Summer Camps:

They’re here!

Outdoor, nature-based summer camps in Madison.

Click here for School Year Programs

  • 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. ‘26): 3.5 weeks of summer camp! That’s a great start! We need $998 more to reach our goal. Every little bit helps.

    Contribute to the OWL Scholarship Fund

  • 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!

    Thurs. and Fri. mornings:

    June 18 - 19 (FULL)

    July 9 - 10 (FULL)

    Aug. 20 - 21 (FULL)

    9am-12pm, Vilas Park or Wingra Park

    Gear not required.

    Please email to be on the waitlist.

    Sign up for Fishing Club

  • 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!

    June 22nd - 26th

    9am-2pm

    Hoyt Park

    (12 spots left)

    Sign up for Fairy Camp

  • Explore the Past Camp, Ages 8-13

    Do you like cooking over a fire or 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, practice fire by friction, and learn skills kids in the past would have used in their daily lives. 

    July 6th - 10th

    9am-3pm

    Hoyt Park

    (1 spot left)

    Sign up for Explore the Past Camp

  • Screech OWL Camp, Ages 5-8

    Screech OWLs, 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!

    July 20th - 24th

    9am-2:30pm

    Elver Park

    FULL: Please email to be on the waitlist.

    Sign up for Screech OWL Camp

  • OWL Biking Camp, Ages 8-14

    Biking is such an empowering and fun way to be together outside. Let’s hop on our bikes and ride to cool spots. We’ll stop to play games, wade in the water, and probably eat ice cream. Come be a part of the OWL biker gang!

    July 27th - 31st

    9am-4pm

    Different locations around Madison

    FULL: Please email to be on the waitlist.

    Sign up for OWL Biking Camp

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.