Summer Camp 2025

Announcing TrailMix NWA’s First-Ever Summer Camp!

This year’s camp theme is: Growing Together: Building, Blooming, and Belonging 🌱

We are so excited to launch TrailMix’s Summer Camp, a nature-based camp experience designed to help kids explore the outdoors, build connections, and grow in confidence!

    Benton County Cohort

    Park Springs Park

    300 NW 10th St.

    Bentonville, AR 72712

    9AM-12PM

    Washington County Cohort

    Historic Ozark Smokehouse

    1725 S. Smokehouse Trail 

    Fayetteville. Arkansas. 72701

    1PM-4 PM

    What to Expect

    Campers will dive into hands-on nature activities, creative projects, and engaging social-emotional learning experiences, helping them build skills in:
    ✅ Growth Mindset – Encouraging resilience and learning from challenges
    ✅ Boundaries & Values – Helping children clarify and express what matters to them to improve their relationships to others and themselves
    ✅ Self-Compassion & Self-Esteem – Developing kindness toward oneself and confidence in personal strengths
    ✅ Moments of Science – Daily science experiments and demonstrations
    ✅ Nature-Based Creative & Outdoor Play – A love for nature & environmental stewardship through hands-on projects and learning

    Cost & Registration

    $150 per child for the full week

    Campers will receive a camp shirt.

    Spots are limited, only 12 per cohort! Reserve your spot today!
    ***Registration IS NOT complete until payment is received – no spots will be held***

    Schedule of the Week

    Day 1: Building Friendships

    We’ll kick off camp with games, group norms, and discussions around healthy boundaries, kindness, and how to be a good friend.

    Day 2: Blooming in Nature

    Campers will learn about pollinators and their role in the ecosystem, then create their own pollinator watering stations to support local bees and butterflies.

    Day 3: Growing Our Minds

    With a growth mindset lesson and a Resilience Rocks activity, campers will dig into the power of trying, learning, and self-affirmation.

    Day 4: Rooted in Values

    Campers will explore their personal values. Together, we’ll build Bug Hotels to support tiny wildlife and practice TrailMix’s value of environmental stewardship in action!

    Day 5: Belonging to Ourselves

    Our final day centers on self-esteem and self-compassion. Through a creative “I Am” art activity, campers will celebrate who they are, inside and out, and reflect on the power of a kind inner voice.

    Meet Your Camp Counselors

    Katharine Arburn, Board President (she/her/hers)

    With a background in health care coordination and crisis counseling, Katharine brings a compassionate, community-oriented approach to her role as Board President of TrailMix. A trained school counselor and certified K-6 teacher, she has dedicated her career to supporting others, with a special focus on fostering safe, inclusive spaces. As a parent of two, Katharine envisions a vibrant, supportive community in Northwest Arkansas, where secular individuals and families can connect meaningfully. Her passion for creating a “village” of like-minded people fuels their commitment to TrailMix, helping to build a welcoming, nurturing environment for future generations.

    Contact: Katharine@TrailmixNWA.org

    Helen Barker, Board Member (she/her/hers)

    Helen is a social work student and intern, actively working toward her social work licensure. She combines her creative background with a commitment to social change, bringing a unique perspective to her role with TrailMix. Helen’s professional experience spans nonprofit work and small business management in the creative sector, providing her with a rich foundation for community-focused initiatives. A resident of Northwest Arkansas, Helen enjoys supporting others in finding a sense of belonging and community within TrailMix. She lives with her husband and their young daughter, embracing the natural beauty and community spirit of the region.

    Contact: Helen@TrailmixNWA.org