2015 Summer Nature Camps

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Sharlene Lynch
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1 2015 Summer Nature Camps We LOVE CAMP! Pottawattamie County Conservation

2015 Pottawattamie Conservation Summer Nature Camps Welcome to a summer of exploration and enjoyment in the outdoors.

Camps run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and participants must bring a sack lunch each day. Cost of Discovery, Explorers, Voyagers and Pathfinders Camps =.

2015 KinderNature Preschool Camps The KinderNature Preschool Day Camps at are designed for the following children: Age 3 (third birthday must be on or before 5/1/15), Age 4 & Age 5 (who have not

m. afternoon = 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. These unique camps are full of hands-on learning, a story, craft, snack, and outdoor exploration. Cost: $15.00 per camp Registration begins March 30th.

popson@pottcounty.com or 712-328-5831 to register. To register, please e-mail Tina Popson, Program Manager, at tina.popson@pottcounty.com or call her at 712.328.5831. Registration is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

2 2015 Pottawattamie Conservation Summer Nature Camps Welcome to a summer of exploration and enjoyment in the outdoors. Our experienced, caring educators will nurture children's love of nature as kids engage in natural encounters, meet new friends and let their imaginations run wild at summer camp! Camps run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and participants must bring a sack lunch each day. Cost of Discovery, Explorers, Voyagers and Pathfinders Camps =. Parents may register campers beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30th KinderNature Preschool Camps The KinderNature Preschool Day Camps at are designed for the following children: Age 3 (third birthday must be on or before 5/1/15), Age 4 & Age 5 (who have not completed Kindergarten). All campers must be toilet trained. Sorry adults and siblings, these sessions are just for campers ages 3 5. We offer two camp sessions per day: morning = 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. afternoon = 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. These unique camps are full of hands-on learning, a story, craft, snack, and outdoor exploration. Cost: $15.00 per camp Registration begins March 30th. 30th Registration is limited and on a first come first served basis. Please only register your child for one session per day. Please contact Tina Popson, Education Program Manager, at tina.popson@pottcounty.com or to register. To register, please Tina Popson, Program Manager, at tina.popson@pottcounty.com or call her at Registration is limited and on a first come, first served basis. Please register participants for camp based on the grade they are entering in fall Insect Safari Camp, Honey Creek, IA Discovery Camp entering 1st & 2nd Explorers Camp entering 3rd & 4th June June *may also register for Habitat Detectives camp Habitat Detectives Camp, Honey Creek, IA Discovery Camp entering 1st & 2nd Explorers Camp entering 3rd & 4th July July *may also register for Insect Safari camp Aqua Adventures Camp Arrowhead Park, Neola, IA Voyagers Camp entering 5th & 6th June 9-11 *may also register for Wild Wetlands camp Wild Wetlands Camp, Honey Creek, IA 2015 KinderNature Camp Dates & Themes: June 5: Hop To It: Frogs June 19: Incredible Eggs June 26: Go Fish Fun July 10: Spacious Skies July 24: Soaring Wings July 31: Green Thumbs Voyagers Camp entering 5th & 6th July *may also register for Aqua Adventures camp Club Wild Camp, Honey Creek, IA Pathfinders Camp entering 7th & 8th July 7-9 Registration begins Monday, March 30, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Visit our website:

3 Our Camp Locations The Pottawattamie County Conservation Environmental Education mission is to promote environmental literacy by building relationships between people and the natural world. Arrowhead Park th Street, Neola, IA This park boasts a wealth of fishing, camping and outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating on the 14 acre lake Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA Over 1,200 acres located in the heart of the globally significant Loess Hills with over 10 miles of hiking trails and vast wildlife diversity. Our Qualified Camp Staff Our camp instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, some are professional, year round educators for Pottawattamie County Conservation, others are school teachers, naturalists, and masters and bachelor degree students in environmental studies or education. At least one teacher in each group is 21 or older (even though sometimes they don t look it!) Many instructors come back year after year. Our camp leaders thrive on the joys and challenges of teaching about the amazing facets of nature through hands-on creative and fun activities in the summer setting. All instructors are background-checked and each group has at least one instructor trained in CPR and First Aid; all are excited to share outdoor experiences with your camper.

4 Insect Safari Discovery Camp For kids entering 1st and 2nd grade June 16-18, 2015 Discovery in the Prairie Magnify your knowledge on this bug adventure as we explore the world of insects. Campers will learn entomology basics, catch and identify insects, and discover the buzz on bees. Let your imagination soar with insect crafts and games and find your way on a scavenger hunt filled with bug suckers, camouflage clues and insect goggles. Habitat Detectives Discovery Camp For kids entering 1st and 2nd grade July 14-16, 2015 Explore woodlands, prairie and wetlands as we investigate the many habitats at Hitchcock. Learn the meaning of Leave No Trace and what you can do to keep habitats healthy. Campers will discover tree mapping and food webs as well as search for clues on a scavenger hunt through the Loess Hills. Hiking in Nature

5 Insect Safari Explorers Camp For kids entering 3rd and 4th grade June Exploring with Bug Sucker Magnify your knowledge on this bug adventure as we explore the world of insects. Campers will learn entomology basics, catch and identify insects, and discover the buzz on bees. Let your imagination soar with insect crafts and games and find your way on a scavenger hunt filled with bug suckers, camouflage clues and insect goggles. Habitat Detectives Explorers Camp For kids entering 3rd and 4th grade July 21-23, 2015 Explore woodlands, prairie and wetlands as we investigate the many habitats at Hitchcock. Learn the meaning of Leave No Trace and what you can do to keep habitats healthy. Campers will discover tree mapping and food webs as well as search for clues on a scavenger hunt through the Loess Hills. Birds-Eye Tower Views

6 Aqua Adventures Voyagers Camp For youth entering 5th and 6th grade June 9-11, 2015 Arrowhead Park The big catch! Ready to Paddle Cool off this summer at this water-filled camp brimming with outdoor exploration and wetland discoveries. Campers will spend the week paddling Arrowhead Lake, searching the lakeshore, and trying to reel in the big catch. Camp culminates with a Nature-athalon and bubble games try not to get soaked during spray tag! Wild Wetlands Voyagers Camp For youth entering 5th and 6th grade July 28-30, 2015 Dive into the world alongside the shore and find out which plants and animals call the wetlands their home. Spend time discovering the Hohneke Ponds as we explore aquatic habitats. Camp activities include hiking and wetland adventures as well as sound mapping and water games. Look what I found! Searching for macroinvertebrates Sound Mapping Hike

7 Club Wild Pathfinders Camp For youth entering 7th and 8th grade Bullseye July 7-9, 2015 Craving more time in the outdoors? Wear your hiking shoes and sense of adventure as we traverse many of Hitchcock s pristine and remote trails. Practice your archery skills and use GPS units on a geocaching treasure hunt. Camp activities also include crafts and games, learning to identify wildlife and plenty of hiking and exploration. See you this summer! T he big climb Geocachin g F un Don t forget! Regi st ra tion begins March 30 at 8:00 a.m. Call to sign up Check us out on Facebook: Arrowhead Park

8 KinderNature Camps KinderNature Preschool camps at are designed for children ages 3 (third birthday on or before 5/1/15), 4 and 5 (who have not completed Kindergarten). KinderNature programs are designed to channel the curious and creative forces constantly at work in our youngest learners. These programs utilize storytelling and hands-on activities, as well as outdoor exploration that invites children to participate in the magic and wonder of nature. Two camp sessions per day: 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. $15 per camp We Love Camp! Hands-On Adventures 2015 Dates & Themes: Hop To it: frogs June 5 Discover the sounds of frog calls as well as adaptations that help these wetland favorites, such as webbed feet and sticky tongues. Incredible eggs June 19 Examine the first home to animals and explore the differences between bird, reptile, and other eggs. go fish fun June 26 Make a splash as we learn about fish and their underwater world. Find out how they breathe and swim and try your hand at mini-fishing. Spacious skies July 10 Explore cloud shapes, changing moons and jump in the sunshine as we create constellations and discover the zoo in the sky. Soaring wings July 24 Discover the delights of winged things, including owls, bees & butterflies. Green thumbs July 31 Investigate the world of plants, including colorful flowers and delve into leaf fun.

9 Camp Registration & Policies How To Register Camp registration begins March 30th at 8:00 a.m. CST. On the day of registration beginning at 8:00 a.m. individuals may call Tina at or her at to register a child. This process is on a first come, first served basis, so please be patient. We take registrations for nearly 200 children and each call or takes only a few minutes. If you get a busy signal when you call, try, try again. Please be prepared with your contact information & child s t-shirt size. May I register my child for more than one camp? Yes, for KinderNature preschool camps. We offer six KinderNature Camps throughout the summer & each explore a different nature theme. For each camp we offer a morning and afternoon session. You may register for multiple camps, but may only register for one session per day. All KinderNature Camps are held at. Yes, for Discovery and Explorers Camps at. We offer two different themes for Discovery and Explorers Camps one for each age group in June and July. You may register your child for the June camp, the July camp, or BOTH camps. Yes, for Voyagers Camps at Arrowhead Park &. We offer two different themes for Voyagers Camps. You may register your child for the June camp at Arrowhead, the July camp at Hitchcock, or BOTH camps. For Pathfinders Camps, we only offer one camp per summer for this age group. The Pathfinder Camp is held in July at. What if my child has a special need? Pottawattamie County Conservation Nature Camps try to accommodate all interested children. However, they are extremely active camps with a large number of transitions and sensory changes throughout the day. Children are expected to keep up and keep going. They must also be able to follow all directions, rules and expectations independently. Children must participate well with others and follow safety rules without adult prompts. For certain special needs our camps are wonderful, for others it puts the child and the staff in uncomfortable and unsafe situations. We are responsible for the safety and well-being of all the campers and cannot allow one child to jeopardize that. Please call to discuss your child s particular needs. If possible, be prepared to discuss any school service plans applicable to your child. May I attend camp with my child? We re sorry, but all camps are designed for the appropriate ages and allow them time to bond with kids of their own age. The only adults allowed are Pottawattamie County Conservation staff educators. Refunds & Cancellations Refund Policy: Camp Registration Fees are due within two weeks of the confirmed reservation. If a camper must cancel a reservation prior to the beginning of camp, they are required to notify the Pottawattamie County Conservation Education Staff immediately. A refund of the registration fee will be based upon the following schedule: 14 days (or more) notice...50% refund 13-8 days notice...25% refund 7 days or less notice...no refund For complete camp policies, please visit our website Thank you!

Summer Camp Policies

Summer Camp Policies Confirmation After each camper registration is processed, a confirmation letter will be sent. Please review this for correct camp themes and dates. Complete and return the Camper Information