Woodland Playhouse 2023 Summer Camp Details
1a. Science Exploration Camp: July 1-5, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8 years
Dates: July 1-5 (Closed July 4th)
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9am - 3p
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Get ready to bring our science experiments outdoors in this fun, unpredictable camp! Get ready to create and explore bubble solutions, build and test out stomp rockets, make our own chalk, investigate messy sensory substances, and enjoy loads of water play in the sunshine. This camp is going to be fun-filled and hands-on messy, so please dress accordingly!
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Program Designer:
Alisha Olive has been running Woodland Playhouse summer camps for several years as well as being a part of the preschool program throughout the year. In 2022-23, she became the lead teacher of the Polar Bear classroom. Alisha loves getting creative and integrating art and science and jumps at every opportunity to get messy, make predictions, and engage in process art. She has two children of her own; 5 year old Arya and soon-to-be 8 year old Ryker who relish in science experiments that Alisha does at home and loves to bring to her camps.
1b. Survival Camp: July 1-5, 2024
Ages: 5 - 10
Dates: July 1-5 (closed July 4th)
Location: Traveling Camp (Off site, locations TBA)
Times: 9a-3
Have you ever wondered how to safely start a fire? Or how to use a compass and map to orient if you find yourself off trail? What if you and a friend are in the woods and one of you gets hurt - do you know basic first aid for you and your comrades? These are all things that campers will be learning, hands on, through safe practice and fun. Through a healthy balance of the freedom to explore the outdoors, risky play, and dose of practice in safety and knowledge campers will leave Survival Camp with essential Cat-Skills!
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Program Designers:
Christina Davis (mom to Isabelle & Leonardo) is a full time teacher and owner of the Woodland Playhouse. A certified NYS teacher, her heart is in participating in the experiences of children of all ages experimenting, taking risks, and learning. In 2018, she earned her Masters of Science in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) from SUNY New Paltz. Christina has a tendency to dive headlong into whatever new challenge comes her way, including designing and leading new camps, after school programming, and spreading the love and excitement for outdoor learning to other educators!
Meet Phoebe Wyllyamz, a dedicated advocate for child-led learning and nature-based education. With nearly two decades of homeschooling experience, she champions "unschooling," guiding her children toward a love for diverse subjects. Married for 23 years, Phoebe's educational philosophy focuses on nurturing her children's natural curiosity, fostering independent, empowered learners. As a certified play-work professional, she's created immersive programs, including the pandemic-era outdoor PlayPOD. Serving as Assistant Director and lead playworker with the Ithaca Children's Garden and the Just Play Project in Ithaca, NY, Phoebe continues her mission to cultivate a lifelong love for the outdoors and empower young minds for a brighter future.
Special Guest:
Jesse Rice designed and orchestrated two years of Engineering Camp and this will be his second year of Survival Camp. A Catskills Native having grown up spending his summer days in the woods (largely unsupervised, because…90s) and working his way through boy scouts in his youth he realized that many of the children of today don’t have basic wilderness survival skills. So, Jesse has shifted his focus from adventuring in engineering to adventuring in survival!
2a. Art Camp: July 8-12, 2024
Ages: 2 - 6
Dates: July 8 - 12, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9am - 2pm
Come and join our returning Woodland Playhouse staff as we play, create, and explore! Our theme for this year’s 2-6 art camp will be focused on our locality - mountains, nature, animals, and self! This year our 2-6 art camp will host two groups - one with Belinda and Dianna and the other with Tina and Laura. While both of our art camps have similar bases in themes, the activities will be different week over week for repeat campers. Our youngest campers will enjoy their time at Woodland Playhouse exploring a variety of art materials and interacting with nature, themselves, their peers, and most influentially the Catskills landscape around them. Dress for a mess - and a lot of fun!
Program leaders & designers:
Belinda & Dianna led their first camps as a team last summer and were overjoyed with the experience. Both Dianna and Belinda love the outdoors, love working with children, and love getting creative with hands-on process art activities -- in the outdoors, with children! What could be better?
Tina & Laura have been working together since last summer and all throughout the school year. They’re in it for the fun of it -- of creating, of experimenting, of getting messy and of having somethings (many things, probably) to bring home at the end of the week. Be prepared to be wowed by your children’s experience with them!
2b. Science & Agriculture Camp: July 8-12, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8
Dates: July 8 - 12, 2024
Location: Traveling Camp (Off Site, locations TBA)
Times: 9am to 3pm
This camp is designed to introduce some of our youngest campers to a traveling camp while fostering an interest in science and in agriculture and to introduce them to philosophy and the necessity of permaculture. Campers will explore summer crops, harvest from an existing garden, and meet different types of animals (pigs and chickens and ducks, oh my!) as well as enjoy periods of free play, water play, and down time. Campers must be potty trained.
Program Designer:
Christina Davis (mom to Isabelle & Leonardo) is a full time teacher and owner of the Woodland Playhouse. A certified NYS teacher, her heart is in participating in the experiences of children of all ages experimenting, taking risks, and learning. In 2018, she earned her Masters of Science in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) from SUNY New Paltz. Christina has a tendency to dive headlong into whatever new challenge comes her way, including designing and leading new camps, after school programming, and spreading the love and excitement for outdoor learning to other educators! This is the camp’s sixth! year and it has been a blast for all involved each season.
3a. Art Camp: July 15-19, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8
Dates: July 15 - 19, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Come and join our returning Woodland Playhouse staff as we play, create, and explore! There will be one art group for this week with our amazing returning due, Belinda and Dianna! While both of our art camps have similar bases in themes, the activities will be different week over week for repeat campers. Our youngest campers will enjoy their time at Woodland Playhouse exploring a variety of art materials and interacting with nature, themselves, their peers, and most influentially the Catskills landscape around them. Dress for a mess - and a lot of fun!
Program leaders & designers:
Belinda & Dianna led their first camps as a team last summer and were overjoyed with the experience. Both Dianna and Belinda love the outdoors, love working with children, and love getting creative with hands-on process art activities -- in the outdoors, with children! What could be better?
3b. Quest Camp: July 15-19, 2024
Ages: 6 - 12
Dates: July 15 - 19, 2024
Location: Traveling (Off site, location TBA)
Times: 9a - 3p
Back by popular demand, Quest Camp returns for a fourth year! The story continues…what kinds of tricks does Sylvetris Luna have up his sleeves this year? Did he really change his ways to work for the greater good and for Woodland Playhouse?
This camp is designed for lovers of adventure and those looking for a way to challenge their minds. It’s an introductory camp for LARPers or those interested in dappling without taking themselves too seriously. Campers will work both competitively and collaboratively to solve daily riddles and puzzles to Save Woodland Playhouse. Think Percy Jackson meets Children of the Forest! Each day, campers will escapade through forests, create their own adventures, and outsmart their foes armed only with their wits, their friends, and their creativity.
As with our other outdoor camps, children should come dressed for all day outdoor adventures. By the end of the week, parents and caregivers should expect to have exhausted and exhilarated adventurers returned to them.
Program Designer:
Christina Davis was inspired to design this camp by the immense love her own children have shown for the riddles, tricks, and connections in mythology and for the outdoors. Besides, Christina is always up for a new challenge...and what better challenge than to devise an interconnected and complex web of activities, puzzles, and adventures with a story arc to Save Woodland Playhouse!? It’s a teacher-writer-explorer’s dream come true…and was an exhausting, boat-load of fun in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Bonus points: Andrew and Lydia are returning for a third year of Questing!
3c. Wonderful Water Camp: July 15-19, 2024
Ages: 2 - 6
Dates: July 15 - 19, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9a - 2p
Dive into a delightful week of water wonders at "Wonderful Water" Camp for ages 2-6!
Beginning with Splashy Explorers Day, little ones will explore puddles, tiny streams, and engage in sensory water play. Raindrop Adventure Day brings rainforest joy with interactive activities and rain-inspired arts and crafts. Water Play Wonderland Wednesday promises giggles and splashes through water-based games and gentle challenges. Sea Creature Friends Day on Thursday emphasizes friendship with underwater pals through age-appropriate activities. Finally, the Bubble Bonanza Finale on Friday wraps up the week with bubbly fun, showcasing the tiny campers' water-themed creations. It's a week of laughter, exploration, and aquatic joy that will create cherished memories at "Wonderful Water" Camp!
Program Designer:
Meet Phoebe Wyllyamz, a dedicated advocate for child-led learning and nature-based education. With nearly two decades of homeschooling experience, she champions "unschooling," guiding her children toward a love for diverse subjects. Married for 23 years, Phoebe's educational philosophy focuses on nurturing her children's natural curiosity, fostering independent, empowered learners. As a certified play-work professional, she's created immersive programs, including the pandemic-era outdoor PlayPOD. Serving as Assistant Director and lead playworker with the Ithaca Children's Garden and the Just Play Project in Ithaca, NY, Phoebe continues her mission to cultivate a lifelong love for the outdoors and empower young minds for a brighter future.
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4a. Music Camp (with Uncle Rock!) - July 22-26, 2024
Ages: 2 - 6 years
Dates: July 22 - 26, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9am-2pm
Come and listen, move and play with us! Uncle Rock returns with us for another year. Campers will use their whole bodies to feel, create, and appreciate the life and sounds in music. We will spend our time together dancing, singing, and making music! Your campers will feel the joy and power that comes with the expression of music while also enjoying ample time to celebrate and experience all the wonders of summer. During the parts of the day Uncle Rock isn’t present at Woodland Playhouse, campers will continue to feel the beat and explore the magic of music with Alisha and her crew.
Program Special Guest:
Uncle Rock is a renowned Hudson Valley children's performer also known as writer-musician-teacher Robert Burke Warren. His "rock of all ages" family music is a mixture of Shel Silverstein meets Buddy Holly, the Ramones meets Pete Seeger. Uncle Rock songs have been satellite radio hits, placed in movies, and even performed by the Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Performances are interactive, high-energy, and educational. Cross-generational, enlightened, toe-tappin' tunes for kids from 2 to 92!
Program leader:
Program leader:
Alisha Olive has been running Woodland Playhouse summer camps for several years as well as being a part of the preschool program throughout the year. In 2022-23, she became the lead teacher of the Polar Bear classroom. Alisha loves getting creative and integrating art and science and jumps at every opportunity to get messy, make predictions, and engage in process art. She has two children of her own; 5 year old Arya and 8 year old Ryker who enjoy camps just as much as she does.
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4b. Outdoor Exploration: July 22-26, 2024
Ages: 5 - 10
Dates: July 22 - 26, 2024
Location: Traveling Camp (Off Site)
Times: 9am to 3p
We all know that spending time outdoors is important - we know that feeling of physical and mental well being we have all experienced after spending time outside. This Outdoor Exploration camp has been designed around that feeling - to give campers quality time outdoors to explore their surroundings, learn new things, and build new skills and we are thrilled to offer it again this year. This camp really utilizes our great Catskills setting! Campers will learn how important their role is on this earth and what they can do to help protect and preserve it. Campers will spend time identifying wild plants and trees and learning about their purpose within our ecosystem. We will also play team building games, wilderness survival games, and explore outdoor books during down time. This camp offers an opportunity to socialize while discovering new local areas and ways to feel connected to the earth and to each other.
Please dress for the outdoors! Campers will be outside hiking the woods every day. Proper footwear, high socks, and lots of water are essential - bug repellent and lots of snacks are recommended. Join us for a week in the wild!
Program Designer:
Belinda Torres has worked at various camps over the years, adding to her experience working with children along with raising her two boys Brantley and Kody. This is her fifth season of camp at Woodland Playhouse and her third year leading these camps, which she enjoys each year in addition to the school year. Belinda appreciates engaging in a wide range of activities and expanding her knowledge in a variety of different things - she quickly became the Woodland Playhouse expert on mushrooms, snakes, and trees and is thrilled to spend a week each summer hiking and exploring The Catskills with campers.
5a. Theater Camp: July 29 - August 2, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8
Dates: July 29 - Aug 2, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28 (big yard)
Times: 9a-3p
Performance: Friday at 3pm
Actors will do everything needed to create a performance by the end of the week! They will participate in improvisation, stagecraft, script writing, songwriting, singing, character development, and so much more! At the end of the week, the actors will put on a performance of their own creation. Some children prefer more behind the scenes work (which we welcome), while others enjoy the spotlight and some like a little of both. Our theater camp offers countless opportunities for our campers and their specific interests. This original production will offer different options for different campers, with speaking-only parts, singing parts, musical parts, stagehand and/or visual art and set design positions, as well as any combination. We will practice theater exercises and games during the week that will help get ideas flowing to support camper’s to create a show that is made up of their words and original ideas.
Theater campers will also enjoy exploring the mountain, multiple outdoor activities, games, snacks and some free time to enjoy with their peers. Sweet Friday treats may also be shared! However, the focus of the program will be about theater..
Program Designer:
At Woodland Playhouse, Christina Davis wears many different hats and has a hand in every ongoing activity. While Christina has participated in college level acting courses, the bulk of her learning has happened on-the-ground with campers over the last five years of summer camps with three different program leaders. In 2020 due to COVID-19, Christina found herself in a situation where she needed to lead a group of 10 six-to-twelve year old campers in writing and designing a performance. A huge storm lost a day of camp and so the group had four days to be ready. Not only did they successfully accomplish their goals, all campers and staff felt confident, happy, and proud of what they had done - so they did it again in 2021 (and didn’t lose a day, but created two plays!) and have rocked the house each year since. The show must always go on!
5b. Going Buggy Camp: July 29 - August 2, 2024
A week of bug-filled wonder!
Ages: 2 - 6
Dates: July 29 - Aug 2, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9a-2p
Embark on a delightful adventure at the "Going Buggy" Camp for ages 2-6! The week begins with the Bug Hunt Adventure where little campers explore the world of bugs and engage in a sensory bug hunt. Campers will explore Compost Creations to explore the magic of decomposition and turning scraps into nutrient-rich soil. We’ll also explore a variety of different fun, locally present bugs and will foster an appreciation for these essential insects through crafts and activities. The Bug Bonanza Finale on Friday wraps up the week with joy, showcasing bug-inspired creations and celebrating newfound knowledge. It's a week filled with exploration, learning, and bug-filled fun at the "Going Buggy" Camp!
Program Designer:
Meet Phoebe Wyllyamz, a dedicated advocate for child-led learning and nature-based education. With nearly two decades of homeschooling experience, she champions "unschooling," guiding her children toward a love for diverse subjects. Married for 23 years, Phoebe's educational philosophy focuses on nurturing her children's natural curiosity, fostering independent, empowered learners. As a certified play-work professional, she's created immersive programs, including the pandemic-era outdoor PlayPOD. Serving as Assistant Director and lead playworker with the Ithaca Children's Garden and the Just Play Project in Ithaca, NY, Phoebe continues her mission to cultivate a lifelong love for the outdoors and empower young minds for a brighter future.
6a: Faerie Garden Magic: Whimsical Wonders Camp - August 5-9, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8
Dates: Aug 5 - 9, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9a-3p
Embark on a captivating week at "Faerie Garden Magic" Camp! The enchantment begins with Enchanted Garden Exploration on Monday, where little campers discover the magic of faerie gardens through activities like creating miniature habitats. Tuesday brings Flower Fairy Crafts Day, filled with imaginative arts and crafts, from magical wands to flower crowns. Wednesday unfolds with a Gnome and Butterfly Adventure, exploring the garden's inhabitants beyond faeries. On Thursday, campers engage in Potion Making and Nature Spells, concocting whimsical elixirs and adding a sprinkle of enchantment to the day. Conclude the week on Friday with Faerie or Gnome House Delight, offering campers the choice to build magical homes using natural materials. It's a week of whimsy, creativity, and shared enchanting adventures at Woodland Playhouse Camp for ages 4-8!
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Program Designer:
Meet Phoebe Wyllyamz, a dedicated advocate for child-led learning and nature-based education. With nearly two decades of homeschooling experience, she champions "unschooling," guiding her children toward a love for diverse subjects. Married for 23 years, Phoebe's educational philosophy focuses on nurturing her children's natural curiosity, fostering independent, empowered learners. As a certified play-work professional, she's created immersive programs, including the pandemic-era outdoor PlayPOD. Serving as Assistant Director and lead playworker with the Ithaca Children's Garden and the Just Play Project in Ithaca, NY, Phoebe continues her mission to cultivate a lifelong love for the outdoors and empower young minds for a brighter future.
6b. Bikes & Hikes Camp: August 5-9, 2024
Ages: 6 - 12
Dates: Aug 5 - 9, 2024
Location: Traveling (off site) camp, multiple locations
Times: 9a-3p
This camp takes our older campers on adventures! Each day, campers will be dropped off at a different location either prepared to hike or bike for the day. Campers should be able to hike for several miles (over the course of several hours) and be prepared with comfortable shoes and socks, lots of water, and lots of snacks for the day. Rewards include feelings of exhilaration, fantastic views of our beautiful Catskill Mountains, and new knowledge and appreciation of our locality. Andrew and Christina cannot wait to get hiking, biking, and exploring with these campers!
Note:Bikes must be provided by the campers - unfortunately, we don’t have many to spare!
Program Designers:
Christina Davis is mom of two human babies, several fur babies, a whole lot of chickens, and a lover of the outdoors and hands-on experiences! She not only leads the organization of all the camps and programming at Woodland Playhouse, but is the original designer of Science and Agriculture and Quest camps. This is another one she’s SUPER excited to pilot and hopes it’ll be a repeat experience for many! P.S Andrew returns again and is helping to design and lead this camp!
7a. Movement Camp: August 12-16, 2024
Ages: 2 - 6
Dates: August 12 - 16, 2024
Location: 5571 State Route 28
Times: 9a-2p
Movement is an integral part of all that we do - so it seems natural that we would want to move our bodies in a more intentional way. As with all of our Woodland Playhouse camps, this is an all out-door camp designed with our local children in mind to provide opportunities to play, explore, grow, and learn.
Campers will spend afternoons hiking the mountain behind Woodland Playhouse and pausing to form yoga poses upon the rocks. They will spend mornings participating in physically active games designed to motivate them to challenge themselves each day. They will spend their days bending, stretching, and pausing to reflect and take in the world around them and they will spend spare moments splashing in water, digging in the sand, and engaging in creative activities. In this unusual combination of games, yoga, and mindfulness activities, campers will have a million opportunities to play, explore, grow, and most importantly - have fun! Our theme this year is about emotions and feelings.
Program Designer:
Alisha Olive has been running Woodland Playhouse summer camps for several years as well as being a part of the preschool program throughout the year. In 2022-23, she became the lead teacher of the Polar Bear classroom. Alisha loves getting creative and integrating art and science and jumps at every opportunity to get messy, make predictions, and engage in process art. She has two children of her own; 5 year old Arya and soon-to-be 8 year old Ryker who relish in science experiments that Alisha does at home and loves to bring to her camps.
7b. Camp of the Elements: Elemental Eco Wonders Camp August 12-16, 2024
Ages: 4 - 8
Dates: August 12 - 16, 2024
Location: TBA
Times: 9a-3p
Embark on a week of Elemental Eco Adventures where young campers explore the magic and responsibility associated with the elements. Airy Heights Adventure on Monday introduces the wonders of the air through kite-making and wind-related activities. On Tuesday, Fire Safety and Wildfire Awareness Day instills a sense of responsibility through age-appropriate activities. Watery Wonders Exploration on Wednesday immerses campers in water bodies, fostering appreciation for aquatic ecosystems. Thursday's Earth Stewards Day encourages hands-on activities promoting care for the planet. The week concludes with an Elemental Eco Celebration on Friday, showcasing creations and sharing lessons learned about air, fire safety, water bodies, and environmental stewardship. It's a week of education, exploration, and becoming Elemental Eco Guardians at Woodland Playhouse Camp for ages 4-8!
Program Designer:
Meet Phoebe Wyllyamz, a dedicated advocate for child-led learning and nature-based education. With nearly two decades of homeschooling experience, she champions "unschooling," guiding her children toward a love for diverse subjects. Married for 23 years, Phoebe's educational philosophy focuses on nurturing her children's natural curiosity, fostering independent, empowered learners. As a certified play-work professional, she's created immersive programs, including the pandemic-era outdoor PlayPOD. Serving as Assistant Director and lead playworker with the Ithaca Children's Garden and the Just Play Project in Ithaca, NY, Phoebe continues her mission to cultivate a lifelong love for the outdoors and empower young minds for a brighter future.
