Science Camp Experiments

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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Wisconsin Fishing

We all know how much fun kids have fishing at summer camp. Well, Just because the snow is flying is no reason to think the fish are not biting.
Northern pike and panfish have been providing good action; walleye have been hard to entice. Vehicles are venturing out now that lakes are frozen over, but ice thickness varies. Check with a local guide or bait shop before venturing out. Photo courtesy of Skip Sommerfeldt
The 5th Annual Big Elk and Musser Lake Association Ice Fishing Contest is being held Sat., January 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Phillips. There will be prizes for adult and youth (under 12) categories, food and raffles; drawings at 4 p.m. 715-339-3166 / 4277
The Phillips Winter Fest Ice Fishing Contest is being held Sun., January 29, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Lake Duroy. There will be prizes, food and raffles. 1-888-408-4800
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Eurasian Water Milfoil

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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Summer Camp Gift Certificates

Swift Nature Camp should be on your gift list!
The holidays are coming. And, once again, you're probably wondering what to get your children as a gift. Is your home already filled with every type of electronic item a child can want? We all have to much stuff so why not provide an experience that will live long past all the other stuff has been recycled.
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Green Schools
Wisconsin Green & Healthy Schools ProgramSchools 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

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

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

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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Eco Friendly Camp

The U.S. Department of Education has released more details about its new Green Ribbon Schools recognition program. The deadline for nominee submissions is scheduled to be announced in early 2012. The program anticipates recognizing as many as 50 schools by the end of the 2011-12 school year.
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Summer Camp and Forest Fires
Ninety percent of all forest-related fires in Wisconsin are started by humans. Education is a key prevention tool to develop an informed and caring citizenry that will take action to prevent useless fires and who support the use of prescribed burning as a management tool. This was the main point to the lessons recently taught at Swift Nature Camp.Swift nature Camp invited the Minong and Solen Springs 5th grade classes out for 3 days and 2 nights of Science Camp. it was the last day when students had 2 fire presentations. The first was held by the local DNR, where they spoke how important it was to protect against wild fires and how they put them out. THe second presentation was by the local fire department and how they protect the local residents with their fire equipment. These 2 classes were very informative and kept the kids involved.
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Nature and Birds
It all started back in the days when American Bison ruled the Great Plains. At that time a rather nondescript grayish or black bird followed the herds around, feeding on seeds in the abundant supply of buffalo excrement. Settlers on the plains came to calling these animals buffalo birds.permalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
Education At Summer Camp

Camp can be just as educational as school, with children learning through experience. Through activities and play, children learn a wide range of skills and develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. At camp, children learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves. It’s one thing to watch a program on television, but quite another to experience it in real life.
At camp, children are given ..........
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Green Summer Camps

Summer school, all-year academic school, summer sports programs, and electronic media have become the elements of children’s summer activity in recent years. Children are kept occupied with indoor play activities. The playground has come indoors and .....
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Environmental Education in Wisconsin!
As 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 dopermalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
Summer Camp Discounts

As most of you know SCHOOL is nearly over! And that means that the time you have been most looking forward too is here. CAMP! Have you invited your Friends to come to summer camp? You should, not only do you get a really cool hat but you save $300.00
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Experts say-Get Outside and Play
Anyone 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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No Child Left Inside

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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John Muir Award
The John Muir Youth Award program was launched in Dunbar, Scotland in April, 1996 by the John Muir Trust of the United Kingdom. Dunbar was chosen to launch the program because it was the birthplace of John Muir. Thirty-eight students satisfied the award criteria and were the first recipients of the award.The Sierra Club, through its volunteer John Muir Education Committee, operates the John Muir Youth Award in the U.S.A. Interested schools, nature centers, youth camps, or individuals are welcome to participate! The first John Muir Youth Award recipients in the USA were 19 students from the John Muir School in Portage, Wisconsin, located near Muir's boyhood home, and was awarded in June, 1997. Read on to learn how to enter!
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Science Summer Camp

Swift Nature Camp, is a Summer Camp in Wisconsin where children play outside while learning about Nature and Science. Here are some helpful hints parents can do at home. Experts tell us the first step in becoming an environmentalist is noticing what nature offers. Such observation often leads to a desire and commitment to conserve and protect the natural world. Science Summer Camp
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Disney Earth

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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Nature Deficit
Famed author Richard Louv, of Last Child in the Woods: is alarmed by this untouching of nature. He calls it Nature-deficit disorder and sad situation in child development. He feels there is a link between lack of outdoor play and increase in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
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Nature Pictures

Do you enjoy Nature? Do you like to take pictures?
Now it’s your chance to make the call! The National Wildlife Federation needs your vote!
Their Magazine has selected the finalists for this Photo Contest. The theme is “Nature in My Neighborhood.” Now we need YOU to help choose the winner!
Vote for your favorite image today! The top vote-getter receives an official NWF field guide and, if not already a member, a free one-year membership to National Wildlife Federation. But we need to hear from you soon: Voting ends April 15!
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Earth Day

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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Winter at Camp
When most folks think of Camp they think of warm sunny days and long swims out to Sally the water slide. However, the northwoods of Wisconsin only boast of these traits a few short month per year. Recently, we went to camp and were lucky enough to take plenty of photos. Our first day was a balmy 17 and we woke to a -4 temp that day, yet, it was clear and sunny. The next day we had snow nearly 4 inches and it was a wonderful time for making snow angles, sledding and going out in our PANTHER, thats right a 1971 snowmobile. Here is Lonnie and Forrest doing their best at the Team Course. To see more photos click below...can you identify all the areas?permalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
Nature Center
One 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

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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Animal Camp
When Swift Campers think of camp they think of playing outdoors in Nature but they automatically think of the animals in our camp zoo and Nature Center. Our campers are crazy for critters and nature and critters. Not only do we have animals at camp we have guest speakers bring in some animals to camp that we all can appreciate. We have lots of animal related activities and offer the opportunity to interact with animals. Plus, you can even bring your own pet from home. How cool is that? An animal camp that lets you bring your own pets!permalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
Catch Frogs
Catching 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
When 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.permalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
Animals at Camp
One 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.permalink=”http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/blog”>
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