Capitalizing on summer
Gorgeous warm days draw old and young alike to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Summer Institute, with a variety of activities for children, is a great way for kids to enjoy the outdoors while learning something new and exciting.
Check back for Summer Institute offerings in 2023. Last summer kids enjoyed EXPLORE!, Summer Stories, Wee Wonders, an archaeology workshop and an Art in the Park summer art camp for kids. See information below.
Call (717) 762-0373 or contact us by email at info@NatureAndCultureInstitute.org for more information about Summer Institute programs.
Some details on the 2023 Summer Institute season are posted below.
Summer Institute: Children’s Summer Stories
2023 Story Time is back!
Preschoolers and up
Children gather under a tree to listen to stories and enjoy related hands-on activities. Free admission. (If inclement weather, call 717-762-0373 to confirm.)
Wednesdays in June and July: June 21 and 28, and July 5, 12, 19, and 26.
Time: 11 a.m.
Check back for location.
The theme for the 2023 Summer Stories will be announced soon.
Kathy Helfrick and Jane Glenn will read a new story each week, with related crafts for kids.
Underwriting support provided by John and Deb Beck.
Summer Institute: EXPLORE!
Explore! programs are a series of outdoor adventure programs, designed for kids in grades K to 5.
For summer 2023, Explore! will be held at Pine Hill Recreation Area on these dates:
Thursdays in June and July: June 22 and 29, and July 6, 13, 20, and ending July 27.
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
All program activities are outside. Taught by Institute educators, each program includes educational activities related to the season.
Summer Institute: Wee Wonders
2023 details coming soon!
Wee Wonders programs are a series of outdoor adventure programs, designed for our youngest budding naturalists, age 2 and a half to 5.
For summer 2022, these are the dates:
Tuesdays in June: June 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro, Pa.
Taught by Institute educators, age-appropriate program activities make learning fun, and include exploring the outdoors, hikes, nature stories, rhymes, finger plays, nature games, and puppets.
Wee Wonders is sponsored by Diana Dale, in memory of Mary Ann Payne.
Summer Institute: Art in the Park 2023
Summer Art Camp for Kids
A one-week art immersion program designed to inspire students to creative expression through visual art.
In an outdoor park setting surrounded by nature, students spend a full week exploring and creating with a variety of mediums and techniques like drawing, painting, sculpture, clay, fiber arts and collage.
With guidance from professional art educators, each student will complete one project in the morning and another in the afternoon, with a lunch break in between. Working with a wide range of mediums, students will develop and build upon their pre-existing skills to create new artworks.
Monday through Friday, July 10–15, 2023
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Age: Kids completing grades K – 7
Maximum enrollment: 40
Art Show open to artists and families at 3:00 on July 15
This art camp sold out quickly last year— See more details and register HERE.
Summer Institute: Hands-on Workshop: Geology & Archaeology
2023 details coming soon!
Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 (To be confirmed) • Time TBA
In a workshop program combining earth science, geology, archaeology and history, students explore the secrets of a 200-year-old homestead and how its environment influenced early settlers.
Offered in partnership with Little Antietam Creek, Inc. (LACI) as part of a series of Discover programs for students in grades 5–12 (ages 10 to 17).
Students join Institute educators and LACI archaeologists to “dig into the past” at historic Stoner Farm—digging and working with artifacts, scientific testing of the properties of limestone and soil, using remote sensing, learning how limestone is cut and mortar is made, and more.
Space is limited; pre-register at 717-762-0373 or via email at info@natureandcultureinstitute.org. Rain date: TBA
