The Wilds’ WildeCamps Combine Wildlife Education With Summer Fun

By Toni Kellar

The Wilds’ WildeCamps Combine Wildlife Education With Summer Fun

CUMBERLAND, Ohio – Education, adventure, conservation, and summer fun are combined to create a variety of WildeCamp experiences for youth ages 8 to 19 at the Wilds.

Situated on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, the Wilds offers a unique opportunity for campers to explore forests, wetlands, and prairie habitats while also encountering wildlife from around the world.

Campers stay at the Wilds’ unique yurt village. In addition to days of hands-on educational programs, each camper will experience the Wilds’ guided safari transport through the animal pastures for up-close observation of animals such as rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and other rare and threatened wildlife viewed in open-range habitats.

New this year, the Wild Vet Camp offers young adults ages 16-19 (10^th grade to high school graduate) a chance to explore a career in veterinary medicine. Lab and field classes with veterinary and education staff at the Wilds will provide opportunities to get involved with wildlife conservation programs. Participants will learn about animal capture and diagnostic techniques, radio tracking, disease and health issues, and how the Wilds’ staff deals with some unusual animals. This camp takes place July 22-18.

Family Camp is also new this season, and offers a unique combination experience for families at both the Columbus Zoo and at the Wilds. It takes place Aug. 4-5 and Sept. 22-23.

Kritter Kids for ages 8 and 9 takes place June 18-22 and August 7-11. These camps feature a one-to-six ratio of staff to campers and seek to develop a young child’s interest in the natural world.

Creature Corps for ages 10 and 11 offers a short session July 30 through Aug. 3, and long sessions June 24-30 and July 8-14. These camps feature wildlife science programs and inspiration for youth to care for the world around them. The long sessions add adventures like rappelling and canoeing.

Earth Keepers for ages 12 through 15 takes place June 10-16 and offers more advanced conservation activities like capturing and marking wildlife, building trails, improving habitats, and some offsite traveling. This camp is currently full.

WildeCamp Xtreme for ages 13 through 16 offers a three-day back country backpacking experience at remote Wilds locations, along with some offsite traveling. It takes place Aug. 12-18.

Oikos is for campers age 16 through 19 who are interested in learning about becoming a professional naturalist or camp counselor. Participants must have attended a prior WildeCamp, and will assist Wilds naturalists at Creature Corps camps.

Fees for all camps include accommodations, meals, supplies and equipment, and a WildeCamp tee shirt.

For more information, including rates and registration, see http://www.thewilds.org/education/summer_camps.asp or call 740-638-5030 ext. 2286.

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