Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center

Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center offers hands-on activities such as learning how to tie a snare, how to shoot an arrow, and how to cook over an open fire. Campers take part in fire starting and outdoor safety, shelter building and wilderness survival, plant and wildlife identification, archery and outdoor sports, knot tying and navigation, and campfire cooking and food preparation. The program also includes teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving activities, as well as horsemanship, survival skills, camping, summer camps, overnight camps, Western Days Camp, Scouting Programs, team building, private events, family camps, Cub Scouts, American Heritage Girls, field trips and home school programs, workshops, and educational field trips.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM; Memorial Day through July 4th summer camp sessions are the most popular of the year

Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center was founded by the Holtzman family in 2002 and has over 20 years of experience. Prior to founding the camp, the Holtzmans led a weekly scout group of homeschooled children called “The Trackers” for over ten years, using Tom Brown Jr.'s “Books of Survival” and “Nature Awareness” and Jon Young's “Kamana Program” as guides for outdoor activities. The Holtzmans purchased a 35-acre tract of land outside of Collinsville, Texas, which became the site for monthly weekend camps for families to learn about camping, survival, and plant and animal wildlife in the North Texas area. Camp Tonkawa became an official Outdoor Learning Center and non-profit organization in March 2009, and the initial Board consisted of April Holtzman, Will Andrews, and Mark Blessing. In 2005, Cherokee Indian Grey Wolf (Randy Scism) became a major participant at Camp Tonkawa and has been described as leaving his mark in every aspect of the facility.

The mission of Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center is to reconnect people with the earth through experiential outdoor education and to connect children and adults with nature through outdoor immersion activities that teach essential life skills. The program’s stated goal is for everyone to be as knowledgeable of the natural world as Native Americans who love, honor, and respect the planet. Camp Tonkawa draws inspiration from traditional Native American nature awareness and primitive skills, teaching campers how to live respectfully with the land and understand the natural world around them. The camp states that nature is viewed as the teacher, and that patrons gain respect and appreciation for the earth, which supports environmental preservation and sustainability.

Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center is described as a break from the everyday noise of the world and a place to remember what a starry night looks like. It primarily focuses on educational opportunities and also offers facilities for events such as weddings, reunions, birthday celebrations, and other special occasions. The program features a hands-on, nature-based curriculum, small group learning environments, and a diverse, inclusive community of campers. It offers unique programs like horsemanship and survival skills, custom-designed camps for groups, and Memorial Day through July 4th summer camp sessions that often fill quickly. Families across Texas and Southern Oklahoma, including Dallas, Denton, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Sherman, Gainesville, and Southern Oklahoma communities, frequently choose and visit Camp Tonkawa. The staff includes experienced instructors who are described as passionate about outdoor education.

Last updated July 22, 2026.