When summer arrives in 2026, our conservation camps will welcome students to two distinct areas of the state. High schoolers will return to the familiar trails and programs at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Vilas County, while middle school students will embark on something new—a partnership with Camp Lakotah in Waushara County that promises to reshape the experience for our younger campers. 

   For years, middle school students spent their summer camp days learning about natural resources at Upham Woods. But next year, from June 28-July 1, they’ll be making their way to a different stretch of Wisconsin pines, where the shores of Little Hills Lake meets the towering forests near Wautoma. 

   “We are grateful to Upham Woods for having been a wonderful host for our camp, but this strategic move will help sustain our camp with less reliance on volunteers which allows us to focus more on conservation programming for camp and expanding the number of students who can attend our middle school camp, “ said Kim Warkentin, our Youth Education Director.

   Our focus continues to be on growing camp and ensuring that Wisconsin youth have access to positive educational outdoor experiences. At Camp Lakotah, professionally trained camp counselors will handle much of the day-to-day supervision that previously fell to our volunteers. “This means our county staff—the backbone of the program’s educational content—can dedicate their energy to what they do best: developing hands-on learning experiences that connect young people with careers in natural resources and conservation,” explained Warkentin. 

   Camp Lakotah itself brings more than four decades of professional camp management to the partnership. The ACA-accredited facility sits nestled among majestic pines, offering campers a chance to participate in a range of activities from archery and kayaking to nature studies and outdoor skills. It’s the kind of place where every camper knows the others, and where international counselors bring unique perspectives to traditional camp activities.

   Our camps draw on the mission to foster an appreciation for nature, while introducing youth to a variety of careers in natural resources and conservation. Campers make new friends, participate in hands-on activities, enjoy the outdoors, all while learning from professionals who present educational programs.

   Meanwhile, the High School Camp will return from June 15-18 to the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, where it has built a strong track record with our older students. The center, situated along Statehouse Lake in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, offers a different kind of learning landscape—diverse, undeveloped terrain that includes lake, river, mixed forest, and bog environments. Here, high schoolers can dig deeper into conservation science, benefiting from the center’s citizen science initiatives and partnerships with environmental organizations. 

   New promotional materials will be available soon for both camps including information on available scholarships for campers. If your county is able to provide scholarships to support future conservationists, please contact kim@wisconsinlandwater.org.