Nature at Camp

It is impossible to be at camp and not get caught up in its beauty. A driving mission of camp, is to inspire the next generation to do better at taking care of our environment than we are doing now. And it all starts by growing a compassion and understanding for nature. Walk through the woods. Sit by a pond and listen to the frogs. Lay in a hammock and watch the birds. Often, our young campers are surprised to learn that some of their favorite camp activities can fit so neatly into a specific field of science. Reading the list of our nature themed activities and we think you will see what we mean!

Classes

Courses

Look below for a list of our nature related courses and classes.

Nature At Camp - Pond Study - Camper looking in net - Cub Creek Science and Animal Camp
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Pond Study

Put on your boots and dive into the world of ponds—catch frogs, explore wildlife, and get muddy!

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Pond Life 101 - Campers visit multiple ponds, comparing their diversity. The session ends at Heron Pond, where they set up a track station to observe wildlife.

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Adopt an Invertebrate - Campers catch and observe pond creatures using nets and aquariums, maintaining mini ecosystems before releasing them back.

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Frog Catching Campers use tools to catch and study larger pond creatures and create water scopes to observe life underwater naturally.

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Healthy Ponds - Campers test water samples to assess pond health and explore erosion effects, brainstorming ways to sustain ecosystems.

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Microscopic Life - Campers use microscopes to study tiny pond organisms, releasing all invertebrates back into their habitat at the end.

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Native Wildlife

Campers will explore the wild areas of camp, using traps, lures, and trail cameras to find and identify local animals. They will also create habitats for reptiles, amphibians, and insects, keeping some in the Creepy Crawly Room for the week.

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Snakes, Lizards, Frogs, & More - Campers will learn to identify common reptiles and amphibians found at camp. After an introduction to different species, they will hike through camp’s trails to search for snakes, lizards, frogs, and other creatures in their natural habitats.

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Wild Mammals - Campers will discover wild mammals at camp, learning to spot tracks, scat, and other signs before heading out to find them.

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Birds This class focuses on birdwatching and identification. Campers will learn to recognize different species by their songs, calls, and colors before heading out to observe birds in the trees, fields, and near water sources.

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Bug Traps - Campers will catch and study insects, learning about their habitats and behaviors. They may keep some in the Creepy Crawly Room for others to see.

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Hike & Release - Campers will test their wildlife knowledge on a final hike, spotting as many animals as they can. They will then release any insects they collected back into the wild.

Nature At Camp - Junior Naturalist - Camper learning about native Missouri leaves - Cub Creek Science and Animal Camp
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Junior Naturalist

Explore hidden trails, discover local plants and animals, and earn the Junior Naturalist patch in this exciting course! Campers will open their eyes to the world around them and sharpen their observation skills as they hike the many trails at camp and journal their field findings. Along the way, campers will sample wild edibles, identity trees, dip their toes into cool spring water, climb boulders, and more. At the end of the week, the campers in this course take a knowledge test to see how much they've learned.

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Daily Hikes - Each day this week, campers will hike a different trail and learn about the various ecosystems here at camp. Locations visited include the Glade, Sandy’s Pond, Goldfinch Trail, Cardinal Trail, and the Hidden Spring.

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Junior Naturalist Quiz - On the last day, campers will take the Junior Naturalist quiz, testing their knowledge of local plants and animals.

Nature At Camp - Camper showing off gemstones - Cub Creek Science and Animal Camp
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Additional Nature Classes

If you are fascinated by the earth and what it's made of, then these are the classes for you. These classes make up even more nature and science based fun at Cub Creek!

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The Fossil Pit - Dig in the fossil pit and uncover signs of ancient life. Campers who spend time in the fossil pit learn about the fossilization process and get to take home their findings!

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Gemstone Quarry - Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Iron Pyrite, Citrine, and geodes are just some the treasure found at our quarry! Campers learn about the chemical make up and properties of their findings while digging to find something to take home!

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Nature Solo - Campers can take a moment to be still and quiet in nature along one of our nature solo trails.

Did you think that was it? We have plenty of other classes and courses offered in science, adventure, arts & crafts, nature and even more! Click the button to your right to explore more.