Where is Outdoor Explorers summer camp taking place?

Summer camp takes place from 9:30 AM — 3:30 PM at our shady outdoor classroom on the grounds of Audubon Acres Nature Sanctuary (900 N Sanctuary Rd, Chattanooga, TN). Campers will enjoy access to South Chickamauga Creek, five miles of beautiful and diverse hiking trails, and a sheltered space for inclement weather.

How do I sign up for camp and what are the fees?

Click here to complete your camp registration.

Early Bird tuition is $400/week through Jan. 31, 2025.
From Feb.1st, tuition is $425/week.

Will you add additional weeks of camp?

We have the possibility of opening additional weeks of camp if our first week fills up OR if multiple families wish to enroll for two back-to-back weeks of camp and increase the impact of our immersion environment.

What is the new middle school programming like?

Due to popular demand (and our own kiddos getting older!) we have added a middle school track for camp in 2025. Like the K-5 campers, middle schoolers will have some open-ended free time during the camp day. However, they will also take time to complete a week-long naturalist project and engage in more advanced arts & crafts and STEM projects.

These activities are intentionally designed to be engaging for their age group while minimizing additional cognitive load that could interfere with using Chinese all day.

What are the requirements to attend camp?

Elementary campers be fully conversational in Chinese to attend camp. Middle school campers (grades 6-8) must be able to communicate their own original thoughts and ideas and converse with varying degrees of complexity on topics beyond “everyday life.”

If your elementary kid wants to uplevel their language but needs some basics in order to attend Outdoor Explorers, we highly recommend working through the free Little Fox Chinese lessons before registering for camp. In addition, you might want to try out Lingo Bus for fantastic 1:1 Chinese lessons for young learners.

Please contact us if your child has special needs or limitations before registering so that we can make sure we can safely accommodate them.

What sort of training does camp staff receive?

All staff are native Mandarin speakers, have passed a background check, and have received basic first aid training. Our Parent Handbook includes our written safety policies.

How do you ensure a 100% immersion environment?

Many summer camps and language programs require teachers and staff to use Chinese, but students speak English amongst themselves. We believe that intrinsic motivation is created in peer-to-peer communication and collaboration. For that reason, staff will gently but firmly support campers in using Chinese together at all times. Your kids will adjust to this surprisingly quickly, and our staff will be endlessly supportive of those who have any difficulties during the adjustment period.

What is the weather like in Chattanooga during this time?

Historically, the month of July sees temperatures in the 90s. Our outdoor classroom is extremely shady, as are the hikes in the nature sanctuary. Campers will have access to the creek for cooling off with some water play!

Will food be provided?

Campers must bring their own water, lunch, and snacks from home. They may also bring bottled hydration drinks if desired. They may not share food or drinks with non-family members. An insulated lunch bag with ice packs are ideal for keeping food cool throughout the day. There will be water available for refills at the outdoor classroom.

Will there be any screen time?

There will be no screens at camp. We also have a “no toys from home” policy as well, although once a week the kids can bring a non-screen item from home for Show and Tell if they wish. These will be stored in their backpacks after telling the class about the item to avoid any conflicts.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

We can only offer a partial refund (50% of camp fees) for camp cancellations 4+ weeks before your camp start date. Cancellation less than 4 weeks before camp cannot receive a refund. However, we are happy to reschedule your camper(s) for a different week of the current year’s camp schedule if possible.

Camp is rain or shine, so campers must be dressed appropriately for the weather. In the case of inclement weather, campers will be moved into a shelter on the grounds of Audubon Acres. Thunderstorms and other dangerous weather will require early pickup, and parents will be notified via the camp app. Depending on staff and facilities availability, we will attempt to reschedule any full days of camp that were canceled due to inclement weather.