Montclair Day Camps for Toddlers
Les Petits Détectives
Toddlers ages 3 to 5 will become Nature Detectives, exploring themes of ecology, preservation, renewability, and biodiversity. Weekly lessons will focus on the natural world around them, plastic pollution and water cycles, composting and growing plants, the food chain and habitats of various animals, climate change and weather patterns, recycling and waste reduction, green energy, and becoming advocates for the planet.
Activities will include meeting and learning from park rangers, bread baking, flowerpot painting, various cooking sessions with seasonal fruits and local ingredients, kite and mobile-crafting, creating reusable bags from old clothes, candle-making, drawing projects, and much more.
You can register for camps on a weekly basis, choosing the number of weeks and the schedule that works best for your family.
Ages 3-5 (Pre-K)
Mon-Fri, Jun 23–Aug 15*
Half-Day (8:30am—12:30pm), $499
Full Day (8:30am—3:30pm), $699
10% multi-week discount automatically applied at checkout.
5% early bird discount valid until May 31 with code NATURE.
5% sibling discount also available. Contact montclair@lallianceny.org or 973-783-0507.
After-care available until 6pm – 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM: $125/week or $12 per hour.
Download the After-Care Booking Form.
*No camps on Fri, Jul 4. Price prorated.
Please note that these programs are subject to change.
Week 1 | Les Petits Détectives Explore Nature | June 23 – June 27
This week, we’re going on an exciting adventure exploring the wonders of nature! We’ll discover different kinds of land formations, from forests to mountains, and learn about the many plants’ native to the area. Toddlers will make their very own herbarium by collecting leaves, flowers, and seeds from outside. They’ll also have fun digging into the layers of the soil and learning how maple syrup is made by studying maple trees and their leaves. They will make savory and sweet treats with “feuilles de brique“. We’ll also discuss how to take care of nature and even have a chance to meet park rangers. It’s going to be an amazing week of learning and fun!
Week 2 | Les Petits Détectives Jump Into Water | June 30 – July 3
This week, we’re going on a fun adventure learning all about water! We’ll discover the water cycle, why it’s important to save water, and how cleaning it helps keep our planet safe. Your toddlers will learn about the oceans and the “6th continent” (the plastic continent) and see how plastic pollution affects ocean animals. There will be a fun “bar à eau” where they can taste and compare different types of water and even find out how we can collect rainwater. We’ll also focus on how we use water in cooking, and toddlers will make bread while learning how little water we actually need for some recipes. It’s going to be a week full of exciting activities and new discoveries!
Please note: There will be no camp on Friday, July 4. Prices are prorated accordingly.
Week 3 | Les Petits Détectives Have Green Thumbs | July 7 – July 11
This week, we’re going to dive into the amazing world of composting, soil, and how plants grow! Toddlers will learn how compost helps make the soil healthy by creating their very own compost. They’ll plant seeds and watch them grow, paying close attention to how plants change with the seasons. They’ll also have fun painting flowerpots that they can later use to grow their own plants. Your toddlers will explore seasonal fruits and vegetables and learn about the natural growing cycles that bring them to us. In a special cooking workshop, they’ll get to make a clafoutis with fresh, seasonal fruits!
Week 4 | Les Petits Détectives Meet Biodiversity | July 14 – July 18
This week, we’re going on an exciting adventure to explore ecosystems and the food chain, helping toddlers understand how animals live in nature. They’ll learn about different ecosystems and how animals depend on each other using fun, simple examples. Toddlers will have a blast with role-playing games, pretending to be animals in their natural habitats. They’ll make a cool food chain mobile with drawings and objects and get creative with “papier mâché” to bring their ideas to life. Plus, in a special cooking activity, they’ll make tasty mini tartines with avocado and veggies, while learning how our food connects to the environment!
Week 5 | Les Petits Détectives Take Off | July 21 – July 25
This week, your toddlers are going on an exciting adventure to learn all about climate and weather! They’ll discover how wind and weather patterns affect our environment. Children will get to make their own weather tools, like a weathervane and a kite, to see the wind in action. They’ll also build a fun “moulins à vent” using simple materials like a stick, paper, cork, and a pin to track wind direction. There will be lots of fun talks about climate and weather, and toddlers will have a chance to look at the sky and clouds. They’ll even do outdoor activities to learn about different types of winds and how they can help shape the climate. Plus, in a special cooking activity, they’ll prepare fruit skewers with seasonal fruits and discover how sweet they can be!
Week 6 | Les Petits Détectives Say No to Waste | July 28 – August 1
This week, your toddlers will jump into the world of recycling and waste reduction, discovering fun and creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle! They’ll take part in a recycling workshop where they can turn an old piece of clothing into a cool bag. The children will also set up their own sorting station to learn how to tell different types of waste apart. They’ll explore how recycling works by making their own recycled paper or paper pulp. Plus, in a special cooking activity, they’ll make delicious “pain perdu” using stale bread, learning how to reuse bread in a tasty way instead of wasting it!
Week 7 | Les Petits Détectives Renew Their Energy | August 4 – August 8
This week, your toddlers will explore the exciting world of renewable energy and how natural resources can help power our everyday lives in a green way! They’ll learn about solar panels and how they can use the amazing energy from the sun. The toddlers will also have fun making their own eco-friendly candles to understand how energy and light work. Plus, in a fun cooking activity, they’ll prepare “boules d’énergie” with dried fruits, learning how these tasty, healthy snacks can give their bodies natural energy!
Week 8 | Les Petits Détectives Save the Planet | August 11 – August 15
This week, your little ones will become tiny Earth heroes, learning how we can help take care of our planet! They’ll make fun signs and banners with pictures to share ways we can protect nature. The toddlers will also make superhero capes to show they are helping save the Earth! They’ll finish a fun drawing project, a “fresque du climat” to learn about climate change and how we can all help. In a special cooking time, they’ll make a green smoothie with fruits and veggies, learning how healthy foods can help the Earth. The toddlers will also talk about easy things we can do, like saving water and turning off lights, to take care of our planet.