Environmental Camp

Science Camp Experiments

Visit: Science Camp
Weevil Rearing at Summer Camp
As the presents of Eurasian watermilfoil increases in the Northern part of Wisconsin Methods have been researched on reducing its population. One way is biological control using an increased population of the native milfoil weevil. Researchers from the University of Minnesota reported a substantial decline in the density of Eurasian watermilfoil when the weevil population reached two insects per stem.
Swift Nature Camp was pleased in the summer of 2011 to take on this project in part supported by the local lake association and the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “ This is REAL hands on Science” said Emily the Director at Swift in-charge of the little critters. Our goal was to start with a local population and create an even lager population to release back into the water. During the summer we had 10 tubs of 50 gallons each. These were home to our beginning brood of weevils. Every few weeks we fed them and hoped that they were reproducing franticly....

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Eurasian Water Milfoil

Science Summer Camps
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Eurasian Water Milfoil
Eurasian milfoil first arrived in Wisconsin in the 1960's. During the 1980's, it began to move from southern Wisconsin to lakes and waterways in the northern half of the state. This migration took place mainly by boaters not removing fragments from their boats as they went from lake to lake. In Minong Wisconsin. the milfoil increase has happened over the last 10 years or so. Today, many lakes in the region are trying many ways to eliminate this nonnative invasive species.

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Green Schools

Geen Schools in WisconsinWisconsin Green & Healthy Schools Program
Schools across Wisconsin are demonstrating their commitment to a more sustainable Earth, stronger communities and healthier, more productive learning environments for students by choosing to join the Wisconsin Green and Healthy Schools program. The Wisconsin Green and Healthy Schools program is a web-based, self-paced and voluntary program available to all Wisconsin public and private elementary, middle and high schools. The program is designed to support and encourage schools in their quest for a healthy, safe, and environmentally-friendly learning environment.
Our Mission
Meadowbrook Students Recycling
The Wisconsin Green and Healthy Schools program aims to increase the students’ knowledge and awareness of Wisconsin’s natural resources and the environmental, health, and safety concerns and challenges that face our schools, our communities, and our Earth. The Green and Healthy Schools program will help students develop the necessary skills and expertise to address these challenges, and to foster life-long attitudes, behaviors, and commitments in order to make informed decisions and to encourage students to become active participants in their communities*. Furthermore, by completing the steps of the program schools will discover ways that their individual school can provide a safe, clean, and green school that promotes a productive learning environment and in doing so will help to conserve and protect our valuable natural resources.
(*Portions of the Green and Healthy Mission were taken from UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1977).
Awards and Recognitions
The journey to becoming a Wisconsin Green and Healthy School requires hard work, active participation, and a strong commitment to attaining a healthy and environmentally responsible school. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction want to recognize your school’s achievements at every step of the program through a succession of awards and recognitions [PDF 125KB]. Your school is encouraged to display these awards around your school building to inform staff, students, parents, and the community of your continued commitment to providing students and staff with a healthier and greener learning environment.

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Wisconsin Environmentalism

Wisconsin Outdoor Camp
As part of the the Environmental Community here is a recent email that was sent my way to encourage Wisconsinites and educators to get involved in current Nature and Science studies.

Greetings Environmental Educator!

I'm writing with great news for the environmental education community!
Representative Taylor (Monona) and Senator Larson (Milwaukee) have secured over 32 co-sponsors from both legislative houses for the
Wisconsin Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.

Next steps and how you can help:
On January 5th, Representatives Taylor and Larson will publicly announce the bill and ask for the joint assembly to schedule a vote. With a great show of support from the EE community, we can ensure this bill's success. Here's what you can do:
1.
Sign on to support! - show your support of the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights and keep up to date on the bill's progress.
2.
Get out your art smocks - encourage children's groups to create artwork that expresses how and why spending time outdoors is of value.
3.
Come to the January 5th press conference at the state capitol - registration details to be announced.

To find out more about this initiative, including the official language in the bill, if your legislator is a co-sponsor, or who fellow supporters are, visit the
EEinWisconsin.org website.

Please pass along this exciting news to colleagues!

For questions or comments, please contact:

Betsy Parker
Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education - Networking & Advocacy Chair
(608) 209-2909 betsyjmp@gmail.com

Jennifer Giegerich
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Legislative Director
(608) 661-0845 jennifer@conservationvoters.org


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Year of the Turtle

Visit: Green Summer Camp
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With 2011 almost over did you know that it was the year of the Turtle?
If you did...What have you done about it.
If not there is still time to save nearly 40% of the turtles that are threatened .

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Wisconsin Environmental Plan

Visit: Eco Friendly Summer Camp
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The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) has enthusiastically adopted and
supports the implementation of Wisconsin’s Plan for Environmental Literacy and Sustainable
Communities . This plan is the latest in a long line of environmental education initiatives in the
state . Beginning with the Conservation Movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s through
the Environmental Movement in the 1960s and 70s and on to today, residents of Wisconsin
have played a key role in shaping the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of individuals, groups,
and organizations with respect to environmental issues at the national, regional, and local
levels . As a new century has just begun, this plan provides a pathway for all of us to build
upon this prior work and move forward in developing an environmentally literate society
comprised of sustainable communities .

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Earth Day - Kids Need More

Visit: Nature Summer Camp
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On April 22, 1970, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day. It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe. Through the combined efforts of the U.S. government, grassroots organizations, and .........

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Nature Camp in Winter

Visit: Nature Summer Camp
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During our winter stay at camp a local camp neighbor, Delon came by with his snowmobiles and offered to take Forrest and I on a nature tour. It was exciting we had a sunny day with balmy high 20 temps. As we zoomed past Picnic Island ( see video) our first stop was to look for the eagles. They were both their and sitting near the nest. It is about this time that eagles start to lay their eggs. So a good sign that we will see eaglets this summer. From their we went off across the lake and to a snowmobile trail system that covers most of the state of Wisconsin. As we traveled we saw many deer trails cutting through the woods. Often they would cross the snowmobile trail, they seem to like snow that is packed down and easier to walk on. As we looked deep into the woods, we saw deer looking at us being careful not to move so as not to be seen. In all we saw... click to read and see more photos

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Environmental Education in Wisconsin!

  Visit: Environmental Education Summer Camps
post card 5As you may have heard, the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE), in partnership with the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters (WLCV), is advocating for EE by way of a "Wisconsin Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights".....read more what you can do

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Animal Summer Camp

Visit: Animal Summer Camp
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Most of you campers knows this furry..not so much guy. Yep it is Apollo the bearded dragon. Some might think he was named after the space program. However, I think it was a Greek God. Currently lives with us but if you would like to adopt him till next summer give us an email and we can work it out. Want to learn more about Apollo...click below Read More...

Experts say-Get Outside and Play

Visit: Nature Summer CampsbartAnyone can read a book about ecology or see a film about wild animals. But, today's children are missing contact with the outside world. Children learn more rapidly through natural curiosity, experimentation and discovery, rather than a classroom lecture. That's just part of the benefits that nature and the outdoors impart onto kids. And much of this can be done with guided purposeful hands on play.
The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition is working to develop an Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin that will address the environmental education needs of Wisconsin's

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Rock for Nature

Visit: Science Summer Camp



In 1969 a Summer Music Concert was created in was called Woodstock. Joe Cocker was there! Today, many years later he is creating Rock for Nature a concert that promotes biodiversity in nature and in our farms.

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Nature Rocks

Visit: Nature Summer Camp
logoWASHINGTON, DC -/PRNewswire/ — Today four of the nation's leaders and experts in bringing families and nature together, The Nature Conservancy, REI, Children and Nature Network, and ecoAmerica, announced the launch of Nature Rocks – an initiative created to inspire and empower parents across the country to take their families to play, explore and enjoy quality time in nature.

With summer fast approaching, parents are now focused on planning fun, family activities — determining the best activities to keep kids and parents busy and entertained during the summer months. Nature Rocks is an ideal solution to this need, as it has been designed to ensure that all families – regardless of budget, kids' ages or experience – can plan affordable and fun activities in nature that encourage family bonding ......

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No Child Left Inside

Visit: Nature Summer Camp
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The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition is working to develop an Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin that will address the environmental education needs of Wisconsin's pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade schools and will pay special attention to creating more opportunities to get kids outside. The Plan will recommend a comprehensive strategy to ensure every child graduates with the environmental skills and knowledge needed to contribute to a sustainable future.

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Fix Nature Gap

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
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Children detach from natural world
as they explore the virtual one


San Francisco Chronicle
Peter Fimrite,

Yosemite may be nice and all, but Tommy Nguyen of San Francisco would much prefer spending his day in front of a new video game or strolling around the mall with his buddies.

What, after all, is a 15-year-old supposed to do in what John Muir called "the grandest of all special temples of nature" without cell phone service?

"I'd rather be at the mall because you can enjoy yourself walking around looking at stuff as opposed to the woods," Nguyen said from the comfort of the Westfield San Francisco Centre mall.

In Yosemite and other parks, he said, furrowing his brow to emphasize the absurdly lopsided comparison, "the only thing you look at is the trees, grass and sky."

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Off with TV

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
TURN OFF YOUR TV mainlogo2004
TV turn-off week is September 20 through 26. "A recent study found that the more time kids spend watching TV and movies or playing video games, the more likely they are to be obese, smoke cigarettes and not graduate from high school."  (The National Institute of Health and Common Sense Media)
 
With that in mind, how can families capitalize on this next week?
  •  Don't overreact to this newfound information and ban the TV for the entire week.  You don't have to experience a total blackout to gain the benefit.
  • Look ahead before the week begins and determine if there are any shows or family movies that could be enjoyed together. Put those on your calendar.
  • In order to convince your kids (and maybe another adult) that this is going to be a great experience, make it FUN! 
    •  Instead of TV, play a board game together.
    • Most kids enjoy cooking as a family. Let your children choose the treat you can bake together or maybe plan the entire meal.
    • Play outside at home or at a park or playground near your home.
    • Go on an adventure. An adventure doesn't have to be exotic or expensive. It can be as simple as a picnic, a bike hike, or a penny walk...that's where you flip a coin at every intersection and go right (heads) or left (tails).  You might discover things you've never seen...right in your own neighborhood.       
  • The key point is to connect with eachother. (And while you're doing that, you will get know some of the nicest people -- your family!)
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Disney Earth

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
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This Earth Day 2009 Walt Disney Studios is launching Disneynature a prestigious new production that will go to the ends of the earth to produce big screen documentaries. In the great tradition of Walt Disney, Disneynature will offer spectacular movies about the world we live in...be sure to see it !
It is a movie that all Swift Nature Campers will love!
Go to
DISNEYNATURE

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Earth Day

Adventure Camp

earthdayflag2
On April 22, 1970, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day. It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe. Through the combined efforts of the U.S. government, grassroots organizations, and citizens like you, what started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide.......


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Eagles at Camp

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
Pasted GraphicSwift Nature Camp is known for our eagles. Daily we see eagles in the air, in nests and even swooping down to catch a fish in the lake. But how many knew that once it started to get a little colder and the lake freezes over these eagles migrate south in search of food. They as a pair fly south often along the Mississippi River and finally settle on a winter home in Florida.. Cant say that these birds are dumb! Well after we had a camp show in Minneapolis last week we saw plenty of eagles beginning their flight Northbound. So i can surely tell you we will have American Bald Eagles again this summer at Swift Nature Camp. And that is a wonderful opportunity for all of us at Swift.

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Nature Center

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
101_4513One of our pride and joys at Swift Nature Camp is our Nature Center. It is a real log building that is nearly 70 years old. One of the things that makes this place so special is that it houses many of the smaller animals and pets that campers may bering to camp. We try to do our nature studies as often as possible outside but on occasion we need to be indoors and the Nature Center is a great place for those times. In the fall last year just before the first snow fall, we replace many of the rotten trim boards and had it repainted to preserve its lovely wood . It is the same deep red color but now you might notice a bit of a shine, not to mention its nice and clean....
click to see more photos

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Super Tom at SNC

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
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On our recent trip to Swift Nature Camp we had a chance to meet up with Tom Nilcen aka SUPER TOM.
Most of the campers know him as the kind , friendly caretaker at SNC. Yet, Tom is so much more, he is always willing to help. A day never goes by when he doesn’t help someone. But one thing that most do not know is he is a jokester! Thats right he love to play pranks at camp. So if you happen to see something a little out of place and it brings a smile to your face, chances are its Tom. Swift is so fortunate to have a wonderful guy like him at camp. This will be his 9th summer at Swift Nature Camp and next to camp the thing he loves most is being in the Northwoods on his winter sled!

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Catch Frogs

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
100_3728Catching frogs from camps own beaver pond is a huge camp sport at Swift Nature Camp. it is a challenge too. The big Bull Frogs put up a big battle to free them selves. We even have a favorite bull from the biggest meanest frog of them all JIMBO. Yes he is our mascot and is pictured on this page.

Catching frogs is one of favorite things to do at this children’s summer camp. One of the best hunting spots is the lamp poles at night. You see the frogs come up from the pond at night looking for food and all the bugs hanging around the light will do just fine.
One might wonder are you eating all these favorite catches. Nope they gan spend on night up at the Nature Center Zoo where they hang with the other animals anc catches then its back to where they were caught at. Next summer, join us for some serious
frog catching..

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Environmental Camp

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
100_3717When most folks think of a science they think of school and all those books and studying. However, Swift Nature Camp is all about having Fun while helps children to learn how and why to become good stewards of the environment. It is through direct experience and hands on activities that we inspire kids to be environmentally conscious when they return home. Our first goal is to be a kids summer camp but it is so much more,, it’s our dedication to the environment. Swift Nature Camp is fun with a purpose.

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Animals at Camp

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
100_3172One of the best parts of being at Swift Nature Camp is the Animals. Thats why many think of S.N.C. as an animal camp. Animals are every where! First since you are out in Nature, if you take a little quiet time you just might see a some really cool birds like a Loon or a Woodpecker or some of the larger mammals like Bears and Porcupines. But most folks just like the animals in the Nature Center and in the Camp Zoo. There are all sorts of cool critters from Lizards to Hamsters and out in the Zoo are ducks and maybe even a goat or two. But Best of all is that campers can bring their own smaller critters to camp.


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