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Summer Camps

Registration for our Summer Nature Camps opens for members on January 15th and to the public on February 1st.

Our Environmental Education team has been hard at work planning another summer of fun and we are SO excited to see you all at the parks this summer!

2024 Summer Nature Camps

Join us in the great outdoors! Pottawattamie Conservation's summer nature camps are designed to get kids outside exploring, building new skills, and having fun all while cultivating a healthy connection to the natural world.

  • Registration opens for Pottawattamie County Conservation members on January 15th. Not a member? Join us today!
  • General registration opens to the public on February 1st.

 

Wildlings Camp  |  For Children Age 3 to 5 

Our youngest learners will get to know the animals that call southwest Iowa home. With a new animal focus each day, campers are sure to learn a lot about the natural world around them. All Wildlings camps are 2 hours in length for unaccompanied children and will be held at Hitchcock Nature Center. Full week (5-days) registration is open until June 1st for $50. After June 1st, only single day registration will be available at $15/day.

  • July 29th through August 2nd at Hitchcock Nature Center
  • Get your child signed up for a Morning or Afternoon week-long session. Single-day session signups open June 1st based on availability.

Wild Ones  |  For Students Entering 1st & 2nd Grade (Age 6 to 7)

Our 1st & 2nd-grade learners will venture into the wild during this immersive camp experience packed full of outdoor fun like fort building, water exploration, hiking, outdoor games, nature crafts, & more. Wild Ones is a three-day camp & is offered at Hitchcock Nature Center, Arrowhead Park, and, new this year, Botna Bend Park. Camp will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. Cost is $75 per camper, per camp. 

Wild Seekers  |  For Students Entering 3rd & 4th Grade (age 8 to 9)

Students entering 3rd & 4th grade will engage in epic adventures exploring Iowa’s wild side and unlock newfound talents through hands-on experiences like archery, primitive fire starting, orienteering, nature crafting, and more. Wild Seekers is a three-day camp & is offered at Hitchcock Nature Center, Arrowhead Park, and, new this year, Botna Bend Park. Camp will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. Cost is $75 per camper, per camp. 

Wild Wanderers  |  For Students Entering 5th & 6th Grade (age 10 to 11)

Students entering 5th & 6th grade will embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the wild, learning about the untamed wonders of the great outdoors while honing their skills in archery, primitive fire building, orienteering, whittling, and more! Wild Wanderers is a three-day camp & is offered at Hitchcock Nature Center, Arrowhead Park, and, new this year, Botna Bend Park. Camp will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. Cost is $75 per camper, per camp.

Into the Wild  |  For Students Entering 7th, 8th, & 9th Grade (age 12 to 14)

Older students are beckoned to answer the call of the wild and take their outdoor skills to the next level during this three-day outdoor adventure which includes a canoe trip on the West Nishnabotna River Water Trail (water level dependent) & an overnight campout at Botna Bend Park.  This three-day adventure begins with a refresher course on canoe skills and water safety at Arrowhead Park from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and continues the next day at 8:00 a.m. as we set off on our overnight adventure. Cost is $100 per student.

Questions about summer camp that we didn't manage to answer online for you? Give us a call at 712-545-3283 extension 1189 or email us at environmentaleducation@pottcounty-ia.gov

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