Nature Guide

Some of our Nature topics include stewardship/conservation, endangered local plants, ecology, animal care, insects and pollinators, geology, astronomy, weather, trees, and fungi. Throughout the summer you’ll use experiential education to teach boys about the environment, and our place in it. You’ll be instructing a wide range of ages and skill levels, and helping to foster a love of the outdoors in the next generation. Under your guidance and teaching, boys have the opportunity to work on the five different progression levels in the Nature program, culminating with the achievement of “Warrior”.

Each day at camp begins with waking up and gathering as a community at Morning Watch. Next we enjoy a hearty breakfast and an exciting Morning Assembly on the porch. Then it’s off to the first three activities of the day, followed by a period of Free Choice before lunch. On a typical day, each counselor will be assigned a specific area to supervise during one Free Choice period, and have the other Free Choice period to themselves as their “Self-Care Time”. Rest Hour happens after lunch, before the three activity periods in the afternoon. Then there is the second Free Choice period, dinner, and a fun Evening Program! A typical day ends with Milk and Cookies, followed by Evening Embers, a discussion time with your cabin mates to talk about the day’s adventures. Everyone is tired and happy by the time it’s Lights Out. On weekends, we take a break from our regular activity instruction, sleep in an extra hour, and play games as a whole camp community.

Our society doesn’t provide much direct experience in nature today, and as the young spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings, I’ve always suspected that their senses don’t fully develop and they don’t experience the richness of the human experience. One essential part of Falling Creek’s value, which is difficult to understand as a camper, is the role of nature in one’s early spiritual development. Falling Creek is an antidote for today’s addictive ‘screen time’ and lack of social interaction, recreation, and outdoor time. When I think about Falling Creek, I remember the mountaintop and the lakes, surrounded by the deep woods that obscured the cabins. I think about the voices, singing, and laughter during the summers that went too fast. And I think of the quiet off-season, planning and preparing as I watched the turkeys, deer, and bears of winter. Eventually, everyone wanders away from this magical place called Falling Creek, but we never wander away from the impact it has had on our lives.

Chuck McGrady, Director Emeritus and Former National President of the Sierra Club

Need internship credit?

Many of our counselors who need internship credit to graduate don’t realize that they can earn that credit while working at camp! We can coordinate with your department to tailor a unique learning experience, and have set up internship credit across a wide variety of disciplines. Read more about the value of an internship at camp or how to translate your camp experience to your resume.

Working at camp isn’t just fun and rewarding, it’s also a great way to jumpstart your professional development. The skills critical for success in today’s world are developed and practiced at camp, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and contribution. You’ll make connections with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, across the country and around the world. Being a Falling Creek alumni also connects you to a network of former staff and parents who are business owners, entrepreneurs, outdoor industry professionals, and employers. We are frequently asked to refer our most talented staff members.