Growing Curious Minds at EnviroVentures Camp
August 2026 By Maya Kowalski, Manager of School and Camp Programs
When interviewing candidates to join our EnviroVentures summer camp team, I always ask them the question, “why do you think it’s important for children to attend summer camp?” I ask myself the same question every spring as we get ready to welcome campers to the Park.
As a former elementary school teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the benefits and downsides of a long summer vacation as my students returned to the classroom each August. It was always evident which students spent the summer indoors playing video games and which students had the privilege to spend time outside, socializing, and learning. Now, in my role as the Manager of School and Camp Programs here at Piedmont Park, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to design our summer camp with the goal of combating social-emotional and academic summer learning losses.
At EnviroVentures Camp we keep social-emotional learning at the forefront of everything we do. Our campers are placed in groups with peers their age and spend the day in a screen-free environment, playing and learning together. Each day of the week has a different daily citizenship trait: Mega-excited Monday, Terrific Helper Tuesday, Wonderful Listener Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, and Friendship Friday. Throughout the week, campers work to earn beads and stickers to add to their nametag necklaces as they strive to exemplify the trait of the day.
We emphasize and encourage independence at camp—especially with our youngest campers—as they master life skills like keeping track of their belongings, changing clothes independently at the pool every morning, carrying their own backpacks through the Park, and not eating all the food they packed for the whole day at our 9:00am morning snack! In the afternoons, campers work together in small groups during their STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) activities to encourage the development of teamwork and leadership skills.
Campers spend time each day of the week rehearsing for our Friday “Campfire” performances, where they can choose a talent to share with the whole camp. This summer we saw some incredible acts—singing, dancing, gymnastics, skits, soccer skills, jump rope, and even some budding standup comedians! During Campfire, campers practice courage and public speaking skills during their performances. As audience members, campers learn how to be supportive and respectful as a whole group while cheering on and encouraging their peers.
To target summer academic learning loss, our education team spends months developing a robust environmental education/STEAM curriculum for our campers. Each week of camp had a different theme where campers tackled all sorts of related topics through participation in hands-on activities. A few camper favorites from this summer included “Bird Hurdles,” where campers experienced some of the conservation challenges
facing avian species native to Georgia as they navigated an obstacle course as different birds; “Solar Oven S’mores,” where campers learned about renewable energy by designing and constructing solar ovens; and “Mascot Iron Chef,” where campers researched the trophic level of an animal and designed a complete “restaurant” for their animal, including drawing the habitat that would provide necessary food sources, creating a menu, and drawing plates of food that would support the survival of their chosen animal.
Woven into our curriculum were daily opportunities for campers to read, write, and practice critical thinking skills. Because we do all our activities outside in an informal setting, I often see campers succeeding who might otherwise struggle in a traditional seated classroom setting. I treasure the opportunity to meet the needs of these children by encouraging learning through physical play and gross motor skill development, especially since these are aspects of education that can sometimes take a backseat during the school year.
I have worked in the Atlanta childcare and education spheres for over a decade, and I have a deep passion for delivering high-quality services to our city’s children. In this role, I have the remarkable opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with our staff of young adults—often barely out of high school themselves—and to watch them fall in love with education. One of the most gratifying parts of my job is when a former counselor reaches out and asks for a recommendation as they apply for their first teaching job. I feel lucky to spend a few months of the year coaching our counselors and stoking the spark in the next generation of Atlanta’s educators.
Our staff and campers are on my mind this week as they re-enter the classroom as teachers, paraprofessionals, and students. I hope that the skills they gained from camp this summer give each of them the confidence to succeed and find joy in this school year. Meanwhile, here at the Park, we are already counting down the days until next year’s EnviroVentures Camp begins!
