Research shows that, in today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, it’s more important than ever for children to unplug and connect to nature.
But when it feels like every place they go is hooked up to some screen — school, restaurants, even the back of your car — where can you find this Eden?
Red Oak Camp is the perfect place for today’s wired kids to escape to nature. Nestled on 87 acres of woods and fields in Kirtland, its day camps, Red Barn for boys and Chincapin for girls, have been serving Northeast Ohio campers since 1947.
Alongside its neighbor, the Holden Arboretum, campers immerse themselves in the natural world to become stewards of the environment. The nature and science program is one of the best. Camp staff works in collaboration with educators from the Holden Arboretum to teach children about ecology, biodiversity and sustainability. They learn by doing hands-on activities and also through service projects, whether it’s pulling invasive species on their own property or helping dig a culvert at the Arboretum.
And summer being summer, boys and girls participate in outdoor activities, including canoeing and kayaking, archery and riflery, swimming, sports and hiking. There’s fishing on Lake Mimi and Red Oak Camp is proud to offer indoor and outdoor climbing walls, plus challenge and high ropes courses. The horses are the main attraction at Chincapin, where girls and boys learn English riding and horsemanship. There’s down time to relax with arts and crafts, wood shop and board games.
The staff works hard each summer to challenge kids through an experiential learning approach. The camps are fun and provide campers with an opportunity to escape from the din to be part of something bigger than themselves — to be part of the great outdoors and to make the friendships that will last a lifetime.
At Red Oak Camp, the programs connect children to nature.
Accredited by the American Camp Association, visit redoakcamp.org, call 440-256-0716, or email director@redoakcamp.org for more information.