Frequently Asked Questions about Camps

What to wear?

For your camper’s safety in the outdoors, we require that they wear sturdy shoes with closed toes, closed heels, and socks. We also encourage they bring or wear long pants and hats.
Earth Adventures campers should bring water shoes every day to protect their feet during water activities, and swimming supplies every Thursday for swimming.

Since each camp spends time outdoors, we recommend that participants wear sunscreen and bug spray. These must be applied before arriving at camp.
If your child needs a reapplication of bug spray or sunscreen, please send it with them to camp. You will be asked to sign a consent form allowing counselors to apply the bug spray or sunscreen.

Yes! If your child(ren) are carpooling with a friend, you must send a written and signed note that informs us who they will be riding with and the date(s) that apply. This is for your camper’s safety.

All camps meet at Rock Springs Conservation Area.
Children may be dropped off up to 15 minutes prior to the start of camp, and must be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of camp.
Drop off Earth Adventures and Adventure Club campers at the Information Shelter, located at the north end of the main parking lot. In case of extreme weather, drop offs will move inside Rock Springs Nature Center and a notice will be posted at the Information Shelter.
Mini Camp is held inside Rock Springs Nature Center.
Drop off campers for X-treme Camp inside Rock Springs Nature Center unless otherwise noted.
All pick up locations are the same as drop off locations.

All camps, except for some X-treme Camps, will meet rain or shine. We plan indoor activities if the weather is severe. If it’s just a little drippy, we may still go outside. So dress appropriately!
If you do not know if an X-treme Camp is cancelled, call 217-423-7708 for information.

Morning Care runs from 7am – 9am with a fee of $15/week per camper. Campers may be dropped off at any time between 7am and 9am.
After Care runs from 4pm – 6pm with a fee of $15/week per camper. Campers may be picked up any time between 4pm and 6pm.
Both drop off and pick up locations will be at the Information Shelter. In cases of severe weather, pick up and drop off will be inside Rock Springs Nature Center and a notice will be posted outside at the Information Shelter.

Campers in Earth Adventures and X-treme Camp need to bring along a packed lunch.
Lunches will not be refrigerated or microwaved, so please plan accordingly.

All campers are encouraged to bring water bottles and extra layers of clothing if it’s wet or cool.
Earth Adventures and X-treme campers should bring sack lunches.
Earth Adventures campers should bring water shoes every day to protect their feet during water activities and swimming supplies every Thursday for swimming.
Each camper is responsible for her/his own personal items, so a small bag or backpack is permitted.

Extra snacks, hand-held games, electronic devices, cell phones, pocket knives, personal sport equipment, or toys.