About
Gardner Camp Youth Outdoor Programs offers youth waterfowl, deer, dove, and pheasant hunting, along with archery, air rifle, and shotgun wingshooting. Participants also take part in astronomy, hunting and trapping safety, kayaking, fishing and water-based adventure, trail hiking and outdoor skills, wetland and waterfowl ecology, and wildlife education and management. The programs provide experiential, hands-on learning opportunities for youth ages 10 and older through these specific outdoor activities.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
Gardner Camp Youth Outdoor Programs follow the mission of Gardner Camp, which is the promotion of outdoor recreational and educational activities with a primary emphasis on youth programs. Gardner Camp is a not-for-profit, private foundation established by the generosity of the late John Willis “Jack” Gardner II and is managed as a private foundation by State Street Bank and Trust Company. Since its establishment in 2012, Gardner Camp has added features such as wells, levees, canals, water control systems, a goose pit waterfowl blind, five deer stands, a trap range, Gardner Hall, a restored original barn, activity pavilions, a 3D archery range, kayaks, a trap shooting range, a high powered telescope, wetland study docks, duck blinds, a fishing pond, an accessible passenger trailer, a StarLab planetarium, a second telescope, an outdoor classroom, an updated duck blind, and new deer hunting blinds. The programs report an average of 5.3 hours spent outside per experience, more than 7,000 outdoor educational experiences delivered, an average group size of 10.4 kids, and over 31 community partners and program affiliates. Community partners and visiting or partner organizations include groups such as Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Quail Forever, USA Archery, Boy Scouts, 4-H, Kroc Center, Girl Scouts, YMCA, and others, with a total of 31 or more community partners and program affiliates. Gardner Camp has reported $54,550 in total grants awarded for program support and capacity building, including support for the StarLab planetarium, an accessible passenger trailer, marketing consulting services, and field trip transportation.
The advisory board for Gardner Camp includes Jason Allen (Chair), Robin Colgrove (Vice Chair), Daloris Picone, Andy Sprague, Brady Genenbacher, Kailee Flesch, Bob Gray, and Eric Frese, with ex-officio members Laurie Brinkman, John Snyder, and Matt Bergman from State Street Bank and Trust Company. Staff members include Keaton Bartz as Director of Gardner Camp, Nicole Taylor as Assistant Director of Programming and Administration, and Brandon Rollins as Assistant Director of Hunting. Testimonials from partner organizations and parents describe the planning and experience level of staff as “amazing,” refer to events as “WOW experiences,” and note that kids were excited to attend programs and would arrive early, with several organizations stating that they plan to continue coming for many years.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
Gardner Camp Youth Outdoor Programs follow the mission of Gardner Camp, which is the promotion of outdoor recreational and educational activities with a primary emphasis on youth programs. Gardner Camp is a not-for-profit, private foundation established by the generosity of the late John Willis “Jack” Gardner II and is managed as a private foundation by State Street Bank and Trust Company. Since its establishment in 2012, Gardner Camp has added features such as wells, levees, canals, water control systems, a goose pit waterfowl blind, five deer stands, a trap range, Gardner Hall, a restored original barn, activity pavilions, a 3D archery range, kayaks, a trap shooting range, a high powered telescope, wetland study docks, duck blinds, a fishing pond, an accessible passenger trailer, a StarLab planetarium, a second telescope, an outdoor classroom, an updated duck blind, and new deer hunting blinds. The programs report an average of 5.3 hours spent outside per experience, more than 7,000 outdoor educational experiences delivered, an average group size of 10.4 kids, and over 31 community partners and program affiliates. Community partners and visiting or partner organizations include groups such as Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Quail Forever, USA Archery, Boy Scouts, 4-H, Kroc Center, Girl Scouts, YMCA, and others, with a total of 31 or more community partners and program affiliates. Gardner Camp has reported $54,550 in total grants awarded for program support and capacity building, including support for the StarLab planetarium, an accessible passenger trailer, marketing consulting services, and field trip transportation.
The advisory board for Gardner Camp includes Jason Allen (Chair), Robin Colgrove (Vice Chair), Daloris Picone, Andy Sprague, Brady Genenbacher, Kailee Flesch, Bob Gray, and Eric Frese, with ex-officio members Laurie Brinkman, John Snyder, and Matt Bergman from State Street Bank and Trust Company. Staff members include Keaton Bartz as Director of Gardner Camp, Nicole Taylor as Assistant Director of Programming and Administration, and Brandon Rollins as Assistant Director of Hunting. Testimonials from partner organizations and parents describe the planning and experience level of staff as “amazing,” refer to events as “WOW experiences,” and note that kids were excited to attend programs and would arrive early, with several organizations stating that they plan to continue coming for many years.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
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