Kids can learn about environment at summer camp

Registration is now open for the fourth annual Environmental Summer Camp Program at Oakland Nature Preserve, and the camps are beginning to fill. They will be offered for four weeks beginning in June. The first three sessions for students entering first through eighth grades will run from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be limited to 20 campers per week. The last session is three days from 9 a.m. to noon.

The theme of this year’s camp is Going Native. Members of the education team — Heidi Beck, Maryann Krisovitch, Shane Overstreet and Amanda Kohmetscher — are leading the camp again this year. Beck will also teach archery.

Each session theme focuses on the natural sciences, Florida history and prehistory and local plant and animal life.

The first week, running from June 16-20, is for campers entering first or second grade. The theme is “Habitats.” The second week will run from June 23-27 for campers entering third, fourth or fifth grade, and the theme is “Adaptations.” The third week is July 7-11 for campers entering sixth, seventh or eighth grade. The theme for older campers is “Survivor Kid.”

The last week is open to campers entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and will run from July 15-17 in the morning only. This is the first year ONP is offering a camp for this age. The theme is “Growing up Wild,” and the education team is designing a special camping experience for these young children.

The one-week session is $100 with an ONP family membership or $125 for non-members, which includes a family membership.

For more information about the camp sessions, call 407-905-0054 or visit the website at www.OaklandNaturePreserve.org for updates and registration information.