Camp Information
Our theme this year is Change! Nature is full of changes, big and small, every day. In this spirit, we are excited to share that camp is moving this year. Our new location is at Waterpenny Farm, a working ecological vegetable farm in Sperryville, Virginia. It’s the home of our Camp Director, Rachel Bynum since 1999. The farm site includes diverse habitats to explore, with woods, meadows, ponds, rivers and streams to enjoy.
Rapp Nature Camp staff and Board of Directors are very much looking forward to a summer of new discoveries, quiet spots, and continued joyful and mindful exploration of Nature in Rappahannock County. We are busy now, improving the site, building trails and a new barn, to prepare for a new Camp adventure!
This move is in keeping with the tradition of our Director hosting camp, which, after starting in 1986, was held at Founding Director Lyt Wood’s beloved “Singing Creek,” from 1995-2024. While our location is changing, our camp’s educational philosophy and our activities, rooted in cultivating and celebrating wonder, creativity, and connection with nature, remain the same.
2026 Camp Dates
Registration starts February 14. Scholarships are available!
Camp runs Monday-Friday, 9-3
Week 1: June 8-12 ages 11-16 (includes Thursday campout)
Week 2: June 15-19 ages 8-15
Week 3: June 22-26 ages 8-15
Week 4: June 29 – July 3 ages 8-15
Friday Open House events: Campers will share their special projects and songs with visitors at 1 pm on the Friday of each session.
Registration fee is $225 per camper per week. Each additional week is $200/week per camper. We encourage campers to come for multiple weeks if possible! No two weeks are the same.
What to Expect
Camp is located at Waterpenny Farm a working ecological vegetable farm off Route 211, just east of Sperryville, Virginia.
Rapp Nature Camp activities are outdoors. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to get wet! Bring a change of clothes, and a healthy lunch, but leave all electronics and books at home, so you’ll be ready to explore with us and learn from your own observations.
Activities include hiking, games and songs, river time, quiet time in our unique “Quiet Spots”, identifying plants and animals, assessing water quality, safely catching and releasing animals, caring for plants, creating your own special nature-based project, and creating for our Camp newsletter.
Campers will share their special projects and songs with visitors during the Friday Open House. Check out “News from Singing Creek”, our Annual Camper Newsletter, available here or in print (pick one up at the Rappahannock County Library or request one), which gives a good overview of our daily discoveries at Camp.
Our Staff:
Rachel Bynum has served as Camp Director since October 2022. Year-round camp staff includes both the Camp Director and Administrative Director Rob Bannister. During in-camp sessions, 3-4 additional staff help manage the children and camp operations. Our Assistant Director, Nina Anderson, has been on staff since 2018. Gus Garcia has been our Camp Nurse since 2022. Smith Cliffton joined our staff in 2024. On-site staff usually includes at least one younger counselor-in-training. Most of the counselors are former campers.
All staff members are experienced and are trained at camp in educational philosophy, activities planning, and safety matters.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE.
