Outdoor Lab

Outdoor Lab School Year Program

The materials listed below provide parents/guardians the information and forms needed to prepare for a day or overnight trip to the Outdoor Lab. If you have additional questions, please contact Rochelle Proctor, the Outdoor Lab Coordinator at 540-347-2258; [email protected]

Summer Camp 2026 Information

Outdoor Lab Summer Camp 

The Outdoor Lab offers three, week-long camp sessions that provide a number of nature-related activities and experiences to Arlington Public School students. who have completed grades 4 through 8. A blend of traditional camp activities (hiking, evening campfires, crafts, skits) and nature exploration make this program fun and informative. Staff safely guide campers through various activities that may include aquatic studies, natural history, survival skills, and more. Campers are also provided opportunities to explore the natural world through focused activities of their own choosing and self-directed free-time activities, such as boating and fishing. Students are transported from Arlington to the Phoebe Hall Knipling Outdoor Lab in Broad Run, Virginia on Monday morning, and returned to Arlington on Friday afternoon of the same week. Campers sleep outside in platform tents and spend most of their day outside (weather permitting). They are provided three meals and snacks every day.

Outdoor Lab Summer Camp Overview:

• Registration dates and process:  Registration link will open  March  6, 2026 at 6:00 PM.   Spaces in camp will be offered on a first come first served basis.  Parents will be notified by email if their student has a space reserved and will need to complete additional paperwork and pay camp fees to finalize camp placement.  
• Payment information/ refund policy: Invoices will be sent to parents with additional paperwork needed to fully register for camp.  Registration is not finalized until payment is received.  Payment will be made through the APS online payment system.  Refunds will only be given for unexpected health emergencies and must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.

Program Descriptions

• Elementary School Camp:   A blend of traditional camp activities (hiking, evening campfires, crafts, skits) and nature exploration make this program fun and informative. The Outdoor Lab summer camp provides students with the opportunity to explore the natural world at their own pace. Staff safely guide campers through various activities that may include aquatic studies, natural history, and nature’s supermarket.

• Middle School Camp:  This program is an extension of the elementary Outdoor Lab summer camp. It provides more in-depth nature studies and different activity options to give campers a distinct experience. Students are also provided opportunities to explore the natural world through focused activities of their own choosing and self-directed free-time activities.

Both overnight programs are conducted at the Phoebe Hall-Knipling Outdoor Laboratory near Warrenton, VA. Students are transported to the Lab on Monday morning and returned to Arlington on Friday afternoon of the same week. Campers sleep outside in platform tents and spend most of their day outside (weather permitting).  Tent mates are assigned by the Camp Administrators.