Swift Nature Camp

A Wisconsin Summer Camp for children

FUN is how we choose to live! Forget about summer boredom, Because there is fun in everything we do, you’ll be smiling no matter what the activity is! From swimming, jumping on our water trampoline, shooting at archery, boating, fishing, singing, crazy craft making, or playing with animals - you’ll have a blast. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a new talent or passion at our Wisconsin summer camp!

FRIENDSHIPS are true and lasting! Because our camp family is filled with kindness and caring towards everyone, you will make new friends easily! From day one you’ll have an entire cabin of new friends. Your counselors will be a understanding, and unbelievably crazy and energetic. Campers find that SNC is a place where you can be yourself. It’s a place where friends are sure to love and appreciate the true you! In no time at all you’ll have more friendship bracelets than you can count!

ADVENTURE TRIPS await you! Whether you are a novice or an expert, you’ll find that camping trips will be some of your fondest memories! SNC’s awesome counselors are there to help you every step of the way while you canoe down scenic rivers, hike through forests, and even take bike trips. We can’t wait to explore the world with you. Camping under millions of stars, singing songs around a fire, and jumping into waterfalls are just more of the fun you will have at SNC.

NATURE is bursting with life! At SNC, there are islands that need exploring, frogs that need catching, and ice cream to taste made from wild berries picked by you! Our Nature Center is filled with amazing animals to learn about and play with! Whether you’re a nature nut or someone a little nervous about the woods, we’ll help you find the best sunsets, spot highflying eagles, and discover what makes our planet worth protecting!

Fun-Friendships-Adventure Trips-Nature.

We’ve got it all! Come to the place you'll never forget. Come to Swift Nature Camp, your summer home is waiting!

"Swift Nature Camp is an Overnight Children's Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15 located in Wisconsin. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities while increasing a child's appreciation for nature, science and the environment."

Special First Timer Camp
2,3 & 6 weeks
Small Size
Non competitive
Science, Nature, Animals
Water & Land Activities
Canoe & Hiking Trips
Non-denominational

"Parents, at SNC we use Adventure, Learning and Kindness all in a Natural setting to promote each childs personal development. Campers tell us, that our nurturing atmosphere gives them confidence to make friends easily and to try new activities. yet most rewarding is hearing that SNC allows each camper to truly be themselves. When your SNC camper returns home more Responsible, Resilient and Kinder you will know your decision to send your child to SNC was the right one."

Parent Information

Camper Information

The John Muir Youth Award program was launched in Dunbar, Scotland in April, 1996 by the John Muir Trust of the United Kingdom. Dunbar was chosen to launch the program because it was the birthplace of John Muir. Thirty-eight students satisfied the award criteria and were the first recipients of the award.

The Sierra Club, through its volunteer John Muir Education Committee, operates the John Muir Youth Award in the U.S.A. Interested schools, nature centers, youth camps, or individuals are welcome to participate! The first John Muir Youth Award recipients in the USA were 19 students from the John Muir School in Portage, Wisconsin, located near Muir's boyhood home, and was awarded in June, 1997. Read on to learn how to enter!
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John Muir Youth Award.

The Five Challenges

To obtain the John Muir Youth Award, you must successfully complete five challenges:

1. Discover A Wild Place

Following Muir's maxim that "None of Nature's landscapes are ugly so long as they are wild," look for a wild place naear you. A "Wild Place" could be any relatively natural area from the back-yard garden, to the local park or a nature reserve. Young children may well start close to home and progress to more adventurous and remote sites as their knowledge and abilities grow. Older children will want to find true wilderness nearby.
2. Explore the "Wildness" which is found there.

At each level participants must explore, study, and try to understand: Why do we call this place "wild"? What is "wildness"? Why it is valuable? This may take the form of a conventional environmental studies program - but students could explore the landscape, animals and plants through science, photography, poetry, or other arts. It should be diverse and creative.
3. Conserve and Protect a Wild Place

The Sierra Club believes -- like John Muir did -- that it is not enough to "be concerned" - people must take action. For this third phase, young people will carry out practical conservation and management; or campaign on behalf of a wild place; or raise funds; or work with the local community on long-term management.
4. Share Your Discoveries with Others

Sharing with others could be done by making an exhibition of photographs, paintings, drawings or words; producing a film, video-tape or slide-show; creating a drama or radio program; leading a guided nature walk; giving a talk, creating a website or a Power Point presentation, etc.
5. Learn About John Muir and how he changed the world.

Participants should carry out all of the first four challenges against the background of learning about John Muir: his childhood in Scotland and immigration to America, his world-wide adventures and explorations, his struggles to help create the the National Parks system, his many books and essays on conservation, his role in the Sierra Club.

The award criteria requires specified hours to be spent on each of the five challenges, and the accomplishment of a final project that satisifes all Five Challenges. The award is available in five levels, with increasing time and complexity spent on each: Introductory: Discovery Level; Intermediate: Explorer Level, and Advanced: Conserver Level.

The John Muir Youth Award program is non-competitive, educational, and fun! Every student successfully concluding the criteria for the award, as approved by their teachers or or other youth leaders and the Sierra Club John Muir Education Committee, will be sent a certificate recognizing their accomplishment from the Sierra Club. The real reward, however, is the opportunity to learn more about wilderness and a "wilderness hero" who still captures the hearts of millions of people in America and around the world!s

Important note: Retrospective activity cannot count towards an Award.

If you are interested in the program, whether as a group or individual, please read the full Information on the

Swift Nature Camp

Fun-Friendships-Adventure Trips-Nature.

The Five Challenges

Parent Information

Camper Information

Summer Camp Jobs

Returning Campers