Does your child love the great outdoors? Check out Pemberton Park Nature Camp! Pemberton's 260 acres of forests, meadows and wetlands create an ideal place for campers to discover the natural world through weekly field trips, hands-on lessons, hikes, games, crafts, fishing and other fun activities. Friends of Pemberton may be eligible to receive a discount on summer nature camp registration.
Kick off the summer by learning about the reptiles and amphibians that call Pemberton Park home. Help our rangers capture frogs, toads and salamanders and discover things about our scaly reptile friends, including snakes, turtles and skinks. Campers will hold turtles and snakes and learn how to identify many wild species.
Dates: June 18-22, 2018
Field Trips: Pocomoke River State Park, Adkins Mill Park
Ah, nothing quite like the great outdoors. And what better way to experience it than through camping? Learn the basics of camping — including how to start a fire, set up a tent and choose a campsite — along with the important elements of Leave No Trace. Already a seasoned camper? This is a perfect place to practice your skills.
Dates: June 25-29, 2018
Field Trips: Roaring Point Waterfront Campground, Assateague Island State Park
The star of this week is the largemouth bass. We will do plenty of largemouth bass fishing, both on land and from canoes. Although catching bass is our focus, we will also hunt the invasive snakehead at the Salisbury City Park and do some crabbing as well. Meet at City Park on Friday, July 6. Camp will be closed Wednesday, July 4.
Dates: July 2-6, 2018
Field Trips: Newland Park Pond, Leonards Mill Park
Clean freaks, be warned: Camp this week is all about mucky, icky, goopy mud. We’ll learn all about our tidal and freshwater wetlands and what lives in the mud as we explore it ourselves. Come ready to get dirty during this week of camp.
Dates: July 9-13, 2018
Field Trips: Cove Road Beach, Roaring Point Waterfront Campground
Canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and exploring the water are all included in Wild About the Water week. Campers will be taught by our rangers, who are American Canoeing Association-trained canoe/kayak river guides, how to properly and safely operate these different watercrafts. In the little time campers will have off the water, we’ll be learning about the local waters’ residents.
Dates: July 16-20, 2018
Field Trips: Tyaskin Wharf, Assateague Island Bay
Frogs, toads, lizards, minnows, snails, crayfish, crabs, snakes, flying squirrels, turtles, raccoons — there are so many critters to catch at Pemberton. We’ll hone our capturing skills and learn how to set traps during this week of camp. It’s as hands-on of an experience as it gets.
Dates: July 23-27, 2018
Field Trips: Delmarva Discovery Center, Cove Road Beach
Campers will get the opportunity to cast our surf rods, learn how to bait hooks and get hands-on experience using our giant trotline. We’ll spend time learning the basics of fishing and marine life, preparing to spend the day on the surf during our field trip to Assateague. Join us to see what we can catch.
Dates: July 30-Aug. 3, 2018
Field Trips: Assateague Island National Seashore, Roaring Point Park
Join the rangers in discovering the creepy crawly world that often lays unnoticed at our feet. It’s a bug-eat-bug world out there, you know. We will explore the world of bugs, slugs, spiders and more. We will find and catch various critters that call the park their home while learning about their amazingly complex lives.
Dates: Aug. 6-10, 2018
Field Trips: Trap Pond State Park, Leonards Mill Park
In this mock situation, Pemberton Park has been swept away by floodwaters. Now, the park is stranded far from civilization with all of the rangers and campers stuck on the newly-formed island. Campers, led by expert Ranger Bob, must help the rangers figure out how to make it through using their survival skills. We’ll learn the fundamentals, including finding safe food and water, building a shelter and fire, and navigating in an emergency.
Dates: Aug. 13-17, 2018
Field Trips: Cedar Hill Marina, Delmarva Discovery Center
Are you up for the challenge? Bring your sports skills and your competitive spirit to help your team in soccer, Wiffle ball, KanJam, cornhole, kickball and more. We’ll also spend time hiking, playing in the water and honing our archery skills. On Wednesday, we will meet at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. The week ends with the long-awaited obstacle course.
Dates: Aug. 20-24, 2018
Field Trips: Crown Sports Center, Nanticoke Harbor
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Tours of Pemberton Hall are available by appointment.
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Pemberton Hall was built in 1741 by Isaac and Anne Handy.
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