UPCOMING EVENTS

Summer Camps

If the camp you'd like to sign up for is full, add your name to the waitlist.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter’s educational camp programs will inspire and fascinate your child through exploration and discovery about the natural world. Swaner offers summer camps for rising Kindergarten through 8th grade students. Campers should be enrolled based on what grade they will enter in Fall 2023.

In addition to providing camps for K-8th graders, Swaner also provides leadership opportunities for teens entering 9th through 12th grades. Swaner is looking for enthusiastic, motivated, fun teens to help with summer camps. For more information on how to become a camp counselor, visit the camp counselor webpage.

Make Sure to Read Before Registering

Each camp is designed for the grade level specified. Youth should be enrolled in a camp for the grade they will enter in Fall 2023.
Children are not allowed to move up or down in grade level as camps are created to be developmentally appropriate for the specified age group.
Youth may be enrolled in AM and PM sessions for a full day camp experience. If you sign your child up for both the AM and PM sessions during a week of camp, there will be a supervised lunch hour provided. Please send your child with a sack lunch that does not require heating and contains no nuts or nut products. There are no full day options for kindergarten camps.
Campers cannot be enrolled in the same camp theme more than once per summer. The curriculum is repeated each time a camp is taught.
To receive Sandhill Society or Family membership early registration access, you must purchase your membership by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 28th. Any member registrations received after this time will be ineligible for early registration. You must have a current membership at the time of registration (e.g. memberships that expire February 28, 2023 will not be valid for registration). Email janna.coulter@usu.edu to check your membership status. Thank you for understanding!
Summer Holidays: There is no camp on June 19th, July 3rd & 4th, and July 24th. Please keep this in mind as you register for camp. Shorter weeks of camp are reflected in camp cost.
At least one week prior the camp, you will receive an email with a guardian letter, detailed agenda for the camp, camper waiver, packing list, and directions to Swaner to help prepare your child and yourself for a successful week! Please provide an email address you check frequently to ensure you receive this orientation packet. It is also important that you check your junk/clutter folder to make sure the orientation information doesn’t land there.

Camp Calendar with Dates & Prices

Please enroll your child based upon what grade they will enter in Fall 2023.

For a full day experience, enroll your child in both the AM and PM sessions of camp. A supervised lunch and play time will be provided.

AM = 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PM = 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm ALL DAY = 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Camp Themes

	Come ready for exploration! In this camp, we’ll spend time both inside and out exploring the wetlands of the Swaner Preserve. Campers will try their hand at catching frogs and bugs, learn about the many mammals that call the Preserve home, and create some fun crafts to take home!
	“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science”—Edwin Powell Hubble In this sensational session, we’ll take Mr. Hubble’s words to heart and put our senses to the test to discover the natural world! Campers will touch, taste, smell, look, and listen their way to exploring the science of nature!
	Prepare to dig into what’s underground! We’ll explore roots, worms, and mud in this hands-on and exciting session! We’ll leave no stone unturned as we examine what happens underneath our feet.
	Book it to Swaner if you love listening to facts, folklore, and everything in between! With the help of daily storybooks, campers will learn how to nurture nature through hands-on activities and art projects. Your camper is sure to come home with stories of their own!
	You’ve searched high, you’ve searched low, and you’ve finally found it—the best summer camp for aspiring outdoor explorers! Join us for this fun session to explore the Swaner Preserve. Campers will explore the wetlands, take a dip in the stream, and learn all about nature through hands-on experiences.
	It all boils down to this – this camp is for curious scientists who like to experiment! Campers will engage in scientific and engineering processes as they explore natural phenomena around them. Be sure to pack your lab goggles and come prepared to discover the nature of science!
	Earth, Wind & Fire isn’t just a band your grandparents listen to! Get ready to unearth the elements of our planet through experiments and engineering in this investigative camp. From ferocious fires to wondrous water, campers will discover the interactions of elements in our natural world.
	Are you an aspiring animal expert? Whale, look no further! From snails to snakes, beavers to bugs, and rabbits to raptors, no critter will be left behind. Through hands-on activities and special guest visitors, campers will meet some of our regional residents and learn more about how they make their homes on the Preserve.
	Jump in the time machine and get ready to take a journey through time! Discover the flora and fauna of Utah’s past, dig up archaeological clues, practice the skills of early humans, and more. At the end of the week, hop back in for some futuristic fun!
	What does it take to survive our planet's most extreme environments? Join this other-worldly camp to investigate the last unexplored frontiers on Earth and beyond. Campers will create their own space rover, investigate adaptations of deep-sea dwellers, and more as we marvel at the mysteries of Earth.
	Prepare to get your feet wet as we explore rivers, ponds, and the wetland habitat found on the Swaner Preserve. Campers will search for frogs, investigate aquatic invertebrates, and more in this outdoor-focused camp. Things are sure to get a little wet and wild!
	Let your creativity blossom in this artistic camp! Campers will use nature as their guide as they explore different mediums and engage in the artistic process. From clay to collages and paintbrushes to pastels, your child is sure to come home with a masterpiece!
	Discover what it takes to be a naturalist as we slow down and connect with nature all around us! Using scientific tools and a nature journal to record questions and observations, campers will engage in plant identification, wildlife behavior, and other ecological concepts.
	Get ready for curiosity to take flight as we investigate things that fly, flap, flutter, and sometimes fall! From airplanes to animals, campers will explore the science and forces that power flight. In this camp, the sky’s the limit and we’re ready to soar!
	Inspired by the science of Swaner, we will dive into different “-ologies” each day to become experts on geology, ornithology, and more! Campers will engage in hands-on experiments and exploration to gain perspective about these fields of study. No resume required for this camp!
	Our changing planet needs you! As aspiring environmental stewards, we will discover ways to turn trash into treasure, design solutions to environmental issues, and learn how simple sustainability can be. Pledge to protect our planet today!
	Go ahead and dive in—the water’s fine! Prepare for an adventure filled week as we explore our local watershed! Campers will head to the Uinta Mountains, then go with the flow until we make it all the way to the Great Salt Lake. Get ready to test and collect water quality data, visit numerous sites around Park City, and learn about where our water comes from (and where it goes after we flush).
	Grab your muck boots and work gloves – it's time to join the conservation crew! Discover the process behind conservation projects that protect our environment. Campers will identify local wildlife issues, design realistic solutions, and help out with a project on the Preserve that will leave them feeling like they’ve made a positive impact on the environment.
	Partner camp with Egyptian YouTheatre. All the world’s a stage, so why not explore it? STEM learning is more fun when art is in the mix, so join our science and drama specialists for a unique combination of drama, dance, music, and science exploration! This is a partner camp with Egyptian YouTheatre and Swaner. Drop off for this camp will be at Swaner EcoCenter Monday—Friday. Pick up will be at Swaner Monday—Wednesday and at Egyptian YouTheatre Thursday & Friday.
	Partner camp with Recycle Utah. Calling all environmental activists, stewards, and those curious about how we treat our land! Swaner and Recycle Utah have joined forces again to make our planet green and clean! Come explore the land and people of Summit County to learn about land, food, water, air, and energy. From understanding where our trash goes during a landfill tour to exploring a community garden to learn about local foods, your camper will be the change they wish to see in the world!
	This program is designed for 7th and 8th graders who are interested in making the jump from camper to counselor. CITs will learn about the skills necessary to be a leader. You’ll get the opportunity to work with younger campers and show them just how excited you are about camps at Swaner! This camp includes two leadership focused field trips on Wednesday and Friday, as well as group activities each day.

For information on counselor and leadership opportunities for high school students, please visit the Camp Counselor page.

Early Camp Registration

Sandhill Society and Family-level members of the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter receive the benefit of early registration for summer camp 2023! Make sure your membership is current through March to qualify for 2023 early summer camp registration. The deadline to renew or join is 5:00 pm on February 28th, 2023. Any member registrations received after this time will not be eligible for early registration access. This allows Swaner staff time to process new memberships and to ensure adequate time to share early registration instructions. Email janna.coulter@usu.edu to check your membership status. Thank you for understanding!

Eligible members will receive an email with an early access code about one week prior registration opening via email. If you feel that you mistakenly did not receive the early access code, please contact Katherine Veeder at (435)797-8942 or katherine.veeder@usu.edu. Early access codes are intended only for Sandhill Society and Family-level members.

Please do not share codes with friends or extended family members. Any registrations made using early access code without a current eligible membership will be cancelled without notice, and you will lose your spot. You may not register children who are not your dependents during early registration.

Camp Financial Aid

Tuition waivers are available on a first come, first served basis. To apply for a tuition waiver, please fill out an online application. You will receive an update about your application within 1 week of receipt. If you have any questions, please contact Katherine Veeder at (435)797-8942 or katherine.veeder@usu.edu.

Camp Cancellation & Refunds

If you cancel more than 2 weeks before the first day of camp, you will be refunded, less a $30 administrative fee per camp/camper. If you cancel two weeks or less before the first day of camp, you will receive a refund (minus the $30 fee mentioned above) only if your spot can be filled from the waitlist. If your spot cannot be filled, you will not receive a refund. No refunds are given for days missed during camp.

Please pay very close attention when registering for summer camp. There are multiple camps each week for different aged youth. When registering, please make sure to select the camp with the correct date, age range, and time for your child. Cancellations due to registration errors are subject to the standard cancellation policy.