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.
All camps are now full, registration is closed. We encourage you to add your name to our wait list.
Wait List - CLICK HERE. Families' summer schedules change regularly; the resulting cancellations allow us to release additional registrations. There is also a possibility that we will open more spaces and/or sessions, depending on community interest and staff availability - this will be determined by the end of April.
Financial Need & Scholarships - At this time, the CCEP does not offer any scholarships for our camps. We also do not offer discounts to children of Calvin staff or faculty. However, for those families that would like to send their children to camp but are experiencing financial hardships, you may pay the camp fee in installments via checks. Please mail a check for 1/2 of the registration fee, payable to Calvin College, within 7 days of registering to reserve your space. The rest of the fee is due by May 31, 2013.
Verification of Age and Ability - Campers must meet the age requirements, be able to attend camp independently, 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.
2013 Camp Themes for 4 to 8 Year Olds (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)
The Giving Tree - Explore a Tree and the Animals that Call it Home
Trees provide us with oxygen,
shelter, food, and a multitude of other products and services. Campers will learn more about these "giving trees", and discover some of the animals (birds and squirrels) that call them home. Activities will include adopting a tree, making homemade paper, eating like a squirrel, watching birds, and building bird nests to name a few.
Web of Life - Explore a Food Chain
Discover that everything in life is connected, as we see how energy flows through a food chain. From grass to the top predator, God provides all of Creation with their basic needs. Activities will include investigating field study plots to observe plant and animal interactions, making sun prints, playing camouflage and more. Possible animals we will study include insects, mice, snakes, frogs, and owls.
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, ready to attend independently, 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. Camps run Monday to Thursday, with Family Night on Thursday evening, June 13 and July 11 respectively. Adult/student ratio is 1:5 (limit 20 participants per session).
| Dates | Times | Themes | Cost | |
| Session 1 | June 10-13, 2013 | 9 am - 12 pm | Giving Tree (FULL) | $85 |
| Session 3 | July 8-11, 2013 | 9 am - 12 pm | Web of Life (FULL) | $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 run Monday to Friday, with Family Night on Thursday evening, June 20 and July 18 respectively. Adult/student ratio is 1:8 (limit 24 participants per session).
| Dates | Times | Themes | Cost | |
| Session 2 | June 17-21, 2013 | 9 am - 12 pm | Giving Tree (FULL) | $95 |
| Session 4 | July 15-19, 2013 | 9 am - 12 pm | Web of Life (FULL) | $95 |
Jr. Naturalist Club
For 9, 10, & 11 Year Olds (4th, 5th & 6th Graders)
The topics we will study this summer are botany (focusing on trees), herpetology (study of reptiles and amphibians) , and geology (study of the solid Earth). In addition, campers will take an off-site field trip one day during camp to Saul Lake Bog and Flat Iron Lake Preserve to learn about prairie and bog ecosystems.
This camp is designed to engage campers with a strong interest in learning more about a variety of different science fields. 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. On Friday, 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 Monday to Friday, with a special family presentation on Friday afternoon from 2-3 pm. Adult/student ratio is 1:8 (limit 18 participants).
| Dates | Times | Themes | Cost | |
| Session 5 | July 29 - August 2, 2013 | 9 am - 3 pm | Jr. Naturalist Club - 4th & 5th graders (FULL) | $145 |
| Session 6 | August 5-9, 2013 | 9 am - 3 pm | Jr. Naturalist Club - 5th & 6th graders (FULL) | $145 |
Other Summer Camps at Calvin College
Click here to find out about more summer camp opportunities offered at Calvin.
Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center, Blandford Nature Center, and Ada Township Parks offer a variety of summer nature camp programming as well.
