Summer Camp Matters
Submitted by Jacklyn Orr, Nevada Outdoor Schools
Kids (and adults!) who grow up attending summer camp usually have great stories to tell about adventures and learning. Whether it is church, band, Scouting, or an athletic camp, parents who make the financial and time sacrifice to get their kids to camp reap the benefits for a lifetime. Of course, as a kid, it will simply be viewed as an escape from the normal routine, but upon reflection they will giggle at all the things learned, intended and un-intended.
There is so much research on the value of summer camp for kids of all ages. The intended learning of camp specific content, like musical scales or athletic techniques, are the obvious gains for kids. But, perhaps the more memorable and life-shaping learnings are those that fall in the un-intended category. The exposure to a diverse range of fellow campers opens up an individual’s world and helps one to begin to appreciate that everyone is not like me. For example, from something as simple as morning and nightly routines, we learn a lot from observing, adapting and adjusting to what others need and do. Then there are the shenanigans that kids do, just because they are kids. From pulling off the greatest heist in history, stealing the boys’ pillows, to the heartbreak of saying goodbye to your new best-est friend, we learn a lot from camp.
Nevada Outdoor School is proud to offer summer camp opportunities for kids 4 – 17 years old (and backpacking for adults too!). Nature is our backdrop and outside is our favorite location. The focus of our camps is to challenge kids to analyze their actions, evaluate their impacts, and choose wisely. From outdoor recreation such as hiking and camping, to dealing with peers, parents, and teachers, understanding the link between action, impact, and choice empowers children to be responsible stewards of the environment and themselves. We want all kids to grow up to be healthy, happy, and engaged community members who are connected to their natural world and choose to behave responsibly.
For our youngest naturalists, NOS’s Nature in the Park programs for 4-7 year olds provide weekly hour-long nature exploration through literature, movement, music and crafts in 8 communities including Elko, Spring Creek, Carlin, Wells, Winnemucca, Imlay, Battle Mountain, and Paradise Valley. Our official summer camp experiences really start at age 8 – NOS’s Adventure Camps for 8-10 year olds provide a fun, exciting atmosphere for team building, outdoor exploration, tons of games and even an overnight campout! This year, our Adventure Camps in Elko will be June 24th-27th and July 29th-August 1st and in Winnmucca July 15th-18th. Pathfinders Camps for 11-13 year olds are 3 day, 2 night excursions to unique outdoor locations. This year, campers will be exploring Cathedral Gorge State Park from July 8th-11th. Our last level of youth camps is for our 14-17 year old Voyagers. This year, our Voyagers will be backpacking in the Ruby Mountains June 25th-27th and traveling to Boise, Idaho August 5th-9th. Back again this summer, we are excited for our Adult Backpacking opportunity in the Ruby Mountains August 9th-11th. Also, don’t miss out on our Day Camps in Battle Mountain and Carlin the beginning of July or the California Trail Interpretive Center Time Travelers Overnight Camps July 12th-13th for 8-10 year olds and August 16th-17th for 11-13 year olds.
Our highly-capable and trained staff and team of AmeriCorps Outdoor Educators are prepared to deliver the most amazing summer camp opportunities for kids of rural Nevada. The Nevada Outdoor School team is excited to welcome your children (or you!) to one of our 2024 Summer Camps! Enrollment opens April 15th, 2024! Visit nevadaoutdoorschool.org to register today.