Summer Camps
Outdoor, nature-based summer camps in Madison.
Registration for summer 2025 is open!
Read the cancellation policy at the bottom of this page.
We have openings in Explore the Past Camp! If you’re interested in other camps, please email to be on the waitlist.
Enjoy your day!
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OWL Scholarship Fund
Nature is for everyone, not just those who can afford it. Donate to the OWL Scholarship Fund by adding this to your cart for check out. By contributing, you are helping to improve OWL programs. Just like in nature, our diversity makes us stronger! Thank you!
Current total (Jan. ‘25): 6 weeks of camp scholarships! Thank you!
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Fishing Club, Ages 6-13
This year, we are offering 6 mornings of fishing fun with Dave! Beginners and advanced fisherfolk are all welcome.
See you at the shore!
June 12-13 (FULL)
June 19-20 (FULL)
August 28-29 (FULL)
9am-12pm, rotating spots
Email to be on the waitlist.
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Burrowing OWL Camp, Ages 5-10
Burrowing owls are the coolest species of underground-dwelling bird. And some of the coolest kids are ages 5-10! Let's play games and explore outside together! Summer camp done right- we will enjoy the spaciousness of summer while we use our imaginations, build, create, and more. Mostly, we’ll play outside!
June 30-July 3 (4 days)
9am-2:30pm
Hoyt Park
FULL: Please email to be on the waitlist
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Fairy Camp, Ages 5-7
This camp has become an OWL classic and a favorite! This camp all about fairies. We will do fairy nature art, play fairy games, build fairy homes, tell fairy stories, and hike to explore new fairy spaces. This camp is magical and so much fun!
July 14-18
9am-2:00pm
Hoyt Park
FULL: Please email to be on the waitlist.
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Explore the Past Camp, Ages 8-13
Do you like cooking over a fire? Reading Caddie Woodlawn or the Little House books? Visiting Old World Wisconsin? Explore the Past camp will give you a taste (and feel, and smell) of what life was like more than 150 years ago. We'll bake bread in the fire, churn butter, play games from the 1700s, make crafts, and learn skills kids in the past would have used in their daily lives.
July 14-18
9am-3pm
Hoyt Park
8 spots left
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Barred OWL Camp, Ages 8-13
Later elementary and middle schoolers- this camp is for you! We will play lots of games, explore, do some art, build, carve, make fires, and learn more about nature as we play in it all week!
August 11-15
9am-3pm
Hoyt Park and Wingra Park
FULL: Please email to be on the waitlist.
If you or your OWL student identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color, feel free to use the discount code, BIPOC (all caps) at check out for 10% off your total order. Financial need isn’t necessary to make use of this code. Full scholarships also available. Please reach out if the cost is a barrier for your family. OWL can help to make sure that your child has access because nature is for everyone!
OWL Programs
We meet at different natural spaces on Madison’s near West side including the Glen, the UW Arboretum, and Wingra Park. Sometimes we venture to Picnic Point, Olin Woods, and more. How do we spend our time together?
We come together.
Gratitude, land acknowledgment, and a game
We play fun games.
Active games, awareness games, nature-based games
We learn about the natural world.
Educational nature lessons, local experts, sit spots, observations and wonder
We learn about ourselves and each other.
Improv games, self-reflection, walk and talks
Sometimes we go on adventures.
Camping, bikerides, edible hikes, canoe trips
We read books, tell stories, and do nature art!
This cancellation policy is to ensure the financial stability and resilience of OWL: All cancellations up to 10 days before a program incur a 25% cancellation fee. This means that a 75% refund or 75% family credit can be given if withdrawn more than 10 days of the program start date. Refunds/credit of 50% if 7-10 days of the start date. No refunds or credit offered within 1 week of the start date. If you'd like to give a program a try before committing, just email weslie@outdoorswelearnmadison.com to find out more. If OWL ever needs to cancel an entire program, a full refund or full family credit will be given. If OWL ever needs to cancel one day of a multi-day program due to weather or illness, nothing needs to be done. If OWL needs to cancel more than 1 day of a multi-day program, those who are enrolled will receive either: an OWL credit or a make-up date.