articles

Howell Nature Center Summer Camps

Heal, Grow, and Be Wild

May 21, 2015
Owned and operated by the Presbytery of Detroit, the Howell Nature Center is truly a one-of-a-kind facility, combining Camp and Conference, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, and Environmental and Adventure Education in one comprehensive package. There is not another facility in the country that provides the scope of programs offered here. 

Today, those programs fulfill the Nature Center’s mission to promote awareness of God’s creation while providing for physical, mental, and spiritual healing and growth.
Our mission is summarized in our motto: “Heal. Grow. Be Wild.”

Heal
  • Over the course of its 30-year history, our wildlife rehabilitation program has impacted the lives of an estimated 51,000 injured and orphaned animals
  • Thousands of children and adults experience the healing powers of nature on a trail or around a campfire

Grow
  • Guests of all ages grow in physical and mental fitness on our zip lines, high ropes courses, and climbing tower
  • Each year, close to 45,000 people expand their knowledge and appreciation of wildlife through on- and off-site encounters with the creatures in Livingston County’s only zoo, Wild Wonders Wildlife 

Be Wild
  • More than 160 permanently injured birds, mammals, and reptiles have lived out their lives as Wildlife Ambassadors in Wild Wonders Wildlife Park
  • Nearly 100,000 guests of all ages explore their “wild side” with a visit to the Nature Center each year
Located in just minutes from I-96 off D-19 south of Howell, the Howell Nature Center encompasses over 270 acres, including miles of trails, Pleasant Lake waterfront, a wildlife zoo, challenge and adventure features, the Nature Zone, Alexandria’s Naturescape play area, and modern lodges for overnight groups. The privately-owned non-profit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  An admission donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children age two and up opens a wealth of day use opportunities, including

  • The Nature Zone, a hands-on introduction to the creatures you might find in your own backyard
  • Alexandria’s Naturescape, a specially-designed play area that encourages independent exploration of features like:
  • A life-sized spider web, waterfall for wading, stump jump, hidden fairy garden, and more
  • Wild Wonders Wildlife Park, a teaching zoo with more than 60 birds, mammals, and reptiles
  • Two thrilling ziplines, with more to come in Fall 2014
  • Michigan’s tallest outdoor climbing tower
  • Two high ropes courses on which to test your skill and courage
Please note: Zip rides, tower climbs, and ropes tours are by appointment only, call ahead for availability. 

In addition to opportunities for day visits, the Howell Nature Center offers diverse summer camp options: Day Camp for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grades, Christian Resident Camps for kids entering second through twelfth grades, and the  FREE Spirit of Alexandria Nature Camps for third through fifth graders. Overnight guests stay in one of six modern lodges, which are equipped with air conditioning, heat, indoor restrooms, and showers.

Camp staff are carefully selected and trained to be outstanding role models for the campers in their care. And whether campers are swimming in beautiful Pleasant Lake, traversing through the trees on our high ropes course, or simply enjoying a camp fire, their safety is our top priority. All camp staff is Red Cross First Aid and CPR certified, and there is a health officer on-site 24 hours a day during camp. In addition, our camp is licensed by the State of Michigan and accredited by the American Camp Association. We practice a “Challenge by Choice” philosophy for all activities, meaning that, while campers are encouraged to participate, no camper will be coerce, negatively pressured, or unconstructively persuaded—by staff or fellow campers--to take part in a challenge.

Whether you bring the family for a day at the zoo, send the kids for a summer of active fun in day camp, or give the grandchildren the gift of camp memories that will last a lifetime, there’s something for the whole family at the Howell Nature Center.