Our Mission
Project HEAL (Human, Environmental, and Animal Links) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting children with nature. Our mission is to enrich the lives of children through experiences that provide meaningful interaction with the environment, deepen connection to community, and develop the human/animal bond.
Camp Creek Run is the name of our beautiful 50-acre camp & nature preserve, and it's also the name of our summer camp program. In addition to summer camp, Project HEAL offers year round environmental education opportunities at Camp Creek Run for children, families, school groups, and scout troops.
Follow the links at the top of the page to learn more about these programs.
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Camp Creek Run
Summer Camp Program
Camp Creek Run is a state-accredited, dynamic summer day camp program for children ages 4-12. ​Our summer program's philosophy is embodied in the phrase "Respect for the self, respect for others, and respect for all living things." We believe that instilling a respect and understanding for the natural world fosters a child's connection to community and other human beings. Our strengths lie in the quality and training of our staff and the depth of our programming. We value fun, adventure, creativity, learning, safety, and diversity.
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Our summer camp program runs for eight weeks, and children ages 4-12 can enjoy the full eight-week summer program or choose flexible camping sessions. However many sessions your child attends our day camp, you can be sure that their time with us will be fun-filled, educational, and inspirational. Follow the links below to learn more about our summer camp program, including open houses, hours, rates, registration, and photos.
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Staff
Keara R. Giannotti
Executive Director & Director of EcoStudy Programming
Keara is an environmental educator with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, ranging from summer camp and children’s services to healthcare planning, grant writing, and wildlife conservation & rehabilitation. In addition to designing and directing Project HEAL's environmental education programming, she is also the camp director of Camp Creek Run, which she co-directs with her husband Neil King. Since co-founding Project HEAL/Camp Creek Run in 2003, Keara has cultivated an intimate understanding of the camp and surrounding area's ecology, which is a source of inspiration for her place-based educational philosophy. Keara firmly believes in nurturing the innate curiosity of children, considering them born naturalists with an intrinsic desire to explore and connect with nature. She credits her students for continually enriching her understanding and knowledge through their insightful questions and discoveries. In her role as a naturalist her interests are wide-ranging, but she holds a particular fascination for birds, insects, fungi, and foraging.
Ms. Giannotti is a Rutgers Environmental Steward (RES) and a Duke Farms Master Ecologist, and holds an MPA and an MS in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Environmental Education & Interpretation.
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Danielle Giannotti
Assistant Director & Camp Family Liaison
Danielle is the Assistant Director at Project HEAL @ Camp Creek Run, overseeing a diverse array of responsibilities that include orchestrating summer camp programming and guiding new camp families through orientation. Beyond her administrative duties, Danielle is a seasoned Master Gardener, dedicating herself to the planning and maintenance of all camp gardens. She also teaches in these green spaces, imparting valuable lessons on the significance of pollinator interactions to both school children and summer campers alike.
Beyond her professional capacities, Dani's passions extend to baking and the creation of enchanting fairy houses, which you might find hidden like magical surprises along the camp's winding trails.
Neil R. King
Co-Summer Camp Director
Having served for 30 years as an art teacher in the Collingswood School district, Neil brings a wealth of experience and artistic expertise to Project HEAL's summer program. Beyond his educational career, Neil is an illustrator and prolific creator, publishing graphic novels and children's books of his own invention. He extends his artistic passion to the digital realm, sharing drawing techniques through video content on YouTube. Neil's compassion, leadership, and love of teaching play a vital role in fostering a warm, fun, and creative camp community.
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Our Camp & Nature Preserve
Camp Creek Run became the home of Project HEAL in 2003 when we partnered with the Burlington County Freeholders, NJ's Green Acres Program, and The Trust for Public Land to purchase its 40 acres from the Foster family and preserve it from development through conservation grant funding. In 2008, we were awarded further conservation grant funding from the same partners to preserve an adjacent 10 acre property from the Radcliffe family. Through the conservation effort of these organizations and families, Camp Creek Run is now 50 acres in size. The camp's natural features include wooded nature trails, meadows, a spring fed lake, and a southbranch tributary of the Rancocas Creek. We manage the camp as a nature preserve and are committed to enhancing wildlife habitat with an eye toward maintaining its biodiversity. Camp Creek Run is a unique "outdoor classroom" where we hope children can learn about local ecology for years to come.