Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Earth Conservation Corps will not be running Eco-Camp in 2021. We will plan on resuming in 2022. With 29 years of environmental education experience on the Anacostia River, the Earth Conservation Corps is had hoped to continue up to bring their environmental field-studies to youth ages 10-15 over 6 one-week camps this summer.
The Earth Conservation Corps ECO-Camp is designed to give youth a stronger understanding of their local “backyard” ecosystem along the Anacostia River and their impact on it through opportunities to problem solve and participate in projects that curb some of the issues prevalent along the river. The ECO-Camp is a new program designed to give youth opportunities to get more involved with the environment through hands-on learning experiences and boots on the ground conservation efforts.
The program will teach youth answers to questions:
- What is a watershed?
- What is an ecosystem and what roles do the wildlife play?
- What is my role in the ecosystem?
- How can I take action?
Youth will also gain valuable skills that will help with future development, including:
- Basic boating safety
- How to fish, and how to do it sustainably
- How to identify different species of birds, fish, and plant life
- How to accurately measure water quality
- Basic environmental and citizen scientist training (how to plant trees, plants, count birds, record data, etc.)
Sessions take place weekly, from June 24-28, July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26, July 29-August 2 and August 5-9. Daily programming lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and before and after care (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) is available. Camp is best suited to kids aged ten to 15. Cost is $350 per week, and before and after care runs $25 per hour.
Camp Sessions will be held at the Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center (1520 First St. SE) and the Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center (2000 Half St SW). For more information, visit https://www.earthconservationcorps.org/ecocamp