2026 Nature Camp Scholarship Application Process
5th– 12th Graders
Nature Camp Scholarship Applications due October 31st
The John Clayton Chapter of the VA Native Plant Society is sponsoring scholarships for the 2026 Summer Sessions.
Download the 2026 Nature Camp Application
Please share the information with teachers, neighbors, and organizations who know students in the area with an interest in nature and conservation. Download the 2026 Nature Camp Flyer.
ADDITIONAL INFO
This is the perfect camp for students who love nature and want
to know more about conservation and the environment. Students who attend Nature Camp discover the joy of learning both independently and in groups through its hands-on teaching approach.
Selected campers will be required to attend daily classes and to maintain a notebook. They will participate in outdoor activities in all types of weather.
Scholarships from five local organizations are for students currently in 5th – 12th grades.
The two-week camp is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Rockbridge County, Vesuvius, VA. For more about Nature Camp visit www.naturecamp.net
2025 Nature Camp Scholarship Recipients
in 2025, the John Clayton Chapter supported four students.
Isabelle Champion, a 6th will attend camp for the first time. She seeks
opportunities to learn and grow while looking for adventures. Conserving the environment for native animals is one of her goals.
Ayla Dahnke, an 8th grader, will also attend camp for the first time. She
has attended VIMS labs and spends time with her family on rivers and lakes as well as hiking in the mountains. Her time outdoors has increased her desire to study ecosystems.
Haley Elton, a 6th grader, can’t wait to attend camp for the first time! She has earned many Girl Scout badges that showcase her love for the outdoors. Hiking and kayaking have taken her on many outdoor adventures. She knows that camp will add to her appreciation of the world. She is so grateful to the John Clayton Society for this unique opportunity.
Madeleine Wells, a 7th grader, received the Carolyn Will Memorial
Scholarship which is provided by longtime chapter member Ralph Will. Madeleine has attended camp before. She likes sharing her knowledge and wants to “teach my own generation about wildlife and how to protect it.” In school she is learning about sustainable building materials found in nature, such as mycelium.
Nature Camp is a coeducational, academic camp that emphasizes education in natural history and environmental studies for students currently in 5th - 12th grade. This is the perfect camp for students who love nature and want to learn more about conservation.
Students who attend Nature Camp discover the joy or learning both independently and in groups through its hands-on teaching approach. Selected campers will be required to attend daily classes and to maintain a notebook. They will participate in outdoor activities in all types of weather.
The two-week camp is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Rockbridge County, Vesuvius, VA. View more information about Nature Camp.
Nature Camp Scholarships are made possible by our chapter's Annual Native Plant Sale held in the spring, and by generous member donations.
Thank You!