Adventure camps teach stewardship
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
There's still time to sign up for an adventure camp that will teach campers about the natural world around them. The Ozark Natural Science Center Summer Camp Program grows a little every year.
"Most of our campers have an interest in science, especially outdoor science. They have a natural curiosity," center director Jenny Harmon said. If campers arrive without an appreciation of the outdoors, they seldom leave that way, she said.
It's a small camp - only about 125 kids will participate - with a variety of programming that's all supervised by the year-round staff of professional educators, Harmon said.
The summer programming started in the 1990 s and has grown a little each year. The newest program will begin this summer.
"Ozark Underground"is offered to students between 15 and 18 years old. They'll spend six days exploring parts of the Ozarks that most people never see. The center will provide all the caving safety equipment and teach campers cave ecology as well as proper caving techniques.
There are programs for each age group beginning with Fledging Naturalists for ages 8 and 9. That's a three-day program that includes a campfire, a moonlight hike and some pool time at Withrow Springs State Park.
Some campers move through the various programs consecutively, but they don't have to, Harmon said. There are no perquisites. If a camper is the right age, they can join any of the programs.
Junior Naturalist I is for ages 10 through 11 and lasts four days and three nights. Campers will learn to identify frogs by their calls as part of a national research project. They'll cool off in the Kings River and get an introduction to caving.
As Junior Naturalists II, campers aged 10 through 11 will take part in an overnight camp out at Pine Creek and see the Pine Creek cave. Campers will earn about terrestrial ecology and animal tracking techniques. They will also swim in the Kings River.
Senior Naturalists are between 12 and 14. It's a five-day, four-night camp with more indepth studies of ecology, biology and geology. They'll camp two nights along the Kings River and explore Whippoorwill cave.
Ozark Field Expedition is a six-day, four-night trip for campers aged 14 to 17. Three days will be spent backpacking on the Buffalo River Trail. There's also a canoe trip down the Buffalo River and a caving trip.
The mission of the Ozark Natural Science Center is "to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment "and the camp program is one way to fulfill that mission.
For more information, visit the Web site at www. onsc. us.
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