Summer Camp

It’s SUMMER FUN Out Here!

Where tomorrow’s environmental stewards take root…

Wildlands Conservancy’s summer camp offers an enriching, nature-based environment where children learn, play, and grow through curiosity and discovery, thus budding both friendships and a lifelong appreciation of our natural world.

11 Weeks of Summer Camp FUN

Wildlands Conservancy’s summer camp offers summer fun at our Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Located in the Lehigh Valley, Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary is generally a convenient 10-15 minutes from Allentown and Macungie, 25 minutes from Bethlehem, as well as 30 minutes from Easton.

***View the FAQ section for the latest updates on access to Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.

LEVELS

PreK: For children ages 3-5
K-2: Just completed Kindergarten through Grade 2
3-5: Just completed Grades 3-5
6+: Just completed Grades 6-8

FORMAT & FEES

K-2, 3-5, & 6+: $360/child/week
Monday-Friday, 9 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Send a non-perishable lunch.

PreK: $160/child/week
Monday-Friday, 9 A.M. – 12 P.M.

EXTENDED CAMP HOURS

Great for working parents

Morning: Drop off 7:30 until 8:45 A.M.
Afternoon: Pick up 4:15 until 5:30 P.M.

Registration add-on: $40/session/week

Summer Camps at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, Emmaus

This 77.5-acre nature preserve boasts 3 miles of trails. It is an outdoor classroom for thousands of school-age children annually.

Here, along the Little Lehigh Creek, the Lehigh Valley’s backyard oasis provides habitat for 136+ bird species as well as frogs, turtles, salamanders, and deer. Large butterflies find homes as well as their host plants in our native wildflower meadows.

It’s a WILD place for summer fun.

When fiction meets reality, storybooks come to life. Imagination, knowledge and exploration allow us to see the world in a new light. Our morning is guided by a storybook, taking us through forests, meadows, and also underwater in search of the characters.

REGISTER PREK

Listen to the rhythm of nature creaking in an old tree’s branches, in water flowing over a rock or emerging from the throat of a bullfrog. From sounds, to movement, and cycles; everything has a meaning, cause or purpose. Through observation, experimentation, art and music, campers will learn and experience different rhythms unique to nature.

Special Guest: Campers will be joined by Allentown Symphony’s Musician-in-Residence, Jorge Vera, for a nature-inspired performance.

No Camp on Friday, June 19. The fee is discounted for this week. Camp fee $290 or $128 for PreK. Pre- and post-camp $32/session.

REGISTER PREK REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Outdoor Skills Camp! Hone your survival skills while developing a strong connection to nature altogether. Campers will acquire the techniques needed to survive being lost in the wilderness. During the week, learn to track wildlife, use trail markers, administer first aid, and also make fire. Our trained educators will introduce these and other basic wilderness skills using fun, hands-on activities.

Special Guest: Joshua Tree arborists join our 3-5th and 6+ campers for an exciting morning of tree climbing. 

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

NEW THIS YEAR: The holiday weekend is right around the corner. While the adults prepare for travel, their campers can join us for one, two, or three days of summer exploration. Activities may include survival skills, wildlife, art, and science, all wrapped up in a fun day at camp overall.

REGISTER K-8

Dive into the wild world of wildlife! Up-close experiences with our rather wild animal ambassadors lead to discovery and exploration. Learn about wildlife native to the Lehigh River Watershed and their ecosystem, as well as how we can make a positive impact on their habitat.

Special Guest: Campers will be joined by Animal Ambassadors from Elmwood Park Zoo. 

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Curiosity, experimentation, and discovery- let your questions surely guide you during this week of STEAM Camp. Topics ranging from Biology and Ecology to simple Chemistry and Art are used to explore the preserve in a new way. Altogether, campers will be challenged to ask questions, collect data, and draw their own conclusions. End the week with a notebook full of knowledge as well as a greater appreciation for the world around you.

Special Guest: The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will join our 6th grade plus campers. 

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

The preserve comes alive in a new way with the help of your imagination. Enchanted forest friends guide our youngest campers. Meanwhile, a video game perspective directs the daily tasks of our older campers.

REGISTER PREK REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Water Camp! The tubes are inflated, ponds are alive with movement, and everything in and around the stream is surely waiting to be discovered. Join in a week of fun and educational games, experiments, and discovery. 

This week: Focus on human impact and things we can do all in all to protect our Lehigh River Watershed.

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Outdoor Skills Camp! Hone your survival skills while developing a strong connection to nature. Campers will acquire the techniques needed to survive being lost in the wilderness. During the week, learn to track wildlife, how to use trail markers, administer first aid, and make fire. Our trained educators will introduce these and other basic wilderness skills using fun, hands-on activities.

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Water Camp! The tubes are inflated, ponds are alive with movement, and everything in and around the stream is waiting to be discovered. Join in a week of fun and educational games, experiments, and discovery. 

This week: Focus on water’s key role in all living things. This week puts a strong emphasis on wildlife. 

REGISTER PREK REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Discover how knowledge and action can start a movement. Altogether, we will learn how to adjust our simple everyday habits to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. With hands-on activities as well as experiments, we will explore ways we can protect the environment we live in. 

Special Guests: Local Ecowarriors will teach campers about what they do for the planet and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

REGISTER K-2 REGISTER 3-5 REGISTER 6+

Questions about summer camp?

View our Frequently Asked Questions or contact:

Arianna Kohler, Environmental Education Manager: (610) 965-4397 ext 152
akohler@wildlandspa.org

Denise Bauer, Director of Environmental Education: 610-965-4397 ext. 131
dbauer@wildlandspa.org

Work with us!

We’re seeking passionate, seasonal environmental educators and assistants.

APPLY

Summer Camp Parent Checklist

-Please complete these important forms before camp starts and bring them with you on the first day of your campers’ session!
-Keep an eye on your email for your registration confirmation email.
-Pack all recommended camper items.
-Mark all of your child’s items with their full name.
-Talk with your child about all the WILD FUN they’re about to have!

PARENTAL INFORMATION PARENTAL AGREEMENT FORM FOOD ALLERGY FORM

Frequently Asked Questions

Exploring this page on the quest for an answer? Our FAQ section might have what you’re looking for, including our Refund and Cancellation Policy!

If you’re unable to find your answer, please contact our Education department:

Arianna Kohler, Environmental Education Manager
610-965-4397 ext. 152 | akohler@wildlandspa.org

Updated January 14, 2026:


Summer Camp will continue as scheduled this upcoming season at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.

We want to take a moment to share how truly grateful we are for your support, patience, and trust during this past summer. When the bridge collapse at the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary unexpectedly changed our plans, you stood by us—and because of that, camp still happened. And what a summer it was!


Even with all the adjustments, The Sanctuary was once again alive with the sounds of laughter, curiosity, and discovery. Kids spent their days exploring ponds, hiking trails, comparing wingspans on the famous board, building forts, spotting wildlife, and bonding with our beloved education animals. Seeing the Sanctuary filled with the next generation exploring nature—exactly as it’s meant to be—was a beautiful reminder of why we do this work and how much we’ve missed seeing this special place come alive with activity.


We’re continuing to work hard to restore full access to the Sanctuary for the public and hope to have good news to share soon. And rest assured—Summer Camp 2026 will absolutely happen!

BRIDGE STATUS
Updated December 15, 2025:

Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary is closed until further notice. There is no public access to the Sanctuary at this time.

The collapsed bridge has been fully removed from DRPWS and the Little Lehigh Creek as it flows through the Sanctuary.

Design and permitting for a new, permanent bridge are underway. This future bridge, anticipated for early spring 2026, will ensure safer pedestrian access and introduce important environmental improvements to better manage high-water flow events.

View the full bridge status HERE.

Cancellation Policy


– Payment is due in full at the time of registration, any exceptions must be approved by Wildlands Conservancy staff
-Cancellations made at least 3 weeks before the start date of the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations made 8-20 days before the start
date will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made within a week of the start date will receive a 25% refund.
-If you cancel with less than 72 hours’ notice, your entire registration fee will be forfeited.
-An additional processing fee may be applied to some cancellations. Additional changes to the reservation date will incur a processing fee.
-In the event of a medical emergency and/or participant illness, a pro-rated refund will be issued only upon written request accompanied by a physician’s statement.
-There are no refunds issued for inclement weather. Full refunds are given for any program Wildlands Conservancy cancels.
-If a class is not full, a one-time reservation change can be accommodated.
-Wildlands Conservancy reserves the right to use discretion when issuing refunds.

Wildlands does not offer a registration discount for multiple weeks. We offer an automatic 10% discount through April 1. Simply add our Early Bird tickets to your shopping cart.

Please register your child for the grade they most recently completed. For example, if you child just completed 2nd grade, register them for the K-2 level.

Absolutely! Simply use the “Summer Camp” button from within the cart screen in the registration system to sign up for multiple summer camp weeks in one transaction.

Wildlands summer camp registration is only for full weeks of summer camp — no partial weeks or part-day options. If necessary for your family’s schedule, our team can accommodate late starts or early pick ups at the Air Products Environmental Education Center.

Yes! We love summer-camp friends! Log in to your portal to view your dashboard and select “view and update account numbers” and edit your child’s name, and enter the friend’s name under “my child wants to be in camp with.”

Yes, …  To have your child added to the waitlist, use the link at the bottom of the page within the registration system or contact:
Arianna Kohler, Environmental Education Managerat 610.965.4397 x152, akohler@wildlandspa.org
Denise Bauer, Director of Environmental Education: 610-965-4397 ext. 131, dbauer@wildlandspa.org

If you need to pick up your child early from camp, please let staff know in writing by giving a note to the team member who escorts your child from the car at morning drop-off, and we will accommodate your early pick up at the Air Products Environmental Education Center.

Yes. All educators require a clear criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and FBI fingerprint check.