ODC Network

2025 Summer Camps

We are excited to embark on our 2025 summer camp season! Please read the new registration information under the FAQ section of this page.

Included below are camp descriptions, age ranges, and locations for you to start planning your summer. Once registered, you will receive an email with specific details one week prior to the start of your camp. Any questions you have before then can be directed to camps@outdoordiscovery.org.

We can’t wait to see you this summer!

Choose an age range below to view camps, dates, locations and registration information.

Registration opens February 3 at 9am

4 - 5 Years Old
6 - 7 Years Old
8 - 11 Years Old
10 - 16 Years Old

PLEASE NOTE Two camps in the 8-11 section have expanded age ranges:

July 29 – 31 “Wildly Creative” is open for 7 – 11 years old.

August 12 – 14 “Duck Stamp Camp” is open for 8 – 12 years old.

For ease of signing up for multiple camps, you may follow this link for all registration links.

Interested in becoming a Summer Camp Youth Volunteer?

Learn more about volunteering
Apply to be a Youth Volunteer

*Para leer las descripciones de cada campamento en español, por favor seleccione el lenguaje español al lado derecho de esta página.*

Quick Links

Camps At A Glance
2025 Camp Brochure
Become A Member
Behavior Policy

Be sure your membership is up to date before February 3rd for a smooth registration process.

How to Utilize your Membership
Test your Membership
Thank You to Our Financial Assistance Sponsors!

Anonymous Individuals 

Apply for Financial Assistance
Donate to our Financial Assistance Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you make it off the waitlist, you will have a three day window to finalize your registration by following the link in the email. If you no longer want the spot in camp, let us know as soon as possible, so we can move to the next child.

Members will receive a 20% discount on all camps when they log-in during the registration process. Become a member here. Be sure to register your account, read the membership utilization document, and test your membership BEFORE February 3rd. This will help your camp registration go smoothly.

  • 100% refund 30 days before the camp start date
  • 50% refund 29-14 days before the camp start date
  • 0% refund 13 days or fewer before the camp start date
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Snack
  • Close toed shoes or sandals that can get dirty and wet
  • A lunch if required

Park Township partners with the ODC Network to support many programs including some of our camps! If you are a park township resident you can receive a 20% discount for :

Forest Fables – Age 4-5 – July 22-24

Ready, Set, Go – Age 6-7 – August 5-7

Habitat Helpers – Age 4-5 – August 12-15

In order to receive this, please reach out to camps@outdoordiscovery.org before February 3rd for a discount code.

Thank you for your interest! Unfortunately we no longer have space for Youth Leaders this year. We do have space in some of our 10-16 year old camps for those interested.

Are you interested in being a part of camps while gaining leadership skills? Would you like experience volunteering outdoors? We are accepting applicants for Youth Leaders ages 13 and up to assist with our camps. Youth Leaders will help to engage younger children in games and activities, provide additional supervision, and work to create a positive camp environment for all campers. For more information read our volunteer description.

Ages: 13+

Training date: June 10, 9am-12pm

Click here to apply

Questions can be emailed to camps@outdoordiscovery.org

4 - 5 Year Old Camps

Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Every day is an adventure at this classic camp for youngsters! Create lasting memories of exploring the outdoors, hiking our trails, making fun crafts, and playing with new friends. Whether we’re searching for worms or resting for storytime, we’re in for a camp to remember.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:

Do animals play hide and seek? Play and learn as we camouflage in different habitats and find which animals are blending in with trees, leaves, and flowers all over! We’ll create our own camouflage critters and practice spotting the animals that hide right before our eyes.

Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Discover T-Rex, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus, too! Our dino feet will stomp around ODC while we learn about giant, ancient beasts. Roar into fun as we enjoy dinosaur themed games, crafts, and adventures!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Little artists will make their own masterpieces as we enjoy the beauty of nature, from the green grass to the blue sky! We’ll learn about animal artists along the way, as we let creativity be our guide. Campers will return home with new skills and projects inspired by the outdoors.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9:15AM – 12:15PM @ Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Fee: $130 Non-members, $104 Members
Description:
Join us and Velo Kids for a summer adventure at Dragonflies Discovery Preschool and Cooper-VanWieren Park! We’ll learn safe mountain biking, care for trails, and search for speedy bugs in the meadows and forests. Campers must be confident riders on pedal bikes (no training wheels).
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9:15AM – 12:15PM @ Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members and Park Township Residents
Description:
It’s storytime at the ODC! Join us each day as we dive into a new adventure, meeting familiar friends and exciting new characters. After the story, we’ll step into the world of nature to explore, play, and create our own outdoor adventures, inspired by the tales we’ve heard.

Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:

Turtles, frogs, and toads, oh my! There are reptiles and amphibians all over the ODC. How many can we find? We’ll leapfrog into a love of nature with hands-on animal experiences. Search for tadpoles in our ponds, and meet special, slithery snakes.

Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description: 
This camp is for your little ones with a love for animals! From turtles and frogs to birds and fish, we will uncover what animals are around us, and maybe catch some in our nets! Campers will meet ODC’s captive wildlife up close and get to know what makes them so special.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description: 
Splish splash into summertime fun with everything water! Young campers get to try fishing, search for water invertebrates, and even create art using water. We’ll learn how to help protect our ponds and appreciate water in our summer adventures!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location:  9:15AM – 12:15PM @ Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members and Park Township Residents
Description: 
Do you know who lives in our different habitats? Our Habitat Helpers will meet wild animals and ODC animal ambassadors, and learn what makes a good animal home. Find out who is sneaking through the forest, swimming in the pond, and hiding in meadow!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM

6 - 7 Year Old Camps

Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
How do stripes and spots help animals to blend in? Why are so many frogs green? Learn about the colorful world of camouflage in our not-so-hidden camp! We’ll test our camouflaging skills and search high and low for the animals the hide around us every day.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Calling all dinosaur enthusiasts! From herbivores to carnivores, we will be learning about these cool creatures! Camp gets prehistoric as we check out fossils and play paleontologist for a day searching for dino signs.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Art is everywhere – especially outdoors! Creative campers will discover nature through an artist’s lens, and find how the creatures around us can serve as inspiration. Campers will return home with their own gallery of projects made from both standard and natural materials.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9:15AM – 12:15PM @ Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Fee: $130 Non-members, $104 Members
Description:
Spend half your morning with Velo Kids learning mountain biking around Dragonflies Discovery Preschool and Cooper-VanWieren Park. Then join ODC Naturalists to discover what animals may be hiding in these places. Confident pedal bike riders only (no training wheels).
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Ever wonder what it takes to work at the ODC? Campers get to try hands-on projects as we explore what conservation looks like here in Michigan. Meet special ODC guests, and dive into how we can all protect our local habitats and share nature fun all over!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Are you team reptile or team amphibian? Get to know some of the animals who call ODC home as we become junior herpetologists. Campers will get to search for the scaled and the slimy out in nature, and help to care for our resident turtles, toads, and more!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9:15AM – 12:15PM @ Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members and Park Township Residents
Description:
On your mark, get set, game time! Camp is the perfect place for learning new games, and enjoying old favorites. We’ll mix high-energy fun with calmer classics for a camp that will have kids running, jumping, and being their silliest selves!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Bats and beetles, birds and butterflies, they all love to fly! Campers explore a world of flight, meeting expert flying friends, and searching for surprising ways that the wind can carry plants and animals away. No airplanes needed for us to soar into fun!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM

8 - 11 Year Old Camps

Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ Rabbit River Preserve
Fee: $110 Non-members, $88 Members
Description:
Hone your outdoor skills with us! Campers will learn to read a map, use a compass, build a fire, and more! All materials will be included for this camp, including a take-home survival kit. No pocket knives, weapons, or matches may be brought by participants.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Are you fast or strong, creative or clever? Learn how animals survive in the wild, and test your skills in the ultimate animal challenge! Campers will observe animal adaptations at work, and try them out as we put ourselves in the shoes of both predator and prey.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Take a peek into Michigan’s past! Using our newly updated Cultural History Center as our home base, we will learn about Woodland Period Anishinaabe life, tools, and traditions, try our hand at axe-throwing and fire-making like a French Voyageur, and cook food just like an early Michigan Settler!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Grab your lab coat – let’s experiment with science! Mini bottle rockets will spark curiosity, and hands-on projects will help our ideas come alive! Whether you already love science, or are interested in learning something new, this is the place to explore the -ologies!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ ODC
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Explore local indigenous culture through Anishinaabe craftsmanship! Our Cultural Educator will lead campers in traditional and modern techniques, like beadwork and using natural dyes. Campers of all backgrounds are encouraged to get creative, and will return home with their own artistic works.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
 
Time/Location: 9AM – 4PM @ ODC
Fee: $419
Description:
For a third year, Saugatuck Center for the Arts and the Outdoor Discovery Center team up to offer four full fabulous days of art-making and the great outdoors in this very special program. Explore and play outside with naturalists from the ODC in the morning from 9:00 am -12:00 pm. Then, join artists from the SCA from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm for playful art-making inspired by the wild!
 
Join the ODC staff in the morning as we soak in the beauty nature has to offer. We will hike the trails in search of special habitats, adventure on the playground, play group games, catch frogs and insects, and meet our captive animals up close.  You will be trekking throughout the preserve, so be sure to wear good walking shoes or sandals, and clothes that can get a little wet or dirty!
 
The SCA takes on the afternoon with art-making centered around creativity and the outdoors. Play music in the wild with Musician and Music Therapist, Jeremy Vanwys. Create wildflower arrangements with Chicago based floral artist John Pendleton, and explore the expressive nature of natural materials. Gardener Jenny Bongiorno will teach about seeds as we stop by a nearby farm and return to the ODC to make art from natural materials. Don’t miss this truly collaborative outdoor experience!
 
Students must bring a lunch, morning snack and a water bottle. A second healthy afternoon snack will be provided by the SCA. Drop-off will be at the ODC at 9:00 am and pick-up at 4:00 pm.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ Rabbit River Preserve
Fee: $90 Non-members, $72 Members
Description:
Ready, set, adventure! Get all of your classic camp fun as we play our favorite camp games, explore further on our trails, and get to know new friends. Try out Capture the Flag or Camouflage, and work with your new teammates on fun challenges. Every day brings something new!
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 1PM @ ODC
Fee: $210 Non-members, $168 Members
Description:
Calling young artists – it’s time to prepare for the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest! In preparation for our art pieces, we will explore different species of waterfowl, their unique habitats, and how we can help them thrive. All artistic skill levels are welcome!
 
By participating in the Jr. Duck Stamp Camp, participants will begin to prepare for entering in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest. This program helps youngsters understand the importance of wetland conservation and the integral ecological connections of our web-footed friends.
 
Meet your instructors:
Starting as an eager art teacher (grades K-5), Annabel Cieply, continued teaching in various settings over time and in various states until settling in Holland and serving the West Ottawa Public School community while teaching 1st-3rd grades at Waukazoo Elementary. Now, she is teaching 4 year olds at Dragonflies Discovery Preschool. 
Mikaela Sterenberg, has loved art as long as she can remember, she attended a year at Kendall College of Art and Design and she spent several years running the arts and crafts programs at a summer camp. Mikaela is now the ODC Network’s Art Specialist serving schools the organization as a whole and in the ODC Early Childhood Schools.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?

10 - 16 Year Old Camps

Time/Location: 9:15AM – 11:45PM @ ODC 
Fee: $110 Non-members, $88 Members
Description:
Practice your aim at our archery facility! Campers will be coached by a certified archery instructor to develop proper technique and form. Test out a variety of tools at our range, from English longbows to modern compound bows. All materials will be provided for the camp.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ Various Locations
Fee: $110 Non-members, $88 Members
Description:
This camp is designed for the young paddler! Campers will learn paddle strokes and techniques, rescue skills, and boating safety. Our mix of instruction, demonstrations, and games help young kayakers learn independence and self-reliance. All materials will be provided.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9:15AM – 11:45PM @ ODC 
Fee: $110 Non-members, $88 Members
Description:
Up your archery skills with this us! Campers will practice their archery proficiency, focusing on improving their shooting with greater aim and distance judgment techniques. This camp is designed for those who have used a bow and arrow. All materials will be provided for the camp.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 1PM @ Rabbit River Preserve
Fee: $140 Non-members, $112 Members
Description:
Do you want to take your outdoor skills to the next level? Prepare to build a better shelter, make fire without matches, safely drink “wild” water, and use more advanced navigation techniques. No pocket knives, weapons, or matches may be brought by participants.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
Is the camp full?
Time/Location: 9AM – 12PM @ Various Locations
Fee: $110 Non-members, $88 Members
Description:
Want to try it all? One day of archery, another testing out your survival skills, and yet another with Velo Kids mountain biking out on trails. Perfect for campers of any skill level! All materials will be provided, but bringing your own bike is preferred.
 
Registration required – starting on February 3rd at 9 AM
 

Summer Camp Scholarships