Registration for the 2026 summer season opens on February 7th at 9:00am!
For children under four years old, see our free Babes in the Woods and Hike ‘n’ Seek programs.
Learn more about camp below:
2026 Camp Schedule and Programs
Fells Forest Camp’s flagship program engages children ages 4-12 in self-guided explorations of the forest, helping to develop their curiosity, critical thinking, and sense of connection with nature. Dedicated camp staff provide positive and enriching learning opportunities for children through unstructured time-in-nature, opportunistic nature interpretation, and by encouraging self-directed learning and exploration. Please see session details below:
Session 1: June 22 – June 26 **
Session 2: June 29 – July 2 (no program on Friday, July 3rd for 4th of July Holiday)
Session 3: July 6 – July 10
Session 4: July 13 – July 17
Session 5: July 20 – July 24
Session 6: July 27 – July 31
Session 7: August 3 – August 7
Session 8: August 10 – August 14
**Medford High School may need to use the school building the week of June 22 – June 26 to make up for any missed school due to snow days. If you register for this session, please understand that there is a chance that camp might not be able to run this week. We hope to make a decision by April 1st regarding whether or not programming will proceed. A complete refund will be issued for any days we are unable to run camp.
Specialized Programs
Our flagship camp program activities are guided by the kids’ interests rather than a schedule set in stone. Staff use teachable moments to build a deeper understanding of the forest and what the campers are experiencing.
Check out this blog post for a 2025 summer camp recap!
For families looking for a more structured experience, Fells Forest Camp offers additional programming in art and science. Learn more about them below:
Art in Nature (ages 6-7, 8-9)
The Art in Nature program focuses on connecting children to nature through hands-on art projects. Kids learn to experience the forest thoughtfully through their observations and work on projects that encourage them to think about the natural world more deeply and from multiple perspectives.
The Forest Up Close (ages 8-10)
The Forest Up Close program engages children in how to think and talk like scientists and to explore details of the forest with a discerning eye. Kids learn about decomposing logs, water systems, and lichen, and have opportunities to practice nature journaling.
Science and Discovery (ages 7-9)
The Science and Discovery program provides a robust, hands-on curriculum for science enthusiasts, exploring ecosystems, habitats, forest layers, and insects and bugs living in the Middlesex Fells Reservation. This session provides an opportunity for deeper investigation of ecological concepts while allowing for exploration, self-directed play, and connection with nature guided by experienced counselors.
Trailblazers (ages 10-12)
Our newest program, Trailblazers, gives our oldest campers the opportunity to make a positive and lasting impact on the Lawerence Woods.
Campers enrolled in the Trailblazers program will help complete a project designed to benefit the trails and habitats in the Lawrence Woods section of the Fells. Campers will learn about environmental issues facing the Fells and the positive impact their work will have on the forest and the trails surrounding camp. Under the leadership of experienced camp counselors and Friends of the Fells year round board and field staff, campers will learn how to safely use tools and work together as a team to complete a project that they can be proud of.
This is a full day program. Campers will work on the service-learning project in the morning, and in the afternoon they will head back into the woods for a more typical day of camp – exploration, group games, self-discovery, and fun!
About Our Campers
Who finds success at Fells Forest Camp?
A successful camper will…
Enjoy being in a forested setting and like exploring and discovering the forest with their senses. A successful camper actively participates in camp activities and games with an open mind and enjoys learning and playing in groups with other children. Successful campers can follow the directions of their counselors and adhere to basic camp policies regarding safety and caring for the forest.
A successful week at camp looks like…
Essential Outdoor Functions
A successful camper will…
Essential Physical Functions
A successful camper will…
Essential Behavioral Functions
A successful camper will…
Before you register
We believe every child deserves to experience the benefits of summer camp, and we strongly believe in the value of inclusion. While Fells Forest Camp is not a therapeutic program, the leadership team at Fells Forest Camp is fully committed to working with parents and guardians to determine if camp is a mutually good fit, and if we can safely support your child’s needs within the context and environment of our program. This work is done on a case-by-case basis with the sole intent of ensuring a successful experience for all members of our camp community.
If your child receives any accommodations, supports, or services (private or in school) during the school year, or if you have any questions or concerns about Fells Forest Camp’s fit for your child, we ask that you contact our Camp Director, Liz Cohen, prior to registration on February 7th. Please contact Liz Cohen at 781-662-2340, ex 103, or liz.cohen@fells.org.
Examples of support include regular breaks from the classroom, extra adult support in the classroom, an IEP, 504 Plan, or reports from a psychologist/psychiatrist, speech, occupational, physical, and/or behavioral therapist, or similar individuals helping your child.
We take your child’s and family’s privacy seriously, and we will use any information you share respectfully and only as needed within our team for enrollment, placement, and support determinations.
Required Paperwork
Fells Forest Camp requires an updated certificate of immunization and a physical (signed and dated by a physician) within the last 18 months in order for your child to participate in camp. More details will be provided when registration opens.
Please also indicate any ongoing health issues in the fields provided on our online registration form and contact us if you have any specific concerns you would like to discuss in detail so we can best serve your child’s needs.
Yellow Jacket Wasp Activity in the Fells
Friends of the Fells’ number one goal is the safety of our camp community. Camp staff have experienced an increase in the presence of yellow jacket wasps in the woods where camp operates. Each summer, staff proactively takes measures to mitigate the risk of bee stings, such as by treating yellow jacket nests in collaboration with DCR and closing sections of trails with active nests. To learn more about FOF’s safety measures and what parents can do to prepare for a safe summer, please read here: A Note on Yellow Jacket Wasp Activity in the Fells.
Special Requests
We strongly discourage parents from requesting exceptions to our age range cutoffs, session schedules, or other policies. However, our camp management team will consider special requests on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us before registration to discuss further. Camp is a safe place to meet new people and make new friends and we encourage you and your child to be open to being placed in a group where they might not know anyone. By the end of the first day, this will no longer be the case! Any group request that you do make must come from both campers’ parents/guardians, and are subject to available session space, logistical and programmatic considerations, and certain age restrictions. All scheduling requests must be made in writing via email at least three weeks prior to your child’s scheduled session to ensure consideration. We are unable to provide extended childcare before or after camp hours.
Policy Requests
At any time, parents may contact us to request copies of of our background check, health care, and discipline/behavior policies as well as procedures for filing grievances.
Session details and registration
The Friends of the Fells offers camp sessions in the following age groups:
489 Winthrop St., Medford
— AM Session (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
— PM Session (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Under the supportive and nurturing care of our counselors, our youngest campers enjoy exploring nature through hands on activities, games, and self discovery. An emphasis on cooperating with peers and treating the forest with kindness instills a natural connection to the forest and builds a foundation of positive experiences in nature for your child. Forest Kindergarten counselors have previous experience working with this age group and have demonstrated skill in this area.
NOTE: Forest Kindergarten is only available in half-day sessions. We want your child’s first experience in nature to be a positive one, and a long day in the elements without opportunities for naps and indoor activities can be challenging for many young children.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
— AM Session (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
— PM Session (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
— All-Day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
With the help of nurturing counselors, Forest Explorers discover the unique habitats, trees, animals, rocks, and other natural features of the Fells via self directed learning and play. Children are encouraged to think critically and problem-solve as they participate in nature activities and work with their peers to make collaborative decisions.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
— All-Day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Our oldest cohort of campers, Forest Adventurers, explore the forest with hikes that emphasize self-sufficiency, healthy risk assessment, and offer plenty of outdoor games, activities, and exploration. Collaboration skills, conservation ethics, and natural stewardship concepts are explored.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
July 27th – July 31st
— All-Day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Our Science and Discovery program provides a robust, hands-on curriculum for science enthusiasts, exploring ecosystems, habitats, forest layers, and insects and bugs living in the Middlesex Fells Reservation. This session provides an opportunity for deeper investigation of ecological concepts while allowing for exploration, self-directed play, and connection with nature guided by experienced counselors.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
June 29th – July 2nd
— One week, all-day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
The Forest Up Close program engages children who love science how to think and talk like scientists and to explore details of the forest with a discerning eye. Kids learn about decomposing logs, water systems, and lichen, and have opportunities to practice nature journaling.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
July 6th- July 10th (ages 6 – 7)
July 20th -July 24th (ages 8-9)
— One week, half day morning program (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
The Art in Nature program focuses on connecting children to nature through hands-on art projects. Kids learn to experience the forest thoughtfully through their observations and work on projects that encourage them to think about the natural world more deeply and from multiple perspectives.
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
July 13th – July 17th
— One week, all-day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Our newest program, Trailblazers, gives our oldest campers the opportunity to make a positive and lasting impact on the Lawerence Woods.
Campers enrolled in the Trailblazers program will help complete a project designed to benefit the trails and habitats in the Lawrence Woods section of the Fells. Campers will learn about environmental issues facing the Fells and the positive impact their work will have on the forest and the trails surrounding camp. Under the leadership of experienced camp counselors and Friends of the Fells year round board and field staff, campers will learn how to safely use tools and work together as a team to complete a project that they can be proud of.
This is a full day program. Campers will work on the service-learning project in the morning, and in the afternoon they will head back into the woods for a more typical day of camp – exploration, group games, self-discovery, and fun!
Medford High School
489 Winthrop St., Medford
— All-Day (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
— Ages 13 to 14 (must be 13 by June 1st)
The CIT program is designed for returning campers who age out of camp but are still too young to be counselors. The program will help CITs develop the leadership skills necessary to be a counselor at Fells Forest Camp by the time they turn 15. During the CIT program, 13- and 14-year-olds work with a cohort of their peers and gain valuable experience working in camp groups. With support from their CIT Coordinator, CITs learn directly from camp counselors how to effectively manage a group of campers, confidently resolve conflicts, run activities, and engage campers in nature.
For more information, please email the Camp Director, Liz, at this email address. You must contact the Camp Director to apply to the program.
2026 Rates
| Half-Day (Morning: 9 AM-12 PM or Afternoon: 1 PM-4 PM) | $230 |
| Full-Day (9 AM to 4 PM) | $525 |
| Week of July 4th, Half-Day (4 camp days) | $184 |
| Week of July 4th, Full-Day (4 camp days) | $420 |
| Science and Discovery (1 week long, 9 AM to 4 PM) | $525 |
| Art in Nature (1 week long each; 9 AM to 12 PM) | $250 |
| Forest Up Close (1 week long, 9 AM to 4 PM) | $525 |
| Trailblazers (1 week long, 9 AM to 4 PM) | $525 |
Questions? Contact us at forestcamp@fells.org.
About the Scholarship Program
Fells Forest Camp provides children an opportunity to learn, grow, and be successful in ways that complement their time in school. At our camp, kids are encouraged to connect with nature, discover hidden talents, assess risk, and develop lifelong social skills.
Friends of the Fells feels strongly that every child deserves the opportunity to experience Fells Forest Camp and reap the benefits it provides. That’s why we established a Fells Camp Scholarship Fund to provide families with tuition assistance.
The Fund is supported through donations, and awards are determined based on household size and income level. Funds are limited each year, therefore we cannot guarantee that every family who applies for funding will receive an award. At the time of registration, you will have the option to apply for a scholarship. Financial documentation will not be required at that time, but all documentation must be submitted between February 7th and March 20th, 2026. If required financial documentation is not received by March 20th, 2026, review of your application will be delayed and may impact your receiving an award. Awards will be determined by Friday, April 17th, 2026.
Camp sessions typically fill up very quickly, so we urge you to register your camper(s) and apply for aid as soon as possible.
To serve as many children as possible, scholarships are limited to one session per camper.
If additional scholarship funds are available, we will notify you so you can apply for additional aid to attend a second session.
Interested in supporting the fund? Donate here!
Documentation required to apply:
-
- A completed Scholarship Application (only one application needs to be completed per family, regardless of how many campers apply for aid).
- Your most recent tax return, listing the camper(s) as a dependent and your household’s annual income.
Fells Forest Camp Community Values
We will behave in ways that are respectful and safe for all campers and staff. Behaving in ways that are disrespectful, threatening, or that could potentially harm (physically or emotionally) a camper or staff member does not support a happy and safe camp community. Hitting, grabbing, biting, pushing, teasing, or name-calling is never allowed at Fells Forest Camp.
We will share and take turns so every camper can participate in an activity or explore any of the natural treasures that may be found in the Fells.
We will communicate and collaborate with other campers and staff. As a group, we plan our days together, share our ideas, and actively listen to our fellow campers. Exclusionary behavior is highly discouraged.
We will respect all wildlife. Finding animals in the Fells is so exciting! When we see any kind of animal, whether a mammal, insect, or reptile, we can look at it with our eyes to admire and learn from, but we will keep it on the ground (hands off) so we don’t cause it stress or harm.
We will keep flowers and plants in the ground. We can smell them and examine them, but we must leave them for the pollinators to find, so please, no picking!
We will share our outdoor spaces. The Fells is “The People’s Forest,” and our camp activities share space with hikers, bikers, explorers, and other youth groups. We are considerate of other Fells visitors and allow them to enjoy the Fells alongside us!
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Fells Forest Camp’s cancellation and refund policy is as follows:
Friends of the Fells requires a non-refundable deposit at the time of registration:
- Half Day programs: $50.00 non-refundable deposit
- Full Day programs: $100.00 non-refundable deposit
-If a registration is cancelled by March 31st, camp will refund the full registration, excluding the non-refundable deposit.
-If a registration is cancelled between April 1st and May 31st Friends of the Fells will refund 50% of the registration, excluding the non-refundable deposit.
-If a registration is cancelled after May 31st, no refund will be offered.
The Middlesex Fells is managed by the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Our forest camp programming is conducted under their purview, and therefore any aspect of our camp activities in the Fells may be altered at their request. We will issue a full refund if a camp session must be cancelled due to a state order and we are unable to reschedule.
Work at Camp!
Gain valuable leadership skills and enjoy an exciting summer outside helping kids experience an enriched outdoor experience. We have a few different positions available. Please look at our Job Opportunities page to learn more about available opportunities and reach out at forestcamp@fells.org if you have any questions. Check back in February for 2026 camp application!