Summer Camp All Grown Up

$20 member / $35 nonmember (per person) 
Instructor: Kelsey Low 
Ages 21 and up 

Why should kids have all the fun? Treat yourself to all the joys of summer camp, but for grown-ups! Unwind after a stressful day with hands-on nature activities, crafts, and outdoor exploration, PLUS a simple snack and a refreshing beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

Dress for the weather and be ready to get messy!

Thursday, June 16 – Prairie Melody

On a summer night, the prairie is full of music – but who’s in the band, why are they singing, and how do their instruments work? We’ll use tools like sweep nets and UV lights to explore insect life in our prairie and learn to identify some common insect sounds. We’ll discuss why these tiny critters make such a racket, and we’ll even make a little music of our own with instruments based on insect anatomy! 

Class will be held rain or shine – dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Weather permitting, we will be walking about 1 mile on gravel, mulch, and boardwalk.  

Thursday, July 21 – Ravine Ramble

Take a ramble through our most unique Arboretum habitat: the Ravine! Flowing water and steep slopes make for a challenging place for plants, wildlife, and humans to live. Join us as we explore the Arboretum’s Ravine restoration, how nature deals with floods, and how erosion exposes geologic and human history. Make your own “historic” artifact to take home, and if you’re brave, you can even take a peek in the owl tunnel… 

Class will be held rain or shine – dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Weather permitting, we will be walking about 0.5 miles on uneven and sometimes slippery gravel, mulch, and boardwalk trails.  

Thursday, August 18 – Bayou CSI

The bayou is a spooky place after dark – and for wildlife, it can be deadly! Help us solve the mysteries of the bayou by investigating clues along the trails like tracks, scat, and remains. We’ll figure out “whodunit” at these crime scenes and even make casts of tracks that you can take home. Warning: we will be investigating staged but realistic scenes of animal predation! 

Class will be held rain or shine – dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Weather permitting, we will be walking up to 2 miles on gravel, boardwalk, and mulch. “Crime scenes” will include realistic signs of animal predation.