Nature Day Camps at the Schrader Center provide a safe and supportive environment for children to discover the wonders of nature. Our campers spend their days exploring and learning about our woods, meadows, streams and local habitats. We believe that a strong environmental ethic can best develop in children who learn to love being outdoors. Our camp builds the foundation for a lifetime of love and respect for the environment. And it’s fun!
Nature Investigators and Nature Explorers will swim at Oglebay Park’s outdoor pool on Monday, Wednesday & Friday and will be picked up at the pool entrance. Tuesday and Thursday pickup is at the Schrader Center. Cookouts will take place every Friday at the Schrader Center. Pre and post-care is available for Nature Investigators and Nature Explorers.
2023 Summer Day Camp Registration
OI members have priority access to register for camps during a special members-only registration period from 9am Monday, February 13 through Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Public registration opens at 9am February 16, 2023.
Online Registration Available: This year, we are pleased to announce online registration will again be available during our members-only registration period!
To gain registration access, you must be logged in to your online membership account. If you are unsure if you have an online membership account or need a refresher on how to access your account, please review the Accessing Your OI Online Account Instructions.
We strongly recommend that you log in to your account prior to registration opening day to ensure you have the correct login credentials and your membership is active and attached to your account.
If you’re having any issues accessing your account, we’re here to help. We want you to get the full value of your member benefits.
June 5-9, 2023: I SPY with my Little EYE
Search for small creatures in streams, ponds, gardens, and on the forest floor. Use a microscope to discover their strange and interesting features before we carefully return them back to their homes.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am June 5-9
Begins: Monday, June 5
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
June 12-16, 2023: Creature Features
Calling all Wild Kratts fans! Discover the secrets behind animals with super strength, x-ray vision, invisibility, shooting webs, and other incredible abilities. Use your own superpowers to accomplish our daily challenges.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am June 12-16
Begins: Monday, June 12
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
June 19-23, 2023: Seussical Science
Spark a life-long love of science while celebrating the one and only Dr. Seuss! We’ll read stories by the beloved author and honor his work with a corresponding STEM project.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am June 19-23
Begins: Monday, June 19
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
June 26-30, 2023: Dino-RRR-ific Camp
Discover the Jurassic period as you learn about dinosaurs like Littlefoot the Longneck, tri “Cera” tops, and Spike the Stegosaurus! Become a paleontologist, build a volcano, and explode a meteor as we learn how the land before time came to an end.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am June 26-30
Begins: Monday, June 26
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
July 10-15, 2023: Space Discovery
Launch into a galaxy of fun and learning as we explore outer space. Create a rocket, hold a star, and eat like an astronaut. This camp will be full of STEAM activities that will connect children to a universe of possibilities.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am July 10-15
Begins: Monday, July 10
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
July 17-21, 2023: Puddle Jumpers
Splash into summer as we learn how water supports all life on Earth. Explore the stream and pond for frogs, salamanders, and other aquatic critters.
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am July 17-21
Begins: Monday, July 17
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
July 24-28, 2023: Paw Patrol
Join the PAW Patrol as we use everyone’s special skills for rescue missions outside. No challenge is too great for our heroes!
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am July 24-28
Begins: Monday, July 28
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
July 31-Aug. 4, 2023: Yetis, Unicorns, and Mermaids
Explore the folklore behind the legends as we search for famous Cryptids. We’ll also take a close look at known creatures whose identities may have been mistaken for mythical creatures. Or, are they just really that good at hide and seek?!
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Ages: 4 – Entering Kindergarten
Meets: 8:30-11:30am July 31-Aug. 4
Begins: Monday, July 31
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$90/$75 OI members
June 5-9, 2023: Mad Science
Take part in mind-blowing experiments! Create slime, see amazing chemical reactions, and mess around with Oobleck. The possibilities are endless!
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm June 5-9
Begins: Monday, June 5
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 12-16, 2023: World of Colors
Embrace the colors of nature, create mud masterpieces, and jump into a different art adventure each day!
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm June 12-16
Begins: Monday, June 12
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 19-23, 2023: Undercover Detectives
Our planet holds many secrets, some of which can only be found by going undercover! Become a nature detective, follow the clues, and crack the code to catch the “Nature Destroyers” before the week is up.
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm June 19-23
Begins: Monday, June 19
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 26-30, 2023: Survive and Thrive
Spend the week learning tips to survive outside in nature, testing your knowledge with daily challenges. Will you become the ultimate survivor?
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm June 26-30
Begins: Monday, June 26
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 10-14, 2023: Stream Splashers
Splash into summer as we learn how water supports all life on Earth. Explore the stream and pond for frogs, salamanders, and other aquatic critters!
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm July 10-14
Begins: Monday, July 10
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 17-21, 2023: Minecraft
Take part in a camp inspired by the popular game. Gather materials to build shelters, tools, and whatever else you can imagine. Watch out for creepers
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm July 17-21
Begins: Monday, July 17
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 24-28, 2023: Bio-Mon
The exciting world of Pokémon meets the natural world! Draw inspiration from nature to create your own trading cards. Then, battle to become the Bio’mon master. Learn about the different biomes on Earth, the plants, and animals that adapt to call these places home.
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm July 24-28
Begins: Monday, July 24
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 31-Aug. 4, 2023: Fun with Cryptids
Celebrate the legends of the Yeti, Mothman, unicorns, and more! Cryptids are animals that some believe to exist but aren’t recognized by mainstream science. Learn about animals around the world that may have led to the belief in their existence.
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Ages: Entering Grade 1 – Entering Grade 3
Meets: 9am-3pm July 31- Aug. 4
Begins: Monday, July 31
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 5-9, 2023: Zombie Camp
Bond with friends and survive as a team by creating a story to save yourself and camp. Learn to use your senses to stay calm through any challenge. Develop wilderness survival techniques like tracking and stealth to hone mindfulness and awareness.
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm June 5-9
Begins: Monday, June 5
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 12-16, 2023: Wizarding World
Enter a world of magic, fantasy, and mythical beasts in this Harry Potter-inspired camp. Create amazing potions, design wands, cast spells, and more.
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm June 12-16
Begins: Monday, June 12
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 19-23, 2023: Star Wars Camp
Become one with the Force and train in the ways of the Jedi. Challenging daily missions will prepare you to take down the darkest evil ever faced!
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm June 19-23
Begins: Monday, June 19
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 26-30, 2023: Survival of the Fittest
Spend the week learning tips to survive outside in nature with daily challenges. Will you become the ultimate survivor? Extend the week with an evening of special survival hikes, fire building, dinner, and marshmallow roasting 3-6:30pm Thurs., June 29. ($25 add’l fee.)
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm June 26-30
Begins: Monday, June 26
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
June 29, 2023: Survival of the Fittest Late Night Option
For the “Survival of the Fittest” late night option, campers will extend their day with a special survival hike and fire building activity, then enjoy dinner and marshmallows around the campfire.
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 3pm-6:30pm
Begins: Thursday, June 29
Duration: 3.5 hours
Instructor(s): TBA
$25
July 10-14, 2023: Water You Doing this Week?
Cool down during an exploration of our water world. Play water games, catch aquatic critters, go fishing, and learn the science of water. It will be a splash!
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm July 10-14
Begins: Monday, July 10
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 17-21, 2023: Maker Camp
Create simple circuits, machines, stop-motion animations, and more from natural materials and found objects. The possibilities are endless!
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Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm July 17-21
Begins: Monday, July 17
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 24-28, 2023: Bio-Mon Master
The exciting world of Pokémon meets the natural world! Draw inspiration from nature to create your own trading cards. Then, battle to become the Bio’mon master. Learn about the different biomes on Earth, the plants, and animals that adapt to call these places home.
View Course Details/Register
Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm July 24-28
Begins: Monday, July 24
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members
July 31-Aug. 4, 2023: Cryptid Zoology
Celebrate the legends of the Yeti, Mothman, unicorns, and more! Cryptids are animals that some believe to exist but aren’t recognized by mainstream science. Learn about animals around the world that may have led to the belief in their existence.
View Course Details/Register
Ages: Entering Grade 4 – Entering Grade 7
Meets: 9am-3pm July 31-Aug. 4
Begins: Monday, July 31
Duration: 5 days
Instructor(s): TBA
$140/$120 OI members