Glen Helen | EcoCamp | Summer Nature Camp

Ecocamp at Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center

Experience community. Connect with nature. Find joy.

Since 1974, Ecocamp has provided countless opportunities for campers to experience the beauty of Glen Helen Nature Preserve up close, while creating a safe space for them to build community, connect with friends - old and new - and gain new skills as they build self-confidence.

Ecocamp 2024 Registration is now open!

Please find more information, a schedule, and more below! If you have any questions, please reach out to Meigan Turner, OEC Operations Manager, at 937-767-7648 or OECBusinessManager@glenhelenassociation.org

See you this summer!

Click Here to Register for Ecocamp 2024!

What's New?

We have listed the schedule and details for Ecocamp 2024 above! We are very excited to introduce new campers to the wonders of the Glen as well as welcome all returners with fun, new activities. This season, the 9-11 year old age group has Progressive and Overnight camp options available through the summer. On the table below, camps are presumed to be Progressive unless explicitly denoted as Overnight. We are also offering our classically popular camps such as Dig It, NART (Nature+Art!), Raptor, and Nocturnal Camp but we have added a few new options to the schedule:

Critters & Camouflage (Ages 7-9, 9-11) - Channel your inner critter by tracking, camouflaging, and practicing all the other neat skills critters around Glen Helen use the thrive in the wild. This camp is offered as a progressive camp for ages 7-9 and an overnight camp for ages 9-11.
D.I.R.T.T. (Ages 10-12) - Get Down Investigating Relatively Tiny Things! Be on the lookout for crayfish, millipedes, salamanders, spiders and more while discovering the world of small wonders.
Weird & Whacky Science (Ages 10-12, 12-14) - Put on your mad scientist hat as we concoct kooky experiments that walk the line where science meets nature.
STEM in the Glen (Ages 13-15) - Rockets, catapults and explosions oh my! We’ll apply science, technology, engineering, and math to solve problems encountered throughout the Glen.
Adventure! (Ages 13-15) - If you have been to Ecocamp so many times you could hike Glen Helen blindfolded, this is the camp for you! We will be adventuring away from the Glen to explore somewhere with the promise of new and exciting experiences. We are finalizing details surrounding Adventure camp but families will be notified when this camp becomes open for registration.

Camp Descriptions

Day Camps

Ages 5-6 and 7-8, $285

Day camps run Monday through Friday, drop-off 8:45-9:00 am, pick-up 3:30-3:45 pm. Extended daily hours until 5:30 pm are available M-Th for $30 per week.

Dig It

We’ll spend the week down-low and up-close with dirt, discovering all the creepy crawly critters that make the soil their home. Leave no log unturned! We may even feed the naturalists a mud pie. Can we dig it?

Forest Friends

Get ready to behave like a different Glen Helen animal each day! We’ll move through the woods and use all of our senses just like the creatures do. Hunt for toads, seek the slugs, and dance like a salamander.

NART

Nature + Art = NART! The beauty of Glen Helen will provide inspiration and campers will bring their imaginations. Our artists will sculpt mud, weave leaves, make messes, and create nature inspired art projects to share back home.

Nature Ninjas

Become a part of the wild world of animals and nature. Enliven all senses by playing awareness games, following footprints and signs of wildlife, and befriending the birds. We will become invisible through camouflage and sneaking softly. We might even ambush another camp!

Puddle Jumpers

Explore the Glen’s pond and streams in search of the amazing creatures that call them home. We will participate in all sorts of water-themed crafts and games. Come ready for a wet week; no puddle will go un-splashed!

Whimsy

Stories, tales, and nature myths will inspire us as we explore the Glen’s most magical spots. Make wings, build gnome homes, and create fairy forts! End the week by creating a whimsical story of our adventures at camp.

Progressive Camps

Ages 7-9 and 9-11, $325

Progressive Camps run Monday through Friday, with an overnight stay on Thursday. Drop-off 8:45-9:00 am, pick-up 5:30 pm; Friday pick-up at 3:30 pm.

Critters & Camouflage

Investigate all the critters of the Glen from big to small. Learn about how they survive and the adaptations they use to blend in with their surroundings. Spend the week channeling your inner critter by tracking, sneaking and learning the art of camouflage!

Exploration Expedition

There are many secrets hidden in our forests, meadows, and streams. We will comb the Glen looking for tracks, scat, hidey-holes, and teeth marks. Each day will bring a new mystery that puts us hot on the trail of animals that call Glen Helen home.

Fort-topia

Humans aren’t the only creatures that build houses! Explore all the amazing ways that animals create shelter for themselves and their families. As we discover different designs, we will put our knowledge to use by building our own shelters and forts.

NART

Wilderness Living

Hear the call of the wild! Play nature awareness games that enliven the senses and construct a survival shelter that can withstand a storm. Learn outdoor living skills such as fire-making, campfire cooking, building survival shelters, and finding local plants that help nourish and feed us.

Overnight Camps

Ages 9-11, 10-12, 12-14, 13-15, $400-$460

Overnight camps run Monday through Friday, drop-off on Monday between 9:15-10:00 am Pick-up on Friday is 3:30 pm.

Adventure!: Ages 13-15 ($650-850)

If you have been to Ecocamp so many times you could hike Glen Helen blindfolded, this is the camp for you! We will be adventuring away from the Glen to explore somewhere with the promise of new and exciting experiences. We are finalizing details surrounding Adventure camp but families will be notified when this camp becomes open for registration.

Critters & Camouflage: Ages 9-11 ($400)

Investigate all the critters of the Glen from big to small! Learn about how they survive and the adaptations they use to blend in with their surroundings. Spend the week channeling your inner critter by tracking, sneaking and learning the art of camouflage!

D.I.R.T.T. - Down Investigating Relatively Tiny Things: Ages 10-12 ($400)

Spend the week getting your hands dirty looking for all of the small critters of the Glen! Be on the lookout for crayfish, millipedes, salamanders, spiders and more! Create a terrarium with your trail group and keep track of all of the cool things you find! Make new friends, get a little dirty, and discover the world of small wonders all around us.

Exploration Expedition: Ages 9-11, 10-12 ($400)

There are many secrets hidden in the Glen’s forests, meadows and streams. As a nature detective, we will comb the forest looking for tracks, scat, holes and teeth marks. Each day will bring a new mystery and put us hot on the trail of one of the Glen’s many animals.

Forest Deep: The Quest for Glenfoot: Ages 12-14, 13-15 ($400)

Join the adventure and roll for fun. This week is themed around Dungeons & Dragons! Campers will get to create characters, earn XP, and level up their real life stats all while having an epic adventure across the Glen with a band of new friends.

Girls* in the Outdoors: Ages 10-12, 12-14 ($400)

We’ll spend the week hiking, bonding and building our basic outdoor skills. Make friends and memories while spending time exploring the Glen. Play and explore science and art in the woods. Spend the week adventuring with new friends all while discovering something new about the environment and yourself! *All gender minorities are welcome to join this camp!

NART: Ages 9-11 ($400)

Nocturnal Camp: Ages 12-14, 13-15 ($460)

An Ecocamp tradition! We will descend into the nocturnal world of the night. See everything through new eyes and ears for a renewed understanding of the Glen and ourselves. In the dark we appreciate the light in new ways, realizing the importance of community, trust, and friendship.

Raptor Camp: Ages 12-14, 13-15 ($450)

Spend the week alongside the staff of the Glen Helen Raptor Center. Learn from and care for our educational ambassadors while you get to know hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls up close and personal!

STEM at the Glen: Ages 13-15 ($410)

Rockets, catapults and explosions oh my! It’s STEM but outdoors. We will be constructing water rockets, mini catapults, egg drops and so much more! Working together as a team, we’ll use science, technology, engineering, and math to solve problems encountered throughout the Glen.

The Great Glenfoot Search: Ages 9-11,10-12 ($400)

Spend the week in search of the Glen’s most elusive creature, GLENFOOT. Throughout a week long scavenger hunt use your investigative skills, practice map reading, and the use of all of your senses to track down Glenfoot!

Weird & Whacky Science: Ages 10-12, 12-14 ($400)

Put on your mad scientist hat and join us for a week of whacky science. By observing the natural phenomena around us, we will ask big questions and seize the serendipitous situations we encounter. Get ready to concoct kooky experiments that explore the line where science meets nature - and then put some slim on it!

Wilderness Living: Ages 10-12 ($450)

Build fires with friction, flint, and matches. Construct a survival shelter that can withstand a storm. Learn ancestral outdoor skills such as fashioning ropes from natural materials. Make new friends and explore the natural world while practicing your wilderness skills.

Wilderness Living: Ages 12-14, 13-15 ($450)

Construct a village of survival shelters and spend a night outside in them. Learn how to safely sanitize water in the woods, cook meals outside over a fire. Meet new friends and learn how to make ropes out of natural materials.

Leaders in Training

Ages 16-17, $285

Leaders in Training camps run Monday through Friday, drop-off on Monday between 9:15-10:00 am. Pick-up on Friday is 3:30 pm.

Glen Helen Leaders in Training (LITs) are returning Ecocampers who wish to give back to the tradition and culture of this special place and are prepared to take their own knowledge and leadership skills to the next level. LITs serve as teaching assistants to the Naturalist Counselors and as mentors and caregivers to younger campers. LITs also help plan and lead activities and pitch in with the day to day work that is necessary to make the Ecocamp magic happen. They receive coaching and instruction in teaching, naturalist skills, behavior management, Glen natural history, and get to have an unforgettable summer in the Glen with old and new friends.

To apply: a short application, a reference, and an interview are required to join Ecocamp as Leader In Training (LIT) - our application can be found here.

Contact Sarah Cline at scline@glenhelenassociation.org or 937.767.7648 with any questions about our Leaders In Training program.

Ecocamp Schedule

Ages 16-17, $285

Each Ecocamp is a week long, Monday through Friday, and is placed within 1 of 4 categories from the table below. Day camps are for our youngest group of children involving daily drop-off and pick-up. Extended care is available to Day campers, Monday through Thursday, to extend pick-up by 2 hours for an additional $30 per week. Progressive camps are for ages 7-11 looking to get their feet wet with an overnight experience. These campers will only sleep overnight Thursday evening with a daily drop off and pick up Monday through Wednesday. Older kids participating in Overnight camp or our Leaders In Training program will be dropped off Monday morning and will spend the night in the fabulous Glen until pick-up on Friday afternoon. Every camper will receive one Ecocamp shirt upon registering.

Glen Helen Ecocamp Policies

Registration

To register you will first need to create an account for your household or log-in to a previously created account. If you are registering more than one child you may do so within a single account. Select which camp options your child would like to attend and any desired options (extended care, merchandise, scholarship donations, etc.). Every camper will receive one Ecocamp shirt upon registering for the season and additional attire may be purchased at Monday check-in or Friday pick-up. Several forms are required upon registering and may be completed or updated prior to the start of your child’s camp. As summer approaches and registration for camps fill, kids may be placed on a waitlist for the specific camp of their choice.

Deposits for Day/Progressive Camp ($50) and Overnight Camp ($100) are non-refundable and due at time of registration for each camp reservation. Camp fees are due in full by May 3, 2024 for all camps. All unpaid balances as of May 3rd will be processed by our staff using the last credit card on file. Any camp registration completed after May 3rd must be paid in full.

Available Discounts

Early Bird Discount: Receive a 5% discount for early registration by February 18, 2024.
Glen Helen Association Membership Discount: If you hold a Glen Helen Association Membership of Contributor's level or higher, immediate family members are eligible to receive a 10% discount off their first Ecocamp of the year. Please forward camper's name and the name of Glen Helen Association Member. The discount will be applied to your account balance after the provided information has been confirmed.
Bring-a-Friend Discount: If you invite any friends to camp who have never been to Glen Helen Ecocamp before, you are eligible for a 10% discount for each friend that registers who you have referred! Please forward your registered camper's name and the friend(s) they are bringing. Discount will be applied after the friends registration is complete.
Outdoor School Student's First Ecocamp: If you attended Outdoor School you are eligible for a 10% discount on your first camp. Please forward the name of your school and the dates attended. The discount will be applied to your account balance after the provided information has been confirmed.

Scholarships

Our scholarship application can be found here. If you have additional questions about our scholarship process please email Meigan at oecbusinessmanager@glenhelenassociation.org.

Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center is a proud Afterschool Care Enrichment (ACE) provider for the state of Ohio. Families that qualify can utilize ACE funding to pay for a variety of education activities designed to help accelerate learning for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit their at https://education.ohio.gov/OhioACE

Consider donating with your registration to help provide an Ecocamp experience to kids in need!

Cancellations

The $50.00 or $100.00 deposits are non-refundable and are required to hold your camper’s spot. If a camper's attendance must be canceled the remaining balance will be refunded to those who notify us in writing at least 14 days prior to the Monday of their camp session. No refunds will be made to those who cancel after this time frame.

If Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center cancels a camp for any reason all camp fees will be refunded in full, included deposit fees. The full fee will also be refunded if the camper or other member of the household has tested positive and is being treated for COVID-19. A dated memo from a doctor is required if the camper is unable to attend for this reason.

If a camper needs to transfer the week of camp they will be attending, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss the available options to provide space for a child that has been placed on the waiting list.

If you have any questions please contact:

Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center

oecbusinessmanager@glenhelenassociation.org

937.767.7648