1. Respect.

At Swift Nature Camp our Arts-and-Crafts programs flourish because the we recognizes the value of a balanced program of activities that includes Running around, Teamwork adventure, and Art. Equally important, these programs flourish because we accept campers who just try new things. Be it, tye dye, pottery, painting, leather or popsicle stick art. Yet, at the same time we challenge campers to refine their crafty skills, solve problems, and create new works of art. Our goal is to help define the brains and souls of our campers. SNC staff becomes actively involved in the mission of positivly nurturing youth development. In this way Arts and Crafts is a part of this process. And as an bonus, some lucky grandparents or parents and may get a beautiful piece of art.... or a lanyard keychain.

This year we are so excited that our pottery program will get a blast at camp.  Our new Arts & Crafts Director Laura has years of experience in pottery and working with clay. So this year more than ever before we hope to see campers sculpting, and working on the wheel and kiln firing all those projects. All this means that there are going to be wonderful projects coming out of the ARTS & CRAFTS CASTLE this summer. Stuff like sculpted animals, multi-colored tiles, giant coil pots, and delicate wheel-thrown cups and bowls.
Let nature be a part of your clay work by taking a smooth slab of clay and press natural forms into it so that they leave intricate textures. You know, acorns, twigs, leaves, and tree bark, they all leave amazing patterns. then this can be turned in to a vase or some other vessel or just a fired the way it is.
Swift Nature Camp’s summer pottery program is going to be one of our most exciting programs in the summer of 2009.  There’s almost an endless variety of pottery projects to make which you can take back to home your family and friends.

Look it’s Ashley!

Mid October we happened to be driving by Madison Wi. and decided to stop on in and spend some time with Ashley. It was great fun! She showed us around the downtown area and we even had a bite to eat. (nothing like Michelle’s food :) So we got a talkin about one of Ashleys favorite topics- Arts & Crafts. She was wondering if we could do some more cool activities. “like what?” we wondered. She thought, maybe we could do more age appropriate activities so like older kids could do copper enameling and more clay, even some woodburing or something like that. We thought it was a great idea and so Ashley is busy working on how she can make Arts & Crafts better. If you have any ideas or activities that you feel we should do email Ashley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When one thinks of summer camp they think Archery. Yet, archery is so much more than just a way of spending time at camp. It provides us the opportunity to teach life skills: patients, following instructions and persistence just to name a few.

Archery is one of the Swift Nature Camps most popular programs. Both beginner and advanced archers will receive high level instruction from experienced teachers. You'll learn a little about the history of archery as well as the safety rules and commands for the sport. You'll also learn how to string a recurve bows, notch and draw arrows, and proper stance, aiming, and firing.

Our goal is for campers to have a positive first experience with archery. So they feel confident about their experience and want to do the sport more often. We often hear from parents that when their child got home they wanted to get a bow and arrow for the back yard. That makes us feel we are teaching archery the right way.

One of the best parts of being at Swift Nature Camp is the Animals. Thats why many think of S.N.C. as an animal camp. Animals are every where! First since you are out in Nature, if you take a little quiet time you just might see a some really cool birds like a Loon or a Woodpecker or some of the larger mammals like Bears and Porcupines. But most folks just like the animals in the Nature Center and in the Camp Zoo. There are all sorts of cool critters from Lizards to Hamsters and out in the Zoo are ducks and maybe even a goat or two. But Best of all is that campers can bring their own smaller critters to camp.

Catching frogs from camps own beaver pond is a huge camp sport at Swift Nature Camp. it is a challenge too. The big Bull Frogs put up a big battle to free them selves. We even have a favorite bull from the biggest meanest frog of them all JIMBO. Yes he is our mascot and is pictured on this page.

Catching frogs is one of favorite things to do at this children’s summer camp. One of the best hunting spots is the lamp poles at night. You see the frogs come up from the pond at night looking for food and all the bugs hanging around the light will do just fine. 
One might wonder are you eating all these favorite catches. Nope they gan spend on night up at the Nature Center Zoo where they hang with the other animals anc catches then its back to where they were caught at. Next summer, join us for some serious frog catching..

When Swift Campers think of camp they think of playing outdoors in Nature but they automatically think of the animals in our camp zoo and Nature Center. Our campers are crazy for critters and nature and critters. Not only do we have animals at camp we have guest speakers bring in some animals to camp that we all can appreciate. We have lots of animal related activities and offer the opportunity to interact with animals. Plus, you can even bring your own pet from home. How cool is that? An animal camp that lets you bring your own pets!

The lake that camp is situated on is known for its good fishing. Just ask a few of the campers that used their skills this summer to get a few of the pike, bass or pan fish in the lake. However, winter is another time to go fishing, for some they say its the best. They build a little house put it on skis and take it out on to the lake. Look closely and you will see a fishing shack pictured out near picnic island.. Then drill a hole in the ice and wait for the fish to come. On the day we were there, fishing was taking place but we saw no whoppers leave this shack...better luck next time!