Looking back at Audubon Adventures Nature Camp for Kids

At Audubon Adventures Nature Camp in Spiritwood, North Dakota, children use their senses to actively explore, engage in play, and create lasting outdoor memories--all while learning about the natural world. Located at Audubon's National Audubon Society Edward M. Brigham III Alkali Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, the property provides essential grassland and wetland habitat for diverse species and curious kids!

2026 Registration is open! 

Sign your camper up for one day or all of the days; programming will be unique for each experience. Register here: Tuesday, August 11 | Wednesday, August 12 | Thursday, August 13

It’s August of 2025, and a low, burgeoning hum is in the air at Audubon’s wildlife sanctuary in Spiritwood, North Dakota. While some may ascribe that hum to a covert Grasshopper Sparrow or even a glossy Field Cricket, Audubon Great Plains staff know its true source—the growing excitement for the start of Audubon Adventures Nature Camp for kids.

While dew drops clung to every blade of grass, the warm morning sun crested the hilltop overlooking Alkalai Lake; enthusiastic staff were more than ready to transform months of planning and preparation into the real deal—the first day of our first year of camp!

The sanctuary’s rich biodiversity provided endless surprises and learning opportunities for our school-aged participants as they enjoyed the summer sunshine and made new friends. For our inaugural year, we had 24 campers, which translated to nearly 100 hours of nature-based youth engagement. Some highlights from camp included trail treks, insect investigations, creature crafting, prairie impressions, sun printing, birds & binos, bird olympics, outdoor bingo, and the ever-popular duck, duck, gray duck.

New trails were plotted and mowed on the property by our staff, which provided scope for the imagination as campers took a trek on the trails. Identifying prairie plants, taking in the sights and sounds, and moving our bodies in nature all led to a sense of great adventure!  Our campers stopped on the hilltop to overlook Alkali Lake and ventured down to the lakefront for an up-close opportunity to see plants and insects present.

Using nets and gentle capture techniques, campers were able to get up close and personal with the many insects that are part of the sanctuary’s thriving ecosystem: ants, dragonflies, spiders, katydids, crickets, lady beetles, lacewings, milkweed bugs, and so many more! Campers learned about insects, how they are part of the food web, and their identifying features. This knowledge allowed campers to design and craft a creative creature using small plant cuttings gathered while on our trail trek!  Campers picked a variety of plants to be used to make prairie impressions with clay and to create sun prints. 

Binoculars can sometimes be challenging for first-time users, so we are grateful that the various swallows were happy to rest on cables and fencing long enough for campers to learn how to spot and focus. It never gets old hearing an elated, “I can see it!” the very first time a camper brings a bird into crystal clear focus. Many campers enjoyed scanning for cattle grazing the property. Staff heard from several campers that binoculars would be on the top of their wish lists.

During bird Olympics, kids flapped their wings like a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, danced like a Prairie Chicken, caught bugs like a Western Meadowlark, or stood on one leg like a Great Blue Heron! Outdoor bingo was a favorite for exploring the property while seeking out specific finds like a spider web, flower, bird, nest, or pinecone. Finally, ending the day with duck, duck, gray duck (yes, our camp coordinator is from Minnesota), provided a fun chance for kids just to be kids… or ducks of any color: blue duck, pink duck, yellow duck, or our camper favorite from last year, iridescent duck.

As the snow melts and the sounds of spring slowly return, Audubon Great Plains staff is listening intently. We’re eager to hear that much-anticipated ascending hum of excitement that means we will soon be welcoming back enthusiastic outdoor learners for 2026. There is always more to explore at Audubon Adventures Nature Camp!

To learn more about or register for Audubon Adventures Nature Camp, visit our website: Audubon Adventures Nature Camp in Spiritwood, ND