Summer Overnight Camp at ONSC Main Campus, June 16-19

🌞 Make this summer unforgettable at ONSC’s 4-Day, 3-Night Camp! Join us for an immersive nature, science, and adventure experience, packed with both daytime discoveries and nighttime explorations.

During our Summer Overnight Camp, campers will:

🔍 Embark on exciting field investigations and guided night hikes with our Teacher Naturalists

🎨 Get creative with eco-art projects inspired by nature’s beauty

💦 Cool off with water games and splash-worthy activities for endless summer fun

🎉 Enjoy engaging games and activities that keep them active all day

📝 Practice nature journaling to document experiences and build a deep connection to the natural world

🔬 Dive into hands-on science lessons that bring the wonders of the Ozarks to life

📍 Located at ONSC’s Main Campus, this camp offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure and hands-on science exploration.

Ready for a summer of discovery? 🌿✨

Ages 8-16

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!

Summer Overnight Camps: (choose one or more!)

June 9-12

June 16-19

June 23-26

July 7-8 - Fledgling Camp (1 night stay, ages 8-12)

Lodging:

Students will stay in ONSC's lodges, and will be assigned to rooms by age and gender. 

Chaperones:

We have a limited number of free tickets for parent chaperones. We will need at least one male and one female chaperone for each age group with a maximum of 6 total 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. 

Tentative camp schedule:

Day 1 - Monday

• 7:30am - Arrival, check in at pavilion, parents assist campers with lodge move-in 

• 8am - Staff-Parent-Camper Meeting in Ewing Center 

  • *Note: Parents can leave their camper with us at 8:00am if they've attended the virtual meeting, or after the meeting concludes. Parents may stay for the lodge orientation and additional move-in time if desired.

• 8:45am - Lodge Orientation (in each lodge), additional move-in time

• 9:45am - Camper Meeting 

• 10am - Name Games / Ice-Breakers

• 11am - Field Journal Activity 

• 12pm - Lunch

• 1pm - Field Investigation (guided hike)

• 4:30pm - Downtime on the Deck

• 5:30pm - Dinner  

• 6:30pm - FrogWatch Class

• 7:30pm - Night hike

• Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones

Day 2 - Tuesday

• 8am - Breakfast

• 9am - Radio Tracking Class

• 10am - Field Investigation (guided hike)

• 12pm - Lunch

• 1pm - Eco-art and activities

• 2pm - Orienteering Class and Field Investigation (guided hike)

• 5:30pm - Dinner

• 6:30pm - Recreation Time (active and quiet options)

• 8:00pm - Astronomy in field

• Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones  

Day 3 - Wednesday

• 8am - Breakfast

• 9am - Ornithology Class & Binoculars Orientation

• 10am - Field Investigation (guided hike)

• 12pm - Lunch

• 1pm - Herpetology Class + Meet Cornelia the Corn Snake

• 2:00pm - Water Play Time 

• 5:30pm - Dinner  

• 6:30pm - Lunar Cycles Class

• 7:30pm - Campfire with Fire Building Lesson, Lorax play, and S’mores

• Overnight in ONSC lodges with chaperones  

Day 4 - Thursday

• 8am - Breakfast

• 9am - Field Investigation with Creek Critters Class (guided hike)

• 12pm - Lunch

• 1pm - Lodges - packing

• 2pm - Recreation Time (active and quiet options)

• 3pm - Lorax Discussion

• 4pm - Group Photo and Camp Stories

• 5pm - Dinner

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

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 given.

• 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.

*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 Camps