If it’s icky, sticky, slimy and fun — it’s Gross Out Camp!
Slimy salamanders, slugs, bugs, worms and roly polies are all found as children explore their world.
Gross Out Camp, a program of Fresh Air Family, delivers award-winning science through the icky and sticky elements of nature.
The camps get children outside into their native habitat where they participate in activities geared to make kids smarter and more resilient. Campers learn through a combination of creeks, woods, fields, a live animal show and nature-based science experiments. As the slogan says “It’s science, but please don’t tell the kids.”
“Our goal is to teach critical thinking. Science provides a structure for developing logic and good decision making,” said Verna Gates, founder and executive director of Fresh Air Family.
The camps run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an option of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Campers are entering first through fourth grade, with a counselor-in-training option for fifth through seventh grade students. Camps in the Birmingham-area include: Oak Mountain State Park, Trussville, Homewood, McCallum Park in Vestavia, the Village at Cook Springs and Camp Fletcher in Bessemer. Financial aid is available.
“We have never turned a child away because they couldn’t pay. We make a way,” said Gates.
Best of all — they guarantee tired, dirty children!
Founded in 2006, Fresh Air Family has served thousands of children in camps, weekend adventures and school field trips. To learn more, go to freshairfamily.org and grossoutcamp.org.
