Celebrating Nature with Children Through Summer Camps

"I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand."
quote from Confucius

In today's electronic world, children are staying inside watching TV, typing on their computers, texting on cell phones and playing video games. They are not getting outside nor playing outside as much as our past generations did. Being outside in nature has many benefits for children: such as improving physical, mental and emotional health; and improving awareness, reasoning and observation skills. Exploring nature teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. Nature offers vast opportunities for travel and learning. We can experience nature by fishing, hunting, camping, kayaking, wildlife photography, wildlife tracking, wildlife watching and more. Being in nature may awaken us to new hobbies, lead to jobs or start new careers.

Connecting children to nature is very important to this office and one way that we accomplish this Service Directive is leading summer camps. Through a partnership with Millsaps College in Jackson, we are the primary instructors for two summer camps for children: Nature Detectives and Birding for Kids. Two other camps that we help at are conducted through a multi partnership effort at Mississippi State University: Plant & Bug Camp and the Fish & Wildlife Camp.

 

Read an article about our office involvement in summer camps

 

For more information about summer camps contact Terri Jacobson.

 

Bird Camp 2010 at Millsaps College. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Tomahawk throwing at Fish & Wildlife camp. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Journal page from Nature Detective's Camp. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Campers on nature scavenger hunt. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

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Using jeweler's loupe to draw an insect. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Learning about bird biodiveristy and adaptation. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Nature Detectives learn about The Private Eye. Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS

Bird watching at camp.Credit: Terri Jacobson, USFWS