Treat your child to a summer they’ll never forget with ALNC’s summer camps, where budding scientists can discover pond critters, future archaeologists can unearth ancient artifacts on a dig, young adventure-seekers can learn survival skills, and new friends are made every single day! ALNC’s action-packed summer camps will provide your child with exciting, hands-on experiences to explore, learn, and enjoy the wonders of nature.

SUMMER CAMP UPDATE:

Enrollment in the full-day weighted lottery closes on Jan. 29th

This summer, we’re offering day camps for ages 4 to 10 – we are not offering overnight camps for ages 11-16 this year. We’ve also made some changes to the registration process, so please read on for important dates and information. We continue to offer full-day sessions for all ages, as well as two-hour sampler camps for ages 4 to 8. For full-day camps, families must register for either the full summer or select sessions as outlined below.

We recognize that the registration process for camps is inequitable with how quickly camps have filled up and, this year, we are holding a weighted lottery for full-day camps. Families have from January 20th to January 29th to indicate their interest in the full summer (June 12th – Aug 25th), one of the 3-week sessions, and/or the last week of camp. The weighted lottery randomly selects registrants with additional entries given to students who have been historically underserved and underrepresented. Families not selected in the weighted lottery will automatically be waitlisted. Once notified of selection, families will have the option to register for camps.

Registration for two-hour sampler camps (for ages 4 to 8) will open at noon on February 21st and be first come, first serve.

THE 2023 SUMMER CAMP BROCHURE IS HERE!

Explore ALNC Nature Discovery & Adventure Summer Camps
 

INTERESTED IN FULL-DAY? ENTER THE LOTTERY.

LOTTERY ENROLLMENT FOR FULL-DAY SUMMER CAMPS
 
 

ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR FULL-DAY CAMPS

STEP 1: Choose which sessions* work for your family.
Full Summer: June 12 – August 25, 2023 (11 weeks) – $3,650
Session #1: June 12 – June 30, 2023 (3 weeks) – $1,095
Session #2: July 10 – July 28, 2023 (3 weeks) – $1,095
Session #3: July 31 – August 18, 2023 (3 weeks) – $1,095
Session #4: August 21 – August 25, 2023 (1 week) – $365

*To increase access, children who do not enroll in the full summer session may attend one three-week session AND/OR the final week of summer camp.

STEP 2: Register for the lottery.
Enter your child’s information and indicate which session(s) work for your family. This does not guarantee your child a spot, but rather puts their name into our lottery system. The registration process will ask you to rank your preferences for camp sessions (e.g. first preference is for the full summer, second preference is for session #1, etc.). Please note that this process is NOT first-come, first-serve, so there’s no need to refresh your browser at midnight! Families have 10 days, starting January 20th, to register their interest, after which names will be placed into a lottery and pulled to fill camp spots.

STEP 3: Wait for placement notification.
Registration closes on January 29th. ALNC will let you know by February 17th if your child’s name has been drawn for a camp session or has been placed on the waitlist. You’ll receive an email with either a registration offering or notification of waitlist placement. You may choose to accept or decline the spot for your child. If selected for a camp spot, a non-refundable $200 deposit is required to reserve your spot in this session; please let us know if this amount is prohibitive for you and we can discuss an alternative amount.

STEP 4: Confirm your acceptance and complete enrollment.
Once you accept your placement and make your deposit payment, you will receive additional details and paperwork to complete your enrollment. You may make your final payment at once or by setting up a payment plan with us. Tuition assistance is available.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR TWO-HOUR SAMPLER CAMPS

If you’re seeking a more flexible summer camp experience, we do have two-hour sampler camp sessions from 9-11 am M-F that you can register for 1 week at a time. This registration will begin on Tuesday, February 21st at noon and will not be a lottery. The age ranges are also broader for these camps.
Held June 18 – August 18, 2023 (1 week each) – $110

Have questions?

• Check out our Summer Camp Lottery FAQs
• Contact Lauren Mordini, Camps Manager, with any questions.
• Email: camps@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
• Phone: 608-216-9374

We accept Wisconsin Shares, offer tuition assistance, and have payment plans available for families in need. Please reach out to our Camps Manager via email or phone with any questions.

It is our goal to be inclusive and representative of our diverse community and to assist all families in enrolling, registering, and attending environmental education programs at ALNC. Families of ALL abilities, backgrounds, communities, income-levels, neighborhoods, and other societal structures are encouraged to register for Summer Camps at ALNC.

In an effort to be inclusive of our diverse community of varied backgrounds, ALNC reserves the right to hold space for families in financial need and/or who speak English as a second language.

• Sprouts (4 year olds) Have Fun in the Forest, go on an Underground Adventure and explore The Pond & Beyond with these fun and engaging camps for 4-year olds. With full-day and two-hour programs, as well as aftercare, payment plans, and tuition assistance available, ALNC Summer Camps provide accessible avenues for children to explore and enjoy the natural world with their peers.
• Tadpoles (5 year olds) Get Wildly Creative, use your Animal Senses and explore Unsolved Mysteries in these exciting and educational camps for 5-year olds. With full-day and two-hour programs, as well as aftercare, payment plans, and tuition assistance available, ALNC Summer Camps provide accessible avenues for children to explore and enjoy the natural world with their peers.
• Polliwogs (6 year olds) Treat your child to a summer they’ll never forget with X Marks the Spot, The Great Outdoors and Summer Insects, Some Are Not camps for 6-year olds. With full-day and two-hour programs, as well as aftercare, payment plans, and tuition assistance available, ALNC Summer Camps provide accessible avenues for children to explore and enjoy the natural world with their peers.
• Wanderers (7-8 year olds) Engage your child with exciting camps that will have your 7 or 8-year old Muckin’ in the Marsh, Getting to Know Aldo and going on a Forage Frenzy. With full-day and two-hour programs, as well as aftercare, payment plans, and tuition assistance available, ALNC Summer Camps provide accessible avenues for children to explore and enjoy the natural world with their peers.
• Explorers (9-10 year olds) Explorers will enjoy Woodworking for Wildlife, Becoming Botanists and competing in nature challenges to become the Ultimate Survivor. Full-day programs with aftercare, payment plans, and tuition assistance available, ALNC Summer Camps provide accessible avenues for children to explore and enjoy the natural world with their peers.