Summer Camps

JUNE

8 Wednesday – 10 Friday
Waterbirds Camp

Oakwoods Nature Preserve is home to many water habitats including two lakes, a wetland, and Aurand Run. While all animals need water to survive, some birds use the water in all aspects of their life. Children will learn about ducks, geese, swans, herons, egrets, cranes, and their allies. We’ll look at how their beaks and feet are adapted for living in the water, what they do when these aquatic habitats are frozen, and how they take care of their young. Daily hikes to these water areas will take place. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 7-9.
Click here to register with $45 per child by 9 AM on Tuesday, June 7. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 1.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 16
Michelle Rumschlag
mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

 

14 Tuesday – 16 Thursday
A Pioneer Kids Living History Camp

The McKinnis House has stood on this property for 175 years and it is time to share its history. We will walk the trails as the McKinnis family might have done and see what food they might have eaten. Kids will visit the wood shop and try their hand at using the tools to carve a toy. The woodstove will be used to cook one of their snacks. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods
McKinnis House
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 9-12.
Click here to register with $45 per child by 9 AM on Tuesday, June 13. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 8.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 20

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

20 Monday
Adventure Day Camp: Aquatic Science

Have you ever wondered what is going on beneath the surface of the water? Join us to create a water scope and then use it to study the waterways around Oakwoods Nature Preserve. Campers will learn all about ponds and rivers, and the plants and animals that make them their home. Bring a pair of water shoes or a second pair of shoes for creek stomping in Aurand Run. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM–3 PM

Required to be ages 6–12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Friday, June 17. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 15 and attend three of the June Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 20

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com

21 Tuesday
Adventure Day Camp: Crazy for Camouflage

Many animals use camouflage, the art of blending in with one’s background, to survive. This can be done to evade a potential predator or for a predator to sneak up on its prey. Children will learn about animals that can look like other things, such as sticks and even poop, what colors work best for camouflaging, and about animals that do not need camouflage and why. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Aeraland Recreation Area
Shelter
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Monday, June 20. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 15 and attend three of the June Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 20

Michelle Rumschlag
mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

22 Wednesday
Adventure Day Camp: It’s a Slimy World

This camp will give kids a chance to explore the woodland for slimy things, like snails and worms. They will make slime and mud print pictures, which will allow them to use their artistic talents. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM to 3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 21. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 15 and attend three of the June Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 4/Maximum 20

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

23 Thursday
Adventure Day Camp: Batty About Bats

One of the coolest animals at night are bats. Campers will learn all about bats, their cool features, and the species that can be found in Ohio. We will create some bat crafts, learn what it means to be nocturnal, look at bat anatomy and features, play a fun bat game, go for a bat hike, and look for some bats inside the Discovery Center. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 22. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 15 and attend three of the June Adventure Day Camps.

Tim Kleman
tkleman@hancockparks.com

24 Friday
Adventure Day Camp: Nature Science

Nature science will involve sand volcanos, walking water, sun made s’mores, and more! We will use nature as our basis for exploring science and creating our own scientific research. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM–3 PM

Required to be ages 6–12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Thursday, June 23. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 15 and attend three of the June Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 20

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com

28 Tuesday & 29 Wednesday
Nature Exploration Overnight Campout

Nature exploration will lead to the world of fossils and seashells, beginning with a fossil and seashell display inside the Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center. Digging in the Playscape for fossils and then identifying fossils will be involved. After lunch, campers will hike to Dold Lake to search for seashells on the beach. They will learn how to identify them and make a collection container, followed by a nature night hike and cooking campfire stew, hot dogs, and s’mores on an open fire. Please bring a reusable water bottle and sack lunch for the first day. All other snacks and meals, a full list of supplies needed for the overnight camp, and tents will be provided.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM Tuesday to 3 PM Wednesday

Required to be ages 10-13.
Click here to register with $68 per child by 9 AM on Monday, June 27. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Tuesday, June 21.
Minimum: 5/Maximum 16

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

JULY

6 Wednesday & 7 Thursday
A Year in the Life of a Pioneer Child Camp

It is 1847. This camp will break down by season the chores that pioneer children did, what school was like, the food they ate, and the clothes they wore. Pancakes will be made on the cookstove and eaten with maple syrup. There will be work to do in the garden, such as pulling weeds and harvesting sweet peas and beans. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods
McKinnis House
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-8.
Click here to register with $32 per child by 9 AM on Tuesday, July 5. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, June 29.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 16

Michelle Rumschlag
mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

7 Thursday & 8 Friday
Summer Fun and Overnight Campout

Summer fun will involve learning the game of disc golf, having an overnight campout, and exploring trails. There will be a night hike along the Deer Meadow Trail to see what is on the prowl. We will look for raccoon tracks and signs of other nocturnal animals, and be alert to owls calling in the night and the sound of insects. Campers will learn how to make a campfire stew, hot dogs, and s’mores on an open fire. All meals and snacks, a full list of supplies needed for the overnight camp, and tents will be provided. Please bring a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Riverbend Recreation Area
Campground
1 PM Thursday to 11 AM Friday

Required to be ages 13-15.
Click here to register with $45 per teen by 9 AM Wednesday, July 6. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Thursday, June 30.
Minimum: 5/Maximum 16

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

11 Monday – 13 Wednesday
Wild About Nature Naturalist Camp

Being wild about nature means exploring wetlands, prairies, forests, and rivers to learn about the natural world. Three parks will be explored on different days throughout the camp. Before every hike, campers will learn about the plants and animals that live in each habitat. A kayak trip on the Blanchard River will be on Wednesday. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Monday – Riverbend Recreation Area, Oxbow Activity Area – Shelter 5
Tuesday – Oakwoods Nature Preserve – Discovery Center
Wednesday – Riverside Park, Zonta Landing
9 AM–3 PM Monday & Tuesday
9AM-12 PM Wednesday

Required to be ages 9–12.
Click here to register with $37 per child by 9 AM on Friday, July 8. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Monday, July 4.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 20

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com

14 Thursday
Toddlers in the Park

Toddlers and their adult companion will spend time outside digging in the sand for hidden gems, playing with plastic insects in the bubble pool, interacting with color slime, and exploring the woodland. A snack will be provided, but please bring a reusable water bottle, swim clothes, towel, and change of clothes for the ride home. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
10 AM-12 PM or 1-3 PM

Required to be ages 3-6 with an adult; adults do not need to register.
Click here to register with $12 per child by 9 AM on Wednesday, July 13.
Minimum: 3/ Maximum: 15

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

20 Wednesday
Teen Camp: Blast Off into Rocketry

Campers will create and launch their own model rockets. They will explore the forces that act on rockets, figure out how rockets work, and experiment with water bottle rockets. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional. If it rains, the camp will be postponed until the following Wednesday, July 27.

Aeraland Recreation Area
Shelter
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 13-17.
Click here to register with $20 per teen by 9 AM on Tuesday, July 19.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 12

Tim Kleman
tkleman@hancockparks.com

21 Thursday & 22 Friday
Camp Habitat Preschool Camp

This two-day camp for preschoolers is a fun way to learn about animals and where they live. Campers will learn about and experience forests, fields, and ponds by hiking in the woods, playing a game about habitat, and sorting animals. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM–12 PM

Required to be ages 4-5.
Click here to register with $19 per child by 9 AM on Wednesday, July 20. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Thursday, July 14.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 15

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com

AUGUST

8 Monday
Adventure Day Camp: Nature’s Builders Camp

This camp will explore the world of homes in nature and the animals who build them. What did they use to build their home? We will venture out on the trails to find out. Kids will collect items to build their own nature habitat home which can include, clay, sticks, grass, leaves and rocks. There will also be a “Building with Wood” demonstration and talk on tool safety before the kids start to help build a new nature item for the nature play area. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 M on Friday, August 5. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 3 and attend three of the August Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 4/Maximum 20

Chris Allen
callen@hancockparks.com

9 Tuesday
Adventure Day Camp: Reptile Adventures

Young reptile enthusiasts will interact with, observe, and learn about turtles, snakes, and lizards. They will build a life-size anaconda, play a game of turtle tag, and go on a lizard hunt. The camp will also include live reptiles for campers to observe and touch to truly experience what makes these creatures so unique. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM–3 PM

Required to be ages 6–12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Monday, August 8. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 3 and attend three of the August Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 20

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com

10 Wednesday
Adventure Day Camp: Metamorphosis

Animals like amphibians and insects go through metamorphosis, the process in which the animal goes through an egg, larval and sometime pupae stage to become an adult. Children will learn the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis and why they go through these stages, while most animals, like humans don’t. We’ll watch live specimens of butterfly caterpillars and frog tadpoles throughout the day and figure out what their next stage is. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Tuesday, August 9. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 3 and attend three of the August Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 20

Michelle Rumschlag
mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

11 Thursday
Adventure Day Camp: Weather

Weather affects us every day, but how does the weather work? Campers will become weather scientists to learn about the different types of weather. We will conduct hands-on experiments and activities to demonstrate how different aspects of weather works, like making a cloud in a bottle and creating fronts in a fish tank. Campers will also record the weather outside and create their own weather instruments to study weather at home. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM-3 PM

Required to be ages 6-12.
Click here to register with $20 per child by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 10. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 3 and attend three of the August Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 4/Maximum: 20

Tim Kleman
tkleman@hancockparks.com

12 Friday
Adventure Day Camp: Predator & Prey

Survival in the wild can be tough. This camp will teach campers about the food chain and how both predators and prey are essential for a healthy environment. Through the game of “Tag, You’re Eaten,” campers will learn about the adaptations both predators and prey have that help them survive in their wild world. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and a reusable water bottle. Insect repellent and sunscreen are optional.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve
Discovery Center
9 AM–3 PM

Required to be ages 6–12.
Click here to register with $15 per child by 9 AM on Thursday, August 11. To receive a free t-shirt, campers must be registered by 9 AM on Wednesday, August 3 and attend three of the August Adventure Day Camps.
Minimum: 5/Maximum: 20

Christine Patterson
cpatterson@hancockparks.com