Fantastic 2023 Summer Camp at the New Kendeda TreeHouse

Fantastic Summer Camp at the New Kendeda TreeHouse

Summer Camp 2023 was our tenth year of Junior TreeKeeper Camp. During the first nine years we explored the Eastside, and beginning this year, we get to enjoy the Westside! Eight weeks of camp included over 300 campers, 32 junior interns, a fantastic camp team of interns, counselors, partners, and our education staff lead by our incredible “Mr. Starr.” Kudos go to our hard working camp team who delighted our campers with a summer of bikes, trees, leaves, and flowers, birds, bugs, splashes, sweat, sunscreen, construction paper and glue, frozen grapes and popcorn, board games, friends, laughter, and great memories.

What fun we had! See some of our favorite photos and feedback from campers and parents.

Each week of Junior TreeKeeper summer camp included special adventures with local conservation partners.

Field trips included visits to Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area where Ranger Jerry took us into Island Ford to search for aquatic macroinvertebrates and lead us on a nature hike. We really enjoyed the Childrens Garden and the incredible sculptures by Thomas Dambo, “Trolls: Save the Humans,” at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. We spotted so many mushrooms on our river walk at Sweetwater Creek State Park and got to dip our toes in the cool waters. How lucky were we to be at Arabia Mountain right after a mysterious seismic event caused the rock to heave and split. Ranger Robby was excited, too; he said he’s never seen anything like that before on the mountain! Georgia Audubon took us on a guided bird walk in Adair Park I right around the corner from the Kendeda TreeHouse, and Melissa helped us spot hawks, swallows, and woodpeckers. We also got special visit from Chattahoochee Nature Center. Sam brought an eastern kingsnake and red shoulder hawk for us to get up and close with!

Hey Campers! What activity did you like at camp?

“Riding bikes, making art, field trip (riding the bus), she was fired up about the formation of Arabia mountain! “

“Games, learning all the things that trees make!”

“I heard a lot of tree/soil facts… and about how cool the field trip bus was:)”

“Tree of the day!”

“Drawing with a friend”

“Playing on the playgrounds and making kites!”

Kudos from Parents

“Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience!”

“It was my child’s favorite camp this summer.”

“They both enjoyed riding their bikes on the BeltLine and learning about how to identify trees and animals around Atlanta.”

“We are so grateful for the community outreach and sincere efforts and desire to include all economic households and families… scholarships create opportunities, balance and diversity!”

“She loved camp!”

“I just want you to know that from a parent perspective you all are my favorite camp. I appreciate the communication, the organization, the fact you check IDs at pick up, and just how engaged you keep the kids. You all are wonderful!”

“My daughter loved this camp. I appreciated that it seemed very well-run & was such a cool opportunity to bike & explore nature along the beltline.”