Best of Boston

There’s a reason parents set their alarms to register for these urban-oasis camps in Mattapan and West Roxbury. Bolstered by a robust scholarship initiative, Mass Audubon’s science-based programming focuses on curated yet simple pleasures in the heart of the city, guided by approachable counselors who are often alumni themselves. Here, kids can be kids — building forts, making mud pies, and exploring nature from every angle (i.e., stuff they’ll never get to do online).