Camp Dates:

Week 1: June 16-20, 2025

Week 2: July 14-18, 2025

Camp Times:

10am Monday to 4pm on Friday (We will host a closing parent circle at 3:30pm on Friday if you’d like to hear all about your campers adventures with the group)

Drop-off: Please arrive at 9:45am on Monday for check in. Please plan to stay with your child for the first hour to help them set up their tent, meet our staff and get settled in and attend a quick parent orientation. 

Pick-up: Please pick-up your camper Friday at 4:00pm. Staff will be packing and cleaning the site at 4pm for departure as well.

Sign-In and Sign-Out:

Each camper must be signed-in at the beginning of the week of camp and signed-out at the end. Please make sure that whoever drops off and picks up your camper is aware of this policy. Please inform our staff at check-in if your child will be picked up on Friday by someone other than the person who has dropped them off on Monday.

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What to Bring to Overnight Camp

(PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR CAMPER’S BELONGINGS – we also recommend taking pictures of it all so we can ensure it all comes back to you)

Clothing:

• 6 Full Changes of Clothing: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes that can get dirty.
• Lightweight Pants: To help prevent mosquito bites.
• Comfortable Shoes: Shoes suitable for active play and running games, in addition to sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can get dirty. Shoes for evening also. Crocs, slippers, flip flops.
• Sleepwear: Appropriate for the weather.
• 2 Towels: One for showers and one for creek time.
• 2 Small Hand Towels: For use after evening showers and teeth brushing.
• 2 Swimsuits: Ideally SPF rash guards that cover the maximum skin area for protection against creek debris and sunburn.
• 2 Long Sleeve Sun Shirts: Ideally with a hood for use in the sun, to get wet and to help keep cool and sun burned free.
• Sun Hat: Please be sure to send your camper with some type of sun hat to again help us protect necks and faces while outside all week at camp.

Camping Gear:

• Tent w/ Rainfly Cover: Please no larger than a 4-person tents.
• Sleeping Gear: 
  • Outdoor sleeping mat or camping pad 
  • One pillow
  • Sheet or lightweight blanket
• Rain Gear: Rain jacket and pants or a rain poncho.

Personal Care Items:

• Insect Repellent: Bug spray and anti-itch cream/spray.
• Lip Balm: To prevent chapped lips.
• Sunscreen and Sun Hat: Broad-spectrum sunscreen with high SPF is recommended.
• Toiletries: Biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. Avoid scented items to minimize insect attraction.

Lighting and Hydration:

• Flashlight or Headlamp: Please make sure to pack extra batteries or a charging cable.
• Water Bottle: At least 32 oz capacity.

Food and Eating Supplies:

• Packed Lunch for Monday: All other meals and snacks are provided through Friday’s lunch.
• Mess Kit: Durable bowl, plate, spoon, fork, knife, and cup. No glass items are allowed at Krause Springs.

Miscellaneous:

• Small Backpack for Day Hikes: This is in addition to the main luggage (suitcase, duffel bag, trunk, etc.).
• Medications: If applicable, list all medications on the registration form. Medications must be given to staff at check-in on Monday morning for secure storage.
• Nature Journal or Notepad & Colored Pencils: For documenting experiences.
• Knife: Morakniv Craftline Basic with Stainless Steel Blade and Combi-Sheath. If purchased during registration, it will be provided at camp; if obtained elsewhere, please pack it in your campers backpack for the week.

OPTIONAL ITEMS (to help beat the heat): 

• HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Battery operated fans that can hang/set in tents (pack extra batteries). If your child has a rechargeable fan please let them know to ask for help recharging it during the day. 
• Water bottles that also spray mist or cooling towels that can be worn around the neck.
• Lastly, feel free to pack playing cards, non-electronic games, etc. for tent time. (No phones or electronics are permitted at camp)
• Books are fine but please limit it to 2 for the week.

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What NOT to Pack:

• Electronics – Including cell phones, iPods/iPads, video games, watches with internet, etc. If parents would like to check up on their campers, they can contact the Camp Director at any time
• Any food beyond Monday’s packed lunch – we have plenty of snacks – we even ask the kids during the week what snacks they want and feel are missing!
• Excess extra clothes or sleep items

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Parents/Guardians and the camper’s secondary emergency contact need to be reachable by phone 24 hours a day while camp is in session. 

​Tent Sharing:

Tent sharing is allowed as long as it is requested in advance by both campers parents/guardians. We need written permission from both parents and or to speak with both families also. Spontaneous tent sharing will not be allowed.

What to Expect at Overnight Survival Camp

Monday:

Monday is going to include a logistics hike around Krause to get to know the property and where we are able to adventure to. We will explore the kitchen area, dining area, bathrooms, showers, visit the pool, tour the garden and play lots of games to get to know one another. Then we will cool off with a swim and some afternoon skills by the pool.

Daily Schedule:

• 7:00 AM: Wake up.
• 8:00 AM: Breakfast. Bring your water bottle, toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand towel.
• Morning Activities: Carving, fire-building, shelter-making, archery, or crafting with natural materials.
• 12:00 PM: Prep for lunch and afternoon swim. Grab your towel, sunshirt or sunscreen, sunhat, and swimsuit—and wash your hands!
• 12:30 PM: Lunch together.
• 1:15 PM: Swim time at the springs. We’ll also practice survival skills like basket-weaving or knot-tying while staying cool.
• 5:30 PM: Get ready for dinner.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner together
• 6:45 PM: Get ready for evening shutdown routines. Showers, brush teeth, tidy up tents, enjoy games, cook over fire, listen to stories
• 9:00 PM: In tents reading, relaxing, journaling, drawing
• 10:00 PM: Lights out. Time for sleep. Get some well deserved rest.

Rising to the Challenge: Adventure, Teamwork & Wilderness Wisdom:

At camp, we turn learning into adventure! Each week, campers tackle fun, skill-building challenges—like purifying water to earn their camp’s water jug, starting a fire (under careful supervision) for their first hot meal, or hitting a target with throwing sticks to win dessert. These activities are designed to inspire teamwork, confidence, and a little friendly competition—never pressure. Expect your camper to come home with new survival skills, plenty of pride, and maybe even a dramatic tale or two about their “near-starvation” after missing a target! By week’s end, they’ll leave stronger, more capable, and full of stories to share.

Morning Rotation Stations: Choose Your Adventure!

Each morning after breakfast, campers get to personalize their wilderness journey by selecting a hands-on lesson from our daily rotation stations. Led by our skilled instructors, these small-group sessions let campers dive deep into survival skills, nature crafts, or outdoor challenges—whether it’s fire-building, shelter design, animal tracking, or knot-tying. With topics changing daily, campers can follow their curiosity, build confidence in their favorite skills, or try something entirely new. It’s all about choice, challenge, and that “aha!” moment when knowledge clicks into place. By the end of the week, they’ll have a toolkit of wilderness wisdom—and the thrill of having shaped their own adventure!

​Food:

Food will be provided for all program participants starting with lunch on Monday. We have noted all food restrictions/allergies that you provided during registration and will shop accordingly. Please do not send any additional food with your child. If there is a need to send food, due to a food allergy/restriction, please contact us in advance. You will need to “check in” this food with an Instructor or the Cook on the first day.​

Hydration:

We take safety very seriously at Natureversity and summer heat is definitely a hazard we face here in Texas. In order to prevent heat related illness, we will require your camper to regularly drink water throughout the day. 

Knives at Camp:

We require that each student participate in a basic cutting tool safety training at camp unless they have previously received basic knife carving training through Natureversity. After the training, each student will be required to pass a knife safety quiz before they can use their knife. Even after students pass the verbal and skill test and are “Knife Safety Certified,” instructors will hold the students to strict guidelines regarding knife use that must be followed at all times to include:

• Campers must get approval before using their knives
• Campers must then describe what they intend to do with the knife and what wood they are carving to ensure it isnt rotten, too dry, dead, etc.
• Campers must then establish a carving zone for themselves
• Campers must then carve away from their bodies and hands
• Campers must carve slowly – haste leads to accidents
• Campers must focus and pay attention while keeping their eyes on the knife and the wood
• Campers must sheath and secure their knife when not using it

After a decade of teaching children to carve with knives at Natureversity, we have discovered that Morakniv Brand is the best quality option for knives at the lowest cost. Look for a 3.6 in Stainless Steel Craftline Pro S with Combi-Sheath if you are purchasing a knife for camp online.

Weather Policy:

Our camps operate rain or shine. However, in rare cases of severe or dangerous weather conditions—such as tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, or similar threats—we may delay or cancel a day of camp for safety reasons. If the first day of camp is impacted by severe weather, we will notify families via phone & email. In the event of unexpected severe weather during camp hours, we may contact you to arrange an early pickup for your child. Camp activities will resume once conditions are safe. If you have further questions, you may contact us at the number below. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of all campers and staff.

(512) 461-9395 or info@natureversity.org

We look forward to seeing you this summer!