Get ready for an exciting week exploring the River Bend Farm campus. Campers will hike our expansive forest trail system, paddle canoes on the Saco River, and get some practice with their orienteering skills. Our camp staff will offer a range of camper choice activities from outdoor survival skills, team building, and campfire cooking. The session also includes a field trip to Mackworth Island to explore beach, tide pools, and coastal forests.
Sustainable riverside campus on the Saco River in Southern Maine, with forest, fields, and working farm
Activities
Waterfront
Canoeing
Outdoor Adventure
Hiking
More activities
art projects
bird watching
bouquet making
campcraft and fire building
campfire cooking
campfire gathering
cooking over a campfire
foraging
forest hiking
harvesting
nature art
orienteering
planting
salsa making
scavenger hunt
seed collecting
stargazing
tents and shelters
Clues to fit
Setting — River Bend Farm campus
Since we're typically a private campus welcoming youth from Maine & beyond for Outdoor School programs, Open Farm Day is a chance to see what we're up to on these 313 acres in Saco, Maine. The many growing spaces on-site include our 1¼ acre farm field, raised beds, food forest, orchard, greenhouse, and more.
Summer Ecology Adventure Camp — overview and what it offers
Our Summer Ecology programs immerse rising 5th to 9th graders in 6 days of exploration across River Bend Farm's 313-acre campus. Led by our team of experienced Ecology Educators, campers get hands-on experience with various ecosystems such as forests, fields, and rivers. Each day is packed with activities like canoeing, forest hiking, and art projects, and ends with a campfire gathering (and of course, stargazing!). This isn't just a camp; it's a week of adventure that helps campers build confidence, form lasting friendships, and develop a deeper connection to nature.
Campers connect with nature through planting, tending and harvesting from our produce and flower gardens. They'll cook over campfires, explore food journeys from the farm to the table, and enjoy a make-your-own pizza night. At the end of the week, campers will have the opportunity to take home seeds to continue growing their skills. Campers will also enjoy classic camp activities like canoeing, arts and crafts, forest exploration, and evening campfire gatherings.
Session 1: Farm, Forest, Forage. Planting, tending, harvesting, campfire cooking, farm-to-table, pizza night, seeds to take home. Field trip to University of New England Marine Lab and Tide Pools. Registration not yet open — sign up to be notified.
Session 2: Outdoor Explore. Forest trails, canoeing, orienteering, campcraft, campfire cooking, tents and shelters, scavenger hunt, nature art, bird watching, foraging, bug study. Field trip to Mackworth Island. Registration not yet open — sign up to be notified.
Campers will stay the night in our state-of-the-art dormitory at River Bend Farm. Each room has four twin-sized beds (two bunk beds) and campers will be in rooms of 2-4. Each floor has two counselors and a total of five camper rooms. Bathrooms are singles, each including a shower, sink, and toilet. Campers will have an opportunity to request roommates upon registration, which we will do our best to honor but cannot guarantee. Campers will be roomed by similar age/grade.
Over the past 26 years, The Ecology School has provided over $3,000,000 in scholarships and discounts to support youth across the Northeast and beyond. With our new state-of-the-art Living & Learning Green Campus at the magical 313-acre River Bend Farm, we are taking this commitment to the next level. This Summer Camp Season of 2026 we will be offering our 6 day/5 night summer camp programs for just $750 per child (significantly below our true cost of $1,100) to help make camp as accessible for as many kids as possible.
Food at camp — sourcing, variety, and farm connection
Food is energy. Food is community. Food is ecology. Our productive farm fields provide our kitchen with fresh vegetables when seasonally available and we do our best to source our food as locally as possible — in fact, some of our meals will have been picked by our campers and staff earlier in the week! Fruit is always available to campers during mealtime and as a snack between meals. The menu is varied and The Ecology School works with parents to address the needs of campers with food allergies or sensitivities. Counselors sit with campers during the meal and help ensure everyone is satisfied and nourished.
Parent communication while devices are not permitted
Parents are always welcome to call The Ecology School and we are happy to let you know how your child is doing. Rest assured that if we need to be in touch with you about something, we will certainly reach out. Also, there are few things at camp more exciting than mail call each day — taking the time to exchange good old fashioned snail mail letters can be a really special way to connect!
