Looking back at Audubon Adventures Nature Camp for Kids

At Audubon Adventures Nature Camp in Spiritwood, North Dakota, kids use their senses to actively discover, interact in play, and create lasting outside memories–all whereas studying concerning the pure world. Positioned at Audubon’s Nationwide Audubon Society Edward M. Brigham III Alkali Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, the property offers important grassland and wetland habitat for various species and curious children!

2026 Registration is open! 

Signal your camper up for sooner or later or the entire days; programming might be distinctive for every expertise. Register right here: Tuesday, August 11 | Wednesday, August 12 | Thursday, August 13

It’s August of 2025, and a low, burgeoning hum is within the air at Audubon’s wildlife sanctuary in Spiritwood, North Dakota. Whereas some might ascribe that hum to a covert Grasshopper Sparrow or perhaps a shiny Discipline Cricket, Audubon Nice Plains workers know its true supply—the rising pleasure for the beginning of Audubon Adventures Nature Camp for youths.

Whereas dew drops clung to each blade of grass, the nice and cozy morning solar crested the hilltop overlooking Alkalai Lake; enthusiastic workers have been greater than prepared to remodel months of planning and preparation into the true deal—the primary day of our first 12 months of camp!

The sanctuary’s wealthy biodiversity supplied limitless surprises and studying alternatives for our school-aged individuals as they loved the summer time sunshine and made new buddies. For our inaugural 12 months, we had 24 campers, which translated to almost 100 hours of nature-based youth engagement. Some highlights from camp included path treks, insect investigations, creature crafting, prairie impressions, solar printing, birds & binos, chicken olympics, outside bingo, and the ever-popular duck, duck, grey duck.

New trails have been plotted and mowed on the property by our workers, which supplied scope for the creativeness as campers took a trek on the paths. Figuring out prairie vegetation, taking within the sights and sounds, and transferring our our bodies in nature all led to a way of nice journey!  Our campers stopped on the hilltop to miss Alkali Lake and ventured all the way down to the lakefront for an up-close alternative to see vegetation and bugs current.

Utilizing nets and delicate seize methods, campers have been capable of rise up shut and private with the numerous bugs which are a part of the sanctuary’s thriving ecosystem: ants, dragonflies, spiders, katydids, crickets, girl beetles, lacewings, milkweed bugs, and so many extra! Campers discovered about bugs, how they’re a part of the meals internet, and their figuring out options. This data allowed campers to design and craft a inventive creature utilizing small plant cuttings gathered whereas on our path trek!  Campers picked quite a lot of vegetation for use to make prairie impressions with clay and to create solar prints. 

Binoculars can typically be difficult for first-time customers, so we’re grateful that the varied swallows have been glad to relaxation on cables and fencing lengthy sufficient for campers to discover ways to spot and focus. It by no means will get outdated listening to an elated, “I can see it!” the very first time a camper brings a chicken into crystal clear focus. Many campers loved scanning for cattle grazing the property. Workers heard from a number of campers that binoculars could be on the highest of their want lists.

Throughout chicken Olympics, children flapped their wings like a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, danced like a Prairie Rooster, caught bugs like a Western Meadowlark, or stood on one leg like a Nice Blue Heron! Outside bingo was a favourite for exploring the property whereas in search of out particular finds like a spider internet, flower, chicken, nest, or pinecone. Lastly, ending the day with duck, duck, grey duck (sure, our camp coordinator is from Minnesota), supplied a enjoyable probability for youths simply to be children… or geese of any shade: blue duck, pink duck, yellow duck, or our camper favourite from final 12 months, iridescent duck.

Because the snow melts and the sounds of spring slowly return, Audubon Nice Plains workers is listening intently. We’re keen to listen to that much-anticipated ascending hum of pleasure meaning we are going to quickly be welcoming again enthusiastic outside learners for 2026. There may be at all times extra to discover at Audubon Adventures Nature Camp!

To be taught extra about or register for Audubon Adventures Nature Camp, go to our web site: Audubon Adventures Nature Camp in Spiritwood, ND