Conservation Day Camp began in 2016 as a three day event for Preble County second through fifth grade students to learn about natural resources and to gain a better understanding of conservation practices through interactive programs outdoors. Since then, we have expanded Day Camp to allow sixth graders to attend. Each year has gotten bigger and bigger, topping out at 168 students for the 2023 year.
Conservation Day Camp is held June 18-20, 2024 and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Preble County Historical Society in Eaton, OH. Each group of students is lead around the grounds by high school and college students, who are able to receive credit hours and volunteer hours. This camp is a great way for kids to experience all that nature has to offer, to learn about current environmental issues and how they can help, to problem solve cooperatively in a large group, and to make friendships with students from other schools in the county!
Conservation Day Camp is held June 18-20, 2024 and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Preble County Historical Society in Eaton, OH. Each group of students is lead around the grounds by high school and college students, who are able to receive credit hours and volunteer hours. This camp is a great way for kids to experience all that nature has to offer, to learn about current environmental issues and how they can help, to problem solve cooperatively in a large group, and to make friendships with students from other schools in the county!
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Programs from previous years:
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Camp Recap
Conservation Day Camp 2020
After a months of uncertainty and waiting, we finally got the green light to host our 5th Annual Conservation Day Camp! Our registrations were rushed, and our plans had to drastically change... but we made it happen and it was complete success! Over 80 Preble County students attended our day camp at the Preble County Historical Society in Eaton, OH from June 23-25. While rain showers were predicted for the entire week, the sun decided it would stay for all three days! We couldn't have picked a better week. Over the course of camp, students participated in a wide range of activities:
We would also like to say thank you to our wonderful sponsors, who support our efforts in conservation and environmental education in our community: Henny Penny Employee Foundation, Butler Rural Electric Co-Cop, Wildcat Sports and Graphics, and the Preble County Historical Society. We appreciate your generous donation to making our camp better every year!
We are looking forward to another year of outdoor fun and exploration at Conservation Day Camp 2021! If you have a Preble County 2nd through 5th grader who is interested in signing up, please contact the office at 937-456-5159 or email Kate at [email protected]
- Manufacturing dog toys and building a plane
- Homesteading, complete with homemade french fries and other homegrown foods
- Tree identification game
- Archery
- Bull roar craft
- Safety in the outdoors
- Leave No Trace
- Creeking
- Tie dye
- Nature hikes
- Wagon rides
- Games, games, and games!!!
We would also like to say thank you to our wonderful sponsors, who support our efforts in conservation and environmental education in our community: Henny Penny Employee Foundation, Butler Rural Electric Co-Cop, Wildcat Sports and Graphics, and the Preble County Historical Society. We appreciate your generous donation to making our camp better every year!
We are looking forward to another year of outdoor fun and exploration at Conservation Day Camp 2021! If you have a Preble County 2nd through 5th grader who is interested in signing up, please contact the office at 937-456-5159 or email Kate at [email protected]
Conservation Day Camp 2019: The First Week Long Day Camp!
Our 2019 Conservation Day Camp is in the books! We completed our first week long camp with over 135 of the coolest 2nd through 5th grade students in Preble County. Kids spent the week dodging rain storms, hiking through the woods and in the mud, and having a fun time while learning. This year's activities included tie-dye shirts and natural dyes, archery, stream monitoring at the creek and wetland, crafting "buzz saws" to demonstration the growth rings in trees, building beaver dams with mud and sticks, creating a Monarch Waystation, fishing, scavenger hunts, group games, animals from Hueston Woods, geocaching, and simulating the population of trees with tennis balls as acorns and kids demonstrating trees! These kids didn't let the spotty weather keep them from having a great time. The handful of 4-year attending campers were recognized; a few of them being current counselors. The week ended with neat demonstrations by the Gratis Fire Department, the Eaton Police Department, and the Dayton Police Department. A crew from the Gratis F.D. educated the kids about safety and explained the workings of the fire and EMS trucks. Officer Jones (Eaton P.D.) and Officer Betsinger (Dayton P.D.) attended camp with their special partners, K-9 Shadow (Eaton) and K-9 Hugo (Dayton), to explain their job duties and special skills. We all spent the last day playing games and enjoying the outdoors! Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for helping this camp function: Cargill, Darke Rural Electric, Preble County Historical Society, Brubaker Grain and Chemical, LCNB, and Wildcat Sports and Graphics. We would also like to thank our wonderful presenters for spending so much of their time planning for and educating our youth, and the campers for choosing to spend the week with us and making it a special year. We hope to see you all at Conservation Day Camp 2020!
Campers Were Drenched in Fun at 2018 Conservation Day Camp
One hundred and nineteen elementary students experienced fun and learning at this year’s third annual Conservation Day Camp, sponsored by Preble Soil and Water Conservation District (PSWCD). Second through fifth graders were welcomed for three days of programming designed to help youth learn about, appreciate, and care for our bountiful natural resources.
While at camp, children participated in activities related to vermiculture (worm farming) and soils, leaving no trace when exploring nature, survival and fire building, archery, forestry, wildlife, water quality in Aukerman creek, and crafts. In a session related to dairy farming, they made homemade ice cream in Ziploc bags. They also participated in a service project to help the Historical Society maintain their landscaping.
The weather cooperated on Tuesday and Wednesday of camp, but the sky opened up and poured down the second half of the day on Thursday. At first, campers tried to stay dry, but when staying dry was no longer an option, they decided the rain was wonderful! They had the time of their lives while playing in the rain, jumping in large puddles, and singing several rounds of Singing in the Rain.
PSWCD would like to thank the many people who helped make camp possible. Sponsors included Gillman Home Center and Walnut Harvest Auctions, LLC. The Preble County Historical Society provided a fantastic location for outdoor learning. In addition, many local people volunteered their time as presenters, volunteers, and counselors. We’re already looking forward to next year’s camp, and hope to have even more youth participate.
While at camp, children participated in activities related to vermiculture (worm farming) and soils, leaving no trace when exploring nature, survival and fire building, archery, forestry, wildlife, water quality in Aukerman creek, and crafts. In a session related to dairy farming, they made homemade ice cream in Ziploc bags. They also participated in a service project to help the Historical Society maintain their landscaping.
The weather cooperated on Tuesday and Wednesday of camp, but the sky opened up and poured down the second half of the day on Thursday. At first, campers tried to stay dry, but when staying dry was no longer an option, they decided the rain was wonderful! They had the time of their lives while playing in the rain, jumping in large puddles, and singing several rounds of Singing in the Rain.
PSWCD would like to thank the many people who helped make camp possible. Sponsors included Gillman Home Center and Walnut Harvest Auctions, LLC. The Preble County Historical Society provided a fantastic location for outdoor learning. In addition, many local people volunteered their time as presenters, volunteers, and counselors. We’re already looking forward to next year’s camp, and hope to have even more youth participate.
2017 Conservation Day Camp
Over 100 elementary students from around the county gathered at the Preble County Historical Society June 27-29 for the second annual Preble County Conservation Day Camp.
Campers were able to experience activities ranging from nature hikes to water monitoring. The woods and fencerows provided a great setting for finding and sampling edible wild plants such as wild carrot and black raspberries. Campers spent time in Aukerman Creek with nets and plastic pans in search of fish and macroinvertebrates. They learned what candles used to be made from as staff from the Historical Society led them in an old-fashioned candle-dipping. They scattered seed while planting a 1/2 acre pollinator plot, and the sound of hammers rang out as campers constructed bluebird houses with a bit of help from the adults. Campers enjoyed petting a Holstein calf, and it led to many questions about life on the farm. Lunch time each day was enjoyed by all, and wrapped up with summer camp songs.
The program was sponsored by the Preble SWCD, with funding and support from Cargill, Miley Construction, and Flaig Lumber. Special thanks goes to the many presenters, counselors, and other volunteers who brought the program to life, and especially the Preble County Historical Society for hosting the event.
Campers were able to experience activities ranging from nature hikes to water monitoring. The woods and fencerows provided a great setting for finding and sampling edible wild plants such as wild carrot and black raspberries. Campers spent time in Aukerman Creek with nets and plastic pans in search of fish and macroinvertebrates. They learned what candles used to be made from as staff from the Historical Society led them in an old-fashioned candle-dipping. They scattered seed while planting a 1/2 acre pollinator plot, and the sound of hammers rang out as campers constructed bluebird houses with a bit of help from the adults. Campers enjoyed petting a Holstein calf, and it led to many questions about life on the farm. Lunch time each day was enjoyed by all, and wrapped up with summer camp songs.
The program was sponsored by the Preble SWCD, with funding and support from Cargill, Miley Construction, and Flaig Lumber. Special thanks goes to the many presenters, counselors, and other volunteers who brought the program to life, and especially the Preble County Historical Society for hosting the event.
Special thanks to Cargill for sponsoring this event!
2016 Conservation Camp
Over 70 area youth experienced fun and excitement at last week’s Preble County Conservation Day Camp, a new program sponsored by the Preble Soil and Water Conservation District. Elementary students from around the county gathered at the Preble County Historical Society June 21-23 to experience interactive outdoor activities related to forestry, water quality, soils, wildlife, and agriculture.
In one rotation, campers explored a soil pit and investigated the soil before making edible soil profiles out of pudding and cookies. In another, they waded in the creek with buckets and a net, collecting macrovintebrate organisms such as snails and worms. There were some exciting finds, including pollution-sensitive organisms such as caddisfly larvae, whose presence means that the water quality in Aukerman Creek is good. Campers took aim while practicing archery, and were very excited when they hit the target and popped a balloon. Other activities taught campers about beekeeping, wildlife predator-prey relationships, historical living in a log house, various aspects of forestry, the importance of practicing conservation habits in daily living, advancements in agriculture, and living how to leave no trace when exploring the outdoors.
Reflecting on her camp experience, eleven-year-old Hailey Henderson of Eaton said, “I learned a lot about soils, bees, archery and many other things. I learned the layers of soil. I had a great time, and I wish I can do this again.” MaKaylee Phelps, 9, of Lewisburg said, “I really liked creeking, soils, archery and the wild animal activities the best. I hope we can do it next year. If so I will totally do it again.” Daniel Chappel, age seven from Eaton, loved his camp experience, and said that next year it should be extended to ten days rather than three. Overall, campers seemed to greatly enjoy the learning experience.
The program was sponsored by the Preble Soil and Water Conservation District with funding and support from Preble County Farm Bureau, Cargill, and the Preble County Pork Festival Committee. Thanks to the generous support from these sponsors, campers were only required to pay a $20 registration fee to participate.
In addition to the sponsors, Conservation Camp would not have been possible without the many presenters, counselors and other volunteers who brought the program to life, and especially the Preble County Historical Society for providing the perfect location to host the event.
In one rotation, campers explored a soil pit and investigated the soil before making edible soil profiles out of pudding and cookies. In another, they waded in the creek with buckets and a net, collecting macrovintebrate organisms such as snails and worms. There were some exciting finds, including pollution-sensitive organisms such as caddisfly larvae, whose presence means that the water quality in Aukerman Creek is good. Campers took aim while practicing archery, and were very excited when they hit the target and popped a balloon. Other activities taught campers about beekeeping, wildlife predator-prey relationships, historical living in a log house, various aspects of forestry, the importance of practicing conservation habits in daily living, advancements in agriculture, and living how to leave no trace when exploring the outdoors.
Reflecting on her camp experience, eleven-year-old Hailey Henderson of Eaton said, “I learned a lot about soils, bees, archery and many other things. I learned the layers of soil. I had a great time, and I wish I can do this again.” MaKaylee Phelps, 9, of Lewisburg said, “I really liked creeking, soils, archery and the wild animal activities the best. I hope we can do it next year. If so I will totally do it again.” Daniel Chappel, age seven from Eaton, loved his camp experience, and said that next year it should be extended to ten days rather than three. Overall, campers seemed to greatly enjoy the learning experience.
The program was sponsored by the Preble Soil and Water Conservation District with funding and support from Preble County Farm Bureau, Cargill, and the Preble County Pork Festival Committee. Thanks to the generous support from these sponsors, campers were only required to pay a $20 registration fee to participate.
In addition to the sponsors, Conservation Camp would not have been possible without the many presenters, counselors and other volunteers who brought the program to life, and especially the Preble County Historical Society for providing the perfect location to host the event.