ecocamps brochure

The Environmental Resource Center invites you to

EcoCamps 2011

Discover, Learn, Grow

Discover, Learn, Grow Summer with the ERC

It is hard to believe that 2011 will be our 9th summer camp season at the Environmental Resource Center! As you may know, EcoCamp has grown and changed over the years. We began as a day camp at Atkinson’s Park, and grew into an overnight camp in 2005 featuring a variety of workshops each day. In 2008 we evolved again, when we began hiring professional staff to deliver a genuine, place‐based, experiential education curriculum during the day, complementing our more traditional evening and nighttime camp activities.

As a result, we have developed a program treasured by campers and parents alike. Our participants acquire a language and love of place – we foster in them a passion for the natural world, and teach them the skills and knowledge they need to understand and protect it.

We hope your family will join us for an amazing summer. Whether you all take part in the Shooting Star Sleep Out, or your child makes her first foray into overnight camps in the safety and caring of our small‐group settings, or your littlest ones join us for Wild Notes at the Symphony, we know you will find yourself thrilled with the company of a community of people who love this place we call home—for a day, or for a lifetime.

All the best,

Lisa Huttinger Education Director

Table of Contents

Overnight Adventures Rising 4th—7th Graders

Family Day and Evening Programs

EcoCamp: Chasing Wild Survival Skills in the Mountains

Mon July 18—Fri July 22 $350*

EcoCamp: Adventure Aquatic Geology, Hydrology, and the Mysteries of Water

Mon July 25—Fri July 29 $430* (includes rafting on Friday!)

EcoCamp: Night Stalkers Uncovering the Secrets of the Night

Mon Aug 8—Fri Aug 12 $350*

Wild Lunch Free nature activities and lunch with The Hunger Coalition in June and July

ERC at the Symphony Parent’s Night Out! Free! Aug 3, 4, and 16

Nature Workshops Beavers Walks and River Romps!

June and August

Scholarship Fundraiser! Back Alley Concert at The Wicked Spud

Wednesday, June 29 *Discounts and scholarships available

EcoCamp: Adventure Aquatic Geology, Hydrology,

And Mysteries of Water Mon July 25—Fri July 29

$430*

This week, we will learn the relationship between geology

and hydrology, study the anatomy of a river, and explore

the water’s inhabitants. Our adventure will culminate with a half‐day rafting trip on

the Salmon River with White Cloud Rafting. Great adventures await!

EcoCamp: Chasing Wild Survival Skills

in the Mountains Mon July 18—Fri July 22

$350*

To survive the mountains, you must know the mountains.

During our week together, we will learn how to seek and build shelters, and navigate with a map and compass. We will also track animals, safely obtain water, explore various uses for native plants, and

more!


More camps, new topics, rafting!— in other worlds, a world of fun and learning for your child. Our program overviews are here; details on our facility, field groups, and other logistics are located further on. The last page has our registration form, including information on discounts (member discounts this year!) and scholarships.

Overnights for Rising 4th‐7th Grade

EcoCamp: Night Stalkers Uncovering the Secrets

of the Night Mon Aug 8—Fri Aug 12

$350*

Later to bed, later to rise, and time to prowl the nocturnal world! We’ll

use our daylight hours to learn about animal adaptations to the

dark, and to stake out locations we think animals may lurk at night.

At night, we’ll experiment with our night vision, hearing, and more!

Overnights for Rising 4th‐7th G

rade

“Thank you for offering these camps for our kids and enriching their lives and helping create lasting summer childhood memories.”

“We've done activities with the ERC before and I know that anything they do is completely organized well thought out and best of all: fun. I trust that my child

will be cared for well, will be safe and will have fun.”

As the spring goes on, we will continue to add more family programs, so be sure to check back! The Nature Workshops, and the Symphony require registration; Wild Lunch does not.

“My daughter did some things that she was initially afraid of, sleeping outside, for example. She came back raving

about how cool it was to watch the stars as you fell asleep. As a parent, I see that as.... priceless!”


Family O

vernight Program

The ERC's camps are not run like your typical camp — [their camp director] makes sure that all children are included in activities, that no one is left out‐ if someone is having a hard time, she's there for them. She actually *cares*‐ which is a rare thing.

Wild Lunch with The Hunger Coalition

Tuesdays and Thursdays June 14—Jul 7

Free!

We will once again offer Wild Lunch, a series of nature

education day camps, during The Hunger Coalition’s

Summer Lunch Connections at Woodside Elementary. The

program is open to ages 1‐18, but children under 10

need to be accompanied by a caretaker over 15.

Learn more about the plants and animals that share our home—and get a nutritious and scrumptious lunch at

the same time!

Wild Connections at the Symphony

A Parent’s Night Out! Aug 3, 4, and 16

Free!

The ERC will bring Wild Connections to the

Sun Valley Summer Symphony again this

summer. We’ll create a fun and educational setting where your children can

connect with nature, freeing you to connect with the concert! You’ll find us on the lawn at the Pavilion.

Open to ages 5—13. Call Sun Valley Summer

Symphony office at 208‐622‐5607 to register.

Family D

ay and Evening Programs

Beaver Walks Thursdays

June 30 and Aug 18*

The beaver has been called the most intelligent animal, aside from humans, for the ways

in which it alters its surroundings. During our evening, we will learn more about this amazing animal, and—with a little luck—see them in action! Get to know the largest rodent in North America! Members free;

suggested donation $10 individuals/$25 family for non‐members. Registration requested; call 208.726.4333.

(Time and location to be determined closer to date)

Discover, Learn, Grow Family D

ay and Evening Program

s River Romps Fridays, Aug 5 & 19 10 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

Come explore the Big Wood River! Children and adults are invited to discover river ecology through hands‐on exploration and learn more about the many plants and animals which depend on this aquatic wonderland for survival. Members free;

suggested donation $10 individuals/$25 family

for non‐members. Registration requested; call

208.726.4333.

(Location to be determined closer to date)

Special Event! Back Alley Concert at The Wicked Spud

Wednesday, June 29

We are honored to be a beneficiary of the famous Back Alley Concerts at The Wicked

Spud in Hailey! This concert will raise money for our EcoCamp scholarship fund. In 2010,

50% of campers attended EcoCamp on scholarship. Join the party, buy a raffle ticket, have some fun—and send a child to camp!

Family D

ay and Evening Programs

“I want to go to EcoCamp because I like to hike and want to spend time with other kids. Also, if I don’t get to go to EcoCamp, I may have to spend the summer inside watching TV and I would rather hike.”


Overnight Program

s Lo

cation

This was my child's first sleep away camp... What I liked best was that I didn't have to worry one iota about my child, even though it was her first time away ‐ I knew that she was in good hands.

EcoCamps Location

Our multi‐day overnight programs take place at the Central Idaho 4‐H Camp, 17 miles north of Ketchum. The facility is nestled next to Prairie Creek and surrounded by mountains, forests, and abundant wildlife. Participants stay in cabins with counselors, share a bathhouse, and eat breakfast and dinner in the lodge. Our days are spent discovering the diversity and delight of nature with professional field instructors, and lunch is eaten in the field to take advantage of every moment of the day. Evenings we gather at the campfire circle for s’mores, and to celebrate the events of the day.

Program Philosophy

Our programs—especially our overnight camps—are a bit different from a typical camp. At the end of a program, each camper will have a deeper understanding of this amazing valley, the roles of diversity and community, and of themselves. We achieve this by spending days in the field with experienced teachers who deliver a comprehensive ecology and natural history curriculum. Each day builds on the knowledge and discoveries made the day before, allowing participants to expand and apply newly‐gained expertise.

We also keep our group sizes small (8:1 student‐teacher ratio) so that we can create a sense of community among participants. We create field groups by age, and provide special capstone events for our rising 7th graders, who are enjoying their last year at EcoCamp. We value teamwork and collaboration and reflect this in everything from field activities to meals and chores.

Our goal is to create meaningful, hands‐on experiences that draw on your child’s imagination and love of play to help them discover and learn about the natural world.

We let our son pick one over night camp experience each summer... and he chose this one.

How W

e Do It...


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What discounts might I receive? We have a variety of discounts available for registrations paid in full. These include early registration, ERC member, and multiple family members/sessions discounts. See our registration form for details.

Is financial aid possible? Scholarship support is available for the three EcoCamps; however, every participant will pay a minimum of $50. Please send in the registration form with $50 and indicate that you would like to receive a scholarship application. If we can not offer you adequate financial support, we will refund the $50 in full. Discounts do not apply to scholarships.

What if I must cancel my registration? Cancellations are subject to a $50 processing fee up to six weeks before each program begins, a $250 fee if cancelled less than six weeks before the start date. We’re sorry, but we cannot offer refunds for cancellations within 7 days of the program.

How can we help another family enroll their child? If your family is able to help another during this difficult economic time, please consider a tax‐deductible donation to our scholarship fund, and connect one more child or family to nature!

What if my child has special needs? We can work with your family to properly support any dietary and health concerns your child may have. We have also worked in the past to include children at camp with learning differences. Please contact us for more information.

Did you know... … that camper registration fees only cover 65% of the cost of camp? Thank you so much to our funders and partners that make it possible to bring you these programs by covering the rest of the costs!!! It takes a team to make it all happen!

Thank You to Our Partners! The Campfire

Foundation, Inc.

The Deer Creek Fund

Funders

The Stone Family

In all honesty, and I'm one to typically have an abundance of constructive criticism, I can't think of anything that could have been better. Truly, it was a magnificent experi‐ence for her and I thank River [Camp Director] and all of the counselors for that!

ecocamps brochure

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