Adventure Camp: Grades 6-8

Session 1: June 14-18 | Wild Work  

Have you thought about going into an environmental career? Get hands-on experience with the skills you need. From animal care to climbing skills, see what it takes to be a wildlife biologist, animal care provider, or environmental educator. 

Session 2: June 21- 25 | Night Quest  

Be knights of the night with us. Lay under the stars with hot chocolate and treats, track the sun and moon, and journal during the night. Learn to use a telescope and search the galaxy with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. Find your constellation and go for a night hike.  

Session 3: June 28- July 2 | Backpacking Skills  

Do you dream of exploring places few people go?  Find skies with the brightest stars and sounds only nature makes.  Learn all you need to know to take on your own backpacking adventure, or lead your family and friends into the wild.  Learn to fit and pack the perfect load, determine the bare essential supplies, start a fire with no tools, filter water, hang a bear rope, set up a solo tent and brave the night. 

Session 4: July 12-16 | Folk Life  

Sing, write, create, and share. Explore how people past and present build their lives from the natural world. Enjoy campfire cooking competitions, build backcountry forts, visit with a blacksmith, get your hands dirty in the garden, and get a taste of the folk-life! 

Session 5: July19-23 | Nature is Calling the Artist in You  

Seek out the art hiding in the world around you. Take a closer look at the beauty of nature with local artists as they share some of their favorite skills. Compose a symphony of natural sound, mold clay into wearable art, and more. Delve into the natural world of creativity.  

Session 6: July 26-30 | Navigation Nation 

Explore the great outdoors old-school style. Learn to use a compass and GPS on the trails of KNC. Work with a team to navigate your way toward a prize. Create your own map, hike to Source Pond, and explore the world through the eyes of animals that use these skills every day.

Session 7: August 2-6 | Survival Skills 

Can you survive in the wild? Using the skills you’ll learn at KNC, yes you can! Hike to new destinations, learn to build a simple shelter, find food and water, spark a fire with a flint or fire bow, and prepare a wild-cooked meal. You’ll have what it takes to take on the wild! 

Session 8: August 9-13 | Adventure Challenge  

Take on daily challenges, build leadership skills, and work with other campers to accomplish shared goals. Develop new outdoor skills, complete challenges at the low ropes, and celebrate your accomplishments around the campfire.

Session 4: July 12-16 | Onions and Greens  

Don’t worry, this camp won’t make you cry. You will get to peel back the many layers of onion and greens to learn how plants work together. Discover perfect plant pairings for pest reduction. Learn about food and food justice while trying your hand at soil making, seeding, planting, tending, harvesting, and giving back to the land. You’ll grow your own harvest and make a meal. 

Session 8:  August 9-13 | Tend and Till  

Give it a rest! Put a garden bed to sleep for the season. As we set the stage for the season ahead, learn about giving more than we take away from the land. Dig in to soil making, seeding, planting, tending, harvesting, and giving back to the land. Grow your own harvest and make a meal.