Without extracurricular activities, children will take up sedentary pastimes, such as playing video games or baseball. Get them up and moving with this Groupon.
$99 for a Five-Day Kids' Nature Camp ($400 Value)
Children aged 6–11 dive into woodlands and waters during the Eco-Explorers camp, comprising hands-on lessons about nature and wildlife in an outdoor classroom setting. Outdoorspeople can also enroll in the Nature Investigations camp, where they'll learn from similar alfresco activities but go a mental step further and apply their new knowledge to real-world issues. Both classes meet April 9 to 13 , with the Eco Explorers meeting from 9 a.m. to noon and the Nature Investigations from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Jordan Lake Environment Education
Around the shores of Jordan Lake, a squad of outdoor enthusiasts works to cultivate environmental stewardship in youngsters through discovery-based classes and events that disguise education in a cloak of fun. Codirectors Eleanor Herr and Denise Nelson both possess a passion for nature, degrees in early-childhood education, and the creativity to combine the two into exciting programs.
Lessons and field trips designed for public- or home-schooled children instill a love of nature while adhering to the Common Core State and North Carolina Essential Standards for education. Events for kids and their families, such as a full-moon night hike with a campfire, encourage bonding that can strengthen telepathic communication during future potato-sack races. Weekly nature camps for ages 6–11 keep young brains blossoming in the summer. Jordan Lake Environment Education also hosts birthdays, replete with themed activities, coloring books, and free time for any self-provided cake and refreshments.