Summer Youth Programs

Registration begins March 1.

Eco-Adventures Day Camp

June 11- July 26 (no camp the week of July 1-5)

$40 per child (fee covers all 6 sessions)
Contact: 217-896-2455, sclementz@ccfpd.org
Ages 3-11; afternoon sessions limited to ages 3-8.

June 11-14 - Empowering Future Naturalists
Empower means to make (someone) stronger and more confident. This week campers will focus on building a connection to nature and growing an appreciation for what nature has to offer. We know that some things can make us nervous and afraid but we will face the unknown head on and leave with enough knowledge to teach the group! 

June 18-21 - Hooray for Herptiles
Did you know you probably have herptiles living in your backyard? Some kinds rarely make a sound, but others make a lot of racket – you’ve probably heard them more often than you’ve seen them. Don’t know what they are? Here’s a hint: they’re all cold-blooded.

June 25-28 - Marvelous Mammals 
I am warm, fuzzy, and always on the lookout for food. What am I? We will learn the remarkable traits and adaptations that make mammals the masters of their environment. 

July 9-12 - Did You Hear That? 
Squirrels chatter, birds chirp and tweet, and coyotes howl. What is thunder? Why does the rain sound different in a forest than on a roof? What do these sounds mean? Campers will get an earful about nature’s sounds and will talk your ear off with all the facts they hear!

July 16-19 - Whiz Kid 
Calling all whiz kids who like to build things that float, fly and even explode! Think like a scientist and design like a real engineer as we set out to conduct fun experiments. The great outdoors will be our laboratory as we discover how nature puts science to cool use. 

July 23-26 - The Great Forest Escape
Tick tock! The clock is running and the entire camp will be faced with a riddle. Come prepared to participate in a series of interactive, eco-based challenges to receive the clues to solve the puzzle. Every challenge that is successfully completed, from tracking animals to examining evidence under a microscope, will bring us one step closer to completing this camp-wide forest escape experience.

CHOOSE A TIME, DAY & LOCATION:
*Must be 3 years old by first day of camp; 
*Afternoon programs limited to children age 3 - 8

Grand Prairie Kids

Age 5 - 12 $5 per child per session
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods
Abe Lincoln didn’t use power tools and neither did we.  Learn how we build and simulate early log cabins.

June 19: Phoning it In
Today we’ll talk about communicating. We’ll dial telephones and see what it takes to make a telegraph work in our museum. 

June 26: How to Build a Wigwam
Special construction methods are used in building our wigwam. Learn how museum staff did it, and who lived in those homes!

July 10: Moving Day! 
We have to move a lot of artifacts in a museum, just like the earliest settlers moved their homes. Today we’ll talk about how the to pack museum objects and a prairie household!

Archaeology Full Day Camp

July 1 & July 2 $30 per child
Ages 7-11
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Activity Center, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Parents are welcome but not required in this camp

Who Wants to Work in a Museum? 
We Do!

July 17  $15 per child
Ages 8-11
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods

Ever thought you wanted to work in a museum? Do you collect things? Bring three items from your own personal collection and work with real museum professionals to identify, catalogue and display your collection in your own mini-exhibit. The exhibit will stay at the museum for the rest of the summer! Class size limited to six. 

Tiny Tots Garden Camp

June 13- July 25 (no camp week of July 4th)
Ages 3-5, $35 per child
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Discovery Garden/Museum of the Grand Prairie,
Lake of the Woods
Parental accompaniment is required.

June 13: Plant the Garden
Campers will dig, plant, water, and sow in the garden. Working together, they’ll learn how plants grow, how to transplant, and what it takes to maintain a garden.

June 20: Miniature Garden Day
Come ready to create a miniature garden scene using toys, figurines and small plants. Take them home and watch them grow all summer!

June 27: Squirmy Wormies, and Creepy Critters
Is your child fascinated by bugs? Children will get up close and personal with insects in the garden. 

July 11: Awesome Blossom Day
Kids will learn about flowers, and how and what makes them pretty and colorful. Kids will ‘pollinate’ flowers and make a beautiful bouquet to bring home.

July 18: Wet Week
Come ready to stay cool in the hot sun. This week we will learn about the water cycle, explore a pond, and play water games. 

July 25: Fill My Tummy with Something Yummy
Campers will explore the garden with taste buds and try out some tasty snacks. 

Garden Adventures Day Camp

June 11- July 23 (no camp week of July 4th)
Ages 5-10,  $35 per child
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Discovery Garden/Museum of the Grand Prairie,
Lake of the Woods

June 11: Plant the Garden
Campers will dig, plant, water, weed and sow in the garden. Working together, they will learn how plants grow, how to transplant, and what it takes to maintain a garden.

June 18: Miniature Garden Day
Come ready to create a miniature garden scene using toys, figurines and small plants. Take them home and watch them grow all summer!

June 25: Squirmy Wormies, and Creepy Critters
Is your child fascinated by bugs? Children will get up close and personal with insects in the garden. 

July 9: Awesome Blossom Day
Kids will learn about flowers, and how and what makes them pretty and colorful. Kids will ‘pollinate’ flowers and make a beautiful bouquet to take home. 

July 16: Wet Week
Come ready to stay cool in the hot sun. This week we will learn about the water cycle, explore a pond, and play water games. 

A Mischievous Kid’s Guide to Life 

Ages 7-11  $40 per child 
June 3-June 6
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Want to learn how to build a fort and cook on a fire? How do things float on the air and water? Come join us to do things you may not get to do at home.  Come to this four day camp and we’ll make a little mischief! For registration information see page 3.

June 3: Fire
Who doesn’t like to eat? Want to learn to make a few simple campfire recipes? Join us as we tryout a few fun cooking on a campfire recipes and eat to our heart’s content!

June 4: Air
What makes things fly? We will learn how to make things that fly and try them out!

June 5: Earth 
What would it be like to live in the woods? Learn about things that live and grow in the woods while making our own fort in the forest!

June 6: Water
Do you like to play in the water? Today is all about water! We will play games with water, make boats that float and much, much more! Come ready to get wet!

Believe It or Not: Nature’s Extraordinary Adaptations 
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Elks Lake Pavilion: Monday, July 1

Homer Lake Forest Preserve
Interpretive Center: Tuesday, July 2

10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Ages 8-11
$15 per child

Birds with spikey tongues? Animals that breathe through their tails? Seeds that crawl? It may sound strange, but it is all true! Join us as we investigate the amazing ways animals and plants have adapted to their environment to not only survive, but thrive!