Kids embark on adventures, learn to rock climb at Camp Long
A student exploring Camp Long from new heights.
In April, fifteen elementary and middle school students spent their spring break with Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) at our ninth annual EcoArts Spring Nature Camp. For five days, the kids explored the forests and trails of Camp Long — a 68-acre urban forest located in Delridge — with boundless curiosity.
The camp is hosted every year by DNDA’s Art team, who connect youth with nature through art activities, as well as sports, group discussions, and adventures. DNDA serves local BIPOC youth, kids living in affordable housing, and children with limited educational opportunities through free youth programs. The team guides kids through EcoArts projects, our unique arts-based environmental education model that teaches participants how to preserve recycled natural materials for creating art.
Students stand by the waters of Polliwog Pond, which they named, “Seashore Island.”
The week began with relationship-building exercises and group discussions to set the foundation for a positive, supportive, and meaningful camp experience. Then, the group set off to explore Camp Long’s Animal Tracks, Middle Loop, and Lower Loop trails, frequently stopping by Polliwog Pond — which the students enthusiastically referred to as “Seashore Island” — to observe its resident ducks and amphibians.
DNDA’s Nature team came along to guide the group through a forest walk. On the route, the kids learned about gardening and how to identify plant species and insects with help from Camp Long’s environmental education and outdoor learning team. By the end of the journey, students felt empowered by their environmental knowledge, exhibiting a sense of responsibility and stewardship for their shared environment.
Later in the week, the kids dove deep into EcoArts projects, including making sculptures using natural materials, nature journals, solar prints, and much more. In the journals, the students wrote about, drew, painted, and collected samples of various leaves and flowers. This exercise helped them identify local native plant species and observe the beauty of nature up close.
Kids identifying native plants at Camp Long.
The kids learned to forage for natural materials to use for EcoArts projects, such as fallen Douglas fir pine cones to create 3D art sculptures with airdry clay. They used plaster to create masks and hand impressions, which they later decorated with flowers and grass. In rare moments not out in the early spring sun, the students played indoor games at Camp Long’s Wonder Lab.
A student learning to rock climb finds her first grips and footholds up at Schurman Rock.
A hallmark feature of DNDA’s EcoArts Spring Nature Camp is teaching kids how to rock climb, most for the first time. Our partners and rock-climbing instructors on Camp Long’s environmental education and outdoor learning team provided safe, but challenging and exciting, rock-climbing lessons for our youth.
The instructors helped students strap into their gear and helmets at the bottom of Camp Long’s Schurman Rock. Our Art team watched nerves transform into infectious laughter and radiant confidence as each child climbed to the top of Schurman Rock. The kids placed mementos like small stones and pine cones at the rock’s summit as symbols of their accomplishment. Many thanks to Camp Long’s staff and volunteers for providing our students with an unforgettable experience and new skill.
DNDA’s Art team was continuously amazed by the exceptionally thoughtful and engaging group of young students who exhibited courage, curiosity, and ambition throughout the week and in every activity. While our team had plenty of activities to keep the kids engaged, they made sure to bake in unstructured playtime. Our staff felt a sense of fulfillment seeing the students run around freely and express themselves in the vast open space outside.
The group reflected on what they learned at the end of each day.
DNDA expresses heartfelt thanks to all our partners at Camp Long, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Housing Authority, who all helped make this amazing program possible. Check out our other EcoArts programs at dnda.org/art, and read more about our nature programs at dnda.org/nature.
— Written by DNDA’s Art Program Specialist Intale Shuba and Art Program Manager Erin Kollar