What is Wetlands & Woodlands Camp?
- A fun hands-on learning adventure for children ages 4 to 13.
- A program that encourages campers to develop a greater understanding, appreciation of, and respect for God’s amazing creation.
- A comfortable and safe learning environment where campers become immersed in the outdoors.
Register Online Starting March 1st at 9 am
Campers must meet the age requirements and are able to independently attend camp on their own and participate in activities throughout the Ecosystem Preserve (rough narrow paths, wood chipped trails, muddy areas, grassy fields etc.) Jr. Naturalist campers must also be able to ride in a large passenger van for extended periods of time, participate in various off site field trips and servicing learning activities (hiking over sand dunes and through prairies, digging holes, walking on uneven paths etc) and tolerate a variety of weather conditions.
All camp registration must be completed online via Eventbrite starting March 1st at 9 am. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. If you have questions about the registration system please call 616-526-7601 or email us. If the registration system indicates that a camp is FULL you may email us to be included on a wait list and/or we recommend you check out the other summer camps being offered at Calvin.
Look what’s new in 2012!
- Miss Becca and Miss Nancy are back teaching with us this summer as is Miss April who will be with us for Sessions 3 & 4.
- Our Picturing Place camp for middle school aged students is back. New this year students will be using professional grade DSRL cameras and have the opportunity to spend time learning how to process photos in the Art Dept's new digital MAC Lab. This camp is taught by Calvin photography professor Jennifer Hoag and CCEP Program Manager Jeanette Henderson.
2012 Camp Themes for 4 to 8 Year Olds (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)
Creepy Crawlies- Salamanders, Spiders, Slugs and More
This camp is not just for boys, both genders will enjoy learning more about animals that creep, slither, and wiggle in a safe and fun way. Possible topics we will study include worms, spiders, slugs and snails, salamanders, sow bugs, crayfish, grasshoppers and crickets and snakes. Activities will include looking for salamanders, conducting wiggly worm experiments, watching a spider spin its web to name a few.
Winged Wonders- Michigan's Butterflies, Birds, Bees, Bats and More.
Find out if flying squirrels really fly and learn more about our winged creatures that live here in West Michigan.
Possible topics we will study include butterflies, bats, bees, ladybugs, grasshoppers, and birds, Activities will include searching for insects in the field, dancing like bees, creating our own winged wonders, singing like birds, and much more.
For 4, 5 & 6 Year Olds (Pre-K & K)
Developed for shorter attention spans, our camps will keep the busiest of 4, 5 & 6 year olds engaged. Campers will explore the theme of the week through outdoor exploration, puppet shows, storybooks, music and movement activities, critter devotions, helping hands service learning activities and nature art projects specifically designed for this age group. Children must be 4 years old by the start of camp and ready to attend independently on their own and must be toilet trained. The session fee covers healthy snacks, nature art project materials, lots of individual attention, discovery take home sheets, family night activities, and loads of fun. Sessions run Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm with Family Night on Thursday evening June 14 and July 12 respectively. Adult/student ratio 1:5 (limit 15 to 20 participants per a session)
| Dates | Times | Themes | Cost | |
| Session 1 | June 11-14, 2012 | 9 am to 12 pm | Creepy Crawlies | $85 |
| Session 3 | July 9-12, 2012 | 9 am to 12 pm | Winged Wonders | $85 |
For 6, 7 & 8 year olds (1st, 2nd, & 3rd Graders)
This camp is designed to introduce very young scientists to Michigan’s flora and fauna using science inquiry methods. Using our theme of the week, campers will learn about the animals and plants that live in our forests, meadows, and wetlands in a hands-on, feet-in way! With activities appropriate for this curious and excitable age, campers will discover more about their world and their Creator as they spend time exploring the Ecosystem Preserve. Nature art projects, short experiments, critter devotions, helping hands service learning projects and other activities balance outdoor exploration and games. The session fee covers healthy snacks, nature art project materials, lots of individual attention, take home discovery sheets, family night activities, and loads of fun. Camps runs from 9 am to 12 pm, Monday to Friday with Family Night on Thursday evening. Adult/student ratio 1:8 (limit 24 participants per a session)
| Dates | Times | Themes | Cost | |
| Session 2 | June 18-22, 2012 | 9 am to 12 pm | Creepy Crawlies | $95 |
| Session 4 | July 16-20, 2012 | 9 am to 12 pm | Winged Wonders | $95 |
Jr. Naturalist Club
For 9, 10, & 11 Year Olds (4th, 5th & 6th Graders)
This camp is designed to engage campers with a strong interest in learning more about a variety of different biological science fields such as entomology (insects), botany (plants), mammalogy (mammals), ornithology (birds), limnology (ponds and lakes), and herpetology (reptiles and amphibians). Campers will spend time exploring the preserve and various activities related to each field of science, conducting small experiments, journaling and sketching, participating in preserve research and service learning activities, creating nature art projects, and meeting scientists and conservation professionals who work in the different fields when applicable. Different fields of study are offered on a three year rotation so returning campers will find the curriculum engaging. This year we will study entomology, ornithology and more. One day during camp, campers will take an off site field trip to explore either Flat Iron Lake Preserve or one of our beautiful state parks. On Fridays, campers have the opportunity to hike through the wildlife refuge of the preserve and play capture the flag or participate in our team building orienteering course. The session fee covers materials for activities and experiments, healthy snacks, nature art project materials, transportation cost for field trips, lots of individual attention, and loads of fun. Campers are responsible for bringing their own sack lunches. Camp runs from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday. On Friday afternoon, families are invited to a special family presentation from 2 to 3 pm. Adult/student ratio 1:8 (limit 18 to 24 participants)
| Date | Time | Theme | Cost | |
| Session 5 | July 30- August 3, 2012 | 9 am to 3 pm | Jr. Naturalist Club (4th, 5th & 6th) | $130 |
Picturing Place
For 11, 12, & 13 Year Olds (6th, 7th & 8th Graders)
Primary Instructors:
- Jennifer Hoag, Professor, Art Department & Photographer
- Jeanette Henderson, Program Manager, Ecosystem Preserve with assistance from two Calvin Camp Leaders
Middle school students are invited to view the world through the lens of science and art in this unique camp. Scientists and naturalists have used a variety of visual works such as sketching, herbarium sheets, and photograms in their field studies to record, preserve, and document species and information. Using the BIC native flower gardens as our laboratory, campers will explore these techniques in combination with learning the fundamentals of digital photography. Campers will also learn to work in groups through a variety of team building exercises and photography projects. Our desire is that the students will learn to see God's Creation with intelligence and that at the end of the week they will have a greater sense of the place they live in and call home. The week will culminate in a collective group art show. A note to parents and campers this is not just a photography camp. Photography classes will take place in the morning and in the afternoon campers will spend time learning and practicing many skills important to field scientists such a nature journaling, sketching, using field guides for identification, and pressing plants. This is a unique experience to work with both a photography professor and a naturalist with a background in field science. Campers need to be willing and mature enough to participate in all parts of the camp including team building activities. If you have questions please contact Jeanette Henderson.
The session fee covers instruction, group use of a professional grade DSRL camera, a natural journal, art materials, prints of favorite photos, cd of collection of photos taken, healthy snacks, lots of individual attention, and loads of fun. Campers are responsible for bringing their own sack lunches. Camp runs from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday. On Friday afternoon, families are invited to a collective group art show from 2:30 to 3 pm. Adult/student ratio 1:9 (limit 18 participants).
| Date | Time | Theme | Cost | |
| Session 6 | August 6-10, 2012 | 9 am to 3 pm | Picturing Place (6th, 7th & 8th) | $175 |
Other Summer Camps at Calvin College
Visit our summer camps web page to discover more summer camp opportunities offered at Calvin.
