VIRTUAL
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMP
REGISTER FOR OUR *NEW* VIRTUAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS!
Based on the Governor's recent “Safer-at-Home” order and best practice recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, we have decided to transition our traditional, in-person camp sessions to a virtual format. This decision did not come easily, but we feel that it is in the best interest of the health and safety of our campers, families and staff.
Though we are not able to offer traditional , in-person camps this summer, we are pleased to offer the option to participate in virtual summer camp sessions!
Children ages 3 1/2 to 7 years of age with an adult can join us every Monday morning for a fun, nature-themed story and self-led activity or craft that you can do at home.
$10 for non-members, $5 for members
Engage with our instructors and counselors in a new way! With planned limited screen time and ample outdoor activities for discovery and enrichment, we will provide an "Adventure Pack" for pick-up at the Nature Center for an enhanced camp experience.
Cost per Week:
$95 Non-members, $85 Members
Virtual Outdoor Adventure Camp
runs through August 13!
Spots still available!
NOTE: We ask that currently registered camp families let us know no later than June 1 if they plan to make cancellations. Enrollment in each virtual camp session is limited and this will help us ensure the logistics and registration management of each session goes smoothly. Per our traditional policy, cancellations made after June 1 will not be guaranteed a refund unless we are able to fill your spot and will be subject to a $15 processing fee.
VIEW CAMP SCHEDULE
View virtual camp themes by week
MEMBER DISCOUNT
Members will receive a $10 discount off of each camp week. Become a member today!
A membership pays for itself with only three week-long traditional camp registrations! If you would like to use your member discount, use your Membership ID number as your personal coupon code to receive your discount at checkout. Your ID number and expiration date can be found on your membership card or in the email sent to open registration. Please call the Nature Center Welcome Desk at (216) 321-5935, ext. 235 before registering if you do not have your number. If you've already registered and did not use your Membership ID number or temporary coupon code to receive your member discount, please contact the Nature Center and we will be happy to apply your membership discount, minus a 5% processing fee.
A MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL AND CAMPS COORDINATOR LAUREN SCHMIDT
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I don't want my camper in front of a computer screen all summer. What will virtual Outdoor Adventure Camp look like?
A: Though summer camp will have a virtual component to it, our goal is to get campers immersed in nature as much as possible this summer. We will have twice weekly live meetings with the camp group, educators and teen volunteers and these will serve to maintain the social aspect of camp as well as to orient our campers with activities, games, competitions and projects for them to complete throughout each week. These check-ins will also allow children to share their creations and projects with their camp group. We also plan to have prerecorded videos to help campers along the way.
Based on family feedback, we learned that activities and supplies are important to you. We will be creating an “adventure pack” for each week’s experience available for pick-up at the Nature Center.
Q: I do not believe my youngest camper will benefit from an online camp structure as virtual schooling was difficult. What options are available to me?
A: For parents of younger kids who are concerned about their child’s ability to participate in a week-long virtual camp, we have expanded our Nature Story Time programming from 3 times a summer to once a week for all 9 weeks of camp. These online programs will continue to be on Monday mornings and will be no more than 20 minutes long, including a story based on the theme of the day and a prompt for a self-led activity at home. These programs will continue to be $10 for non-members and $5 for members. Registration can be found on our website https://shakerlakes.org/camp/.
Q: What will a basic week look like during virtual Outdoor Adventure Camp?
A: Each week our virtual camps will include the following:
- 2 online meetings with the instructor and the camp group on Monday and Friday. These virtual gatherings will give us time to see faces and smiles, share ideas, learn about nature, and do fun activities together. They will range in time between 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on the age group and what activities are planned for the week.
- 3 pre-recorded videos that will be sent daily Tuesday through Thursday hosted by your instructor. These videos may be a story, experiment, craft, activity, hike, or a challenge to complete at your convenience that day. Videos will range in time from 10-20 minutes long.
- The instructor will email once or twice a week with extra activities and fun things to do surrounding that week’s theme. Campers and parents may respond and email instructors with questions about any activities. They may also send pictures of something they found outside or a craft/activity they completed.
- An exciting “adventure pack” to pick up each week that will include overall instructions for activities, experiments, crafts or challenges. Supplies and tools will be included to complete all the fun things to do inside and outside your home.
- An “Outdoor Adventure Camp Certificate of Completion”
Q: How many children will be in each camp group?
A: Each camp group will have up to 25 participants.
Q: I am interested in virtual Outdoor Adventure Camp but no longer see the theme that I had originally registered for on the calendar emailed to me.
A: Due to the style of virtual camp, we have combined our Nature Nursery (Pre-K) and Squirrel Scout (K) camps together as well as Nature Explorers (3rd-5th grade) and Eco Rangers (6th-9th grade). Not only is this common practice for this style of camp but it allows us to offer more programming for our oldest campers and expand Nature Nursery camp to M-F. With this change, some themes have changed or been removed. Themes that were eliminated were not conducive to a virtual camp or social distancing (Archery) and some were moved to a different format. For example, Nature Nursery themes no longer offered as part of a regular camp program are now offered as Nature Story Time themes.
Q: I use Outdoor Adventure Camp for childcare during the summer and digital camp is not a viable option for my family. How will the Nature Center handle cancellations and refunds?
A: We realize that this new format will not be practical for every family. As a courtesy to our camp families during these trying times, we will be refunding all camp fees, including the $50 processing fee. Please be aware that due to demand and processing partial refunds for those enrolling in our virtual camp, cancellations and refunds may take several weeks to process.
Q: Will the Nature Center be offering any options for in-person programming this summer?
A: While we cannot make a final decision at this time, we do hope to be able to offer one-time programming such as archery for campers in 1st-9th grade and creek walking explorations for all ages towards the end of the summer or whenever it is safe to do so. However, this will be based on the State of Ohio’s guidelines at the time. Please look for updates on this throughout the summer.
Q: What will the price be for virtual camp?
A: Each virtual camp will be $95 per week for non-members and $85 for members regardless of age group. There will be no sibling discount offered this summer. We are no longer accounting for half day options, field trip fees or transportation, which allows all virtual camps to be priced the same. The $95 registration fee covers 8-10 hours of activity throughout the week and an “adventure pack” full of the supplies required to complete them.
