Summer Adventure Program

Join us for a fun and memorable Summer!

• Week 1:  Puttin' Down Roots (June 19-22)  
  • Campers will get down and dirty with our native plants and the animals that depend on them. They will explore several different habitats and learn how plant populations work together to create functioning ecosystems. Campers will learn basic identification skills, plant systems, flower structures, pollinators and pollination techniques, and the basics of plant propagation with our greenhouse staff.           
• Week 2:  Calling All Campers (June 26-29)

  • Schools out for summer! It’s time to kick off our summer break with activities that will keep us active and moving.  

  • We will be heading away on a field trip this week mParks Come Out and Play @ the Capitol Wednesday June 28th. 
• Week 3:  Hide and Seek (July 10-13)
  • Campers morph into wild animals as they learn how creatures use physical and behavioral adaptations to survive and thrive in nature. They will investigate different habitats and discover critters who are able to hide in plain sight and others who are designed to hunt. Campers will become experts in how camouflage works and peer into the mind of our native predators and their prey.
• Week 4:  Buzz and Flutter (July 17-20) 
  • Unlike a caterpillar (who must liquify and digest itself before changing into a butterfly), YOU can transform painlessly into a pollinator during this week-long camp. From moths and butterflies to bees and wasps, join us to learn about the science— and the dancing— involved in pollinating.
  • Field trip to MSU Butterfly Garden Wednesday, July 19th.
• Week 5:  Wonders of Water (July 24-27)
  • Water is the thread that connects us all! Investigate the ecology of the river, the woods, and the soggy wetlands that are home to many birds and animals. Come and experiment with sand and water and explore for predatory animals who depend on the water for food. (Water exploration is optional and takes place in shallow water.)
• Week 6:  Tracks and Traces (July 31 - August 3) 
  • Take a walk throughout the sanctuary and sharpen your wilderness skills by following tracks, searching for signs of wildlife, and looking out for different forms of animal communication. We will examine real animal artifacts and learn about the unique adaptations local wildlife has evolved to help them catch prey and escape predators.
  • Field trip to Fitzgerald Park Wednesday August 2nd. 
• Week 7:  Get Lost (August 7-10)
  • Campers are introduced to the natural world through nature play, animal games, and off-trail adventures into the forest. Along the way, they will build skills that allow them to become self-reliant in the woods. Campers will be introduced to wilderness survival techniques such as shelter-building, how to make fire, and compass-orienteering throughout the week.
• Week 8:  Nature Art (August 14-17) 
  • It’s time to get creative!  Campers will explore the natural world through a variety of arts and crafts projects. Each day will be spent in a different ecosystem using materials and gaining inspiration from the things that make each place special.

Rates:

• Eaton County Resident: $130/week
• Non-County Resident: $150/week
• Weeks with a field trip will have an additional $20 field trip fee.

REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023

Payment must be made at time of registration!

All sessions and waiting lists are full for 2023 for regular camp.

To register as a LIT (Leader in Training) for 13 & 14 year olds, click here and select the "Youth camps" tab.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• Cancellations on or prior to May 31st will result in a 50% refund. 
• Any cancellations on or after June 1st will not receive a refund. 
• If spaces are available, registration can be changed to a different week during the current summer camp season at no additional cost.
• If camp sessions are cancelled for health and safety reasons as directed by local, state, or national health officials, full refunds will be issued.
• If camp sessions are cancelled by Eaton County Parks for any reason, full refunds will be issued.

Click here for a printable 2023 Summer Adventure Program.