Camp - Kalamazoo Nature Center

Welcome to Camp at the Kalamazoo Nature Center!

Spring Camp & Summer Camp registration opens February 15

Spring Camp: March 31 – April 4 | Learn more & Register >

Summer Camp weekly sessions run June 9 – August 8

Play outside with us while we step into fun adventures! Splash around in Nature’s Playground, explore the gravel pits and horse around with friends. Older campers will explore onsite at the Kalamazoo Nature Center with the chance for offsite adventures, team-building challenges, and more. We welcome kids of all abilities and will work closely with you to make sure your child has a great experience.

Keep reading for session details by age group! Early bird discounts are available through April 15.

Check out the 2025 Camp Brochure here!
View online, download, print, or share:

See details on 2025 camps by age group:

Junior Naturalists Camp

JUNIOR NATURALISTS CAMP RUNS 9 AM–NOON or NOON-3 PM MONDAY–FRIDAY | SNACK INCLUDED
$175 MEMBER, $215 NON-MEMBER PER SESSION

Session 1: June 12-16 | Survival Olympics
Put animal adaptations to the test with games that have you moving–just like the animals do! Run, crawl, jump and dig to see which animal is the best! Meet a LIVE bird of prey and see if they win a gold medal.

Session 2: June 19-23 | Paint with All the Colors of the Wind
How many colors can you find looking around you? Use the stream to create beautiful art with watercolors as you become an artist with your friends at KNC.

Session 3: June 26-30 | Tree Huggers
Build your love for the outdoors by learning about trees. Listen to a story at the Magic Tree, create your own tree, and use sticks to build a home for animals in the wild. Meet a LIVE animal that uses trees as it’s home.

Session 4: July 10-14 | Oh, Mr. Golden Sun
Mr. Golden Sun please shine down on me! The sun gives power to us and the plants. Come learn how all things grow with the power from the sun. Let’s chase our shadows, and see who might be up high in the trees.

Session 5: July 17-21 | Dinosaur Safari
Can you find the family members of ancient dinosaurs? Explore our Gravel Pits to search for fossils with your friends, getting messy in the Mud Pit and meet a LIVE modern day dinosaur.

Session 6: July 24-28 | It’s A Buggy Bug World
The insect world has a life of its own. Learn about the tiny creatures that are walking around on the ground. How many can you find? Meet a live tarantula and other insects at KNC.

Session 7: July 31- August 4 | Birds of a Feather
Discover the exciting world of the birds! Learn about birds songs, their favorite foods and, play camouflage where hummingbirds fly. Meet a LIVE bird that might live close to you.

Session 8: August 7-11 | Wild Water
Explore the waters of Trout Run for the creatures that live under the surface. Get wet like a fish, under the showers of our nature playground, and messy in the muddy waters of the Mud Pit. Meet a LIVE animal that lives in and by the water!

Ages 4-6: Junior Naturalists Camps

Junior Naturalists Camp

With nature as your playground, KNC Camp is the place to be! Explore habitats, learn about animals and plants, and learn unique outdoor skills. Sing, craft, and play games with all your new friends. Sessions are half-day camps for this age group.
9 AM–NOON MONDAY–FRIDAY | SNACK INCLUDED | $200 MEMBER, $240 NON-MEMBER

Session 1: June 9-13 | Furry Friends
Explore the world of small animals! Meet a live animal up close and personal and discover how it survives in the wild.

Session 2: June 16-20 | Paint by Nature
Let your inner artist run wild at KNC! Discover art in nature and use the stream and watercolors to create beautiful art with your friends.

Session 3: June 23-27 | Tree Huggers
KNC’s Magic Tree has a story to tell! Build your own woodland creations and learn about care and repair of our forests. You will meet live animals that call the forest their home.

Session 4: July 7-11 | Mr. Golden Sun
The power of the sun helps all things grow. We’ll chase our shadows and have fun under the sun.

Session 5: July 14-18 | Dinosaur Safari
Can you find the ancient dinosaur family member? We’ll search for fossils in the gravel pits, make dinosaur tracks in the mud pit, and meet a modern-day dinosaur!

Session 6: July 21-25 | It’s A Buggy Bug World
There are millions of insects living all around us! How many can you find? Meet a live tarantula and other insects that call KNC home.

Session 7: July 28- August 1 | Birds of a Feather
Learn all about birds and their cool adaptations, spot hidden birds that blend into their surroundings, then play camouflage and hide-and-seek. Meet a live bird!

Session 8: August 4-8 | Wild Water
Discover the creatures below the surface of Trout Run. Get messy in the mud pit, then get wet under the water tower sprinkler at Nature’s Playground. We’ll meet a live animal that loves water, too!

Ages 4-6: Junior Farmer's Camps

Junior Farmers Camp

Get up close with farm animals, tractors, and gardens at DeLano Farms! Enjoy art, games, stories, and hikes while exploring the farm and surroundings with new friends. Each session highlights farm life and the changes throughout the growing season. Drop-off and pick-up are at DeLano Farms on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
9 AM – NOON, MONDAY–FRIDAY at KNC Camp and DeLano Farms
SNACK INCLUDED
$200 MEMBER, $240 NON-MEMBER
Session 4: July 7-11
Session 6: July 21- 25

Grades 1-3: Explorers Camp

Explorers Camp: Grades 1-3

Become a nature explorer! Spend the day outside discovering prairies, forests, and wetlands. Play games, hike, get creative in the Art Room, and cool off in the water tower sprinkler. Each session brings new activities and themes to explore. Come ready to play!
9 AM–4 PM, MONDAY–FRIDAY | $275 MEMBER, $315 NON-MEMBER

Session 1: June 9-13 | The Great Fur Adventure
Search KNC far and wide as we explore the Kalamazoo River for muskrats and beavers and other wildlife. Discover what we have in common with them and what makes us different.

Session 2: June 16-20 | Land of Art
With KNC as your canvas, unleash your creativity in nature! Wade in the water with a paintbrush, create art on a spinning wheel, and use everyday materials to create your masterpiece.
Session 3: June 23-27 | Gentle Giants
Discover how trees give us so much and learn from conservationists how to care for them. Create art with leaves and listen to the wind whispering through the trees. Learn what it takes to care for and repair our forests.
Session 4: July 7-11 | You Are My Sunshine
Experiment with sunlight, tell time, and learn who needs the sun to grow. Create sandcastles and bridges at the Natural Playground for a fun-filled day!
Session 5: July 14-18 | Dinosaur Herd
Use binoculars to spot what herbivores ate in the trees, create your own dinosaur footprints and track them through the mud pit. Step back in time to discover fossil evidence while digging through the gravel pits!
Session 6: July 21-25 | Insectopia
Bugs can sing with their wings, listen with their legs, and talk with their tails! Let’s explore the tiny world of insects and create a home for them. Meet a live tarantula and beetles up close.
Session 7: July 28- August 1 | Soaring Heights
Do you know all the birds that soar through the air? Use binoculars to spot them in the trees, race to hide in the butterfly garden with friends, and visit the KNC Birds of Prey.
Session 8: August 4-8 | Water You Waiting For?
Explore how ducks and other aquatic life adapt, get messy in the mud pit, search for creatures in Trout Run, and race down the slip-n-slide at full speed!

Grades 4-5: Wild Child Day Camps

Wild Child Day Camp: Grades 4-5

What’s better than a day exploring the coolest parts of KNC? Hike the trails, discover awesome places, make new friends, and enjoy epic adventures.
9 AM–4 PM, MONDAY–FRIDAY | $275 MEMBER, $315 NON-MEMBER

Session 1: June 9-13 | Let’s Go Wild
Learn about caring for animals from our Animal Care Team, hike to Source Pond to find signs of the beavers that call KNC home and make molds from tracks we find.

Session 2: June 16-20 | Art is Life
Become a photographer and capture your favorite spots at camp or bring them to life with your paintbrush. Explore the Glen Vista Gallery and unleash your creativity at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Let’s bring nature in art alive!

Session 3: June 23-27| Tree Foragers
Let’s search high and low for tree resources we use every day! Build animal habitats, make art in the trees with yarn, test your fire-building skills, slip down the slip-n-slide, and relax in a hammock.

Session 4: July 7-11 | Solar Power
Learn about solar power, bake pizza in a solar oven, and do fun experiments with the sun’s heat and light. Feel the heat of the sun at KNC’s highest spot on Raptor Ridge, race down the slip-n-slide, and relax under the trees.

Session 5: July 14-18 | Dino World
Go on a fossil hunt in the gravel pits, create a dinosaur track, and dig up secrets of the past with Western Michigan University’s Geological and Environmental Sciences.

Session 6: July 21-25 | Insect Impossible
Learn why insects are the best secret agents on Earth! Play games that mimic bug super skills, go on a mission to find their hideouts, and get up close with live bugs. Create a bug hotel and test your skills with the insect challenge.

Session 7: July 28- August 1 | Flock Together
Discover all the birds at KNC! Use binoculars to spot nests and flying friends in the trees. Learn how birds build nests and make your own.

Session 8: August 4-8 | Pirate Expedition
Avast, me hearties! “X” marks the spot on a modern-day treasure hunt. Practice your navigation skills, hoist your pirate flag, and swashbuckle your way to watery adventures.

Grades 6-8: Adventure Skills Camps

Adventure Skills Camp: Grades 6-8

Each of our middle school camps includes a Thursday night campout onsite at KNC or offsite at Markin Glen County Park. Learn how to cook outdoors, practice Leave No Trace principles and gear up for epic outdoor challenges. These camps build leadership skills and tackle teamwork on “low ropes” initiatives and other activities. Campers should be able to carry a 30-pound pack, walk two miles daily, and use backcountry bathroom techniques. Want to skip the overnight? No problem! You can still join the fun until noon on Friday, and the price stays the same.

9 AM–4 PM, MONDAY–WEDNESDAY. Overnight Campout is 9 AM THURSDAY – NOON FRIDAY. Tents and 3 meals are provided. | $340 MEMBER, $380 NON-MEMBER

Session 1: June 9-13 | Fur-vival Master
Find out how to build the best fires in the worst situations, navigate yourself to be un-lost, and what to do when you forget your water bottle at home. Join counselors in the fun of adapting to the woods like animals! Camp offsite Thursday night.

Session 2: June 16- 20 | Nature Artistry
Take a closer look at the beauty of nature with local artists as they teach you some of their favorite skills. Compose a symphony of natural sound, mold clay, and make wearable and classic art as you delve into the natural world of creativity. Camp onsite Thursday night.

Session 3: June 23-27 | Poet-Tree
Do you hear that whisper? It’s the voice of the trees. Learn about the different types of trees around KNC and clear the land of invasive plants so the trees can thrive. Get inspiration from their song and try a new skill by writing poems or short stories. Camp offsite Thursday night.

Session 4: July 7-11 | Night Quest
Be knights of the night with us! Track the sun and learn about solar energy during the day, then lay under the stars and moon journal at night. Learn to use a telescope and search the galaxy with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. Go for a night hike and camp onsite Thursday night.

Session 5: July 14-18 | Prehistoric
Do you know which prehistoric creatures once roamed Michigan? The Earth can tell us much about history and the creatures that walked before us. Examine objects with Western Michigan University’s Geological and Environmental Sciences and visit The Schmaltz Geology Museum and Dinosaur Park. We’ll hike the KNC gravel pits to search deep within for fossils. Camp offsite Thursday night.

Session 7: July 28– August 1 | Birds of a Feather
Learn from Animal Care staff how to care for Birds of Prey and design enriching toys for them. Build leadership skills by working together, coaching, and encouraging each other to become the ultimate flock. How do feathers guide your arrows? Practice your aim at the archery range to become the best. Camp offsite Thursday night.

Session 8: August 4-8 | Pirate Expedition Extreme Edition
Avast me hearties! “X” marks the spot on a modern-day treasure hunt. Practice your pirate navigation skills. Hoist your pirate flag and swashbuckle to adventure with a water war. Build your own ship and see if it sails down Trout Run. Find the treasures that the Source Pond water holds. Walk the Plank down the slip-n-slide to cool off. Camp onsite Thursday night.

Grades 6-8: Adventure Trek

Adventure Trek: Grades 6-8

Are you ready for the ultimate camp experience? Campout offsite four nights and five days as we explore the wonders of Michigan. Learn camping skills like trip planning, food preparation, Leave No Trace principles, and proper gear use. Gain leadership and teamwork experience on the “low ropes” initiatives. Note: Please bring lunch for Monday. Participants should be able to carry 30lb packs, walk two miles a day, and relieve themselves in areas where facilities are not available.
9AM MONDAY – NOON FRIDAY. OVERNIGHT CAMPOUTS ARE MONDAY–THURSDAY NIGHTS. THE WEEK IS SPENT OFF-SITE. TENTS AND MEALS ARE PROVIDED.
$470 MEMBER, $510 NON-MEMBER

Session 6: July 21-25 | Water Adventures Awaits!
Set sail on an unforgettable charter fishing trip on Lake Michigan, then unwind as you paddle through scenic woods and wetlands on a river kayak journey. Dive into hands-on experiments to test the water quality of KNC’s lakes and streams and discover the hidden world of macroinvertebrates! Trek across stunning dunes and get ready for a splashing good time!

Grades 9-12: Outdoor Leaders Camp

OUTDOOR LEADERS: Grades 9-12
Get a head start on your leadership skills! This two-week program will give you essential job skills and employment training experience. Learn to work as a team in the first week, discover your leadership skills as a positive role model for youth. Expand your knowledge of nature and learn to use games and activities to help kids grow. The second week, you’ll advance to work directly with younger campers and counselors to lead these activities.
9 AM – 4 PM MONDAY-FRIDAY | $395 MEMBER, $435 NON-MEMBER
Session 1: June 9- 13 & Session 2: June 16-20

Neurodiversity Naturalists Camps: Ages 5-8 & 9-12

Explore nature through your lens! KNC offers a camp where every child can learn, experience, and find joy in the outdoors. Designed for unique learning styles, our counselors will work with campers to choose weekly themes for a personalized adventure.

These camps are led by an experienced staff with support from a team member with several years of experience working with neurodiverse children. Ratios will be one adult for every three children. All youth are invited to register for every camp program we offer. We welcome questions to see if this is a fit for you. Snacks are included, but please bring lunch if you like!

*If your child needs a smaller crowd, join us for an earlier Open House time from 9-10 am Saturday, June 7.

Embark on a daily adventure to discover water creatures, insects, and the plants they rely on. Search for critters like grubs and slugs underground, draw your findings, and learn about their connections to the environment. With sensory play, nature art, and hands-on activities, each day brings new wonders to explore and understand how nature works together.
10 AM–1 PM, MONDAY–FRIDAY | SNACK INCLUDED
$225 MEMBER, $265 NON-MEMBER
Ages 5-8 Session 3: June 23-27
Ages 9-12 Session 5: July 14-18

Neurodiversity Adventure Camp: Ages 11-15

*If your child needs a smaller crowd, join us for an earlier Open House time from 9-10 am Saturday, June 7.

Learn to navigate the wilderness with compass skills, read history in the rocks, explore the solar system, and discover why we have seasons! Counselors will work with the registered participants to choose themes for this week, starting with these initial ideas.
10 AM–1 PM, MONDAY–FRIDAY | SNACK INCLUDED
$225 MEMBER, $265 NON-MEMBER
Session 7: July 28- August 1

Mark your calendars for year-round camp fun!

Spring Camp

March 31 – April 4, 2025

Add more fun to your spring break at KNC Camp. Enjoy themed, age-appropriate stories, art, games, activities, journaling, observation, and hikes. With daily themes and activities, it’s sure to be a great week!

Registration opens February 15.

Summer Camp

June – August

Summers at KNC are full of adventure, excitement, and fun. Many campers call KNC camp their home away from home. Enjoy weekly theme-based activities, new adventures, make new friends, and learn to have a positive impact on the natural world.

Registration opens February 15.

Winter Camp

December 29, 2025 – January 2, 2026

Our Winter Camp is packed with woody adventures, thrilling games, and hands-on activities that will have your kids exploring, learning, and loving the outdoors. From building forts to tracking winter wildlife, it’s an experience they won’t want to miss!

Registration opens in November.

Welcome to Camp at the Kalamazoo Nature Center!

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