Summer Camps
ICNC Cancellation Policy
To be eligible for a fee refund or transfer, ICNC requires a 48-hour advance notice for all cancellations. Eligible cancelled registrations can either be refunded or applied to another registration. All refunded registrations are charged an administrative processing fee of 10%. Only in cases of extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances will ICNC cancel a scheduled program. All programs cancelled by ICNC will receive a full refund.
Thank you sponsors!
Attention Campers! Due to community spread of COVID-19, all June in-person programs and summer camps have been cancelled. All campers have been notified via email of this change. Please visit our public program calendar for a complete listing of current virtual offerings for all ages!
Creek Camp 2020
Summer Nature Camps
Who knew learning could be so much fun? At Creek Camp, your child will be guided by naturalists and experienced interns as they explore the outdoors, learn about wildlife, enjoy unstructured play, practice outdoor skills, observe the wonder of nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Children will create memories while they learn and even get a little dirty, too. Creek Camp will help foster in your child a connection to the outdoors that lasts a lifetime!
Preschool Camp
Ages 4-5
Three-hour camp experiences for children ages 4-5 (must be potty trained). Drop off between 8:20 – 8:40 AM and pick up from 11:20 AM – 11:40 AM. Drop-off and pick-up will take place at Indian Creek Nature Center’s Amazing Space building, located at 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. *Please note: drop off and pick up times vary for “Campout!” and Junior Naturalist camps.
Tuesday, June 2, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30, snacks included
Hop on over to the pond to look and listen for the frogs and toads that live there. Why are they being so noisy? Play froggy games and meet amphibians up close.
Wednesday, June 3, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30, snacks included
Explore the worlds of prehistoric creatures that once walked, swam and flew through Iowa and other lands. Get into the dirt and mud to dig up your own fossil finds.
Thursday, June 4, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Mammals rule the animal kingdom! Explore animal homes, search for animal tracks and become your favorite mammal.
Tuesday, July 28, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30, snacks included
Explore the woods in the summertime. Feel the different bark textures, smell the decomposing leaves, search for shapes and patterns in the green leaves on the trees and play a tree game.
Wednesday, July 29, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Look closely at the special plants and animals that call the prairie home. Play games to learn the importance of camouflage in nature. Celebrate the tall grass and flowers that provide shelter, food and space for animals.
Thursday, July 30, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Explore the animals that make our pond and wetland their home. We’ll collect water bugs and meet other aquatic animals!
Friday, July 31, 5 – 8 PM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Come join us for a “campout” at the Nature Center! We’ll start the evening with fun and games and cook our own dinners over the campfire before heading on an outdoor adventure. Later on we’ll reward ourselves with s’mores and camp stories!
Tuesday, August 18, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Turtles, lizards, snakes and fish! Visit with our scaly critters and find out what makes these animals different from others. We’ll also explore and play outside.
Tuesday, August 18, 1 – 4 PM
Fee: $30; snacks included
Learn what it takes to be a Junior Naturalist. Collect insects, observe birds, and become a part of nature. Using all of our senses, we’ll play games while we explore the woods and prairie habitats.
One-Day Experiences
Full-day camps perfect for first-time campers looking to get their “feet wet,” or anyone looking for one day of fun and excitement! Snacks included; bring sack lunch.
Drop off between 8:20 – 8:40 AM and pick up from 3:20 – 3:40 PM. Drop-off and pick-up will take place at Indian Creek Nature Center’s Amazing Space building, located at 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.
Please note: Campers must have completed the grade listed.
Camp Fee: $55
Tuesday, June 16, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Isn’t the natural world inspiring? We’ll explore different types of art created with and inspired by nature as we play outside. Let’s get creative together!
Camp Fee: $55
Wednesday, June 17, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Let’s dig into geology! Learn about rocks and minerals with hands-on experiments around the Nature Center. We’ll also dig for fossils and go creek stomping in Bena Brook.
Camp Fee: $80
Thursday, June 18, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
We’ll meet at the Nature Center before heading to our first destination for the day: Palisades-Kepler State Park. We’ll hike, explore and have a picnic lunch, then head back to the Nature Center to get ready to bike and explore the Sac and Fox Trail.
Camp Fee: $55
Tuesday, August 11, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Water, water everywhere! Use your five senses to explore the wonderful wetlands, brook and pond at the Nature Center! We’ll catch water bugs and frogs, play water games, go creek stomping and more. Keep cool at this water-themed camp.
Camp Fee: $55
Wednesday, August 12, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Animals that fly are the theme of the day. Experiment and practice your flight skills. See what flying animals you can find that make their homes at the Nature Center.
Camp Fee: $55
Thursday, August 13, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Whether you’re an old pro at camps or brand new, join us for some of our favorite Nature Center camp activities, from creek stomping to playing Fox and Rabbit in the prairie, getting an up-close look at the plants and animals that live here, or just exploring the outdoors together!
Camp Fee: $55
Thursday, August 13, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Meet some of the educational critters that live at the Nature Center and learn how we take care of them. We’ll also spend time outside hiking and exploring. Get ready for hands-on fun!
Camp Fee: $35
Friday, August 14, 4 – 8:30 PM
Join us for a “campout” at the Nature Center! We’ll start the evening with fun and games and cook our own dinners over the campfire before heading on an outdoor adventure. Later we’ll reward ourselves with s’more and camp stories!
Camp Fee: $55
Wednesday, August 19, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Before going back to school, go one one more epic adventure at the Nature Center. We’ll spend a full day outside, learning and letting our imaginations lead us in unstructured play!
Camp Fee: $55
Thursday, August 20, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Before going back to school, go one one more epic adventure at the Nature Center. We’ll spend a full day outside, learning and letting our imaginations lead us in unstructured play!
Four-Day Camps
Immerse yourself in the beauty, wonder and adventure of the Nature Center for an entire four-day session of outdoor fun! Please note: Camper must have completed the grade listed. Snacks included – bring sack lunch.
Drop off between 8:20 – 8:40 AM and pick up from 3:20 – 3:40 PM. Drop-off and pick-up will take place at Indian Creek Nature Center’s Amazing Space building, located at 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.
Join! Become a Household Plus member of ICNC (or higher), and receive one $25 discount per member child per camp session. Discount applies to Four-Day Sessions or Week Long Camps. Complete your membership here to receive your discount.
Camp Fee: M $155, NM $180
Snacks included, bring a sack lunch.
Monday, July 6 – Thursday, July 9, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Let’s build our wilderness skills! Work as a team to design and create forts, build campfires and explore nature. Be prepared to spend lots of time outdoors!
Camp Fee: M $155, NM $180
Snacks included, bring a sack lunch.
Monday, July 20 – Thursday, July 23, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Enter the magical world of nature and wild adventures, starting with a sorting ceremony into houses of different habitats, each represented by one of our Creek Camp mascots! Will you be an owl of the forest, turtle of the wetlands, or fox of the prairie? Throughout the week, we’ll have challenges and adventures as our houses compete for the Naturalist Cup. Fun is required as we all take “classes” in wild creatures, plants, outdoor skills and more. Don’t forget to pack your imagination!
Camp Fee: M $155, NM $180
Snacks included, bring a sack lunch.
Monday, August 3 – Thursday, August 6, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Be a part of the pack at the Nature Center this week! Go wild and explore the animals that make the Nature Center their homes. Each day we will visit different habitats and the animals that live there, from forest to wetlands, to prairie and streams. Enjoy wild games, crafts and adventures!
Week-long Camps and Overnights
Immerse yourself in the beauty, wonder and adventure of the Nature Center for an entire week session of outdoor fun! Please note: Campers must have completed the grade listed. Snacks included; bring sack lunch. Dinner and breakfast included for the campout.
Drop off between 8:20 – 8:40 AM and pick up from 3:20 – 3:40 PM (with the exception of our campout day). Drop-off and pick-up will take place at Indian Creek Nature Center’s Amazing Space building, located at 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.
Join! Become a Household Plus member of ICNC (or higher), and receive one $25 discount per member child per camp session. Discount applies to Four-Day Sessions or Week-long Camps. Complete your membership here to receive your discount.
Camp Fee: M $175, NM $200
Snacks, dinner & breakfast included. Bring a sack lunch.
Monday, June 8 – Wednesday, June 10, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Thursday, June 11, 8:30 AM – Overnight campout!
Friday, June 12, 9 AM Pick-up
*Dinner and breakfast are included for the campout.
Start summer with a splash! Explore different water activities, from dip netting for water critters to water games and creek stomping. Each day we’ll feature different animals and water habitats at the Nature Center. We’ll also spend a day exploring Wapsipinicon State Park. Get ready for a wet adventure! We’ll end with a Thursday-Friday overnight campout at the Nature Center.
Camp Fee: M $200, NM $225
Snacks, dinner & breakfast included. Bring a sack lunch.
Monday, June 22 – Wednesday, June 24, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Thursday, June 25, 8:30 AM – Overnight campout!
Friday, June 26, 9 AM Pick-up
*Dinner and breakfast are included for the campout.
Are you an adventurous spirit? This camp is for the outdoor recreation enthusiast. Join us for a variety of outdoor pursuits, from hiking and surviving to spelunking and canoeing. We’ll adventure at the Nature Center, visit Backbone State Park, canoe the Maquoketa River and end with an overnight campout on the last day at the Nature Center! Get ready for a week-long adventure in the great outdoors!
PLEASE NOTE: This camp will meet at Penningroth Barn (6665 Otis Rd SE).
