4-day, 3-night Summer Camp at ONSC: Learn How to Fly With the Pollinators

ONSC offers a unique, immersion-based approach to learning about nature and the natural sciences. Students visit us for authentic science learning experiences that are correlated with national and state science learning standards and provide in-depth education in biology, ecology, geology, social studies, and nature art – all while students have fun hiking and experiencing nature. 

ONSC's Pollinator Camp is designed to celebrate Pollinator Week, and will give campers the opportunity to learn about a variety of different kinds of pollinators (including some unusual ones, such as beetles and reptiles!), their habitat needs (including native host plants, water sources, and pollinator houses), and problems they face.  Campers will also get to help with actual research on native bees of Arkansas and our Arkansas State Butterfly, the Diana Fritillary!  Other camp activities will include day hikes, night hikes, team-building, games, and small-group activities.

Campers will be divided into field groups for hikes and some other activities by age level.  Campers will stay in ONSC's lodges, and will be assigned to rooms by age and gender. 

We also have a limited number of free tickets for parent chaperones. We strive to assign chaperones to field groups that don't include their own child(ren), to allow all students an authentic feeling of "camp independence." However, exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. An interview and background check are required to become a chaperone. Signing up for a chaperone position does not guarantee that you will be placed in a position.

Scholarships:

We strive to make ONSC programs accessible and affordable for all. In addition to ONSC's regular scholarship fund, we have been given a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation so we can provide more camp scholarships. Apply here for a scholarship.

Registration:

Step 1: Purchase tickets below

Step 2: Complete the Camper Registration Form​ for each camper

Step 3: Read the Parent/Guardian Packet and Packing List

Tentative camp schedule and details:

Day 1

7:30am - Arrival

8am - Staff-Parent-Camper Meeting

9am - Camper meeting & orientation

10am - Name games / ice-breakers

11am - Nature Journal Activity

12pm - Lunch

1pm - Intro to Pollinators & Our State Butterfly: The Diana Fritillary! Class

2pm - Field Investigation (guided hike)

5:30pm - Dinner

6:30pm - Pollinator Problems Class

7:30pm - Campfire

8:30pm - Mini night hike

Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones

Day 2

8am - Breakfast

9am - Field investigation (guided hike w/set up of Native Bee Stations)

11am - Making & Decorating Pollinator Houses

12pm - Lunch

1pm - Botany Class/Activites

2pm -  Native Plant Garden Time & Seed Bombs to Take Home

4:30 - Break in Lodges

5:30pm - Dinner

6:30pm - Group Games

7:15pm - Nighttime Pollinators & Importance of Dark Skies 

8:15pm - Astronomy in field

Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones

Day 3

8am - Breakfast

9am - Field investigation (guided hike w/collection of Native Bee Stations)

11:30am - Return to Lodges to Prepare for Water Activities

12pm - Lunch

1pm - Water Time! (Hike or bus to creek or river to explore and have fun in the water!)

4:30pm - Return to ONSC Campus/Lodges (change into dry clothes & take a break)

5:30pm - Dinner

7pm - Campfire w/Lorax play

8:15 - Astronomy and/or night hike

Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones

Day 4

8am - Breakfast

9am - Class/Activity

10am - Field investigation (guided hike)

12pm - Lunch

1pm - Lodges - packing

2pm - Active and/or quiet rec time

3pm - Class/Activites/Short hike

5pm - Dinner

5-6pm - Parents arrive, store time, departure

About the Instructors:

Visit www.onsc.us/staff to learn more about our ONSC Teacher Naturalists and other staff.

Guest Presenters:

Ms. Shawn Hunter

Ms. Shawn Hunter is a member of NWA chapter of Master Naturalists, Wild Ones Ozark Chapter. A graduate of John Brown University and United States Navy Veteran, Miss Hunter founded and operated Inuendos Design Company in Siloam Springs, Arkansas from 2002 until her retirement in 2022. Retirement has been used to re-learn the art of watercolor, urban sketching and photography while hiking and traveling with her partner Jim. In her capacities as veteran and small business owner she gained useful project management and marketing skills she now uses to support conservation efforts. As co-founder and project lead for The Diana Project her current focus is to educate the public about the unique needs of Arkansas’s threatened State Butterfly, The Diana Fritillary (Argynnis Diana), and how they can help.