Missouri Conservation Corps is once again partnering with Unity in the Community and Powerhouse Ministries to host a summer camp education series this summer. During the summers of 2024 and 2025, Missouri Conservation Corps was heavily involved in a local summer camp called Camp I Love Me. With the help of partners, educators and volunteers, our organization developed twelve environmental education segments that we delivered to a group of 35-40 summer campers on twelve mornings between early June and mid-August. Our campers ranged from kindergartners to third graders, and it was extremely rewarding to see them let down their guard and become excited about nature and the outdoors.
We will be working with the staff and the summer campers from Camp I Love Me each week during Summer 2026, and we need skilled volunteer help from the community. If you are interested in designing a lesson for one of our outdoor summer camp mornings, or if you would like to come and chaperone during one of our summer camp events, please contact MCC Project Director Stephen Bybee at [email protected]. Last summer our environmental education segments included lessons in water quality, the importance of trees, heat resilience, and insects. Our summer campers enjoyed exploring local parks and creeks while learning about the importance of clean water, native plants, and recycling. One of the highlights of the summer was a trip to Rock Bridge State Park to tour Connor’s Cave and to learn about karst topography and the creatures that live in Missouri’s caves.
This year’s summer camp will begin during the first week of June, and Missouri Conservation Corps will hold its first summer camp planning meeting in February 2026. If you are interested in developing or teaching a lesson for this year’s camp, or if you can join us as a chaperone or a summer camp volunteer, please contact Stephen Bybee at Missouri Conservation Corps.
