Nature Education >

The Grange Insurance Audubon Center awakens and connects participants to the beauty of the natural world in the heart of Columbus and inspires environmental stewardship in their daily lives.

Summer 2012 Audubon Adventure Camp Registration Now Open

Audubon Adventure Camp At A Glance

• Camp hours are 9 am to 4 pm
• Tuition price is $160 for members
• All campers must become members. Individual membership is $30 an family is $45
• Before and After Care is available from 7:30am - 9 am and 4 pm - 6 pm
• Before Care is $45 per week, After Care is $60 per week. Both for only $100 per week
• Unique weekly themes for children grades 1 - 5 and teen grades 6 - 8 
• We provide a healthy snack each day and campers bring a WASTE-FREE lunch
• Camp is a PEANUT-FREE environment
• Campers explore woodlands, fields, mudflats, wetlands and discover fascinating wildlife throughout this Important Bird Area (IBA)
• New adventures are around every corner and beneath every stone!
• For more information contact Amy Boyd via email, or call 614-545-5486

2012 Dates and Themes:

Habitat Detectives June 18 – 22
Session 1

Come and explore the many habitats at GIAC. Sleuth the forested edge of the Scioto River, the beautiful prairie grassland and the wetlands teaming with creatures for you to discover. Each day we will search the habitats for all the creatures that call the Whittier Peninsula home. You’ll be amazed at what we’ll find!

Winged Wonders June 25 – 29
Session 2

Bird is the Word – Birds delight and excite us with their flight and song. Come and learn about the magic world of birds as we look for birds and learn what makes a bird a bird. Can you identify the cardinals song from the chickadees? Why do some birds have short beaks and others are long and pointed and what about those feet? Some are for perching and others for wading. Birds come in all shapes and sizes. You will be in awe of all that you will learn about the Winged Wonders.

Wonders of Water July 5 - 6 Campers in 1 – 3 grades only
Session 3

Water Water everywhere…think about how hot summer can be and come and get wet at GIAC. Water is our earth’s most precious resource. What can we do to protect it both for humans and animals? Come and learn about what creatures live in the Scioto River and our Wetlands and what you can do to preserve their watery world as we explore everything from macro-invertebrates to the water quality.

River Rangers July 5 – 6 Campers in 4 – 5 grades only
Session 3

Announcing a new partnership between COSI and GIAC. Spend two days learning about the Scioto River, and life around it, how we effect, and how it impacts Ohio. Special Pricing: COSI and GIAC members $90, Non-Members $110

Audubon Artists July 9 – 13
Session 4

Find your artistic inspiration from nature at the GIAC! Campers will learn about featured artists like John James Audubon among others. Then we’ll spend time outside looking at the beauty in animals, plants and landscapes before unleashing creativity using different art mediums from paint to clay and even recycled items. We’ll wrap up our week with a Friday afternoon art gallery.

Operation Conservation July 16 - 20
Session 5

Come to Audubon Adventure Camp and help us continue the habitat restoration work and other conservation projects that are in full swing on the peninsula. Join us as a citizen scientist as we work to remove invasive species from our 4 habitats, improve the water quality of Scioto River and restore the forested edge of the river. Get your hands dirty with lots of work and tons of fun as you become the conservation expert and help chart the course for future wildlife in downtown Columbus.

Nature Invaders July 23 – 27
Session 6

Ever heard of Amur Honeysuckle, Emerald Ash Borer or Garlic Mustard? These are just a few of plant species that have been introduced in an environment that is not their own. When these species are introduced either on purpose or by accident it can cause great stress on native plants and animals. Join our crusade to rid the peninsula of all things invasive and give our native plants and animals a fighting chance to survive!

What’s Bugging You July 30 – Aug 3
Session 7

Insect Invasion at GIAC! Check out some of the coolest bugs found in Columbus and take a look at the world through bugs eyes. Dragonflies and Damselflies abound in and around the wetland and butterflies and moths are flitting through the fields. Insects play a critical role in the environment. They are food for many birds and other animals, extraordinary pollinators, and play a critical role in recycling. They are interesting and fascinating and creatures. Come and find out what has been bugging you!

In Touch with Nature Aug 6 - 10
Session 8

Unplug and come out and play at GIAC. There are so many places to explore and connect to nature. Enjoy sit spots in various habitats, feel the mud ooze between your toes in the wetland, listen to birds in the forest, catch and release butterflies and dragonflies in the fields and fish along the Scioto River. Perfect your wide angle vision and learn how to build a debris hut. All things natural will come your way this week at GIAC

Adventure Celebration Aug 13 – 17
Session 9

All summer long we have been exploring the wonderful world of nature. Celebrate the end of summer with the best of the best from Audubon Adventure Camp 2012! Camper favorites will be combined to make this last week of summer camp one you will not soon forget!

General Information
Audubon has a long history of providing life-changing experiences in natural settings with over 30 summer camp programs in the US. Come be a part of this amazing network of nature centers around the country at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center this summer.

Arrival
The camp begins at 9:00 am. On Monday morning parents/guardians will bring campers into the center to turn in paperwork, meet the staff and sign the camper in for the day. Staff will be curbside Tues – Fri so that parents/guardians don’t have to get out of the car.

Pick Up
Pick up is at 4:00pm. If your child is going to be in After Care Camp, pick up is by 6:00pm. All adults with permission to pick up your child must be on the Pick Up form that will be part of your confirmation packet. This form must be brought to camp on MONDAY. Camp staff will call for campers once you arrive for curbside pick-up.

Before and After Care - Curbside drop off and pick up is not available
We are happy to offer Before and After care. Before Care is available beginning at 7:30am – and runs through 9:00am and is $45 per week. After Care is from 4:00 – 6:00pm and is $60 per week. Need both - the fee is only $100 for the week. Children participating in B&A care will enjoy supervised free play. If your child is participating in After Care, please be sure to provide them with an extra snack for the afternoon. Parents must come into the building to drop off and pick up campers enrolled in before and after care.

Audubon Adventure Camp for Campers Entering Grades 1 – 5
This program is designed to give elementary aged children the opportunity to experience hands-on science curriculum; designed around our unique site specific conservation goals, Campers will also enjoy nature play, guided hikes, fishing, friendships and on-going projects with caring, engaged adults.

Audubon Adventure Club for Campers Entering Program Grades 6 – 8
This program is designed to be project based, which will allow middle school students to engage in citizen science helping the GIAC accomplish very specific conservation goals on site. The youth will participate in on-going conservation projects at the center. As we engage the teens in these projects we will give them opportunities to develop leadership skills as they mentor the younger campers in their daily science work at the center. This will also foster teambuilding and new friendships. This is a two week program and campers may receive service credit for participating in the program.

Make it Waste-Free!
One crucial way to help conserve and restore natural ecosystems is by reducing the trash we make and the packaging we buy. Audubon programs help kids make connections between their actions and their environment. We ask all campers to bring 100% WASTE-FREE snacks and lunches so we can significantly reduce the waste we put into our landfills. WASTE-FREE means all contents of your lunch are consumable and/or re-usable. For example, please use containers to store food, instead of plastic bags; include refillable water bottles instead of juice boxes; and add in a cloth napkin instead of a paper one. Label all items with your child’s name so they go home each day with your child. To make it easier for you to get prepared, check our website for information and ideas for WASTE-FREE lunches.

Staff
Our summer camp staff are led by our full-time experienced educators that work year-round to provide learning opportunities for children and families through our programming. These full time staff members will be joined by other seasonal staff members that have experience working with children in an outdoor day camp setting.

How to register
Save time by having your credit card ready when registering. Registration confirmation will be sent via email. Parent packets will be sent via email closer to the start of camp

Before and After Care Fees (B&A Care) and one week’s tuition is due at the time of registration.

Registration for one week:

• If you are only registering for one week, then the entire amount is due at the time of registration.

Registration for multiple weeks:

• You will pay the membership fee, the Before and After Care fee (if needed) and a $50 deposit for each week that you would like to attend when you register.
• You will request all of the weeks that you would like to attend and your spot will be reserved once we have received the registration fee, B&A Care fee (if needed) and the deposit for each week.
• MasterCard, Visa is required to register on-line. The credit card used for the initial weekly payment will be charged for the remaining balance each Monday for the weeks that you registered. 

Cancellation Policy:

• The membership fee is non-refundable.
• Cancellations must be made TWO weeks PRIOR to the week that you would like to cancel. If you fail to cancel two weeks PRIOR to the week you’re not attending your deposit will not be refunded.

Camp Scholarships:
Limited Camp Scholarships are available. Please print and complete this form and fax to Amy Boyd at 614-545-5489. Campers who receive free or reduced lunch are eligible, and a letter from the school verifying this status must be submitted with the application. Once the campership is approved you will be given a code to use for on-line registration. The Camperships are generously donated by the John Wilson Memorial Education Fund and the Lisle Campership fund.

Online Registration