Warm and sunny bluebird days have me thinking about summer and all the fun it will bring! As the Summer Programs Coordinator at Walking Mountains Science Center I have the wonderful role of planning our Summer Science Camps. From booking huts to planning curriculum I truly think about summer every day! Our dynamic team of Educators work hard to provide an exceptional and interactive Summer Camp experience for every camper.
This summer we have chosen a theme of rescuing summer from the indoors. Don’t waste the warmest months of the year inside! While we won’t be flying over the Eagle Valley in capes and jet packs I feel passionate about our mission this summer. By providing unique experiences that immerse campers in the natural world, Walking Mountains offers a way to spend less time indoors and more opportunities for kids to explore their own backyard. Camps are already starting to sell out so visit our website today to sign your child up for a summer of exploration and character building.
Our camps serve students entering 1st grade through 12th grade. We offer week-long day camps, single-day camps, and overnights. Every camp is tailored to a specific age group allowing us to make the most of each day. We are excited to offer scholarship opportunities which can be applied for on our website that are funded through the generous support of Slifer Smith & Frampton, Town of Eagle and the Eagle County Conservation District.
Walking Mountains Science Center Summer Camps allow kids to experience the wild places of the Eagle River Valley while nurturing their connection to the natural world through daily exploration of local trails. Campers investigate principles of ecology and develop an understanding of scientific concepts through fun, adventure, experiments, and exploration.
This year Walking Mountains is offering week long day camps for all ages. For campers entering 1st and 2nd grades in the fall, adventure through Volcanoes, Caves, and Canyons, let your imagination take flight with Winged Wonders, or come back down to Earth with Decomposer Detectives, Beavers and Builders, and Shutterbugs and Beetle Galleries. 3rd and 4th grade campers can journey through time with Earthquakes, Layers, and Landforms, learn to be their own hero with Surviving the Wild, meet fellow wilderness protectors in Guardians of the Forest, and more. Campers entering 5th and 6th grades can grow their culinary skills and local food production expertise in Farm to Table, hone important skills with Ready, Set STEM! and conquer the valley with Adventure Seekers. Campers entering 7th and 8th graders can set their sights on the future with Solar Solutions and learn about the importance of renewable energy while designing solar powered structures.
Is your little one more of a weekday warrior? Their single-day programs, offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am – 4:00pm, are intended for children entering the 1st and 2nd grades in the fall. Each week educators will introduce a new science theme for exploration and adventure at Walking Mountains Science Center. Activities will be different for each day, but will include hiking, crafts, and cool experiments. Topics include Mammal Detectives, Wild Wetlands, and Mysteries of the Night.
Based out of 10th Mountain Division Huts, Walking Mountains’ overnight camps allow young explorers, scientists, and stewards to experience the thrill of backcountry living and all it has to offer. Camps begin and end at their Science Center in Avon. 3rd and 4th graders can explore the Rocky Mountains with Mountain Quest or investigate signs of wildlife with Tracks & Trails. 5th and 6th graders can conquer a slew of obstacles with Wilderness Challenge and learn from previous naturalists by recreating famous journeys taken by early explorers in the Rockies with Pathfinders. 7th and 8th graders discover their potential as extraordinary wilderness experts in Ridge to River or take a trip through the sky with The Earth, the Stars and BEYOND! For the more seasoned explorers entering 9th-12th grades in the fall, campers can test themselves with a four-day backpacking trip. A beginner session is offered in July and a more advanced adventure takes place in August.
Visit www.walkingmountains.org/camps to rescue summer from the indoors.