It may be cold and wet outside, but nature is full of activity and wonder. Clackamas Community College’s Environmental Learning Center (ELC) is offering children’s nature camps during winter break. Camps will include hands-on activities, crafts and active games to engage children in exploring how plants, animals and people get through winter. Each day of the camp will focus on a different aspect of winter survival.
The Environmental Learning Center is a great place for children, families and adults to explore the outdoors and learn about watersheds through hands-on environmental education. The 5-acre site includes walking trails, an outdoor amphitheater and interpretative signage. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as great blue herons, flickers and mallards.
Upcoming winter break camps
Monday, Dec. 30: Winter Food – After investigating what wildlife neighbors are eating, campers will enjoy a campfire treat.
Thursday, Jan. 2: Winter Shelters – Campers will explore the wetland and forest for animal homes and make their own shelters.
Friday, Jan. 3: Winter Fun – Winter is a wonderful time for storytelling, crafts and games.
Each camp session runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $64/day for first and second graders and $69/day for third through fifth graders. Sign up for one day, or all three! Before/after care is available for each camp (cost not included in the price of camp). Limited scholarships are available.
ELC pop-up sale
To support its nature camps and programs, the Environmental Learning Center is holding a pop-up sale Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be Nature Spy T-shirts, collector cards and nature spy explorer kits for sale.
The Environmental Learning Center is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.
To register for camp or more information visit www.clackamas.edu/elc/kids or email alena.schnarr@clackamas.edu. To learn more about the Environmental Learning Center, visit www.clackamas.edu/ELC.
