Summer Nature Day Camps
Naturalists lead an annual set of summer camps that allow children to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. The camps are a week-long experience in conservation and nature. Activities may include hiking & outdoor recreation, meeting live animals, story time, nature arts & crafts, picnics, and science activities.
Parents may register children for camp beginning Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, come to the Annett Nature Center (15565 118th Ave Indianola, IA) or call us at (515) 961-6169 (registrations will not be accepted via email or voicemail.) Our camp sessions fill up very quickly.
Parents or relatives may register campers and up to one non-related camper per camp.
*Due to the popularity and limited space in our camps, children may only attend each camp one time.
*Day Camp fees are non-refundable*
2025 Day Camp Schedule
Cricket Camp (2 sessions):
Ages 4-5
Cost: $50
M-F 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Session I: June 9-13
Session II: July 14-18
*Must be 4 years old by first day of camp.
This camp is themed around “animal awareness”. Children will learn about insects, birds, pond life (amphibians and fish,) mammals, and reptiles. Each day will include nature art, games, hiking, songs, and story time.
Discovery Camp:
Ages 6-7
Cost: $75
M-F 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
June 16-20
This camp is themed around habitats and areas of scientific studies or “ologies”. Children will learn about Woodlands, Prairie, Wetlands/Ponds, and Lakes, and Backyards as habitats. They will also learn about scatology, arachnology, micro/macro biology, paleontology, and cryptology. Each day will include LOTS of hiking along with some journaling, nature art, games, science, and story time.
Kestrel Camp:
Ages 8-9
Cost: $75
M-W: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Th: Sleep Under 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
No Camp Friday
June 23-27
This camp is themed around early Iowans. We will learn about Native Americans, Pioneers on the Oregon Trail, Early Iowans in Nature and Primitive Cooking. Each day will include games, crafts and hiking! Thursday night’s sleep under will include making a camp stew and doing all of the fun night activities of previous camps! (All the fun of a sleep over, without the sleeping part!)
Challenge Camp:
Ages 10-12
Cost: $75
M-W 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
T-F 3 p.m. - 8 a.m.
July 7-11
This camp is themed around a challenge and outdoor survival theme. This includes outdoor challenges, mental challenges, physical challenges, and social/teamwork challenges. We will learn about fishing, knot tying, orienteering, geocaching, standup paddleboarding and canoeing. Each day will include games and hiking. Thursday night will include making foil packet dinners over the fire and spending the night at the Annett Nature Center for a camp overnighter!
2nd Annual
Family Camp:
Ages 6 and Up
Cost: $20 per participant
Friday at 6:00pm through Saturday at 2:30pm
May 2-3
Enjoy a Harry Potter-style family camp. Compete with your loved ones and bond over the excitement of our challenges. Learn valuable lessons in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving as you navigate through various obstacles and tasks. Participate in camp games and enjoy an overnight camp with your family. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable opportunity to connect with nature and each other in a fun and thrilling way. Your family may register beginning Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, at 8 a.m. Registration may be completed in person at the Annett Nature Center (15565 118th Ave, Indianola, IA) or by calling us at 515-961-6169 (no e-mail registrations will be accepted).
Dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning, and lunch Saturday will be provided with camp registration.
*Staff will be facilitating camp and the challenges, but parents must supervise their children at all times.
*Camp fees are non-refundable
