Audubon-Naturalists-in-Training (ANTS)
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve - June 13
Teens ages 13-18. ANTS, Audubon-Naturalists-in-Training, is for teens age 13-18 who love to be outside and work with children. ANTS assist our Outdoor Discovery Camp staff in leading our day camp of nature exploration, trail hikes, games, and crafts for kids ages 5-12. ANTS must attend this 1-day, 4-hour training course (10am to 2 pm), and commit to a total of 30 hours of service during this summer's day camps in June and July. Teens attend this ANTS training at BFNR regardless of which property they choose to work at for the summer. Questions and preferences for which camps you want to help with may be directed to Scott, [email protected]. ANTs training is eligible for scholarships. This program runs from 10 am - 2 pm.
Cost: $50
Birdz Camp
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve: June 24 - 28
Entering 6th - 9th Grade. Birding is cool, fun, and the fastest-growing outdoor activity in America. Campers will develop new skills by spending quality time in the field with the correct equipment and with one of our expert guides. Included are guest speakers, visits to Todd Nature Reserve and North Park, and a trip to Moraine State Park to look for Bald Eagles, Ospreys and Cliff Swallows rounding out the week. Each participant will receive a birding field pack complete with binoculars, field guides, & other materials. This is an all day camp, from 9 am - 3 pm. Students must provide their own lunches. Camp runs from 9 am - 3 pm.
Cost: ASWP members $275; ASWP non-members: $325
Wilderness Skills for Survival
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve: June 10 - 14
Succop Nature Park: July 22 - 26
Buffalo Creek Nature Park: August 5 - 9
For kids entering 5th - 8th grade. These are the skills you need to know now! Learn to recognize the best plants to use when building proper shelters and fires, then build them! Secure your shelter with knots using natural fibers, and cook over an open fire like a pro. Orient yourself with just nature as your guide. This is an all day camp from 9 am - 3 pm. Students must provide their own lunches.
Cost: ASWP members $275; ASWP non-members: $325
* Explorers (Entering Kindergarten or Grade 1) Jump like a toad, zing like a dragonfly, and sway like a tree! Explore forest, field, and pond for birds and bugs, frogs and foxes. Make nature crafts, play games, and get dirty along the way.
* NEW! Pathfinders (Entering Grade 2 or 3) - Discover treasures just waiting for us in the natural world. Hikes, games and activities help us unearth what’s hidden in our habitats.
* Trailblazers (Entering Grade 4, 5 or 6) - Observe, identify, explore—and make a difference in the world. We combine learning about our natural world and our place in it with the fun of a summer day.
Choose All day (9am to 4pm), Morning Only (9am-12pm) or Afternoon Only (1pm-4pm). All-day campers enjoy a bonus hour to eat lunch and recess. (Campers must provide their own lunches.) Every morning and afternoon has different activities, and each week has a different collection of themes, so your camper will never run out of new things to do.
BEECHWOOD FARMS NATURE RESERVE
June 17 - 21 (5 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
June 24 - 28 (5 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
July 1 - 3 (3 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
July 15 - 19 (5 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
July 29 - 31 (4 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
BUFFALO CREEK NATURE PARK
July 8 - 12 (5 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
SUCCOP NATURE PARK
July 22 - 26 (5 days) Register here - choose age group during registration
Pricing: 5 day camp: $135 member half /275 member full, $160 nonmember half/$325 nonmember full
4 day camp (July 29 @ Beechwood): Members: $110 half/220 full; non members: $130 half/260 full
3 day camp (July 1 @ Beechwood) Members: $80half/165 full; non members: $95half/195 full.
Want to develop your scouting skills over the summer while earning your Merit Badges? This camp is open to anyone age 12-17, even if you're not a Scout. Topics include Geocaching (participants must bring a GPS-enabled smart phone or other device) and Environmental Science. Please see MeritBadge.org for details on the material we will cover. We will complete all the requirements for these badges. We also offer merit badge workshops to organized groups of 5 or more, contact Scott at [email protected] for details.
You must register for each day independently. Each session runs from 9 am - 3 pm. Bring a lunch!
Cost: ASWP members $55 per session; ASWP non-members: $70 per session.
June 25: Bird Study (Buffalo Creek Nature Park)
July 18: Plant Science (Succop Nature Park)
July 24: Geocaching (Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve)
July 25: Environmental Science (Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve)
July 26: Insect Study (Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve)
Aug 14: Geology (Succop Nature Park )
