Exploring Nature

Format

Exploring Nature runs in two 5-day sessions. Participants can attend one or both weeks. The main program runs from 9 am to 4 pm, with flexible drop-off between 8 and 9 am and flexible pick-up between 4 and 5 pm. On Friday of each week, the formal program ends early (3 pm) so participants can show their family and friends their favorite spots at Rice Creek. Rest assured that flexible pick-up is still available until 5 pm on Fridays for those unable to come to the 3 pm family and friend time.

Campers are typically out-of-doors rain or shine, except during severe weather such as a thunderstorm. The pavilion provides shelter from rain and sun.

What's a typical day like?

Each day begins with a tradition called "the spot," in which all campers and instructors gather together and one camper from each group shares something interesting they discovered the previous day. This is a great way for the different age groups to interact and the campers to get to know one another.

After the spot, each group begins their morning activity. Activities could include:

• Exploring the life of a stream
• Observing and catching insects in a field
• Visiting a woodland pool and looking for frogs and salamanders
• Going on a nature scavenger hunt
• Learning to identify common tree species
• Engaging in an interactive ecological learning game like Bat-Moth
• Testing Rice Creek's water quality
• Getting creative with art activities

Groups enjoy lunch outdoors, in "the field" or back at the pavilion, and then head out to a new location for the afternoon or engage in learning games near the building.

Participants are split into groups according to age. While parents/guardians can request their child be placed in the same group as another child during registration, we cannot guarantee that children will be in the same group if they are more than 1 year apart in age or more than 1 grade level apart.

Groups are filled on a first-come basis, upon receiving full payment with completed registration materials.

Please check back for updated details pertaining to summer 2024.

For the 2024 summer, there is an option to have lunch provided for an additional $45 per child, per week. If you receive a scholarship, lunch will be included free of charge.  If your child brings lunch, it must be nut-free. Snacks are not provided. If your child is frequently hungry, we suggest packing nut-free snacks.

Exploring Nature is led by K-12 educators who are passionate about outdoor education. Our youngest age groups (5-8 year-olds) have an instructor and an instructor's assistant. All other groups have a single instructor. We cap groups so as not to exceed 12:1 camper-to-instructor ratios.

Participants may also interface with Kristen Haynes, the Director of Exploring Nature, with other program or field station staff, and with guest presenters, but will always remain under the custody, care, and supervision of their instructor.

All program staff have been cleared by SUNY Oswego's Child Protection Compliance Administrator and have completed mandatory child protection training.

Flexible drop-off and pick-up activity providers include SUNY Oswego students who have also been trained and cleared through SUNY Oswego's Child Protection Compliance Administrator.

We have gone paperless. If you experience difficulties with the online registration, please reach out to Chelsea Ginett at [email protected].

Based on our current guidance, we expect all restrictions to be lifted unless children are in a quarantine period after recovering from COVID-19, in which case, they will need to wear a mask while indoors or during close outdoor contact with others. If additional safety measures become necessary prior to the program start per CDC or the NYS Department of Health, we will inform parents/guardians as soon as possible. Your children's health is our #1 priority.

Cancelations made by June 17 will be refunded by check with no questions asked. After June 17, refunds will not be issued except in the case of extenuating circumstances like illness or a family emergency.

To request a refund, please email [email protected], including your name and mailing address.