Pickering Creek Audubon is celebrating another fantastic year of EcoCamp. This years EcoCamp consisted of seven different camps, each with their own theme, activities, and games. Campers ranged in age from Kindergartners to 7th graders. Each camp consisted of exploring the natural environment surrounding Pickering Creek, solving riddles and clues to answer questions about local animals, discovering local plants and why they are important, exploring the creek to find aquatic life, fun games to keep the kids active and engaged, peaceful hikes through our scenic forests, bird spotting trips through our wetlands, arts and crafts, rides down the lane on our brand-new trailer, a chance to feel and hold our snake and turtles, campfires and s’mores, skits and plays performed by the campers for their families, and lots of fun! EcoCamp at Pickering Creek is a unique experience, unlike any other camp in the area. Our highly educated staff (each with a bachelors degree or higher in the Biology or the Environment) worked hard to provide an experience that campers will never forget.

If your child is interested in attending camp again next year or you are interested in more camp information, check out our website in the near future for camp themes and dates for 2012.

Here are a few highlights from 2011 EcoCamp:

Campers investigate a fallen log during Creepy, Dangerous, and Alien week to discover the role of decomposers in forest habitats and the importance decomposers on our local food webs.	A young camper investigates her net for tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs, and fish. This pond habitat is on of the many diverse habitats found at Pickering Creek.
Campers try their luck with fishing from the Pickering Creek dock. As well as fishing, campers also got to try their hand at the local tradition of crabbing.	Two campers investigate their dip nets to look for tiny ghost shrimp, silversides, and other aquatic life.
Campers investigate and learn the how to identify local plants.	Showing the spoils of their hard work. Campers investigate a Pumpkin Seed fish before releasing it back into the creek. Camp provides campers not only the opportunity to learn about the ever changing world around us but is also a great place to meet new people and make friends.

We look forward to seeing you again next summer!
Aix, Salix and Black Vulture

Ben Grace, Eco Camp Director
410-822-4903
bgrace@audubon.org