These weeklong Heard Summer Nature Camps will feature opportunities to delve into the wonders of nature on our 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more! Spots are limited.

Camp Barn Owl Topics

• Feathered Friends
  Do all birds lay eggs and make nests? What is migration and what bird makes the longest one? How are feather similar to and different from hair on mammals and scales on reptiles? Find out the answer to these and other questions about our feathered friends and spend some time watching the ones that make our sanctuary their home.
• Terrific Trees
  Around our area we see trees almost every day. In addition to learning about trees that grow on our sanctuary, we’ll explore the parts of trees and what amazing thing they can do in their leaves. We’ll also count some tree rings and find out what they can tell us about the past.
• Animal Champions
  Scientists have sorted living things into several different kingdoms. What are they, and what makes an animal an animal? We’ll also explore some of the most amazing animal facts – who runs fastest, jumps highest, moves slowest, lives longest, and carries the heaviest load, etc.
• Weather Wise
  Be a junior meteorologist and make your own weather observations like air temperature and wind speeds. We’ll also explore a variety of different weather phenomena from clouds to tornados.
• Nature Journaling
  Much of what we know about nature comes from observations made by naturalists in their journals. Following in their footsteps, we’ll make our own nature journals and use them to record things we find and see during camp.

These weeklong Heard Summer Nature Camps will feature opportunities to delve into the wonders of nature on our 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more! Spots are limited.

Camp Wolf Topics

• Mammals & Us
  What makes a mammal a mammal? What mammals live around here? Who’s the biggest mammal? Who’s the smallest mammal? We’ll explore these and other questions as we discover more about these unique and diverse animals.
• Flower Power
  We’ll take a close look at the amazing world of flowers and find out why plants make them and learn their different parts. We’ll also look at which animals use flowers and see how many different types of flowers we can find on the sanctuary.
• Prairie Predators
  Did you know that we live in one of the most endangered ecosystems? What is its name and which plants and animals make it their home? Who hunts other animals and who eats only plants? Find out as we spend time exploring the restored prairie remnants on the sanctuary.
• Shake, Rattle, & Roll
  What can make the ground shake? What can shoot rocks high into the sky and even change the weather around the world? Discover how events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have change the landscape, and how studying them have helped us learn more about the earth.
• Nature Journaling
  Much of what we know about nature comes from observations made by naturalists in their journals. Following in their footsteps, we’ll make our own nature journals and use them to record things we find and see during camp

These weeklong Heard Summer Nature Camps will feature opportunities to delve into the wonders of nature on our 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more! Spots are limited.

Camp Wolf Topics

• Mammals & Us
  What makes a mammal a mammal? What mammals live around here? Who’s the biggest mammal? Who’s the smallest mammal? We’ll explore these and other questions as we discover more about these unique and diverse animals.
• Flower Power
  We’ll take a close look at the amazing world of flowers and find out why plants make them and learn their different parts. We’ll also look at which animals use flowers and see how many different types of flowers we can find on the sanctuary.
• Prairie Predators
  Did you know that we live in one of the most endangered ecosystems? What is its name and which plants and animals make it their home? Who hunts other animals and who eats only plants? Find out as we spend time exploring the restored prairie remnants on the sanctuary.
• Shake, Rattle, & Roll
  What can make the ground shake? What can shoot rocks high into the sky and even change the weather around the world? Discover how events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have change the landscape, and how studying them have helped us learn more about the earth.
• Nature Journaling
  Much of what we know about nature comes from observations made by naturalists in their journals. Following in their footsteps, we’ll make our own nature journals and use them to record things we find and see during camp

These weeklong Heard Summer Nature Camps will feature opportunities to delve into the wonders of nature on our 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more! Spots are limited.

Camp Wolf Topics

• Mammals & Us
  What makes a mammal a mammal? What mammals live around here? Who’s the biggest mammal? Who’s the smallest mammal? We’ll explore these and other questions as we discover more about these unique and diverse animals.
• Flower Power
  We’ll take a close look at the amazing world of flowers and find out why plants make them and learn their different parts. We’ll also look at which animals use flowers and see how many different types of flowers we can find on the sanctuary.
• Prairie Predators
  Did you know that we live in one of the most endangered ecosystems? What is its name and which plants and animals make it their home? Who hunts other animals and who eats only plants? Find out as we spend time exploring the restored prairie remnants on the sanctuary.
• Shake, Rattle, & Roll
  What can make the ground shake? What can shoot rocks high into the sky and even change the weather around the world? Discover how events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have change the landscape, and how studying them have helped us learn more about the earth.
• Nature Journaling
  Much of what we know about nature comes from observations made by naturalists in their journals. Following in their footsteps, we’ll make our own nature journals and use them to record things we find and see during camp

Explore the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers will be encouraged to sharpen their senses to be able to spot signs of animal life and learn more about the inhabitants of the Heard.

Cost: 

Members: $12

Non-members: $14

Age 3 years through adult

Now is the time to encourage your child’s love of nature! In our natural science programs, kids will have the opportunity explore all that the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary has to offer. Students will experience learning through classroom activities, outdoor field investigations on our 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, laboratory science, small group activities and take-home study packets. Each course curriculum is developed by the Heard Museum’s education staff who strive to recognize and meet the needs of homeschool families. Spots are limited and pre-registration is required.

More info

Would you like to learn more about the nature and history of the Heard?

Join us for the 2023 Trail Guide Training class series. You will get to learn aspects of the Heard’s trails. You’ll also learn to help guide school groups and more along Heard nature trails.

The classes will be offered on two Fridays in September (September 22 and September 29) from 9 AM to 3 PM in Laughlin Hall at the Heard. Participation in both sessions is required. All guides must be registered volunteers at the Heard.

Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants and bring lunch, water, and bug spray. This training session will focus on the two trails we primarily use for school groups. Pre-registration is required, and spots are limited. Join us on this great adventure by submitting a Heard volunteer application and indicating your interest in this program on the form.

Come and see the magic of the Heard’s bottomland forest without the camouflage of leaves during the Members-Only Winter Tree Walk. You’ll get to know the things we overlook the rest of the year. In the winter, when many plants have lost their leaves, it may seem impossible to identify plants; however, during this hike, you will learn about some of the ways you can identify plants without their foliage.

This program is an exclusive Heard Museum member benefit and is free for Heard Museum members. Spots are limited, and reservations are required.