Kids Learn to Explore Nature and Protect the Environment at Summer Camp

Outdoor education at camp teaches environmental stewardship and hands-on conservation skills.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:20am

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Summer camps in Northeast Ohio are providing kids with outdoor education and experiences that help them develop a love for nature and learn practical skills for environmental stewardship. Campers participate in hands-on activities like building wildlife habitats, picking up litter, and learning about local plants and animals. Camps aim to create emotional connections to the natural world and teach kids to be mindful caretakers of the environment.

Why it matters

Teaching environmental stewardship to children at a young age is crucial for developing a new generation of nature lovers and conservation-minded citizens. By sparking curiosity and a personal connection to the outdoors, summer camps can inspire kids to take practical steps to protect the environment, whether through community cleanups, water conservation, or planting native species. These early experiences lay the foundation for lifelong environmental awareness and action.

The details

Summer camps in the Cleveland area, like those run by the Cleveland Metroparks, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, and Falcon Camp, incorporate environmental education and hands-on conservation activities into their programming. Campers learn about local wildlife, explore natural habitats, and participate in projects like building small wildlife shelters or picking up litter. Camps also teach the 'Leave No Trace' principles to instill a mindset of minimizing human impact on outdoor spaces.

  • Summer camps in Northeast Ohio run from June through August.
  • The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio incorporate environmental stewardship into their year-round programming.

The players

Bethany Beshire

Senior manager of Center Operations for Cleveland Metroparks, who oversees environmental education programs at the parks.

Hunter Hammil

Outdoor adventure camp manager at Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights.

Dave Devey

Director at Falcon Camp, which teaches campers about nature and wildlife.

Fallon Pulley

Chief girl experience officer at Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, which focuses on environmental stewardship in its programming.

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What they’re saying

“There are many ways to become an environmental steward, and we believe that encouraging stewardship as a core value in childhood is key to ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.”

— Bethany Beshire, Senior manager of Center Operations for Cleveland Metroparks

“The only way you are going to grow to care about nature is from being immersed in it and spending time outdoors. If you are spending your entire summer sitting in front of a computer screen or playing video games, you are not going to go outside and develop that personal connection.”

— Hunter Hammil, Outdoor adventure camp manager at Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

“Part of it is role modeling. We do different things, in a certain way, to model behavior for our campers. We do training with our staff that teaches them to be mindful, and it helps them understand and care for the environment around us.”

— Dave Devey, Director at Falcon Camp

“Girl Scouts of North East Ohio is steadfast in its environmental stewardship programming. One of our badge series' content focuses on ways to better our environment by protecting nature and wildlife, treating outdoor spaces with kindness, and by continuing to leave no trace.”

— Fallon Pulley, Chief girl experience officer at Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

What’s next

Many summer camps in Northeast Ohio are already incorporating environmental education and conservation activities into their programming. As demand for these types of experiences grows, more camps may look to expand their offerings in this area. Families interested in finding camps that focus on outdoor exploration and environmental stewardship can research local options and reach out to organizers to learn more.

The takeaway

Summer camps play a vital role in sparking children's curiosity about the natural world and teaching them practical skills for environmental stewardship. By creating emotional connections to nature and providing hands-on learning experiences, these camps are cultivating the next generation of nature lovers and conservation-minded citizens who will be equipped to protect the planet.