Explore the largest group of animals in the world – insects. These six-legged wonders abound in our fields, forests, ponds and rivers. We’ll investigate their amazing adaptations, life cycles and ecology through outdoor explorations, games, stories, art activities and songs. Highlights include a search for aquatic insects in a nearby river, setting up insect motels, creating pattern block insects and exploring the characteristics and habitat of honey bees.

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Nets, Buckets and Boots
June 29-July 3
For children entering 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade
$160 Hildene member, $180 nonmember
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Instructors: Diane Newton

Calling all nature explorers! How does a water scorpion breathe, a beaver eat under water without drowning or a Great Blue Heron catch fish? Come and learn the answers to these and other questions during our week exploring and comparing river, pond and wetland communities. We’ll catch and identify aquatic insects, build a river food web, investigate a beaver pond, identify common wetland plants and view live hawks. We’ll also play, do crafts, sing songs, read stories, and cool off on our water slide.

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Story Time Art
July 6-10
For children ages 5-6
9:00 am. – 12:00 pm
$110 Hildene member, $120 nonmember
Instructor: Irene Cole

Let your imagination take you away. Each day we’ll read a story and create art relating to the story. Picture jeweled crowns, dragons, masks, butterflies, caterpillars and much more. The week ends with a show featuring the young artists’ work.

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Summer Art Camp
July 6-10
For children ages 9-10
9:00 am -12:00 pm
$110 Hildene member, $120 nonmember
Instructor: Anharad Edson

Campers celebrate the colors, shapes and textures of the beautiful Hildene property as they enjoy hands-on exploration of various media in the visual arts. From painting as the Impressionists did in the formal garden to visiting the animals on the farm and creating clay sculptures, the campers will be exposed to exciting techniques and fun-filled art adventures! The week culminates with a festive art show displaying each artist's creations.

Exploring Art
July 13-17
For children ages 7-8
$160 Hildene member, $180 nonmember
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Instructor: Irene Cole

During this week of art exploration, campers concentrate on a different genre each day. Expressionism, Abstract, Folk, Realism, Impressionism and Op/Pop are some of the genres we’ll explore, including the different artists within each. Campers paint, collage, draw and sculpt using the beautiful grounds of Hildene as inspiration. The week ends with a fabulous art show of camper creations.

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Cultural Arts
July 13-17
For children ages 8-10
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
$160 Hildene member, $180 nonmember
Instructor: Anharad Edson

Campers explore the arts and cultures of many exciting places as they delve into visual arts projects from around the world! Campers will gain an appreciation for the arts today as well as art from ancient times as they make connections between art, the land, and the lives of the people who have created it. Everyday will feature hands-on projects which will challenge their thinking and stimulate creativity! The week culminates with an art show exhibiting the work the students created during this art-filled trip around the world!

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Farm Camp
July 20-24
For children entering grades 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade
$160 Hildene member, $180 nonmember
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Instructor: Mimi Wright

Join us to discover how our lives are connected to agriculture. Campers become familiar with Hildene’s farm and visit neighboring ones as they are introduced to different types of farming operations. Campers explore agricultural activities from goat-raising and cheese making to vegetable growing and composting. They try their hand at weeding and picking snacks from the garden, turning milk into cheese, felting fleece into fabric and picking berries for baking. Campers enjoy farm stories and create farm-based crafts. So, dress for the barn and outdoor play!

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Farm Camp
July 27-31
For children entering 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade
$160 Hildene member, $180 nonmember
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Instructor: Mimi Wright

See description above.

THIS CAMP IS FULL
Sets and Series in Clay
July 27-31
For children entering 3rd, 4th or 5th grade
$200 Hildene member, $220 Nonmember
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Instructors: Teri Gotgart & Kate Goetz

Students explore the world of ceramic art through focusing on sets and series of various clay forms, such as serving bowls, mugs and cups, tiles, sugar and creamers as well as sculptural forms. Campers will learn multiple hand building techniques, including press molds, coiling, slab construction and more. We’ll also focus on surface design, slip decoration and structural building with clay. Campers get to be creative and artistic as well as learn about the importance of form and function.

VINS Trail Blazers
August 3-7
For children entering 4th, 5th or 6th grade
$350 Hildene members, enter code HD081709, Nonmembers $375
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Instructor: Rick Ladue & VINS Staff
Limit: 15 campers

Are you curious as to what lies off the beaten path? Do you often wish to explore places that are not found on a map? Each day a new theme is explored using adventure filled activities, crafts and games. We will spend the days exploring the many different types of plants, animals and ecosystems found in the mountains of New England. Be prepared for adventure!

VINS Earth Explorers
August 10-14
For children entering 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
$300 Hildene members, enter code HD081709, Nonmembers $325
Instructor: Rick Ladue & VINS Staff
Limit: 16 Campers

Search to find what flies, crawls, sings, swims and grows here at camp! Each day will bring a new adventure filled theme packed with activities, crafts and games

Our Camp Staff
Diane Newton
Director of Education, Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
Manchester, VT
Irene Cole
Artist, Manchester, VT
Rick Ladue
VINS Program Manager, Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Manchester, VT
Anharad Edson
Art Teacher & Illustrator, Manchester, VT
Kate Goetz
Turning Wheel Studio, East Dorset, VT
Teri Gotgart
Turning Wheel Studio, East Dorset, VT
Mimi Wright
Small-Scale Farmer, Londonderry, VT