Partner Camps and Events | Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center | SIU

Touch of Nature is proud to partner with outstanding organizations in the community to provide partner camps for area youth. Partnering with these organizations allows us to offer a wider variety of camps to reach more campers. Read more about our partner camps below.

Camp BETA

Camp BETA is a free overnight camp for youth ages 10-16 with Type 1 diabetes that takes place annually in September. Camp BETA is a collaboration between Southern Illinois Healthcare, the Diabetes Today Resource Team, and Touch of Nature. Registration for Camp BETA 2023, happening September 23-24, is open now. Learn more or register for Camp BETA here.

Team Illinois Youth Police Camp

The Team Illinois Youth Police Camp at Touch of Nature is a week-long residency camp structured to promote educational and learning opportunities for youth ages 13-17 from diverse communities and backgrounds. Areas of focus include law enforcement, military, leadership, cultural diversity, personal development, physical fitness, and social and interpersonal skills. Learn more about this camp here.

Rooted in Play: The Power of Place

Printed by the SIU School of Education

This is an experiential conference focusing on a place-based approach inspired by educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy. This conference will provide information and hands on learning opportunities to support participants, whether you are a novice, an experimenter or an expert in your journey.

June 1-3, 2023 at Touch of Nature

The conference begins on Thursday, June 1^st at the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Participants may check-in and settle into their cabins between 1:00 and 4:00 on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Participants who register for all three days may enjoy any and all of the activities noted in the program. One-day registrants will join us Saturday morning, June 3, 2023, for the day’s activities.

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Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat

Presented by Poss Music Works

Join us Thursday, February 29 through Sunday, March 3, 2024 for The Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center! This weekend long retreat brought to you by Poss Music Works will feature musical workshops, networking opportunities, concerts, and the opportunity to create and record content in a recording studio.

Weekend passes as well as listener day passes will be available. More details are coming soon. Join the Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat group on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest information!

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