Tuesday, September 23^rd, 2025 – Autumn Adventure

What better way to celebrate the beginning of Autumn than by exploring Irvine’s trails! Participants will discover how plants and animals begin to change in the new season and what we can expect in the coming months as they all get ready for winter. We will explore through a scavenger hunt that will take us all around Irvine’s 211 acres of natural property as we work as a team making nature observations along the way. This Day Off Camp promises to have fun, adventure and team building.

Thursday, October 2^nd, 2025 – Wilderness Survival

What would you do if you got lost in the woods? In the Wilderness Survival Day Off Camp, participants will learn outdoor survival skills that can keep them safe if they ever find that they have lost their way. Including, learning how to properly pack for an outdoor excursion so that they are prepared for different conditions and scenarios that may arise. They will learn skills such as basic navigation and map reading, shelter building, fire building and safety, water collection and filtering, and how to use the resources around them to help them survive. Don’t miss out on this awesome learning experience for your child!

Monday, October 20^th, 2025 – Creepy Crawlies & Cryptids

Humans have a long history of folklore and stories around the creatures that go bump in the night. Sometimes inspired by true encounters with yet to be discovered animals such as Okapis, Gorillas, giant squids and Komodo Dragons to name few. Others such as Spiders, Scorpions, Bats and Rats tend to be seen in a negative light just because of what they look like. Participants will get time to learn more about these creepy crawlies and misunderstood “cryptids” and create our very own creatures of the night. We will end the day by sharing their stories around a campfire!

Tuesday, November 18^th, 2025 – Indigenous Peoples of the Chesapeake

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we will commemorate the Native American tribes of the Eastern Woodlands for all they have taught us about connecting with the environment and using our natural resources sustainably. We will hike to Irvine’s Native American Site where participants will get an insider look at Longhouse and Wigwam replicas that pre-colonial Native American tribes would have lived in. Participants will develop a respect for Native American culture as they learn about tool use, clothing, food, fire-making methods, and even games that are different than we see in today’s world.

Monday, January 19^th, 2026 – Winter Wonderland

One can only marvel at the abundance of natural wonders during an Irvine winter. In this Day Off Camp, we will be taking a closer look at the often-unnoticed beauty that our coldest season has to offer. Participants will take to the trails to search for signs of wildlife as they hike down to see some of Irvine’s picturesque streams and ponds in a frozen state. After some icy experiments and games, we’ll warm up with some hot cocoa by the fire before returning to warmth at the Nature Center to finish the day with some winter themed activities and arts.

Monday, February 16^th, 2026 – Geology Rocks!

Rocks and minerals are everywhere, and students will have the opportunity to learn about them first-hand.  This Day Off Camp will include a series of station-based, hands-on activities, which teach students how to identify rocks and minerals by using observations and experiments. We will explore the basics of the rock cycle and the significance of these natural resources in our daily lives. Participants will walk away with the beginnings of their very own rock collection and know-how on identification.

Tuesday, February 17^th, 2026 – Dinosaurs: A Blast from the Past

Become a paleontologist and learn how fossils form and what they can tell us about prehistoric life; we’ll even have our very own fossil dig! Play games, create art, and participate in activities designed to explore trace fossils, and the world of dinosaurs. Participants will learn about what we know about dinosaurs and the other prehistoric creatures that used to roam the earth. We’ll even meet some descendants of the ancient dinosaurs and see how they have survived to today.

Friday, March 20^th, 2026 – Maple Magic

Maple syrup season is one of our favorite times of the year here at Irvine, and we hope your child will join us for a close look at the process of collecting maple sap and turning it into the delicious syrup we all know and love! Participants will hike through our trails to visit our tapped trees and learn how the process has changed over time. We will visit the Barn to observe the process of sap changing to syrup as we enjoy some delicious treats by the fire!

Thursday, April 2^nd, 2026 – Terrific Tardigrades

Amoebas, Rotifers, & Water Bears, Oh My! The world can be so much smaller than we realize as we take the time to learn how to use a microscope and explore the unseen world around us. From single celled organisms to microscopic animals such as tardigrades, hiding in soil, pond water, or mosses. Participants will learn how to properly collect samples, prepare them and how to use microscopes to make observations into the unseen world around us.

Friday, April 3^rd, 2026 – Wetland Wonders

Participants will become scientists as they explore Irvine’s aquatic habitats to perform water quality tests and record data on the biodiversity found in each habitat. They will analyze their findings to determine the health of the ecosystems found in our wetland ponds and streams and discuss how these habitats contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. This hands-on experience will allow students to realize the impact their choices can have on our local environment.

Thursday, May 28^th, 2026 – Science of Slime

The fascination with slime has taken the world by storm! But what is happening in the process? During this Day Off Camp participants will explore the chemistry behind slime and other fun and sometimes messy experiments. We will learn to use the scientific process and make observations of our findings. Best of all, we will have the opportunity to bring home our creations.