Naticook Summer Day Camp program offers a unique Summer Day Camp experience in the Town of Merrimack, NH. Located within Wasserman Park, the park was formerly the site of a private overnight camp. In 1989, the Town of Merrimack made arrangements to purchase the camp and turned the land into a public park. Naticook Day Camp operates under the direction of the Parks & Recreation Department and has been continuously accredited by the American Camp Association since 1994.
Naticook Day Camp is geared towards children entering Kindergarten up through entering 5th Grade in Fall 2022. Campers who will be going into 5th Grade in Fall 2022; have the option to participate in our traditional Naticook Day Camp program or they move up to our Camp Trek program for Grades 5 - 9.
Our goal is to create a one-of-a-kind experience in a fun and safe environment that promotes self-confidence, respect, and good sportsmanship. We provide Campers with the opportunity to try new activities learn new skills and develop new friendships. Our Campers participate in a wide variety of activities including free swim and swimming lessons, boating, group games, team building, archery, drama, nature exploration, sports, arts & crafts, special events and much more!
COVID-19 Statement (updated 4/7/222):
This summer, we are planning for a return to some sort of normalcy. Based upon updated guidance from the NH Department of Public Health, masks are now optional at camp based on the individual’s personal choice, except in the case of required isolation or quarantine.
VACCINATIONS
While not mandatory; it is strongly recommended that all campers & staff get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to help avoid introducing COVID-19 into the camp setting and associated consequences such as needing to quarantine due to exposure.
WHAT DOES FULLY VACCINATED MEAN?
COVID-19 DAILY WELLNESS CHECK:
In the age of COVID, we're all used to this by now. We hope you will go with the flow and understand that no matter what happens, we will always error on the side of keeping campers, staff and the public safe while presenting the best possible program for kids.
For additional details, please refer to the Parent Handbook
Camp Telephone Number: 603-420-1662
Camp Health Center: 603-420-1663
Parks & Recreation Office: 603-882-1046
CAMP LEADERSHIP
Camp Director: Ashley Prindle
Assistant Camp Director: Hannah Cote
Trek Coordinator: Brittney Wigdorski
Medical Staff: Kevin Lake, A-EMT
Camp Cook: Cathy Snyder
Week 1: 6/27- 7/1 Theme: Aloha Summer
Week 2: 7/5 -7/8 Theme: Holiday Palooza
Week 3: 7/11 - 7/15 Theme: Shipwrecked
Week 4: 7/18 - 7/22 Theme: To Infinity & Beyond
Week 5: 7/25 - 7/29 Theme: Wild West
Week 6: 8/1 - 8/5 Theme: Carnival Week
Week 7: 8/8 - 8/12 Theme: Naticook Olympics
Week 8: 8/15 - 8/19 Theme: H20 Yeah!
Week 9: 8/22 - 8/26 Theme: Naticook's Got Talent
Grades: Entering K up thru Entering 5th Grade
Hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Extended Care Available:
AM Extended Care: 7:00 - 8:00 am
PM Extended Care: 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Merrimack Resident: $255.00 / per week
*Week 2 (4 day week): $204.00 / per week
Non-Resident: $305.00 / per week
*Week 2 (4 day week): $244.00 / per week
Extended Care Tuition:
AM Extended Care: $20.00 per week
PM Extended Care: $40.00 per week
Entering Kindergarten
or 1st Grade in Fall 2022
All sessions currently full (Wait list Available)
Entering 2nd Grade in Fall 2022
Space available in sessions 2 & 4
all other sessions are currently full are full (Wait list Available)
Entering 3rd Grade in Fall 2022
All sessions currently full (Wait list Available)
Entering 4th Grade in Fall 2022
1 space available in session 1, all other sessions are full (Wait list Available)
Entering 5th Grade in Fall 2022
1 space available in session 1 and 2, all other sessions are full (Wait list Available)
A limited number of Summer Camp Scholarships are available to Merrimack Residents.
For questions or to obtain an application, please contact Pat Murphy in the Welfare Department. The Welfare Office can can be reached by calling 603-423-8535 or by visit the Town website below.
The first child in the household pays the full tuition rate. A discount of $25 per week per child is applied to the 2nd of more children in the same household who are attending the same week.
This discount applies to registrations for Naticook Day Camp, Camp Trek and Summer Stage programs for the 2022 camp season.
Each year, Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department hires two 1:1 Aides to provide support for those children who require additional assistance in order to have a successful experience at Camp.
Parents who wish to request an Aide for their child, must also complete the Special Needs Questionnaire found below. Spaces are limited and accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on student social, emotional, and mental health, the Department of Education, using federal COVID-19 response funds, is offering a program to help pay the Summer Camp Tuition Fees for students from low-income households or those children with a disability to improve student social, emotional, and mental wellness and support continued development of the whole child, especially by alleviating student anxiety and trauma resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These experiences are designed to help New Hampshire students return to in-person school with a rekindled curiosity, excited and anticipating a return to academic instruction.
The NH Department of Education is partnering with New Hampshire camps this summer (including Naticook Day Camp) across the state to offer students the unique opportunity to move beyond COVID-19 and be a kid again.
Eligible students can receive a scholarship to cover the cost of 1-2 camp weeks; if there is availability at Camp Naticook
Eligible students’ participation in the program are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis until all program funds are exhausted.You will apply to the program thru the Department of Education and if you are approved in one of the 3 eligible categories listed above; then the Department of Education then sets up an Online Account for you where can direct which Summer Camp you want the funding to go to. The Department of Education then pays the camp directly for the amount that you dictate to go to that Summer Camp.
Spaces in Camp are filling quickly; so we would encourage you to register first and put down a $25 deposit for each session to hold your space.
Click on the link below to apply for the ReKINDling Curiosity: Every Kid Goes to Camp scholarship program. You will create an account in FACTS Management System for 2022 - 2023.
In the first box that pops up; it will ask for School and you want it to say: "ReKINDling Curiosity: Every Kid Goes to Camp".
From here, you will then complete all your family information and upload the relevant documents. When you get to step 5 (Additional Information); this is where you would select "Naticook Day Camp" from the Drop down Menu. Once you are approved; you can direct the payment to a single camp or to multiple camps.
Once you complete and submit the application; you will get a follow up email from the Department of Education to indicate whether you qualify and then the next steps to complete the process
Once you receive your instructions from Class Wallet to setup your account; you will select Pay Vendor and then select Merrimack Parks & Recreation from the list.
This summer, Merrimack Parks & Recreation has partnered with ePACT to better serve our participants and staff. ePACT offers an electronic health record system for camps, and you can now complete your participant’s health information electronically. The security and privacy of your participant's health information is important to us. The ePACT site is secure, encrypted, and password protected.
After you register for Camp thru our Registration Provider (RecDesk); your child's Summer Camp registration is not complete until you have also completed your camper health information forms and submitted the required medical documents. Per State law, all campers must submit a record of immunizations and a record of a physical from within the past 2 years.
After signing up for Naticook Day Camp:
Our Summer Camp program is licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services as well as Accredited by the American Camp Association. The information being collected is required to maintain regulatory compliance for our Camp license.
We are excited to continually improve, building safer, more productive and more efficient systems to create the best experience for you and your family! We can’t wait to see you this summer!
Swimming lessons are included in the cost of Camp. We teach American Red Cross Swimming Lessons and all staff are certified instructors. *Lessons subject to available swim instructors.
Our Camp sits right on Naticook Lake and campers get to explore this beautiful lake on canoe trips. In addition to boating campers will get to enjoy the waterfront and beach during free swim time.
In our on site theater building campers will get the chance to prepare skits and plays with performances throughout the summer and our big camp wide talent show at the end of week 7.
One of our many camp activities includes archery at our on-site archery range. Archery Lessons are taught by a certified instructor. Open to campers ages 7 and Up.
All Campers participate in a variety of Arts & Crafts projects on a daily basis.
Our Park is home to a great network of protected hiking trails and natural area. Campers participate in daily nature activities games, hikes and more!
Campers get to participate in a wide variety of age appropriate sports & games and be physically active during the summer. Sports & games are geared for each age group in camp.
Fridays are Special Event Days at Camp and may feature entertainment, special games and contests or other fun activities.
All campers get a hot lunch daily as part of the Camp Tuition Fee. Meals are prepared by our Camp Cook in the Function Hall. Most days, Campers eat outside on the picnic tables underneath tents. On rainy days, Campers eat inside the Function Hall. Options include a daily hot lunch, salads and a dessert. A sample menu can be found here.
Summer 2021