WELCOME TO NATURE CAMP 2025!
Nature-Adventure Camp at Challenge Sonoma Adventure Ropes Course
Thanks for sending your kids to us! We look forward to our time with them and will love them as we do our own. (Which means they get sun-screened many times a day and nagged about drinking water….)
Please follow us on Facebook for pictures during the camp session and news about what is going on!
Camp Hours: Monday – Friday 9 am – 2pm
CAMP CELL #’S
Diana 707.484.7759 (Camp Director)
Mari Vargas 707.721.5260 (Registration)
Emillie 707.849.8064 (Lead at Challenge Sonoma)
Camp location is the trees surrounded by hills so reception comes and goes. Leave a message or send a text and we will check them regularly as we get reception.
Pick-up and drop-off.
*Please share directions with anyone picking up Child/ren*
Challenge Sonoma DROP OFF: Campers should arrive at the parking area on Grove St. between 8:45 am and 9:15 am. Directions: From Arnold Dr (4 way stop light), turn onto Grove st.(street with 2 brick pillars) and then immediate right into the first Parking Area. There will be a camp leader there to check your camper in. USE LINK FOR EXACT LOCATION at bottom of page. If you miss this drop-off you will need to contact Diana at 707-484-7759 or Emilie 707.849.8064.
Challenge Sonoma PM PICK UP: Arrive for pick up between 1:45pm and 2pm at the Grove St. Parking Lot. Please do not take your camper without checking them out with the Camp Leader Onsite.
Missed or Late Days: Please message Diana at 707-484-7759 or Emilie 707.849.8064 if you are not bringing your child to camp or will be late on a given day.
You will not be able to drive into camp. The locked gate makes it difficult for us to accommodate multiple early pick ups or late drop offs. If your camper must leave early for a game or an appointment, you can arrange with Emilie that morning for them to be brought back down the hill to the parking lot at 1pm.
We ask that you help us avoid scheduling conflicts for your child. Please, if possible, do not schedule dentist, doctor, birthday appointments during their camp week. We don’t want them to miss out!
Directions to camp: Camp is located on land owned by the State of California, with driving access limited to our ropes course staff and Eldridge fire and police dept (formerly SDC).
USE LINK FOR EXACT LOCATION, SHare with anyone who is picking up
Nature-Adventure Camp at
Challenge Sonoma Adventure Ropes Course
Ropes course: We will be climbing or learning ropes skills daily - rapelling, belaying knot tying, proper gear usage- on Challenge Sonoma Adventure Ropes Course. Pease send your campers with long pants and closed toe shoes, for safety and comfort on the events. We have unlimited hiking opportunities including pond study at Fern Lake. All our adventure activities are “Challenge by Choice”, and if a camper does not choose to climb there will be alternative activities available including all our traditional arts and crafts . If you have any questions or concerns about these events call Diana at 707.484.7759.
Hiking We will spend at least one day hiking to the nearly 3000-year-old Grandmother Tree. Please send your camper with comfortable, durable walking shoes and plenty of water and snacks.
In-camp activities and art projects Every day there will be some down time for campers to relax under the trees, play games, make art, or read. We have enough activities on site for everyone!
Label everything!
You wouldn’t believe our lost and found piles. If you have everything labeled we can easily track down the owners.
Please Check the GIGANTIC LOST and FOUND pile!
Because, yes, your child lost something….
What A Camper Needs
Let a camp counselor know if items still need to be labeled. Also please send your campers in play cloths that can get dirty. We recommend that shorts or tights be worn under skirts, and long pants are worn for all climbing days.
Bring to camp each day:
Please write, glue, stamp, etch, b’dazzle or otherwise indicate your camper's name on all items.
MORNING SNACK & DAILY LUNCH
Water Bottle (filled)
Sun Screen (applied before camp)
Back Pack that can be worn
Tshirt for Art projects (Just once)
Closed toe shoes or full sandals (Keen/Teva type- no flip flops)
Face mask
No glass bottles in camp.
All drinks must be in plastic, metal or paper containers.
No Candy, Sodas or Peanuts (we have campers with severe allergies)
Some Snack Ideas:
Morning snack is usually around 11:30am
Carrots Sticks Crackers
Fresh Fruit Fruit Juices
Trail Mix Breakfast Bars
Goldfish Sliced Fruit
Celery Sticks W/Cream Cheese
Some Lunch Ideas:
Sandwiches Cold Pizza
Carrots Sticks Bagels W/ Cream Cheese
Chips/Crackers Cold Pasta Or Pasta Salads
Boiled New Potatoes Cream Cheese & Rice Cakes
Celery Sticks Fruit Roll Ups
Water Bottle/Juice Etc.
Fresh water is available at all times to refill water bottles and we encourage your child to drink water often.
All trash is packed out each day. We ask for your help by sending food for snacks and lunches in reusable containers to help reduce trash created on site. We are working to be as waste-free as possible.
Camp Do’s & Dont’s
Please do not:
send your child to camp sick
drop campers off earlier than arrival time without prior arrangement
drop off campers if there is no instructor present
leave campers after departure time without prior arrangements
send glass containers to camp
send your camper with a phone, money or valuables.
no Flip Flops or tank tops (harnesses will chafe)
Please do...
call or notify us in case of absence or late arrival. In advance if possible.
call us if your child or anyone interacting in-person with your child shows symptoms or tests positive for covid-19
label everything: clothing, back pack, shoes, underwear, water bottle, everything possible.
notify us if any one other than an immediate family member is dropping off or picking up your camper(s). (Leaving with another camper’s parent is ok with approval.)
notify us if your child has any particular needs regarding sunscreen or allergies. (i.e. needs extra doses during the day etc.)
send a spare pair of clothes in a ziplock bag to be left in the camper's cubbie.
clean lunches out of cubbies daily, all edible items must be removed. Leftover lunches will be sent back home with your camper.
check any medication that your child will need administered during the camp day with Diana or Emilie.
freeze a partially filled water bottle the night before if we are having a heat wave.
check in with your camper daily (especially the younger ones) and encourage them to talk to any counselor about their concerns. Please advise Diana or Emilie if we need to follow up on anything.
General Camp Rules and Guidelines:
If you can, please discuss this with your kids before camp.
The rules will be reinforced and shared with them again on the first day of camp.
ELECTRONICS: NO Phones, Ipods/pads/mp3 players, handheld videogames or any other electronic device not yet released to the public at the time of this writing. All counselors have phones and access to parent info if a parent needs to be contacted. Conversely, if you need to reach your child during the camp day, you can call the camp leaders and we will connect you.
LUNCHES: Please pack a morning snack and a hearty lunch for your child. Please no glass bottles or sodas. We provide an afternoon snack. If your child has food allergies or specific diet, we will make our best effort to accommodate them.
PARTICIPATION: We encourage everyone to try all camp activities. If they choose not to participate they will not be forced or pressured. We practice “Challenge by Choice” with the goal of empowering campers to make a decision about their level of participation. If they are reluctant we will ask them to watch a few others try it and then give them the opportunity to opt in. If they still do not want to participate, we always have other options available.
ISSUES: Please let us know if your child is having any issues at camp. We make every effort to know what is going on with your camper and if they are having issues or concerns, we are concerned as well. Please call or email as soon as you can if your child has an issue so we can work to resolve it as soon as possible. This includes any difficulties with other campers, camp activities or counselors.
CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT:
Each day your camper will check in with their group leader. They will need to check out in the afternoon with them as well. Do not allow campers to run around other cars picking up and dropping off.
Safety: All Campers must be with their counselor at all times. When we go for a hike, to the ropes course/ rock climb or creek, a counselor will lead the group and another counselor will follow at the end of the group. We do have several environmental “hazards” which we will teach the kids how to be safe around:
Ticks: we live in tick country. Each night you should check for ticks- under arms, in hair etc. If a tick is found gently remove the entire tick and place it into a plastic bag with a cotton ball with a small bit of water. Watch the site for several days and if a “red bulls eye” develops, take the tick and camper to the doctor.
Snakes: we do have snakes at Nature Camp. Mostly they stay far away but this is one reason the counselors are always first in the group. If a snake is spotted, campers should freeze in place and yell “Snake!” a Counselor will be right over to determine if the snake is a Rattle Snake and to help the camper back safely way.
Yellow Jackets: we do our best to stay away from these demons but they are around. Staying on the established trails helps tremendously!
Poison Oak: We teach the kids how to identify this potentially frustrating plant and we try to keep them out of areas that it is occupying. The best defense is to take a SOAPY shower every night and put the day’s clothes straight into the washing machine. They may complain about the bath but they will complain about the poison oak more.