Exploring Nature | SUNY Oswego

Explore, play, and learn this summer at Rice Creek! Exploring Nature is a summer camp that encourages young people's curiosity about their world through habitat exploration, nature walks, learning games, and science and creative activities.

We invite children and young adults ages 5 to 14 to experience our state-of-the-art science facility, 350-acre natural area, and 5 miles of trails skirting forests, fields, ponds, and streams.

Through guided immersion in a natural environment, participants develop a sense of place, a connection to nature, an understanding of their local environment, and learn how to be good stewards of the Earth.

Exploring Nature is an area tradition first established in 1983. Our dedicated and passionate instructors have been involved with Exploring Nature for many years, and almost all are certified teachers.

Dates

Week 1: July 5–9, 2027

Week 2: July 12–16, 2027

Daily Schedule

Monday–Friday

Flexible drop-off from 8–9 a.m.

Flexible pick-up from 3–5 p.m.

Cost Per Week

2026 Rates

Standard rate: $225

Optional provided lunch: $55

Rice Creek Associates members receive a $10 discount per week

Registration

Check back in 2027 for registration information.

Want to join our early alert email list? Contact our team.

Join Our Team

We are always looking for great team members! Current and former Pre-K–12 educators and environmental educators are invited to apply. Instructors should have an interest or experience in nature and environmental education. Some natural history knowledge and experience working at or attending a summer camp is helpful, but not required. Training is provided. The program takes place at Rice Creek Field Station, located on Thompson Road in Oswego. Compensation is $1,500 plus orientation compensation.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, starting January 1. To apply, please email the materials below to Kristen Haynes, Director of Exploring Nature, at [email protected]:

Cover letter detailing interest and related experience
Contact information for two professional references

Children pointing at the ground, standing along a wooded trail

Scholarships

Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding through the Barbara Shineman Summer Scholars program. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need to qualifying families until our funds for a given year are used up. Our scholarship application is integrated with the registration form.

Families who do not quite meet the income eligibility requirement for tuition scholarships may be eligible for free lunch scholarships, thanks to funding from Rice Creek Associates and private donors. This is also integrated into registration.

Two girls interacting with a small critter

Our children absolutely love this program and look forward to Exploring Nature every year! We love that it gets them thinking about the world around them and how they can interact with it!

2026 Exploring Nature Parent

My daughter loved the program. For someone who is afraid of bugs and was nervous being at a camp where she didn't know anyone, she came home begging to go back again and every day was a new adventure. She learned so much and loved to share with everyone.

2024 Exploring Nature Parent

I love how much the kids were outside. They came home exhausted and sweaty and dirty every day! It was great! I also appreciate they while they were learning, there was a lot of unstructured time for them to enjoy so it didn’t feel like a continuation of school.

2024 Exploring Nature Parent

She had an absolute blast and was annoyed with me that I didn't sign her up for both weeks. She loved coming home and telling me about the new things that she found each day, showing me her entries in her nature journal, and she was so proud when she got to share with the whole group. I love that she spent so much time exploring the beauty of nature!

2026 Exploring Nature Parent

As a first-time participant, I really appreciated the booklet with the info about their days, staff, and other helpful info about lunch/bug spray/etc. I loved checking the Google Drive for the daily pictures!

2026 Exploring Nature Parent

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What's the format of Exploring Nature? What's a typical day like?

Format

Exploring Nature runs in two 5-day sessions. Participants can attend one or both weeks. The main program runs from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, with flexible drop-off between 8 and 9 am and flexible pick-up between 3 and 5 pm. On Friday of each week, the formal program ends early (2 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 2 pm family and friend time.

Participants are typically out-of-doors rain or shine, except during severe weather such as a thunderstorm or when air quality is unhealthy.* The pavilion provides shelter from rain and sun.

What's a typical day like?

After settling in with their groups indoors during flexible drop-off, groups begin their day outdoors with one or more outdoor activities. These 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.

Each day ends with a tradition called "the spot," in which all participants and instructors gather together and one or more volunteers from each group share something interesting they discovered that day. This is a great way for the different age groups to interact and the participants to get to know one another.

*According to SUNY Oswego's air quality policy for youth programs, AQI >100 as reported by AirNow.gov triggers rotating indoor breaks, while participants have to stay inside the building when AQI >150.

How are groups assigned?

Participants are grouped according to age and grade level. During registration, participants are enrolled in the grades K–1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, or 8–9 cohorts. Within each cohort, participants are then split according to age. Typically, each of the three youngest cohorts is split in two. Sometimes this means that two children in the same grade are split across groups depending on their dates of birth.

Friendship and Grouping Requests

At SUNY Oswego Youth Programs, we prioritize creating a developmentally appropriate environment by grouping children based on age and grade level. While we welcome requests for children to be placed together, we cannot guarantee all accommodations. Please note that all grouping requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the first day of the program. Requests received after this deadline cannot be considered as rosters will be finalized. To inquire about grouping, please contact Chelsea Ginett at [email protected].

Are lunch and snacks provided?

Snacks and lunch are not automatically provided. Families can opt in for provided lunch for an additional $55 per week (2026 rate), per child. Lunch is included free of charge for scholarship recipients. If your child brings lunch, it must be nut-free.

We recommend all participants bring additional nut-free snacks, since they will be very active during the day and often are hungrier than usual.

Who will my child interact with?

Exploring Nature is led by K-12 educators who are passionate about outdoor education. Our younger age groups (5-12 year-olds) have an instructor and a student assistant. Older groups have a single instructor. Groups are capped at 10.

Participants may also interface with Chelsea Ginett, Youth Program Manager, Kristen Haynes, the Director of Exploring Nature, other program or field station staff, and with guest presenters. They will always remain under the custody, care, and supervision of their instructor and/or student assistant.

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

Is paper registration available?

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

How do I request a refund?

Cancelations made by June 15, 2026 will be refunded by check with no questions asked. After June 15, 2026, 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.

Contact us

For registration questions, please contact [email protected]. For program questions, please contact [email protected] or 315-312-6677. Follow us on Facebook for the most up-to-date information!