Brooklyn Nature Days Summer in the City 2026

Brooklyn Nature Days runs its Summer in the City program from mid-June through early August in Prospect Park. The camp operates with a philosophy centered on unstructured free play and open-ended exploration, using tools and materials like buckets, magnifying glasses, rope, and natural clay to inspire creative engagement with nature. Children are grouped by age: Sparrows (20 months–3 years), Robins (Pre-K to K), Sparrow-Robins (ages 2–5), Hawks (entering 1st–4th grade), and the new Egrets group (entering 5th–8th grade). Each group maintains a low teacher-to-child ratio, with educators supporting small, child-led projects and spontaneous adventures. Daily activities include leisurely walks through different park locations, morning greetings, and free exploration where children create mud pie kitchens, tree forts, leaf crowns, and engage in dramatic play and nature discovery. The camp emphasizes emotional well-being, physical and cognitive growth, and social connection through time in nature.