the old water hose. With the heat index being over 105 most days, cooling off is a huge priority! Along with getting sprayed with the hose, we also enjoyed popsicles to bring those internal temperatures down. Our number one goal was to ensure our campers were safe and well hydrated!
“This camp exceeded my expectations! He had a blast and spent his days outside in nature learning, playing, discovering, building, relating, and using his imagination. He definitely wants to return next summer. I am so grateful that the camp returned to Reflection Riding’s beautiful campus this year. It was absolutely a wonderful time for my son! Well done! We will be back next year and hopefully bring friends with us!”
