Welcome to Nature Adventures Camp!

Location

Address: South Shore YMCA Nature Center
48 Jacobs Lane
Norwell, MA 02061

The South Shore YMCA Nature Center in Norwell is situated on 30 acres of woodlands and fields, with rambling nature trails, numerous vernal pools, and access to Jacobs Pond.

Contact

Phone: 781-659-2559
fax: 781-659-5924
natureadventurescamp@ssymca.org

Our Camp

At Nature Adventures Camp, campers develop an awareness, appreciation, and concern for our environment and the creatures in it. They will explore the habits and habitats of animals living in our woods, ponds, meadows, and along the shore. Most importantly, they have fun using their imaginations, and just being kids in a low-stress, outdoor environment. Campers learn about natural science through stories, hikes, games, crafts, and a host of other fun-filled activities. Here, campers renew old friendships and make new pals.

Our camp is an outdoor recreational camp. We make use of tents, pavilions and indoor spaces as needed during inclement weather. In all but the most severe weather, children will be outside. Children should be dressed for the conditions.

Safey First

At South Shore YMCA Nature Adventures Camp, safety is our number one priority. All of our camps comply with YMCA Day Camp and Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations. In addition, we are licensed by the Norwell Board of Health.

Our Staff

We take great pride in our dedicated camp staff of teaching professionals and local college and high school students who go through comprehensive camp counselor training.  All our camp counselors are energetic, respectful, professional, outgoing, and team-oriented staff who keep safety, inclusivity, and outdoor education as top priorities.  South Shore YMCA Day Camp is run by a full-time, year-round director with extensive camp experience. Each year we welcome back many returning counselors. All counselors and camp staff have been interviewed, and have references, CORI, and SORI background checks completed. The counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:5 for campers under ages 6 and under, 1:10 for campers 7 and older.”

Registration

2025 Day Camp Registration

• SSYMCA Members: Begins January 4, 2025, 8:30 AM
• Returning Camp Families: Begins January 11, 2025, 8:30 AM
• Public Registration: Begins January 18, 2025, 8:30 AM

Exciting Changes to Camp Registration

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our camp programs, we are introducing a new way to register for our Traditional Day Camp programs. This year, instead of registering for a specific group, families will register their camper for one of two groups: Lower Camp and Upper CampCamp leadership staff will create smaller weekly groups of campers based on age, ensuring a safe and engaging experience while maintaining our counselor-to-camper ratios. This updated process allows us to accommodate more families and manage waitlists effectively, allowing more children to experience the joy of camp.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Financial assistance for Y camps is made possible through charitable donations to our South Shore YMCA Annual Campaign and is awarded based on the need demonstrated by household income and/or extenuating circumstances, Click HERE for a South Shore YMCA Financial Assistance Application, or click the blue box below. Completed Financial Assistance applications should be sent to:

• South Shore YMCA
  75 Mill St, Hanover, MA 02339
  ATTN: Summer Camp Financial Assistance

Camp financial assistance is not retroactive and can only be applied to camp sessions that occur on or after the date the financial assistance is awarded. A $50 non-refundable and nontransferable (per child, per week) deposit is due upon registration. Scholarship applications take at least two weeks to be assessed and are assessed in the order that they are received.

For more information on Financial Assistance, contact our Camp Staff at cgc@ssymca.org or (781) 924-8338.