Youth can connect with nature at DuPage Forest Preserve summer camps

DuPage County residents can now sign up for a full lineup of fun outdoor day camps through the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County at dupageforest.org/camps. Registration for nonresidents begins March 1.

"Our summer camps provide exciting opportunities for kids and teens to make meaningful connections with nature, each other and their community," said Anamari Dorgan, director of Community Engagement Services. "Research shows that the earlier a child makes a close connection with nature, the more likely they are to become stewards of the land and support efforts to preserve and protect natural areas."

To stay safe, each camper must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth. All camps will emphasize social distancing and be limited to 10 campers unless otherwise noted. Supervised lunch breaks and supervised play before and after camp are not available this year, but look for them in 2022.

Unless noted, camps are Monday to Friday and cost $150 for DuPage residents and $175 for nonresidents. Questions? Call (630) 933-7247.

Entering 1st-2nd grade

• Farm Kids from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, starting June 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26 and Aug. 2 at Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago. Experience how kids lived in the 1890s with games, crafts and chores. Care for the animals, play in the woods and learn old-fashioned string games. Maximum 12 kids per camp. Register for Prairie Kids to make it a full week of camp. Cost is $90 for DuPage residents or $105 nonresidents.

• Green Thumbs (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 7-11 or July 26-30 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Dig in the dirt, discover how plants grow, search for flowers and grow your own garden.

• Grossology (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 14-18 or Aug.16-20 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook, or July 12-16 at Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. Learn why things are sticky, squishy, stinky and slimy through fun science experiments and grossly cool investigations.

• Habitat Hunters (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 21-25 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook, and Aug. 2-6, at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne. Learn about plants and animals of woodlands, prairies and wetlands by exploring a new habitat each day.

• Insect Investigators (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 to July 2 at Waterfall Glen in Darien, or Aug. 9-13 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Search for insects, study what makes them special, discover where they live and solve an insect mystery.

• Nature Art from 9 a.m. to noon July 19-23 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Paint, sculpt, draw and create using colors, textures, patterns and sounds in nature.

• Prairie Kids from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Wednesdays, June 15-16, June 22-23, June 29-30, July 13-14, July 20-21, July 27-28, or Aug. 3-4, at St. James Farm in Warrenville. Learn how kids lived and worked on the early Illinois prairie through chores, games, and crafts. Register for Farm Kids to make it a full week of camp. Cost is $60 for DuPage residents or $70 for nonresidents.

Entering 3rd-4th grade

• Camp Rocks! (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 14-18 or July 26-30 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Learn how rocks, minerals, and fossils are formed; find meteorites; and collect samples to add to your collection.

• Camping Adventures from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 to July 2 at Waterfall Glen in Darien. Work as a team to set up and maintain a campsite and build a campfire. Try your hand at fishing, hiking and treasure hunting.

• Critter Camp (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 7-11 or Aug. 9-13 at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Hunt for tracks and clues, encounter live animals, and dig deeper into the lives of critters that call the preserve home.

• Eco Explorers (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon July 12-16 at Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn, or Aug. 2-6 at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne. Investigate the outdoors like a naturalist using real tools to learn about aquatic animals, prairie flowers, woodland birds and ways you can help wildlife.

• Farmhands from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, starting June 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19 or 26; or Aug. 2 at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago. Experience how kids lived in the 1890s with games, crafts and chores. Care for the animals, play in the woods and learn old-fashioned string games. Maximum 12 kids per camp. Register for Prairie Kids to make it a full week of camp. Cost is $90 for DuPage resident; $105 for nonresidents.

• Junior Ranger Camp from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. June 28 to July 2 at Herrick Lake in Wheaton, or July 12-16 at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. Learn about conservation and stewardship through nature play, crafts and outdoor games.

• Nature's Superpowers (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 21-25, July 19-23, or Aug. 16-20, at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook. Join forces with nature's superpowers - earth, wind, fire, gravity and water. Simulate an earthquake, build a wind-powered vehicle, learn how to build a fire, and watch gravity in action with an egg drop experiment.

• Prairie Kids from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, June 15-16, June 22-23, June 29-30, July 13-14, July 20-21, July 27-28, Aug. 3-4, at St. James Farm in Warrenville. Cost is $60 for DuPage residents; or $70 for nonresidents. Learn how kids lived and worked on the early Illinois prairie through chores, games, and crafts. Register for Farmhands to make it a full week of camp.

Entering 5th-6th grade

• Archery from 9 a.m. to noon July 12-16 at Camp Blackwell in Warrenville. Get closer to the bull's-eye by learning safety techniques, practicing proper shooting and participating in friendly competitions and games.

• Horse Sense (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 31 to June 4, June 14-18, June 28 to July 2, July 19-23, or Aug. 2-6 at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton. Explore animals up close and learn what they eat, how they survive and where they live. Enjoy hands-on experiences with horses and the daily activities of a working barn as well as lead-line rides on the horses, stable chores, games, crafts and Friday Family Day. Maximum 6 kids per camp. Cost is $250 for DuPage residents or $290 for nonresidents.

• Junior Keeper Camp (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon July 19-23, Aug. 2-6, or Aug. 9-13 at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Learn what it takes to be a wildlife keeper as you go behind the scenes to help prepare food, clean and care for different animals.

• Kayaking Camp from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 to July 2 at Hidden Lake in Downers Grove. Learn about safety, gear, paddling strokes, navigation and how to handle a kayak on lakes and rivers.

• Ranger Adventure Camp from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. June 14-18 or July 19-23 at Herrick Lake in Wheaton, or June 21-25 or July 26-30 at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. Try archery, boating, fishing and hiking while improving your team-building and wilderness-survival skills.

Entering 7th-8th grade

• Junior Keeper Camp (STEM Camp) from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 to July 2, July 12-16, or July 26-30 at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Learn what it takes to be a wildlife keeper as you go behind the scenes to help prepare food, clean and care for different animals.

• Riding Sense (STEM Camp) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7-11, June 21-25, July 12-16, July 26-30, Aug. 9-13, at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton. Enjoy all the fun of Horse Sense Camp with the wonders and challenges of a daily riding lessons with western tack, led by a Danada instructor. Maximum 6 kids per camp. Cost is $400 for DuPage residents or $460 for nonresidents.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 6.2 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, six education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the district's e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.