IMPORTANT:

  • To register online and be eligible for Member's Prices, your membership record must include your email.
  • If you do not have an email, you must register by mail or in person by cash or check.

To make the new online registration work smoothly, please verify your email and your membership status before you attempt to register, otherwise you may not be able to register online and receive members pricing.

More information about logging into the site.

  • Credit card payments are only accepted online.
  • Online registrations that are not paid by Credit Card will be held for one week only!

Questions about Summer Camp? Send an email to the Natural Resources Division or call during business hours: 410-535-5327.

PLEASE NOTE: Most camps have space for 15 campers. Only a limited number of slots are available for online registrations. There may be spaces available for mail-in or walk-in registrations. Call for more information.

Print out the Registration Form

Upcoming events

  • Summer Camp: Junior Rangers (5th - 8th grades)

    • 17 Jun 2013
    • 10:00 AM
    • 21 Jun 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Kings Landing Park
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Junior Rangers Camp
    Entering grades 5-8

    Monday, June 17-Friday, June 21
    10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

    Location: Kings Landing Park

    What does it take to be a good ranger? This day camp will teach you the ins and outs as you work with a ranger in a park setting. Basic outdoor living skills will be taught with emphasis on preservation and conservation of our open spaces. This camp will give you the skills you need to be a good ranger. Instruction includes orienteering, backpacking, canoeing, plant and animal studies, fire building, emergency shelters and more! All participants must wear sturdy walking shoes and have a desire to get tough! Come get sweaty, dirty and go home with the confidence that YOU can make it anywhere.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125.
    Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Walk on the Wet Side (3rd-5th grades)

    • 24 Jun 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 28 Jun 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Walk on the Wet Side
    For children entering grades 3rd –5th

    Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28 
    Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
    Thursday camp begins at 6pm for a family picnic dinner/cookout, followed by a campers-only overnight which ends at 9am Friday.
    No camp Friday after pick-up time.

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

    If you like exploring wet places and catching water animals – then this fun camp is for you! This week we will wade into some marvelous wet places like the creek, the swamp, and the Bay. As we go, we will see and learn firsthand about the animals and plants that depend on water – including ourselves. We’ll end the week with an overnight so we can discover some watery places by the light of the stars. Come prepared to get WET!

    Tents and breakfast for the overnight provided, as well as hot dogs and hamburgers for the overnight’s potluck cookout.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125.
    Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Herpetology Camp (1st-2nd grades)

    • 24 Jun 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 28 Jun 2013
    • 2:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park
    • 0
    Registration is closed
    Online Registration Is Closed. Some space may be available. Please call 410-535-5327 or email cypressswamp@co.cal.md.us for details.

    Herpetology Camp
    For Children entering grades 1 & 2

    Monday, June 24-Friday, June 28
    9:00 a.m. - 2:00.pm.

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

    Explore the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians as you have a ball playing games and using seine nets, dip nets, and traps to safely view these incredible animals. Investigate their differences and learn why herps are important to us. Daily animal encounters will provide you the opportunity to observe a variety of live turtles, frogs, salamanders, lizards, and non-venomous snakes. You will have a chance to safely handle some of these animals too.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125. Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Camp Skills: Earth, Air, Fire, Water (3rd-5th grades)

    • 08 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 12 Jul 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Camp Skills: Earth, Air, Fire, Water
    Entering grades 3rd –5th

    Monday, July 8-Friday, July 12
    9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

    Come to this camp to learn survival skills like finding food, building shelters, lighting fires and cooking over the campfire. We will spend time at the beach, in the water, deep in the woods and everywhere in between! Be ready for adventure and to take what you learned home to your next campout.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125.
    Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Hand in Hand – Discovery Trails (ages 3-5 with adult)

    • 10 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 12 Jul 2013
    • 12:00 PM
    • Battle Creek Cypress Swamp
    • 2
    Register

    Hand in Hand – Discovery Trails Summer Camp
    For 3-5 year olds with one adult for each child

    Location: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

    This camp is designed to be a special time for a young child to explore and discover hand-in-hand with a playful adult. We will use both structured activities (like stories, dramatic play, and crafts) and unstructured activities (like exploring the creek and the pond) to investigate and observe the mysteries of the world around us. We will leave plenty of time for playing and exploring on our daily adventures. Due to time/staff considerations, we request that no extra siblings be brought to class please – only one child per adult.

    Program Fee per child:
    BCNES members pay $45.
    Nonmembers pay $55.

    Each child/adult pair must register separately.

    You may pay online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information Page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Sons of the Forest (2nd-4th grades)

    • 15 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 19 Jul 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Online Registration Is Closed. Some space may be available. Please call 410-535-5327 or email cypressswamp@co.cal.md.us for details.

    Sons of the Forest
    For children entering grades 2-4

    Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19
    9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

    Build, hike, dig and crawl; become a son of the forest! If you are active and like to be outdoors, this is the camp for you. We will get down and dirty exploring, building, and learning about the habitats at Flag Ponds, spending most of our time outdoors. On the last day we will have a challenge to show what we have learned!

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125.
    Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Outdoor Adventure Camp for Girls (grades 2-4)

    • 15 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 19 Jul 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park
    • 0

    Online Registration Is Closed. Some space may be available. Please call 410-535-5327 or email cypressswamp@co.cal.md.us for details.

    Outdoor Adventure Camp for Girls
    For Girls entering grades 2-4

    Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19
    9:00 a.m. - 3:00.pm.

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

    Join other girls your age for a week of excitement and adventure at Flag Ponds Nature Park.  Learn new skills and discover your hidden talents as you broaden your knowledge of the outdoors.  Find out how to use a compass, identify plants and animals, tie knots, and cook over a fire.  Boost your self-confidence and build new friendships as you face fun new challenges every day.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125.
    Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Yuckology (1st-2nd grades)

    • 22 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 25 Jul 2013
    • 2:00 PM
    • Varies
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Yuckology (Summer Camp)
    For children entering grades 1 and 2

    Monday, July 22 – Thursday, July 25 
    9:00– 2:00 p.m.

    Mon & Tues: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp
    Wed & Thurs: Flag Ponds Nature Park
    No camp Friday.

    It’s true - there are tons of yucky, but really cool things in nature. We will spend this week exploring the yucky side of Calvert County. We’ll search the mud for creepy, crawly creatures, study animal scat (poop), and watch decomposers in action! If you like to get down and dirty looking for awesome animals – then this is the camp for you!

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $75. Nonmembers pay $90.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Nature Photography Camp (4th-6th grades)

    • 22 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 26 Jul 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds, Cypress Swamp, and Kings Landing Parks
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Nature Photography Camp
    For Children entering grades 4-6

    Location (varies by day)

    Mon: Flag Ponds Nature Park  9am-3pm
    Tues: Kings Landing Park  9am-3pm
    Wed: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp 9am-3pm
    Thurs: Flag Ponds Nature Park 9am-3pm
    Fri: Flag Ponds Nature Park 9am-3pm followed by a potluck feast and photography exhibit.

    Immerse yourself in nature as you capture the wonders of Calvert County Parks on camera.  In addition to the typical fun camp activities, you will learn camera basics and picture-taking tips, and will have a blast exploring the bay, the river, the cypress trees, and much, much more.  There will be endless opportunities to photograph wildflowers and animals, including special appearances by the nature center's live animal collection. 

    After camp on Friday families are invited to a potluck feast to celebrate and admire campers' work. 

    Campers are required to provide their own digital camera.

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $125. Nonmembers pay $140.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: From the Mountains to the Bay (6th-8th grade)

    • 29 Jul 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 02 Aug 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Varies
    • 0

    Camp is Full. Please call 410-535-5327 to be placed on the waitlist.

    From the Mountains to the Bay
    For children entering grades 6 - 8

    Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 2
    Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Thursday and Friday – overnight trip to western Maryland.   Leave Thursday 7:00 a.m. and return approximately 6:00 p.m. Friday.

    Location: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Flag Ponds Nature Park, and Kings Landing Park.

    This week we will explore all things aquatic while learning the basics of getting around on the water using a variety of watercraft – like canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts. We’ll explore different aquatic habitats as we retrace the path that water takes from the mountains to the Bay – in reverse. The last 2 days will be an overnight adventure to western Maryland to visit Antietam Creek (for tubing) and the Shenandoah River (for rafting). Come prepared to get WET and have fun!

    (Maximum number of campers: 8)

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $160.
    Nonmembers pay $185.
    Transportation to and from western MD, food for the overnight, outfitters and camping fees are included.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: Our Animal Friends (4-5 years)

    • 05 Aug 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 09 Aug 2013
    • 12:00 PM
    • Battle Creek Cypress Swamp
    • 1
    Register

    Our Animal Friends (Summer Camp)
    For Ages 4-5 years olds

    Location: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

    Monday, August 5-Friday, August 9
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Animals live all around us! Come to our camp, meet some animal friends, and learn what makes each special, from tiny bugs to large mammals. Using stories, songs, crafts, hands-on experiences and fun adventures, we will find out about the animals around us.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • Summer Camp: From the Mountains to the Bay (6th-8th grade)

    • 05 Aug 2013
    • 9:00 AM
    • 09 Aug 2013
    • 3:00 PM
    • Varies
    • 0

    Camp is Full. Please call 410-535-5327 to be placed on the wait list.

    From the Mountains to the Bay
    For children entering grades 6 - 8

    Second Session Added

    Monday, August 5– Friday, August 9
    Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Thursday and Friday – overnight trip to western Maryland.   Leave Thursday 7:00 a.m. and return approximately 6:00 p.m. Friday.

    Location: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Flag Ponds Nature Park, and Kings Landing Park.

    This week we will explore all things aquatic while learning the basics of getting around on the water using a variety of watercraft – like canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts. We’ll explore different aquatic habitats as we retrace the path that water takes from the mountains to the Bay – in reverse. The last 2 days will be an overnight adventure to western Maryland to visit Antietam Creek (for tubing) and the Shenandoah River (for rafting). Come prepared to get WET and have fun!

    (Maximum number of campers: 8)

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $160.
    Nonmembers pay $185.
    Transportation to and from western MD, food for the overnight, outfitters and camping fees are included.

    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

  • School's Out Camp

    • 18 Sep 2013
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Flag Ponds Nature Park, Lusby
    • 8
    Register

    School's Out! Camp

    For children in Grades 3-5

    Don’t spend off from school at home, come play in the park!   Explore the park and make new friends.


     

    Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park

     

    Space is limited to 10 campers.

    Fee is per child.

    free for BCNES members

    $12 for nonmembers

    Show details

  • Life on the Edge

    • 18 Oct 2013
    • 7:00 AM
    • 19 Oct 2013
    • 5:00 PM
    • Assateague Island National Seashore
    • 6
    Register

     

    For children ages 12-16

    7:00 a.m.  Friday, October 18 –

    approximately 5:00pm  Saturday, October 19
     

    Location: meets at Kings Landing Park then travel to Assateague Island

    Assateague Island is poised between the land and the sea - recreated each day by ocean, wind, and waves.  Kayak the coastal bay, camp in the sand dunes, cook dinner over a fire, and explore the beach at night.

     

    Additional details

    Provide your own lunch Friday.  Dinner Friday, snacks, breakfast and lunch Saturday provided.  Tents provided – must have own sleeping bag.   

     

    Orientation meeting - 7pm, October 3 at Battle Creek Nature Center       (must attend to go on trip)

    (Maximum number of campers: 8)

    Fee per child: BCNES members pay $40.
    Nonmembers pay $60.


    Each child must be registered separately.
    You may register online, by mail, or in person. See the Registration Information page for details.

    Show details

Past events

21 Jan 2013 Winter Adventures Camp
 
Battle Creek Nature Education Society (BCNES) is dedicated to the development of a responsible environmental ethic in all people by providing opportunities for environmental education and compatible recreation; and the preservation of the natural heritage of Calvert County. BCNES is a 501(c)3 organization.
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