Survival Summer Camps
Gardner School of Arts & Sciences, 16413 NE 50th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98686
These survival and outdoor-themed camps will teach campers outdoor skills, teamwork, and problem-solving in a natural setting. We’ll touch briefly on a variety of survival skills and topics to consider when preparing for outdoor adventures., and discuss our own skills and abilities that can translate to survival in the wild!
Campers will have the opportunity to explore our 5 acre campus, including our fenced (but wild!) wetlands and trail system. Some weeks may also have a hike to our nearby WSU-Vancouver trail system, which includes a small creek, many trails, and lots of open space. Excursions to WSU-Vancouver are on foot, with at least two adult Gardner staff members accompanying students. Walks are usually one to two miles at a modest pace. Adults have cell service for the entire trip, and carry emergency packs, plus we'll have our survival gear for the week!
Survival Camps are a 4 part series this summer. Topics include:
- The Basics - What to consider when on an outdoor adventure, how to recognize hazards, and apply your own skills an abilities to your situation.
- Safety, First Aid, and Navigation - We'll do some orienteering and compass work, plus we'll talk about how to treat basic wounds and injuries, plus touch on how to navigate various situations safely.
- Eating Wild - What would you eat if you were lost in the wild? We'll discuss native plants and their applications as food and medicine, do a bit of foraging, and figure out what we'd be happy to eat, and what we'd rather not!
- Wildlife Encounters - When you're outdoors, you're in the animals' home! What to do when you encounter wildlife, from teeny ladybugs up through larger animals we may occasionally see in the nearby woods. We'll look for wildlife around our campus and in the wetlands!
Campers are encouraged to attend as many Survival Camp sessions as they would like, and there are no prerequisites - campers may attend any they choose. Each camp will be treated as a stand-alone session.
Led by Gardner School's 3rd and 4th grade teacher, Saryn.
Safety Information
- Staff is First Aid Certified
- Employee Background Checks
- Carries Liability Insurance
This information is provided by the organization and has not been independently verified by Enrichment.kids.
Policies
If a camp for which you have paid is canceled by Gardner School for any reason, a full refund will be offered. If there is still time remaining in the summer, and we have space available in other camps, you will also be given the option to move your camper to another camp. There is no fee for this transfer.
If your plans change (as they do) and you wish to transfer to a different camp either in the same week or a different week, please contact [email protected] to make that arrangement. There is no charge for changing camps, but it is subject to availability; if the camp you want to change to is full, we will not be able to complete that change. You can choose from any still-available camps of the correct age group at that time.
If you need to cancel registration for any reason, 14 days’ notice is required for a full refund, minus a $25 administrative fee per canceled camp.
Cancellations with less than 14 days notice but more than 24 hours notice will receive a 50% refund. No refund is issued to cancellations within 24 hours of the start of camp, or for single days missed.