Island Ford 2022
Registration for Summer 2022 opens:
Members: February 1, 2022 at 6:00am EST
Non-members: February 15, 2022 at 6:00am EST
Spots are limited and fill fast. Save on registration and become a member today!
Island Ford Fast Facts
For: Ages 9-13
Price (per camper per week): Members $315, Non-Members $350
From: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Drop off / Pick up: Hewlitt Lodge Visitor Center, 8800 Roberts Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Island Ford Park is the headquarters of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. It is located 3.3 miles away from the Dunwoody Nature Center at 8800 Roberts Drive in Sandy Springs. We have partnered with Island Ford for over 12 years in offering camps to children ages 9-13. At Island Ford, campers have the opportunity to explore the river, canoe on the pond, hike the trails, and do various activities and games in the park that are best suited for our older campers. We frequently hear from campers that their experience at Island Ford is their favorite camp of the summer!
Island Ford 2021 Schedule
June 7 - 11 | Junior Ranger I
Each day, campers will engage in nature discovery and games, using the Island
Ford Facility on the Chattahoochee River as our classroom. Campers will practice strategies learned during the week from their Junior Ranger booklet by canoeing in the facility’s pond and performing safety skills. We will learn to navigate throughout the park and we’ll explore the ponds/watersheds of the park while discussing conservation methods and the importance of the Chattahoochee River to the local Native Americans. Campers will learn about native plants and animals that inhabit the National Park. At the end of the week, campers will receive their Junior Ranger badges in a presentation led by the Rangers of the Chattahoochee National River Area.
June 14 - 18 | Explore The Hooch I*
Full - Waitlist Only
Campers will have a wonderful time learning about the habitat around the Chattahoochee River at Island Ford Park while hiking, canoeing and rafting different sections of the river. Depending on the weather and river conditions, we will plan on either a float trip, canoe trip or visiting another park along the Chattahoochee 3 of the 5 days of camp. We will use Island Ford as our base camp. We will provide an itinerary a week before the camp begins.
June 21 - 25 | Wind and Water
One Spot Left!
Come and spend a week with us to find out why water and wind is so essential for plants, animals, and even our survival. We will study it, experiment with it, get wet and windy with it, and see how far it flies. We will not only explore the river, but also discuss all the places water and wind travels. From the clouds to the oceans, we will follow water on its journey around our world. Through games, experiments, crafts, and exploration, campers will learn all about the importance of water and the power of wind.
June 28 - July 2 | Skulls, Skins, and Scat
Island Ford Park is home to a variety of wildlife that leave their mark in interesting ways all over the park. Campers will spend the week exploring the trails and creek looking for tracks and scats from deer, rabbits, and who knows what else! They’ll investigate where these park residents live, what they eat, and how they move. Campers will also get an up close look at skulls and skins from various Georgia wildlife species learning about how these animals have adapted to survive in Georgia. Your camper will discover wildlife like never before, they might even get to make their own “scat” or cast of an animal footprint!
July 12-16 | Hunters and Gatherers
Full - Waitlist Only
Join us as we take a step back in time and learn what life was like before fast food, computers, and cars! Campers will learn what it was like to live off the land. Through games, experiments, crafts, and exploration, they will discover how early man survived from the natural resources available to them. Campers will learn how to build a shelter to protect them from the elements or build a fire with no matches; maybe a wheel can help… wait, what’s a wheel? Living in the past wasn’t easy but they made it. From food to tools to shelter, nature has it all… if only we know where to look.
July 19-23 | Explore The Hooch II*
Full - Waitlist Only
Campers will have a wonderful time learning about the habitat around the Chattahoochee River at Island Ford Park while hiking, canoeing and rafting different sections of the river. Depending on the weather and river conditions, we will plan on either a float trip, canoe trip or visiting another park along the Chattahoochee 3 of the 5 days of camp. We will use Island Ford as our base camp. We will provide an itinerary a week before the camp begins.
July 26-30 | Wilderness Adventure
Our campers will explore Island Ford to learn about the environment and develop their outdoor living skills. From navigating the wilderness to gathering food to building shelters, they will experience and understand the basic techniques for safely enjoying the outdoors. While practicing Leave No Trace principles, our campers will play, learn, and thoroughly enjoy seeing the wilderness from a new perspective.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
PAYMENT: Registration is online only; we accept Debit and Credit (MasterCard, Visa, and Discover).
CANCELLATIONS: 80% of your registration fee will be refunded to the card you registered with if you cancel two weeks prior to your camp start date. Inside of two weeks and during the camp, no refunds will be issued. All cancellations must be requested in writing via email to camp@dunwoodynature.org; no phone calls, please.
The Dunwoody Nature Center’s goal is for every camper to have the opportunity to have fun and discover their strengths. In order to do this, every child must feel safe at camp. Please review the Behavior Policies with your child before arriving at camp, as this is what helps us ensure everybody’s safety and the quality of our programs. Download the Behavior Policy here.
Our campers spend the camp day participating in specific camp themed nature activities both inside and outside. They’ll play games, make crafts, do experiments, hike on the trails and play on the playground. Campers will need to bring a snack, lunch and refillable water bottle every day. Please apply sunscreen and bug spray prior to drop off. Please include a note indicating if you want the teacher to reapply sunscreen and bug spray. Campers should dress for the weather wearing comfortable summertime clothes and close toed shoes. Weather and water quality permitting, campers at the Island Ford Campus will potentially get wet every day.
Our summer camp teachers are either trained naturalists or formal school teachers. All of our summer camp teachers are First Aid and CPR certified. We have two teachers to up to twenty campers at Island Ford Park. All of our camps also have Junior Counselors (teenage assistants).
Please let the camp director know by email who will be picking up your child each day. We do ask for identification at pick up and if their name is not on our pick up list we will need to reach you before we release your child to them.
We find that if your child is in a regular classroom at school without an aide, then they usually do great at our camps. Our teachers are wonderful, but most are not trained in special education. If your child requires a special education classroom or teacher, then camps at the Dunwoody Nature Center or Island Ford Park might not be a good fit. Please contact our camp director for more information holly@dunwoodynature.org
FAQ: COVID-19 RESPONSE
Most frequent questions and answers regarding camp modifications in response to COVID-19
Yes, the schedule for our Dunwoody Nature Center campus Full Day camp program will proceed as outlined in our camp brochure. Island Ford Camps are dependent on the NPS allowing our campers to use their facilities.
Extended care is not available at Island Ford. Our camp time is 8:30-4:30
No, due to new health guidelines we are limiting the number of people in the camp buildings. All drop off and pick up will be carpool only and the parents/guardians will need to stay in their vehicles.
Yes, temperatures will be taken by an infrared thermometer each day at drop off and pick up. If campers, Junior Counselors, or staff exhibit the symptoms associated with COVID-19 (chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, other respiratory symptoms, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell) they will be dismissed from attending camp until they have had a negative COVID-19 test or have been fever and fever mediation free for seventy-two (72) hours, or other symptoms have improved and at least ten (10) days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Campers will get hand sanitizer when they are dropped off at camp. They will wash their hands before snacks and lunch and after restroom breaks. A hand sanitizer station will be set up in each camp classroom and campers will be directed to use it regularly.
Each classroom will have EPA-approved disinfectant spray and paper towels for cleaning surfaces during the camp day, between activities and at the end of the day. Bathrooms will be cleaned after every group uses it.
Yes, while indoors. Camp families will be asked to send a labelled cloth face covering (covers your child’s nose and mouth) each day to camp to be worn while indoors in the classroom. Staff and Junior Counselors will be asked to do the same. While outdoors, mask wearing will not be required.
Camp classes will remain separated from other classes at all times. Classes will be kept to 20 people or less including staff and Junior Counselors. It is understood that maintaining a social distance of 6 feet apart in a classroom setting is not possible and will not be enforced. Mask wearing and increased hygiene practices will help ensure camper safety in these closer proximity settings.
Where possible, equipment, supplies and other items will not be shared between campers. Campers will be encouraged to bring a labelled container with a few art supplies with them to camp (pencil, crayons, markers, kid scissors and glue stick). We will have extra kits to be borrowed by your camper if needed for the week. If equipment such as toys or games are shared amongst campers, they will be sanitized before another camp group uses them.
Your registration fee can be transferred to another camp week during Summer 2021 that has open spots remaining. Your registration fee cannot be transferred to any other school break camp sessions in 2021 or to Summer Camp 2022. You may also choose to donate your camp fee to the nature center for a tax deductible donation.
Your child will be separated from the group until a parent/guardian can pick them up from camp. They will be supervised by an adult from 6 feet apart. They will not be permitted to return to camp until they have either had a negative COVID-19 test or have been fever and fever medication free for seventy-two (72) hours, other symptoms have improved, and at least ten (10) days have passed since symptoms first appeared.