Mass Audubon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental conservation, education, and advocacy, offers summer programming for children ages 4-14 at two locations in the area - Joppa Flats in Newburyport and Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield.*****
Mass Audubon camps are the premier nature day camps in Massachusetts. With locations in Newburyport and Topsfield, campers can explore tide pools and dunes on Plum Island and paddle on the Ipswich River while having fun, meeting new friends, and learning about plants and animals. Joppa Flats and Ipswich River Nature Day Camps are proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), which works with camp professionals to ensure the highest quality of camp programs for families. Join us this summer, and your child will discover and gain comfort and confidence in nature.
Joppa Flats Summer Camp in Newburyport offers weeklong, habitat-based sessions, giving campers ages 6–11 the opportunity to learn more about their natural surroundings. Days at Joppa Flats are filled with nature exploration, hands-on science, and play and art in the outdoors. Children in our Trekker & Explorer sessions (ages 6-10) have fun and make friends as they explore local habitats, from the shore to forest, meadow to forest, and pond to stream. Our new Nature Questers camp takes older campers ages 11 to 13 farther into nature exploration with daily field trips – including kayaking and a mountain hike – plus an overnight at Joppa Flats Education Center.
Weekly half-day trips and a full-day field trip provide full ecosystem immersion for an enhanced camp experience. Small group sizes ensure a welcoming, supportive environment. Visit the camp website for weekly themes.
“My kids loved the counselors, being outside, collecting natural treasures, and being by the ocean.” ~2015 Camp Parent
This summer we’re boosting our camp sessions to five full days per week: Monday–Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. We now also offer an After Camp Option from 3-5 PM, allowing for later pickup. Activities include nature art, nature-inquiry, and quiet reflection time guided by Joppa Flats staff and interns.
Cost per week varies depending on session, with different rates for Mass Audubon members and nonmembers. Deadline to register is May 15, and space is limited - enroll early!
Joppa Flats Education Center is located at 1 Plum Island Tpke., Newburyport, MA. For detailed pricing information, and to download the camp brochure, please click here.
Ipswich River Day Camp in Topsfield encourages campers ages 4–14 to explore a variety of North Shore habitats, including fields, forests, and wetlands on our 2,000-acre wildlife sanctuary. With nearly 2,000 acres and twelve miles of interconnected trails, campers will take daily walks through forests, meadows, and wetlands. Eight miles of the Ipswich River meander within the sanctuary, and many camp sessions incorporate canoe trips on this beautiful, slow-flowing river. Campers will also visit the ever-popular Rockery, a huge rock structure beside a peaceful pond.
Sessions are designed to provide campers with a unique opportunity to learn about nature with hands-on activities. One-week themed sessions blend outdoor exploration, hands-on activities, games, songs, and crafts (please visit the camp website for details on specific sessions).
Knowledgeable staff encourage an educational, noncompetitive camp environment for memories that will last a lifetime.
Knowledgeable staff encourage an educational, noncompetitive camp environment for memories that will last a lifetime.
"Ipswich River Sanctuary is really special and my son cherishes it as one of his very favorite places to be in the world." ~2015 Camp Parent
Sessions run June–August. Small group sizes allow us to provide a high-quality educational experience and a welcoming, supportive environment. Morning and afternoon half-day options are available for our youngest Discoverers (ages 4-5). Full-day camp hours for ages 5 and up are 8:30 AM-3 PM, with an After Camp option from 3-4 PM (separate registration required).
Cost per week varies depending on session, with different rates for Mass Audubon members and nonmembers.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA. For detailed pricing information, and to download the camp brochure, please click here.
