Sign Up Now for Nature Camp
From Jackie Taylor
One of the great programs offered on the islands each summer is Nature Camp for youngsters ages 4 through 14.
The Nature Camp mission is to encourage children’s natural curiosity of the outdoors by engaging them in fun and educational activities. The Nature Camp programs are designed to focus on new themed topics each year related to the Lake Erie Islands’ ecology for fun hands-on experiences. Each camp is split into appropriate age groups:
Intro to Nature Camp: age 4; My 1st Nature Camp: ages 5-6; Nature Camp: ages 7-8; Environmental Adventure Camp I: ages 9-10; and Environmental Adventure Camp II: ages 11-14.
The 2021 Nature Camp Theme is “Everything Under the Sun.” Each day will focus on a different topic and habitat fish, birds, geology, insects, and astronomy, with an evening night sky program for campers and their families. Campers 9-14 years old will kayak one day. Campers will be provided professional-ly developed materials (including many hands-on activities) designed to appeal to their sense of wonder and curiosity, connecting them to nature.
Themes by Day:
Birds- Campers will get to inspect a variety of physical bird adaptations- including characteristics of beaks, feet, legs, wings, and colorations while going on a bird hike. AND they will get a chance to design their own original bird!
Fish- Campers will participate in a Fishing Program. The program consists of hands-on participation in four areas covering the basics of Angling in Casting, Fishing Knots and Rigging, Fish Habitat and Handling and Local Information.
Geology- Campers will go on a hike through one of Ohio’s most geologically interesting areas in Ohio, gathering a variety of evidence of the islands’ ancient history discovering wild caves, rock formations and glacial grooves.
Insects- Campers will be Insect Investigators while going on a hike collecting live insects to observe and handle, and illustrating their investigations.
Astronomy- Campers will get to be Astronomers for the day. They will join an Astronomer to view the sun, examining sunspots and discover how the sun supports all living things. Campers will also make Sun Prints!
Night Sky Program- All campers and their family members will be welcome to join our Astronomer for any one of the three evening night sky programs. Participants will get views of the planets, star clusters, and moon. Each camper will receive a planisphere!
Kayaking- Campers 9-14 years old will get an afternoon to Kayak around Gibraltar Island, learning boating safety, paddling strokes and kayaking games!
Middle Bass Nature Camp Dates & Times: Intro to Nature Camp: June 21st-25th, 9-10 a.m.;
My 1st Nature Camp: June 21st-25th, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Nature Camp: June 21st-25th, 12:30-2 p.m.; Environmental Adventure Camp I: June 21st-25th, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; Environmental; Adventure Camp II: July 19th-23rd, time TBA.
Put-in-Bay Nature Camp Dates & Times: Intro to Nature Camp: July 12th-16th, 9-10 a.m.; and My 1st Nature Camp: July 12th-16th, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Nature Camp: July 12th-16th, 12:30-2 p.m.; Environmental Adventure Camp I: July 12th-16th, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; and Environmental Adventure Camp II: July 19th-23rd, time TBA.
Jackie Taylor is Nature Camp Consultant this year!
You can access Nature Camp Registration forms on our Facebook page and the website: lakeerieislandswildlife.com
The following piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to islandclub.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
