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

Download 2026 Day Camp Guide

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 of 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 Rachel Bond, a full-time, year-round director with extensive camp experience as a Nature Camp alumni, counselor, Assistant Director, and now Director. Each year we welcome back many returning counselors. All camp staff have been interviewed, have at least 3 references, and are CORI and SORI background checked. The counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:5 for campers ages 6 and under, and 1:10 for campers 7 and older.

Registration

Summer 2026 Day Camp Registration

• SSYMCA Members: Begins January 3, 2026, 8:30 AM
• Returning Camp Families: Begins January 10, 2026, 8:30 AM
• Public Registration: Begins January 17, 2026, 8:30 AM

Download 2026 Day Camp Guide

Camp Group Assignments

To help us create the best possible camp experience for every child, registration for our Traditional Day Camp programs is organized by age group. Families will register their camper for Upper Camp or Lower Camp:

• Lower Camp Ages: 5-6
• Upper Camp: Ages 7-11

Our camp leadership team will then create smaller weekly camper groups within each section, ensuring a safe, engaging environment that maintains counselor-to-camper ratios. There may be multiple groups with campers of the same age. Upper and Lower Camp groupings do not apply to Specialty or Half-Day Programs.

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.