Exploring the Earth Summer Camp
Little Rose Nature Adventures / Buds of Little Rose, 2421 Elder Mill Rd, Watkinsville, GA 30677
About
Exploring the Earth Summer Camp includes science experiments, wildlife and environmental studies, engineering challenges, performing plays, games, creating artwork, and outside play. Campers hike outdoors and walk through woods, meadows, and creeks, and they also play and cool off in the creek. Activities have included making beautiful cultural art and time to play and explore.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Drop off 8:20–8:40 am; pick up 1:50–2:10 pm
Exploring the Earth Summer Camp takes place at Little Rose Nature Adventures, which includes 94 acres of conservation property with woodlands, creeks, meadows, a swamp, and an organic farm under the non-profit organization Buds of Little Rose. The program is nature-based and includes visual and performing arts and STEAM activities, with a stated mission to foster an appreciation for nature, science, and the arts. Exploring the Earth Summer Camp will continue rain or shine with spaces to help keep campers cool and dry.
Campers are asked to bring their own lunch and snack, a water bottle, comfortable clothes suitable for getting dirty, a change of clothes with a plastic bag, closed-toe shoes for walking through woods, meadows, and creeks, a change of flip flops or Croc-type shoes for playing and cooling off in the creek, and a backpack or bag to carry these items. Sunscreen and bug spray should be put on before drop off, and there is extra available in the First Aid area if reapplication is needed.
The Exploring the Earth Summer Program has been led by Curriculum Creator and Director Maria Moody from 2017 to the present, and she is the sole creator and director of Exploring the Earth's nature-based summer program at Buds of Little Rose. Maria Moody is a certified Georgia Educator in all content areas for General and Special Education Pre K–8th grade, has taught various grades and positions K–8th for over 10 years including 9 years at Chase Street Elementary School in Athens, Georgia, is an alumna of Teach For America during which she taught 7th grade Special Education at Lewis and Clarke Middle School for two years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, and is a certified Project WILD instructor. Melissa Steele is the Founder and Chair of Buds of Little Rose 501(c)3 and is an artist, designer, and organic farmer. Buds of Little Rose was founded in Watkinsville, Georgia in 2010 to provide local opportunities that nurture environmental stewardship through nature-based programs and organic farming education for kids and adults, and it operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Parent feedback about Exploring the Earth Summer Camp includes comments that children did not want the camp to end, brought home projects such as water cycle diagrams, and experienced a combination of outside play and learning, as described by Kylee Jo Duberstein, Ph.D., UGA Associate Professor, Equine Science. Another parent, Persis Watson Daniels, stated that her 11-year-old daughter had an “awesome experience” and called it one of the best camps she had attended since age 5. Parents such as Sommer Umholtz-Riermaier and Erica Mock reported that their children were excited to attend each day, eager to share what they learned, made beautiful cultural art, and spent time playing and exploring. Sara Potterf Wooten stated that her kids had “so much fun” at camp and highly recommended it.
Last updated April 25, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Drop off 8:20–8:40 am; pick up 1:50–2:10 pm
Exploring the Earth Summer Camp takes place at Little Rose Nature Adventures, which includes 94 acres of conservation property with woodlands, creeks, meadows, a swamp, and an organic farm under the non-profit organization Buds of Little Rose. The program is nature-based and includes visual and performing arts and STEAM activities, with a stated mission to foster an appreciation for nature, science, and the arts. Exploring the Earth Summer Camp will continue rain or shine with spaces to help keep campers cool and dry.
Campers are asked to bring their own lunch and snack, a water bottle, comfortable clothes suitable for getting dirty, a change of clothes with a plastic bag, closed-toe shoes for walking through woods, meadows, and creeks, a change of flip flops or Croc-type shoes for playing and cooling off in the creek, and a backpack or bag to carry these items. Sunscreen and bug spray should be put on before drop off, and there is extra available in the First Aid area if reapplication is needed.
The Exploring the Earth Summer Program has been led by Curriculum Creator and Director Maria Moody from 2017 to the present, and she is the sole creator and director of Exploring the Earth's nature-based summer program at Buds of Little Rose. Maria Moody is a certified Georgia Educator in all content areas for General and Special Education Pre K–8th grade, has taught various grades and positions K–8th for over 10 years including 9 years at Chase Street Elementary School in Athens, Georgia, is an alumna of Teach For America during which she taught 7th grade Special Education at Lewis and Clarke Middle School for two years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, and is a certified Project WILD instructor. Melissa Steele is the Founder and Chair of Buds of Little Rose 501(c)3 and is an artist, designer, and organic farmer. Buds of Little Rose was founded in Watkinsville, Georgia in 2010 to provide local opportunities that nurture environmental stewardship through nature-based programs and organic farming education for kids and adults, and it operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Parent feedback about Exploring the Earth Summer Camp includes comments that children did not want the camp to end, brought home projects such as water cycle diagrams, and experienced a combination of outside play and learning, as described by Kylee Jo Duberstein, Ph.D., UGA Associate Professor, Equine Science. Another parent, Persis Watson Daniels, stated that her 11-year-old daughter had an “awesome experience” and called it one of the best camps she had attended since age 5. Parents such as Sommer Umholtz-Riermaier and Erica Mock reported that their children were excited to attend each day, eager to share what they learned, made beautiful cultural art, and spent time playing and exploring. Sara Potterf Wooten stated that her kids had “so much fun” at camp and highly recommended it.
Last updated April 25, 2026.
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