2nd - 5th Grades

Days at NEOC, for our Flying Squirrels ( 2nd-3rd graders) and River Otters (4th-5th graders), are filled with exploration, projects, discovery, and much, much more. They are encouraged to wonder about, investigate, and build their understanding of nature. Meanwhile, a camp culture of inclusion and appreciation creates a supportive community for self-expression and risk-taking.

Very unique to NEOC is how campers are empowered to find new interests, create new games, and mentor other campers. Special friendships have been born between campers of different ages during the afternoon sign-up activities. Some of the sign-up activities have come from campers wanting to teach games they had invented to the rest of the camp!

No matter how many weeks a Flying Squirrel or River Otter chooses to spend at NEOC, they leave with greater confidence in themself and new ideas about how to enjoy and preserve the natural world around them! They enjoy an immersion that is typical of an overnight camp experience, with the joy of sharing camp stories at home with their family each night.

Activities

Camp days are divided into five activity periods, plus lunchtime.

Flying Squirrels and River Otters have core activities that they do during their three morning activity periods through the week, like archery, canoeing, garden exploration with specialists from Mass Hort, shelter building, and trail walks. They opt into two afternoon activities each day, that change through the week.

Examples of the afternoon sign-ups are:

  • Capture-the-flag
  • Constellations
  • Disc golf
  • Dodgeball
  • Drawing
  • Dream catchers
  • Eco tag
  • Friendship bracelets
  • Leaf printing
  • Nature weaving
  • Ponding
  • Rock painting
  • Rounders (British baseball)
  • Rugby
  • Science experimentation
  • Sewing
  • Slip-n-slide
  • Soccer
  • Storytime
  • Wayfinding
  • Ultimate frisbee
  • Yoga

Structure of a Week

Each week begins with the whole camp gathering for call-and-repeat songs, expectation setting, and introductions to the counselors. Then, age-divided groups head-out for team building.

Each day ends with time for Flying Squirrels and River Otters groups to reflect on their day and prioritize the sign-up activities offered the next afternoon.

Thursday's theme day, which is new each week and revealed with great excitement on the morning of, is a chance for Flying Squirrels and River Otters to conquer new challenges and enjoy twists on familiar activities.

Camp ends each week with s'mores!

Rates

2023 Rates

You won’t see a better rate than you see today! As summer gets closer, each future promotion will never be quite as awesome as the one before it.

We offer a sibling discount on bus service which is $10 less per week for each sibling. Please use the pricing calculator to estimate your rate with bus savings.

Read a full description of our billing, cancellation, and changes policies.

ACH (2.5% discount)
Credit Card
Number of weeks per family

1 Week

2-3 Weeks

4-7 Weeks

8+ Weeks

Camp
(Orig $782)

$762
Save $20 per week!
$753
Save $29 per week!
$743
Save $39 per week!
$733
Save $49 per week!

Bus
(Orig $92)

$80
Save $12 per week!
Sibling discount available
$80
Save $12 per week!
Sibling discount available
$80
Save $12 per week!
Sibling discount available
$80
Save $12 per week!
Sibling discount available

Weekly
Savings

$32
$41
$51
$61*

*Register for 8 weeks and save $488!

Number of weeks per family

1 Week

2-3 Weeks

4-7 Weeks

8+ Weeks

Camp
(Orig $782)

$782
$772
Save $10 per week!
$762
Save $20 per week!
$752
Save $30 per week!

Bus
(Orig $92)

$82
Save $10 per week!
Sibling discount available
$82
Save $10 per week!
Sibling discount available
$82
Save $10 per week!
Sibling discount available
$82
Save $10 per week!
Sibling discount available

Weekly
Savings

$10
$20
$30
$40*

*Register for 8 weeks and save $320!

Register for NEOC
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Additional Services
We offer three family-friendly, convenient services: Early Drop-Off, Extended Day, and Bus! You can add-on services after you've selected your camp weeks and entered the checkout process.
Our Patch System
Available NEOC Dates
Please select your child's age/grade as of Fall 2023
This camp runs on the following weeks. Please log in to register.
Week of Jun 12, 2023
Week of Jun 20, 2023
Week of Jun 26, 2023  (Full)
Week of Jul 03, 2023
Week of Jul 10, 2023
Week of Jul 17, 2023
Week of Jul 24, 2023
Week of Jul 31, 2023
Week of Aug 07, 2023
Week of Aug 14, 2023
Week of Aug 21, 2023
Week of Aug 28, 2023
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This camp runs on the following weeks. Please log in to register.
Week of Jun 12, 2023
Week of Jun 20, 2023
Week of Jun 26, 2023
Week of Jul 03, 2023
Week of Jul 10, 2023
Week of Jul 17, 2023
Week of Jul 24, 2023
Week of Jul 31, 2023
Week of Aug 07, 2023
Week of Aug 14, 2023
Week of Aug 21, 2023
Week of Aug 28, 2023
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See what our customers think...

My boys loved playing in the woods! It was what they looked forward to the most when we first showed them the website, and it lived up to their imaginations. The shelter building was their favorite, but they also just liked the hikes in the woods." My boys loved playing in the woods! It was what they looked forward to the most when we first showed them the website, and it lived up to their imaginations. The shelter building was their favorite, but they also just liked the hikes in the woods." A.M., Somerville (9/21/2022)
Our daughter loved NEOC so much that she says we need to sign her up every single year until she's 16, and at that point she wants to train to be a counselor there! We found it very well-organized and well-thought-out, and enjoyed the continuity from week-to-week. And we loved the counselors. I can'... Show full review Our daughter loved NEOC so much that she says we need to sign her up every single year until she's 16, and at that point she wants to train to be a counselor there! We found it very well-organized and well-thought-out, and enjoyed the continuity from week-to-week. And we loved the counselors. I can't say enough about how kind, engaging, and all around wonderful they were with our daughter. She still talks about them often and misses them. Our daughter especially loved canoeing, shelter-building, weaving with various botanicals, ponding, and archery. And, of course, Friday s'mores!" W.L., Needham Heights (9/2/2022)
This camp was made for my son. He loved everything about this experience — being outdoors, exploring the woods, learning more about nature, the amazing counselors, and getting to meet new friends. He truly adored the counselors, and looked forward to camp each and every day. He cried when we left on... Show full review This camp was made for my son. He loved everything about this experience — being outdoors, exploring the woods, learning more about nature, the amazing counselors, and getting to meet new friends. He truly adored the counselors, and looked forward to camp each and every day. He cried when we left on the last day, begging to keep going. He actually made a comment that if school was like NEOC, he would be happy to go every single day. Thank you SO MUCH for creating NEOC — this has been an experience of a lifetime for our son — and we cannot wait to sign up for next year!" B.R., Wellesley (8/19/2022)
You really did a stellar job. My kids were beyond happy to be there, asked for additional weeks, and want to return next summer. My daughter is already planning to be on staff some day! :-D" You really did a stellar job. My kids were beyond happy to be there, asked for additional weeks, and want to return next summer. My daughter is already planning to be on staff some day! :-D" S.S., Wellesley (8/5/2022)
My daughter's favorite activities were ponding, identifying rocks, and s'mores. She loved the big, warm welcome she received from counselors upon arrival. She loved earning badges! She really appreciated having a choice on her activities for the next day." My daughter's favorite activities were ponding, identifying rocks, and s'mores. She loved the big, warm welcome she received from counselors upon arrival. She loved earning badges! She really appreciated having a choice on her activities for the next day." E.F., Wellesley (7/22/2022)
Canoeing was a big hit! It was great to see the photos. Thank you to the team, and especially my son's counselor, for all the dedication to helping him enjoy his experience." Canoeing was a big hit! It was great to see the photos. Thank you to the team, and especially my son's counselor, for all the dedication to helping him enjoy his experience." H.H., Sudbury (7/22/2022)
We can't wait to sign up for next year. My 4th grade daughter loved the camp!" We can't wait to sign up for next year. My 4th grade daughter loved the camp!" J.O., Natick (7/1/2022)
I loved my son's experience (and so did he) of being outside all day long, and really taking advantage of all that Elm Bank has to offer." I loved my son's experience (and so did he) of being outside all day long, and really taking advantage of all that Elm Bank has to offer." M.T., Sherborn (7/1/2022)