Damariscotta

Adventures await at DRA’s Camp Mummichog

Sat, 06/16/2018 - 8:45am

Damariscotta River Association (DRA) has openings in a few sessions of Camp Mummichog, a nature-adventure day camp located at DRA’s Great Salt Bay Farm on Belvedere Road in Damariscotta.

Nature’s Engineers, for kids ages 9 to 12, will take place July 9 to 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campers will explore the natural world and make inventions inspired by nature. Local mechanic and teacher Danny Hupp will guide campers in building machines, including bottle rockets and hydraulic arms. A kayak excursion in Great Salt Bay with Midcoast Kayak will round out the week. Tuition is $220 for the week or $195 for DRA members.

A Canoe Trip on the Damariscotta is for campers age 12 to 15, runs from July 9 to 13, with overnight camping on July 10 through 12. New this year, this adventure involves canoeing from Damariscotta Lake to the islands of Johns Bay at the mouth of the Damariscotta. The first day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be spent preparing for the trip and working on paddling skills at DRA’s Great Salt Bay Farm. Campers will set off on day two, exploring the watershed, keeping nature journals, learning outdoor cooking, and tenting overnight in campsites along the way. Parents will pick up their campers in South Bristol on Friday.

Participants in the canoe trip must be competent swimmers. The trip will be led by Registered Maine Guide and DRA Education Director Sarah Gladu. All gear is provided, though campers are encouraged to bring their own sleeping bags and pads if they have them. Space is limited. Tuition is $475 for the week or $425 for DRA members.

River Beats, for ages 9 to 14, is a two-week session running Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 23 to Aug. 3. During this session, nature exploration provides inspiration for campers to compose original music with Will Healy, an educator affiliated with the New York Philharmonic Young Composers Program. No prior music experience is necessary. Active games and nature discovery are balanced with quiet music composition time. Campers will kayak Great Salt Bay and visit Monhegan Island for a day.

The River Beats program results in astonishing original musical compositions by children, which will be performed by professional musicians at a free community concert at DRA’s Darrows Barn on Friday, Aug. 3. Tuition is $440 for two weeks or $390 for DRA members.

Ocean Adventures, for campers age 9 to 12, runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 6 to 10. This camp session is the result of a partnership with the University of Maine Darling Marine Center and the Franklin and Marshall College. Campers will visit the Darling Marine Center to meet a scientist and learn about squid and squid propulsion.

Over the course of the week, Ocean Adventure campers will conduct experiments, explore the Damariscotta River estuary aboard the River Tripper, watch seals in Great Salt Bay, dissect a squid, and play nature-inspired games. Tuition is $220 for the week or $195 for DRA members.

DRA camp sessions feature nature discovery in many forms, for example spending time with naturalists, learning hands-on outdoor living skills, taking field trips to islands for exploration, and playing nature-focused games. Scholarships are available for all camp sessions.

Find more information or register online at damariscottariver.org/events-programs/camp-mummichog