Jump in For Stream Exploration

In a world so busy and technologically motivated, being outdoors is a necessity for kids to slow down and experience everything the world has to offer. The great outdoors is a place where a child uses every one of their senses and establishes a sense of connection to the earth around them. From hearing the birds chirping, to feeling of the cold stream water running over their feet, to seeing the contrast of color between the sunflowers and trees, we love prioritizing time to encourage our youngest guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world.

Each Summer, Camp Blackberry offers a Stream Exploration activity geared towards allowing children to traverse the cool waters of Hesse Creek and discover the life and energy happening there. “We teach them things like how important it is to move rocks slowly in the water and to put them back gently where they were found. These thoughtful movements help teach how to avoid harming any of our water friends that live delicately under the rocks and also encourage truly getting into a quiet space to experience the moment at hand,” said Camp Manager Bri Vargas.

With the Great Smoky Mountains known as the “salamander capital of the world,” kids have the opportunity to see the many different species in our area as they explore the bank. If they look closely in the water, they may even discover a crawdad, which look like mini lobsters, or see a water strider dancing on the surface. Encouraged to be curious and interact with their environment, kids have the chance to unleash their imagination and feel a relationship with nature that they will cherish.