Get your children outdoors this summer and book them in a Nature Scientists Summer Camp. Our nature camps are hands-on, fun-filled learning at Allan Brooks Nature Centre! Children will learn about our local ecosystems and wildlife through outdoor lessons, play, crafts, games, and activities!
Our Nature Scientists Camp is a day camp for children ages 8 – 12. These are full-day camps that run for 4 days from 9 am – 4 pm, Tuesday – Friday.
Nature Scientists Theme: Ecology Field Lab
Turn into a real field scientist. Campers learn survey skills (quadrats, transects, notebooks), compare habitats, and collect data on soil, water, and biodiversity. Indoors, we’ll graph results and interpret findings. The week ends with a mini conference where teams present what they learned.
Day 1 Field methods bootcamp, notebooks and data basics
Indoors: Welcome and lab expectations: ‘Scientist’ introductions and team roles (data lead, equipment lead, timekeeper, safety lead). Methods bootcamp: Build quadrats and practice consistent placement. Transect basics: spacing, repeating measurements, avoiding bias. Field notebook standards: date, location, conditions, method, results. Data basics: What makes data “good”? – consistent units, neat tables, clear labels. Quick practice using Discovery Room for measurement activities as a baseline (wingspan wall, animal tracks)
Outdoor: Training surveys (short rounds): Mini plant survey in two locations (trail edge vs garden edge). Invertebrate “presence survey” (visual counts only, minimal disturbance).
Day 2 Habitat comparison study (grasslands vs pond/wetland edge) and graphs
Outdoor: Two-habitat study: Grasslands: plant cover estimate, dominant species notes, insect activity, evidence of grazing/burrowing (where visible). Pond/wetland edge: vegetation types, insects, bird activity, shade/temperature differences. Microclimate measures at both sites: temp and wind estimate and sunlight/shade notes.
Indoor: Charts and graphs: Choose graph type based on data (bar, line, scatter). Create “first findings” poster: hypothesis → method → early results. Extension: Build a shared camp dataset on flip chart/whiteboard. Quick “data critique”: what might skew our results? Use Habitat Room murals to simulate habitat comparison and practise analysis.
Day 3 Soil and water mini tests, biodiversity survey and interpretation
Outdoor: Soil tests: Texture test (sand/silt/clay feel). Infiltration test (small, controlled water pour). Soil temperature and moisture feel scale. Water mini tests (pond edge). Water temperature, turbidity (simple), pH strips. Observation-only aquatic life survey. Biodiversity survey. Pollinators count in native gardens (timed observation). Bird survey by sound/visual (short, timed intervals on trail viewpoints).
Indoor: Interpret findings and create posters ideas. “Claim–Evidence–Reasoning” write-up. Teams build their final poster layout with: Study question. Methods. Key results (1–2 graphs). What might we do differently next time? Discovery Room deep-dive: honeybee colony discussion as pollinator ecology as a case study.
Day 4 Mini conference and outdoor celebration challenge
Indoors: Mini “conference” – Conference roles: presenters, questioners, session chair. 5–7 minute presentation per team + 5 minute Q&A.
Outdoors: Celebration challenge course – “Field Skills Olympics” stations: fastest accurate quadrat setup, best transect consistency checks, species ID relay (photo cards) etc. Wrap: Scientist certificates + group reflection: what surprised you most about the grasslands?
Once you are registered for a camp you must fill out this Family Information Form.
For inquiries about our 2026 summer camps please contact the ABNC office. Email: education@abnc.ca Phone: 250-260-4227.
