NO SCHOOL DAYS!
School Year Holiday Camps
When? Some school year holidays and Bend-LaPine District off days, 9am-3pm. Drop off between 8:45-9am. Pickup between 3-3:15pm.
Where? Public Lands in Bend, Oregon. See your chosen camp or visit our Locations page for more info.
Who? Families in search of alternative learning supplements for the school year. This course is designed to be a small, multi-age group, ages 8-11
How much? $80/student/day. Multi-day No School Camp prices vary depending on the duration. See "Enrollment" Section below for details.
DAILY SCHEDULE
No School Day Camps and Holiday Break Camps will be themed! See Themes in the Enrollment section below
When we meet at 9am, we'll begin with a group game, group question, or community activity to start us off all on the same page for our time together. Some examples of opening activities include Fox Tail Tag, Sneaking games, Sit spots, Nature Museum, and group nature mystery time.
We'll then move into our topic or main activity for the day. All days will be immersive, interactive, hands-on, inquiry-based, and hold the goal of nature connection. Depending on the week's theme, some camp activities include: stealth and natural camouflage, wildlife tracking and trailing, wild edibles and plant explorations, archery and atlatls, animal adaptations exploration, fire making, shelter building, birds and bird language, making potions and medicines with plants, fiber arts and plant dyes, carving/knife safety, and more!
We'll learn about our theme for the Camp through hands-on activities and interactive "mini-lessons." We'll also take breaks for snacks and lunch, stories, free nature exploration, and lots of sensory games.
We'll always set a goal to close with a Story of the Day, where folks can share highlights or learned facts from the day.
ENROLLMENT
Purchase one per student. Contact info@nighthawknaturalistschool.com for subsidy info or enrollment less than 24 hours before start date.
Kids' camp day for this Bend/LaPine No School Day. 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11.Starts Oct 27 80 US dollarsLoading availability...
Kids' camp for the first part of Thanksgiving break 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11Starts Nov 20 150 US dollarsLoading availability...
Camp for the first part of Winter break 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11Starts Dec 18 230 US dollarsLoading availability...
Kids' camp day for this Bend/LaPine No School Day. 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11.Starts Feb 2, 2024 80 US dollarsLoading availability...
Kids' camp for Spring break 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11.Starts Mar 26, 2024 230 US dollarsLoading availability...
Kids' camp day for this Bend/LaPine No School Day. 9am-3pm. Ages 8-11.Starts Apr 12, 2024 80 US dollarsLoading availability...
FAQS
HOW MANY KIDS PER CLASS? AGE EXCEPTIONS?
For 2022-2023, we will be enrolling only 10 kids max per day. We operate under at least a 1:5 teacher:student ratio at all times.
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Please follow age range suggestions for your program. We do not typically accept younger students into programs unless they're experienced with our curriculum and have prior approval. Within one year older is allowed, as long as they understand the age range and that the camp will be geared mainly towards that age group. We do not currently offer any programs or make exceptions for students younger than 7. Please reach out to info@nighthawknaturalistschool.com if needed for individual student needs and considerations.
WHAT IS THE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY FOR THIS PROGRAM?
We teach through a style that balances inquiry with giving real information and answers. We teach by a curriculum outline throughout the year, but we also value flexibility and a level of student-led learning. So, we allow for wiggle room on the topics we cover, the activities we do, and the craft projects we take on with the students. Our curriculum for this program, like all of our programs, even those for adults, dovetail with the seasons. So, we let the weather and seasons guide what we do.
WHERE WILL CLASS BE HELD?
We will primarily be at very local-to-Bend Public Land sites. Within the weeks before your program, you'll receive an email with information on location, what to bring, and waivers. Please see our Locations page for more info.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH WINTER WEATHER?
We work with it! During programs, we operate with the seasons rather than against them, and incorporate what they provide into our curriculum: snow shelters in snow, fire and shelter and winter projects during cold and rainy times, etc. We strongly recommend kids coming prepared with weatherproof layers so that they are warm, dry, and happy during the day.
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We operate outside as a rule unless safety forces us to do otherwise. We cancel, reschedule, or relocate programs for inclement weather that threatens the safety of our participants (ie: blizzards, frigid weather in the single digits, dangerously high winds, poor air quality index of 150+, weather that would cancel Bend-LaPine schools for the day).
WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM LIKE?
Classes will be about sparking kids' interest in nature. Here are some ways we'll explore that:
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Nature Games and Nature Connection: Sensory awareness games, Sneaking and stealth games, Camouflage and Hiding games
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Animal adaptations and wildlife biology: Getting to know animals by studying and asking questions about their tracks and sign, their pelts and feathers, and their bones
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Plant uses and botany: Getting to know what plants grow here by touching them, examining them, and learning how one can use them ethically to make rope, medicine, fire, or food
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Survival: Building shelters together out of natural materials, learning to make fire in various ways, learning ways one would traditionally acquire food in winter
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Crafting: learning to carve and practicing responsible knife safety, learning to use plants to dye fabric
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Stories: Sharing themed stories (teachers and students) with each other
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In Spring, when the birds, plants, and animals begin emerging again, we will focus back on them in new ways! With bird language exercises, plant medicine, baskets, and more.
ARE YOU A WILDERNESS THERAPY ORGANIZATION?
No. Many people find experiences in nature to be therapeutic or transformative. However, our programs are not designed to address or rectify behavior, any physical or medical ailment, or emotional issues. We do not discriminate against protected classes or individuals. If, given reasonable modifications and accommodations, participants repetitively violate Nighthawk's safety rules, alternative options, including removal from the program, may need to be discussed.