Summer programming for 2021 has now wrapped up for the year. Watch for new program information coming in Spring of 2022!
How to Register:
Click here to print a registration packet.
Return information and check to Madison County Conservation Board, P.O. Box 129, Winterset, IA 50273.
Or click here to register your child online through mycountyparks.com.
Salamander Camp (Ages 5-7)
Session 1: June 8-10
Session 2: August 3-5
Time: 9-11:30 am
Cost: $25
Camp participants will spend me discovering all the things that can be found in different levels of the natural world including the water, soil, and air. We will learn about the things that swim in Middle River and take short hikes in Pammel Park where we will hunt for frogs, and fossils along sand bars, search for snails along the trails, and count the birds that fly overhead. There will be interactive games and scavenger hunts to help us learn about the inhabitants of Pammel Park. This camp will also feature a lesson on the animal food chain during which the campers will create an interactive food chain craft.
Chipmunk Camp (Ages 6-9)
June 15-17
Time 1-3:30 pm
Cost:$25
During this 3-day adventure, camp participants will learn about the animals that call the nature center home and discover what different animals need to survive. We will learn how our actions affect the world around us and how we can help protect the environment. Campers will also learn about life cycles of park inhabitants including frogs and butterflies. Featured activities will include frog catching, insect netting, and critter catching in Middle River.
Kestrel Camp (Ages 8-12)
June 22-24
Time 9am to Noon
Cost:$25
Campers will spend their time learning about the different types of creatures that reside in Pammel Park including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and the many types of aquatic organisms found in Middle River. Daily adventures will include animal tracking throughout the park, fossil hunting along sandbars, critter catching at the ford, bird watching at the bird blind, and hikes along the backbone trail. There will be an emphasis on water quality and the role it plays in the lives of animals.
*Outdoor Adventures (Ages 10-15)
Session 1: June 29-July 1
Time: 9-Noon
Cost: $25
This camp will focus on developing hands on wilderness skills. During this 3-day adventure we will discuss different fishing methods, learn how to pack backpacks, practice setting up a campsite, try our hand at campfire cooking, and discover the meaning of Leave No Trace. There may even be a canoe trip to Cedar Lake.
Night Owls Camp (Ages 8-12)
Session 1: July 6-8
Session 2: July 27-29
Time: 7-10 pm
Cost: $25
We will be exploring Pammel Park at night and discovering all of the wonderful creatures that make the night come alive including owls, bats, and raccoons. We will learn about the adaptations that help these creatures see after dark and catch their prey. Hands on activities will include blacklight animal tracking, firefly hunting, and night vision activities. We will discuss what we should do if we are lost in the woods after dark and campers will practice building a camp fire.
A Day in the Park (Ages 9-12)
Session 1: July 19
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $25
This 1 day camp will feature hands on activities inside Pammel Park. Campers will begin the day with a lesson on the park’s resident wildlife and leave no trace before heading outside to explore the park. Activities will include campfire building, hiking, bird watching, and creek stomping. As we learn about outdoor cooking, campers will make their own lunch over the fire or with the use of a Dutch oven.
Critter Camp (Ages 5-7)
Session 1: July 20
Time: 9-Noon
Cost: $20
New this year, Critter Camp is a one morning adventure in Pammel Park that will focus on finding the park’s hard to find wildlife. Participants will look for insects along the Pammel Park Lodge Trail, watch for turkey buzzards and great blue herons by the ford, and hunt for minnows and crayfish in Middle River.
*Water Rocks! (Ages 9-12)
Session 1: July 13-15
Time: 9-Noon
Cost: $25
Back by popular demand, this camp will feature all things aquatic from bullfrogs to people. Using ISU’s Water Rocks! curriculum, camp participants will learn about watersheds, wetlands, and the critters that live in them. Activities may include critter catching and water quality testing in Middle River, constructing and racing boats made from recycled materials, and canoeing at Cedar Lake.
*Some summer camps may utilize multiple parks including Pammel Park, Fellowship Forest, Hanson Prairie, and Cedar Lake. These camps may require campers to be dropped off at a different parks based on scheduled activities*
*Spots for each camp are limited. Madison County Conservation Board does not offer refunds on camp registrations. Should the camp be cancelled due to lack of participants (at least 3) or uncontrollable means, money will be refunded in full.