Summer is one of the best times to discover and explore the wonders of our natural world! In 2024, The Nature Place offered over 25 different themes and 40+ sessions of Summer Day Camp. Each nature-themed camp gave campers ages 4 -12 hands-on experiences in nature, through hikes, crafts, games, and other meaningful activities.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Week-long sessions June 9 - Aug. 15. Daily sessions Aug. 18 - 22.
Enrollment Status listed below may not reflect current conditions as registrations are not processed over the weekends. We DO fill slots from the waitlists - contact us if your preferred session is full!
Sessions
Littles
Ages 4 – 5
12 Campers per session
June 2025
Colorful Creations
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST STARTED Enjoy creative fun with crafts and explorations centered around colors of the rainbow and items found in nature
Marvelous Marsh
From mud to muskrats, it'll be a marshtastic week of outdoor explorations and learning in and about the La Crosse River Marsh.
Underground Animals
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN We'll get down and dirty as well look and learn about animals from worms to woodchucks, millipedes to moles.
Fantastic Five
Make sense of the natural world by comparing your five sense with those of animals both wild and tame.
Nose to Toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes - spend the week exploring how animals use their body parts to survive.
Lots of Legs
We'll catch and compare lots-of-legs critters we find scampering in the grass, scuttling under logs and swimming in the marsh.
July 2025
Tail Tales
We'll have fun diving into the stories and science inspired by the tails of beavers, bunnies, deer, ducks, squirrels, skunks and others.
Movin’ & Groovin’
We'll slither like snakes, jump like frogs, run like deer as we actively explore how animals get around!
Plantastic
Explore plants from their roots to their shoots and even their fruits as we dig into gardens and growing!
Silly Science
Experiments, demonstrations and explorations abound as campers explore elementary science concepts.
Marvelous Marsh
From mud to muskrats, it'll be a marshtastic week of outdoor explorations and learning in and about the La Crosse River Marsh.
Colorful Creations
Enjoy creative fun with crafts and explorations centered around colors of the rainbow and items found in nature.
Fantastic Five
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST STARTED Make sense of the natural world by comparing your five senses with those of animals both wild and tame.
Underground Animals
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST STARTED We'll get down and dirty as we look and learn about animals from worms to woodchucks, millipedes to moles.
August 2025
Lots of Legs
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN! We'll catch and compare lots-of-legs critters we find scampering in the grass, scuttling under logs and swimming in the marsh.
Nose to Toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes - spend the week exploring how animals use their body parts to survive.
Movin’ and Groovin’
We'll slither like snakes, jump like frogs, run like deer as we actively explore how animals get around!
Tail Tales
We'll have fun diving into the stories and science inspired by the tails of beavers, bunnies, der, ducks, squirrels, skunks and others!
Middles
Ages 6 - 8
16 Campers per session
June 2025
Scales, Spines & Scutes
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN! Our eyes and hands will be on reptiles, amphibians and others as we discover and investigate by doing!
Rootin’ & Tootin’
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST STARTED From pulling and tasting produce to blowing grass blade whistles, we'll play with plants from bottom to top.
Creative Campers
We'll tap into camper creativity with nature-inspired projects that could include art, music and more!
Habitat-What’s That?
Marsh, prairie, forest and more are all fantastic places we'll explore!
Fur, Feathers & Fins
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Mammals, birds, fish and others will be fair game for our investigations!
Mystical Marsh Mobile
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Hop in our imaginary vehicle for an inspired week of mythical adventures and experiments!
July 2025
What’s Bugging You?
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN All things creepy and crawly are fair game for interesting investigations that will increase your insect intelligence!
H2O-Whoa!
Dive into a week of water experiments and experiences that will whet your appetite for learning more!
Butt What?
Get to the bottom of adaptations behind animal survival - from wombat poop cubes to stinky skunk spray and more!
Slime & Such
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Compare plants and animals that ooze, squelch and squirt to find your favorite!
Rootin’ & Tootin’
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN From pulling and tasting produce to blowing grass blade whistles, we'll play with plants from bottom to top.
Scales, Spines & Scutes
Our eyes and hands will be on reptiles, amphibians and others as we discover and investigate by doing!
Habitat – What’s That?
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Marsh, prairie, forest and more are all fantastic places we'll explore!
Creative Campers
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN We'll tap into camper creativity with nature-inspired projects that could include art, music and more!
August 2025
Mystical Marsh Mobile
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Hop in our imaginary vehicle for an inspired week of mythical adventures and experiments!
Fur, Feathers & Fins
1 SPOT REMAINs! Mammals, birds, fish and others will be fair game for our investigations!
H2O – Whoa!
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Dive into a week of water experiments and experiences that will whet your appetite for learning more!
What’s Bugging You?
All things creepy and crawly are fair game for interesting investigations that will increase your insect intelligence!
Bigs
Ages 9 - 12
16 Campers per session
June 2025
Survival Strategies
Make and use a survival kit, construct a shelter, test tents and hammocks, forage for food, test water filters and thrive!
Gross Anatomy
From sweat to slime, smells to stinks, investigate how nature gives plants and animals strategies for survival!
Art Palooza
SESSION FULL - WAITLIST OPEN Look to nature for inspiration and materials, then make and use ink and paints, sculpt clay, collage with leaves and more!
July 2025
Inspired Inventions
From Fibonacci to NASA, Velcro to whale-fin shaped wind turbine blades, nature has inspired inventions. Now it's your turn!
Cold-blooded Craze
Amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates are all cold-blooded critters worthy of investigation and appreciation.
Legends and Lore
Is Sasquatch real and right around here? Test your sleuthing skills and discover strategies for hiding in plain sight.
Plant Enchantment
Which wild plants can you eat? Cure itching? Create dyes? Inspire potions? Come ready to dig in and veg out!
August 2025
Survival Strategies
2 SPOTS REMAIN! Make and use a survival kit, construct a shelter, test tents and hammocks, forage for food, test water filters and more!
Night of the Living
Test your senses and your sense of adventure with evening explorations of the marsh and Myrick Park. Who-o-o-o knows what you might encounter?
(You may also view these camp sessions on our full calendar.)
One Day Wonders
Ages 4 – 12
8/18/25 – 8/22/25
9 am - 4 pm
August 2025
Aquatic Adventures
Floating, sinking, splashing and squirting - get ready to get wet!
Art for All
A day full of drawing, painting, crafting and creating!
Outdoor Adventures
Fun and games in and around the marsh, prairie and forest.
Weather or Not
Sunshine, wind, clouds, rainbows and maybe even a bit of snow!
Camper’s Choice
Choose to invent a game or create an obstacle course, feed the fish or tag monarch butterflies, Or maybe do it all!
(You may also view these camp sessions on our full calendar.)
Registration Notes
- Camp registration closes at 5 pm the Tuesday before the camp begins. (July 7 - 11 sessions close 2 weeks before camp)
- Please have your credit/debit card on hand as you cannot save the registration information to complete at a later time.
- Wait list: In the event a camp fills, a wait list will be established to fill cancellations.
- All campers must be able to independently use the toilet. The Nature Place staff and AmeriCorps team members can only assist with the washing of hands.
Cost
$135 for each half day session (Ages 4 - 8)
9 am – 12 noon, 1 pm – 4 pm
$275 for each full day session (Ages 9 - 12)
9 am – 4 pm
Sibling Discount
10% discount for each additional child registered during a concurrent camp session.
*Discount does not apply to extended care options.
Extended Care
Extended care sessions are available for sessions in which you are registered. There is no sibling discount for extended care.
7:30 am – 9 am daily | $25/week per camper
12 noon – 1 pm Lunch care | $20/week per camper
- Meal not provided.
- Automatically included for Bigs ages 9 – 12
4 – 5 pm daily | $20/week per camper
Camp doors will open promptly at 9 am and at 1 pm. Campers not enrolled in extended care must be supervised by a parent/guardian until they are escorted into the open camp room. If campers are dropped off early or picked up late, they will be charged the extended care fee.
Camp Information
Director:
Cindy Blobaum
Email Cindy
Cindy has over 30 years of experience developing and delivering nature education and camp programs around the country. She will be training and supervising the 8 adult AmeriCorps service members who will be the primary camp counselors.
There are always a minimum two trained adult leaders with each group.
Communication:
An email will be sent to the primary address listed on the registration form the Friday before camp begins at the latest (may be sent earlier). This will include important information about the upcoming session – special days, a general schedule (subject to change as weather and camper conditions dictate), camp counselors’ names, the conduct contract, etc.
What to bring:
- Campers should be dressed to be outdoors (no flip flops!) in clothes that can get dirty.
- Water bottles
- Hats
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- Snacks for each session are the responsibility of each camper
- Bigs (ages 9 -12) and campers registered for lunch care must bring their own lunch that needs neither refrigeration or heating each day
Daily activities:
- Crafts
- Games
- Hikes
- Stories
- Activities related to the weekly theme
The majority of each day will be spent outdoors
– except in the event of extreme weather conditions.
Conduct Contract:
To make sure everyone is aware of behavior expectations, every camper must have a camper and guardian signed Conduct Contract on file at the beginning of their first session.
Health Policy:
Per our Health Policy, campers and staff are expected to arrive at camp in a state of good health. If they are experiencing any signs of illness or require medication to remain comfortable, they should remain at home. If a camper becomes unwell during a session, they will be immediately separated from the group and supervised as a parent is contacted for pickup.
Refund protocol:
Camp fees are due at the time of registration. Full refunds are issued only when a camp session is cancelled by The Nature Place (does not meet minimum enrollment of 5 campers). If you need to cancel a camp enrollment, you will receive at 50% refund if the request is made 3 weeks prior to the start of camp. Cancellations less than 3 weeks prior to camp receive no refund unless the slot can be filled.
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