Thank you for considering Summer Camps at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. We offer a wide range of camps each summer for kids ages 4–15. At Shaver’s Creek, we’ve been inspiring discovery since 1976!
Click the button above to jump to the Registration Portal.
Camps return to Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center for 2018!
To allow as many families in our community to enroll in Shaver’s Creek summer camps as possible, please limit your camp purchases to one week per child.
Please note: Rock’n River Adventures is being revamped and will reappear better than ever in the summer of 2019!
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2018 Summer Day Camps
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Wee Wonderers Camp
Longer camp days for 2018! Monday–Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Ages: 4–5 (preschool/kindergarten)
Cost: $165 nonmembers/$135 members
Date: July 16–18, 2018
In this all day camp, preschoolers and kindergartners will explore their five senses in the natural world. Sight, smell, touch and hearing will come to life in a new way through games, activities, creative opportunities and experiences outdoors. On Wednesday, camp concludes with an exploration of the sense of taste, featuring foods made by campers and counselors with some wild local ingredients and a side of ice cream!
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Discovery and Explorer Camps
Discovery Camp Ages: 6–8, entering first through third grades
Campers will delve into the wild, wonderful world of plants through hands-on activities, games, and exploration. Through the lens of plants, topics explored through the week include an awareness of each other and the natural world, adaptations, natural cycles, and how all living things are connected. Adaptations day features an adventure hike with a mystery to solve! Cycles day highlights a stream exploration (please bring old shoes). The last day of camp includes a trip to Whipple Dam. Friday evening is an opportunity for families to experience the magic of camp together through ice cream, campfire performances, night time activities and a chance to camp out at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center! Pancakes are served on Saturday morning.
Explorer Camp Ages: 9–11, entering fourth through sixth grades
Explorers will venture along the trails around Shaver’s woods, traveling further than their Discovery Camper counterparts, in their quest to discover all they can about Reptiles. Topics to explore regarding reptiles include adaptations, habitats, biodiversity, and the understanding of indicator species through a stream exploration (please bring old shoes). Additional parts of the week include fun games, teambuilding challenges, a trip to Whipple Dam, and reflection through journaling. Friday evening is an opportunity for families to experience the magic of camp together through ice cream, campfire performances, night time activities and a chance to camp out at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center! Pancakes are served on Saturday morning.
Discovery and Explorer Four-Day Camp Sessions
The four-day sessions are held from Tuesday through Friday:
Longer camp days for 2018! Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Cost: $180 nonmembers/$150 members
Dates (Choose one):
June 19–22, 2018
July 3–6, 2018
July 31–August 3, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
August 7–10, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
Optional for ONLY the 4-day week of August 7–10 will be bus transportation for an additional fee. The meeting location is Spikes Stadium at Medlar Field, 701 Porter Road. Drop-off (Tuesday–Friday) will be from 8:00–8:30 a.m., and pick-up (Tuesday–Thursday) will be from 4:30–5:00 p.m. Space is limited.
Discovery and Explorer Five-Day Camp Sessions
The five-day sessions are held from Monday through Friday:
Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Cost: $200 nonmembers/$160 members
Dates (Choose one):
June 25-29, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
July 23-27, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
Optional for 5-day sessions: bus transportation will be provided for an additional fee from the Spikes Stadium at Medlar Field, 701 Porter Road. Drop-off (Monday–Friday) will be from 8:00–8:30 a.m., and pick-up (Monday–Thursday) will be from 4:30–5:00 p.m. Space is limited.
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Future Forecasters
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Ages: 12–15
Cost: $280 nonmembers/$250 members
Date: August 6–10, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
New to the camps based out of Shaver’s Creek this summer is Weather Camp! In partnership with Discovery Space, campers will explore the science of weather through data collection, forecasting techniques, the launching of a weather balloon, and weather-related effects on Pennsylvania plants and animals. Field trips to AccuWeather, Discovery Space, and Penn State’s Meteorology Department supplement the program at Shaver’s Creek. Friday features the chance for campers to create and record their own weather forecast in front of a green screen at Penn State’s Weather World! Campers and their families are invited to join in with the rest of the Shaver’s Creek community Friday night for ice cream, campfire performances, night time activities and a chance to camp out at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center! Pancakes are served on Saturday morning. We will meet each morning at the Spikes Stadium at Medlar Field, 701 Porter Road. Friday afternoon campers will need to be picked up at Shaver’s Creek. There is no additional fee for transportation for Future Forecasters.
Discovery Space members interested in enrolling in this camp prior to February 7 should contact Marie Taylor at mea9@psu.edu.
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Wildlife Conservation Camp
Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Ages: 12–15
Cost: $425 nonmembers/$350 members
Date: July 30–August 3, 2018 Full, waitlist only!
Similar to last year’s “Raptor Camp,” Wildlife Conservation Camp delves into the care, research, and understanding of wild animals. Join our animal care team during the week as you assist in the care and training of the center’s animal ambassadors. Venture into the forests of Stone Valley as scientists and track Wood Turtles as part of a research project that contributes to the Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey. Then put it all together at the end of the week when you and the Shaver’s Creek animal care team present a conservation program to your fellow campers and their families! Campers and their families are invited to join in with the rest of the Shaver’s Creek community Friday night for ice cream, campfire performances, night time activities and a chance to camp out at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center! Pancakes are served on Saturday morning.
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Leaders-in-Training (LIT)
Ages: 14–17
Cost: No cost for accepted applicants
Assist with camps for ages 4–11
Dates (Choose One):
June 19–22, 2018
June 25–29, 2018
July 3–6, 2018
July 16–18, 2018
July 23–27, 2018
July 31–August 3, 2018
August 7–10, 2018
Improve your leadership skills by assisting staff members in leading day camp activities and contributing to the magic of discovery. Registration for the LIT program will open on February 7, 2018 and are due by March 1, 2018. Candidates will be contacted regarding their interest and the position by the middle of March and offers will be made by the middle of April. Please note that this is NOT a full summer commitment—LIT’s typically participate in one or more selected weeks of camp per summer based on availability. Registration for the LIT program will open on February 7, 2018.
To apply, please follow these instructions:
1. Register to be a Leader-in-Training on our Registration Portal using your parent’s/family account. Select the weeks for which you would like to be considered.
On the Registration Portal, click “Search” at the top, select Summer 2018, and then add the LIT Program to your cart (there is no charge).
2. After registering through the Registration Portal, you will receive an email with an LIT Application Form. Filling out this form helps us to ensure that you are getting the best experience possible this summer; you must fill out and return the LIT Application Form to complete your application.
3. When your Application Form has been submitted, you will receive an email with a link to a health information form which must be completed and returned in the next two weeks.
For more information, contact Summer Camp Program Director Tesha Omeis (tso106@psu.edu or (814) 863-8521).
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* If paying for camp is a hardship, please contact contact Summer Camp Program Director Tesha Omeis (tso106@psu.edu or (814) 863-8521).
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IMPORTANT! Members — to receive your camp discount, please ensure that you have added your children to your membership before purchasing a camp week. The system will still allow you to check out without doing this, but your camp discount will only apply if they are listed as part of the membership.
Need help? See our How-to page.
