Spring Break Day Camp at ONSC Lake Fayetteville

🌞 Join us for Spring Break Day Camp: Life Around the Lake! 🏞️

This 4-day adventure will have campers exploring the fascinating ecosystems around Lake Fayetteville—from aquatic habitats to forest and urban environments.

Campers will:

🔍 Dive into Ozark natural science and cultural history, learning how Native American and settler communities used the land over time

🐢 Discover the amazing animals that call the lake area home, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even bugs!

🎨 Get creative with eco-art inspired by the natural surroundings

🌿 Go on guided hikes with our Teacher Naturalists to uncover the secrets of each habitat around the lake

📍 Located at ONSC’s Lake Fayetteville site, this day camp combines outdoor adventure with hands-on learning for a Spring Break to remember!

Ages 7-14

Camp Description

Life around the Lake: Campers will explore aquatic, forest, and urban ecosystems around Lake Fayetteville while learning about our local Ozark natural science and cultural history! Discover how Native American and Settler communities used the land around Lake Fayetteville through time and tune in to the natural world of the many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates (bugs!) in their habitats around the lake. 

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: Be on the lookout for a packing list and info packet which will be sent out before camp to the email address you provided!

Daily Schedule (tentative):

• 7:30 - 9am: Drop-off

• Morning Session: Field investigation (guided hike), nature journaling, active games

• 12pm: Lunch (bring your own packed lunch)

• Afternoon Session: Eco-art and activities, games, science lessons (bring your own snack)

• 5 - 6pm:  Pick-up

Guided Hike Topics Include (but are not limited to):

Natural Science Topics – Adaptations and Natural Selection, Food Webs, Geology and the Rock Cycle, Human and Cultural History (Osage Native Americans and Settlers), Phenology and Seasonal Changes, Succession and Natural History, Symbiosis, Water Quality-Biotic and Abiotic Testing, Weather, Weathering and Erosion, Watersheds, and The Four Spheres: Atmosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere, & Hydrosphere

Wilderness Exploration Topics – Mentality for Outdoor Exploration, Physical Preparedness, Wilderness Safety, Monitoring and Adjusting for Environmental Conditions, Emergency Action Plans, Comfort Management, Materials and Tools Found in Nature, Wild Edibles and Foraging, Water Quality and Purification

About Ozark Natural Science Center: 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. Camp activities include  hikes, team-building, games, art, and small-group activities.

Ticket Refund Policy:

• Refunds up to 1 week before the event: Tickets are refundable minus any applicable fees (processing, administrative, etc.) until 7 days before the event.

• Refunds within 1 week of the event: For refund requests made less than 7 days prior to the event, a 50% refund will be issued

• No refunds within 24 hours of the event: Refund requests made within 24 hours of the event are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances and only with approval from ONSC administration.

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*Please note that all refund requests must be submitted in writing to jill.bowman@onsc.us. Refunds will be processed within 7-10 business days.

About the Instructors:

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

Questions? Please email School Program and Camp Manager, Breana Patterson at breana.patterson@onsc.us with any questions about ONSC Day Camps