Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Is Hosting A Very Special Summer Nature Day Camp This Year

by Bob Montgomery

Every summer for several years now the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has run Summer Nature Day Camps for kids from six to twelve years old and they're doing that again this year.

But ABCA Conservation Education Coordinator Cassie Greidanus says they also alternate with the Lions Club in raising donations for something very special. And at this year's Conservation Dinner each guest donated two hundred dollars and that was enough to send twenty-three kids to camp who otherwise would not be able to go to a camp. She says the South Huron Optimists also donated enough money to send two more kids to the camp and to make sure they were sending the kids who needed a little help, they partnered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of South Huron, so over the next two years they'll be able to send 25 kids to camp free. This year the camp runs from August 12th to the 16th.

Greidanus says they have a different theme every day at the camp. Usually on Monday they talk about insects. On Tuesday they might look at decomposers, like worms and beetles. On Wednesday they look at birds and mammals and wildlife, and members of Pioneer Provincial Park come out to help them do some birding in the afternoon. Thursday is usually aquatics day, so they do a pond study that involves looking at different fish and aquatic species. And Friday is usually a split day with forestry and plants in the morning and then in the afternoon they hike from the Morrison Dam over to the splash pad in Exeter. They're also adding some indigenous learning, they also discuss predator – prey relationships and they play some games.

More information about the WILD Summer Nature Day Camps can be found on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Nature Day Camps web page.