Saplings: All-Day Camp for Ages 8–12

Days and Times: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. from June 16 to August 22, 2025 (No Sapling Camp June 30-July 4)
Meeting Location: Upper City Park, Iowa City
Group size: 20 children with three Taproot teachers and a Junior Leader
Tuition: $440

Sapling Camp is a rich, nature-filled experience for children, guided by excellent, kind teachers and surrounded by friendly kids in an atmosphere of Unconditional Positive Regard.

This summer we add Mines of Spain Recreation Area near Dubuque to our long-trip destinations! We’re super psyched to explore this awesome new spot along the Mississippi River. Check the registration description for each week’s planned destination.

Saplings endeavor on a 5-day odyssey of nature, friendship, and adventure around Iowa City and further afield. Each day we visit one or two destinations—Turkey Creek, Harvest Preserve, Lon Drake’s Place, Kent Park, Scattergood Farm, and others—for fishing, swimming, archery, tree-climbing, running games, mindful observation, ephemeral art, forest yoga, and general nature love.

On Thursdays, we will alternate longer field trips to Maquoketa Caves State Park, Backbone State Park, and a new spot this summer, Mines of Spain Recreation Area! Each week’s planned long trip destination is noted in the registration system description, and is subject to change based on weather and other factors.

Kids bring a water bottle, snacks, and a hearty lunch each day, along with some other stuff:

  • weather-appropriate clothing for playing outside
  • shoes that can get soaked–sneakers, keens, crocs, etc.
  • a change of clothing
  • sun hat
  • swimsuit and swim shirt
  • towel
  • NON SPRAY sunscreen
  • Bug repellent

Some other details:

Water is the best camp drink for Taproot Kids, with pure fruit juice or your family’s milk choice as a lunchtime treat. Soda pop, sports drinks, and the like do not have a place at Taproot.

Sapling Campers wear PFDs in deep water, regardless of swimming abilities.

Sapling Camp travels in the “Beluga” bus. This vehicle has lap seatbelts, and we don’t use boosters in the Beluga.

Please label everything you can! This will make it much more likely your child’s belongings will make it home with them.