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Send kids on a daily adventure during forest preserve summer camps

Don't send your child to the same-old summer camp; send them on outdoor adventures with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

The district is safely bringing back summer camps and will be offering "Week in the Woods" summer day camps, for kids entering first through sixth grades and "Junior Naturalist" summer day camps, for kids entering third through fifth grades.

For "Week in the Woods" summer day camps, kids will explore the woods and fields with naturalist staff. Fresh air and fun times will be the main agenda for these weeklong adventures.

The camp is offered in three sessions.

Campers look for items that can be used to build a temporary shelter in the woods. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

The first session will explore "Tracking and Survival" from Monday to Friday, June 21-25, at Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve, 41W600 Hughes Road in Elburn. Children will view the forests and prairies differently after attending this session! Daily games, crafts and activities will focus on discovering and identifying signs of animal activity throughout the forest preserve. After learning the ways that animals obtain food and survive sometimes harsh environmental conditions, the campers will apply these same principles to developing their own wilderness survival skills. This newfound expertise will be sure to increase your child's confidence and enjoyment during time spent outdoors.

Campers do a hands-on project to learn how beavers build dam and to see how it alters the water flow. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

The second session will investigate "STEM in Nature" from Monday to Friday, July 12-16, at Burnidge Forest Preserve, 38W235 Big Timber Road in Elgin. The natural world is constantly evolving and changing and children well-versed in science, technology, engineering, and math will be our future leaders. Your camper will develop skills needed to solve scientific riddles, interpret biological data, and make evidence-based decisions - all while having tons of fun in nature! Daily themes like animal architects, weather patterns, geologic formations and plant structure will interweave learning activities, interpretive hikes, games, building activities and crafts to bring the world of STEM to life for your child.

A camper catches a crayfish in a net while exploring a creek during summer camp. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

The theme for the third session is "Summer Unplugged" from Monday to Friday, July 26-30, at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St. in St. Charles. Campers will enjoy a much-needed break from screen time during this "unplugged" week of nature-based fun. The natural world is full of amazing diversity, just waiting to be explored. The forest preserves serve as both a classroom and a playground and the campers will take full advantage of it.

You may register your child for one, two, or all weeks of camp. "Week in the Woods" camps are from 9 a.m. to noon. The fee is $125 per child, per week.

For those looking for a full-day camp option, sign up for "Junior Naturalist Camp," offered in partnership with the Geneva Park District. Discover sights and sounds of a different forest preserve each day!

Campers gather around a naturalist staffer to examine a toad found near the water. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

Get your feet wet in local rivers and streams, track animals in nearby woodlands and explore firsthand the history and geology of Kane County. Each day of camp will begin and end at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva, and include traveling by bus to a different Kane County Forest Preserve each day.

"Junior Naturalist Camp" is offered in three sessions. The first session will be Monday to Friday, June 28 to July 2 (Activity Code: 3212806-01); the second session is from Monday to Friday, July 19-23 (Activity Code: 3212806-02); and the third session will be Monday to Friday, Aug. 2-6 (Activity Code: 3212806-03.) You may register your child for one, two, or all weeks of camp. Nature camp will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $290 per child, per week.

Kids catch insects in the prairie during a summer camp with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

Advance registration is required for all camps.

To register for "Week in the Woods" summer camp, call (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com.

During summer camp, youth learn how to use binoculars to look for birds. Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Kane County

To register for "Junior Naturalist" summer camp, register online at www.genevaparks.org, by phone at (630) 232-4542, or in-person at Sunset Community Center, 710 Western Ave., Geneva. Detailed camp information will be provided upon registration.

The Forest Preserve District will be following all CDC guidelines, while having fun summer camps at the same time. Additional information is available at www.kaneforest.com.

Follow the district on social media by searching @forestpreserve on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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