Luther College offers summer outdoor camps for youth
March 26, 2008
Two new focus camps added to ecology education Discovery Camps line-up for 2008
Discovery Camp 2007 students exploring the wonder of the cold water steam ecosystems of northeast Iowa’s driftless plains watershed.
Luther College will host eight outdoor Discovery Camps for youth in June and July, adding two new focus camps to the popular environmental studies camps held each summer. The new “It’s All About Power” and “The Edible Earth” camps will focus on human energy and food consumption in relation to our environment.
Six other general ecology Discovery Camps will be offered for children of various age levels. For information about dates, fees and programs, contact Emily Neal, Director of Environmental Outreach, Luther College, <nealem01>, telephone 563-387-2138, or visit website http://environment.luther.edu/outreach.html.
Scholarships based on financial need are available.
“It’s All About Power,” June 23-27, is a focus camp for students entering grades 6-8, who want to learn more about how humans use and acquire energy and the effect this has on our environment. During this electrifying and fun-filled week, students will participate in hands-on activities related to energy use and energy production, while viewing first hand how people in northeast Iowa create and use energy.
“The Edible Earth,” July 14-15, is a food and health focus camp for children entering grades 2-5. The camp makes connections between the food we eat, the health of our bodies, and the health of our planet.
Through hands-on activities, food-tasting parties, visits to local farms and participation in food preparation and collection, students will learn about the intricacies of food, the fuel that sustains our bodies and minds. Students will visit local farms and gardens and travel through history learning about hunting, gathering, and agriculture.
Dates of general ecology Discovery Camps on the Luther campus and surrounding natural areas are June 9-10 for first graders, June 11-13 for second graders, June 16-20 for students in grades 3-6, July 7-11 for students in grades 3-6, July 14-15 Middle School Adventure Camp for students in grades 7-9.
A June 23-27 camp for students in grades 3-6 will be held at Osborne Nature Center near Elkader, Iowa.
Discovery Camps help students learn about Iowa’s distinctive landscape and develop sound environmental ethics by instilling a love and understanding of their personal connection to the earth and the balance between human needs and sustainability for the planet.
The camps provide diverse, hands-on learning experiences that are fun, engaging, educational and relevant. Programs blend field studies with outdoor recreation to motivate students to explore and discover the natural world and develop useful skills.
Classes include topics such as geology, invertebrate investigations, ornithology, tracking, wilderness survival, nature crafts, water quality exploration, outdoor recreation, woodland, wetland and prairie ecology and much more.
“Discovery Camp is an opportunity for students to learn about themselves in the context of the natural world, the addition of our focus camps allows students to draw direct connections between our basic needs and the fruitfulness of the earth,” says Emily Neal, director of environmental outreach at Luther College.
“We have a fantastic summer line-up, with chances for students of all ages to learn about the natural world in a variety of ways, meet new friends, and spend time in the great outdoors,” says Neal.
If you are interested in learning more about programs, you may contact, Emily Neal, Director of Environmental Outreach, Luther College, <nealem01>, 563-387-2138 or visit our website environment.luther.edu/discovery
Discovery Camp 2008 dates:
June 9-10, Discovery Camp, Decorah, first grade
June 11-13, Discovery Camp, Decorah, second grade
June 16-20, Discovery Camp, Decorah, grades 3-6
June 23-27, Discovery Camp: Elkader, grades 3-6
June 23-27, “It's all about Power” Energy Camp, Decorah, grades 6-8
July 7-11, Discovery Camp, Decorah, grades 3-6
July 14-15, Middle School Adventure Camp, Decorah grades 7-9
July 14-15, “The Edible Earth” Food Camp, Decorah, grades 2-5