Explore the great outdoors from the lens of STEM at the Science Outside Summer Camp!
The week includes lots of exciting, engaging time at the Science Mill, field trips to nearby parks, and one overnight at Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve (June 13-14).
Monday - Friday, June 10-14, 8:30am-3:30pm each day
Activities cover Environmental STEM topics such as: Conservation and Land Stewardship, Water Resources, Wildlife Biodiversity and Resilience and Geology!
These and similar activities expose students to:
Adaptations • Taxonomy • Wildlife conservation • Herpetology • Tools of environmental science • Data Collection and Management • Technology-coding • Remote Sensing • Citizen Science
Ages
Primary: Rising 4th-6th or equivalent
Secondary: 6th-8th or equivalent
Registration fees and information
Full Week: $135
Single day: $35
*Overnight add-on for single day camper: $25
Need help covering registration fees? Scholarship funds available! Call 844-263-6405, ext. 1008
To register for single days, select your preferred day in the ITINERARY section below.
ITINERARY
The five-day camp takes campers to different parks and farms in the Hill Country, such as the WestCave Discovery Center, Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, and the Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve!
Drop off is at 8:30am, pick up is 3:30pm every day at the Science Mill EXCEPT on June 13-14, which will be at Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve
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Students tour WestCave Discovery center, learn about the plants, animals, hydrology and geology of the preserve plus the importance of environmental conservation and land stewardship. This day includes a short trip on a bus and a short hike into the canyon at WestCave. Please be prepared with comfortable closed-toed shoes and socks for hiking, comfortable outdoor clothes that are weather appropriate, a packed lunch, and a water bottle (for a picnic lunch). After our trip we will return to the museum for an afternoon focused on water quality and conservation with hands-on STEM aligned activities.
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Students will visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm and learn about life in the hill country in the 1800’s! See how they would care for animals, cook and manage their environment with simpler technologies that we can learn a lot from today! We will take a short hike and try to catch a glimpse of bison and other animals in the pasture, before riding the bus back to the Science Mill. In the afternoon, we will explore the story of the bison and the great plains, take a walk through the Settlement Park and discuss how the modern regenerative agriculture movement looks to the past for guidance. This day includes hands-on STEM activities with arts integration.
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We will begin our day with a navigation themed exploration session! Learn how to use a compass, GPS and find a geocache! Use your skills to explore the biodiversity of the location with a bioblitz! Explore flower anatomy, ecology and biomimicry with pollination and insect investigations. This day includes hands-on STEM aligned activities where nature and technology meet to amplify curiosity and engage learners.
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MEET-UP at Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve
Students will be meeting at our partner site, Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve (Selah) for this exciting day of camp! We will take a highly coveted tour of this pristine preserve and learn the inspiring story of Selah, explore ancient anthropological and fossil sites, take a sound mapping walk through the arboretum and play ecology themed camp games! Add the overnight package to extend the experience!
Overnight: A highly encouraged addition! (included in the 5 day package). This experience will allow your student to stay overnight at the beautiful bunkhouse at Bamberger Ranch. We will take a walk to the world’s first chiroptorium and watch the Mexican Free-Tailed bats emerge when darkness falls, then head back to the bunkhouse for a yummy dinner and s’mores followed by a late night moth trap party. What kinds of nocturnal critters will we find? The bunkhouse has facilities for boys and girls with bunk beds and mattresses, AC and private bathrooms. Students will need to bring their own bedding.
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MEET-UP at Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve
Students will enjoy a visit to Bamberger Ranch Nature Preserve (Selah) for a lovely morning hike to the natural spring on the property, with birding and herping, plus insect collecting, identification and pinning activities. Students will reflect on their experiences, work on their projects, learn about STEM careers in the outdoors, play games and enjoy nature. A graduation ceremony will be held at 3:30 PM at the Selah education center.
The camp includes lots of time outside, light hiking, and activities in the heat - please remember to be prepared with water, sunscreen, etc. Snacks provided, campers required to bring their own lunch.