Earth Science Camp
Dundas Valley · Aug 17–21 2026 Ask a question Sign up

Field camp for ages 6–13

A week of earth science in the Dundas Valley

Kids explore the outdoors through the eyes of a geologist — hiking the trails, hunting fossils, and discovering the science beneath their feet.

📅 AUG 17–21, 2026 🕘 9 AM – 4 PM 💵 $375 / WEEK
A group of laughing, smiling campers and their leader at the water's edge in the Dundas Valley
rain or shine!

What they'll do

Five days of getting curious, muddy, and outside

Every camper gets their own compass, field notebook, and trail map — then puts them to use on real adventures across the valley.

Navigate

Read a map and use a compass to find their way through the forest.

Explore

Hike 2–7 km of forest trails and decode the markings along the way.

Hunt fossils

Search for fossils over 450 million years old — who finds the oldest?

Read the sky

Track weather systems and the water cycle like a real field scientist.

Make memories

Team survival challenges, a giant scavenger hunt, and a camp celebration.

The week, layer by layer

Dig down through deep time

Just like reading rock layers, the week goes deeper each day — from the forest floor today all the way back to the bedrock and 450 million years of Earth's history.

Day 01 · Monday ↓ Surface · present day Welcome to the Valley

Forest Navigation & Survival

  • Read a map and use a compass
  • Decode trail markings — and how not to get lost
  • Find your way like explorers and geologists do

Survival challenge → Your team is "lost" in the wild. Navigate your way back.

Day 02 · Tuesday ↓ ~12,000 years ago Ice Age Detectives

Strata, Glaciers & Deep Time

  • Travel back to the Ice Age — did glaciers really come through Dundas?
  • Discover why the Dundas Valley exists, and why rocks form layers
  • Learn the Law of Relative Position: which rocks are older?

Survival challenge → Build an Ice-Age shelter. How would you survive the cold?

Day 03 · Wednesday ↓ ~450 million years ago Ancient worlds
A spiral ammonite fossil

Fossils & Life Long Ago

  • The valley was once underwater — really!
  • Spot fossils over 450 million years old
  • Learn about weathering — why rocks break down over time

Survival challenge → Design an "ancient habitat" for a fossil creature.

Day 04 · Thursday ↓ Water & weather Water at work

How Water Shapes the Earth

  • See how moving water carves the landscape and carries sediment
  • Learn how valleys form and floods reshape the land
  • Track weather systems and the water cycle

Survival challenge → How would you survive a flood?

Day 05 · Friday ↓ Bedrock · the big test Think like a geologist

The Great Geologist Challenge

  • Put the whole week to the test
  • Discover where the materials in your backpack come from
  • A giant scavenger hunt across the valley

Finale → One last survival challenge, then a camp celebration. 🎉

Who's leading camp

Real geologists — and they love teaching kids

Your campers spend the week with two registered Professional Geologists who've explored the Earth from China to California to right here in Canada.

Stephanie Skitch in the mountains

Stephanie Skitch

P.Geo · MSc

A registered Professional Geologist with 15+ years exploring for gold around the world — from mines in China to the geology near Greek ruins to the mountains of Nevada. After having her three kids, she founded her own exploration company closer to home. Her favourite part of the job is seeing curiosity light up in kids' eyes.

Laurisha Bynoe doing fieldwork on a forested hillside

Laurisha Bynoe

P.Geo · MSc

A geologist with nearly 15 years studying rocks across Australia, South America, Africa, and Canada, and a leader in the mining industry active with the CIM Toronto Branch. As an aunt to a very curious five-year-old, she's great at turning big geology ideas into hands-on fun for kids.

The details

Everything you need to know

Cost
$375 / week

or $75 / day

Dates
Aug 17–21

2026 · Mon–Fri

Hours
9 AM – 4 PM

Drop-off & pick-up at Strata

Ages
6–13 years

All experience levels

What's included
Compass · notebook · map

Every camper keeps their own field kit.

What to bring
Lunch, 2 snacks, water

Plus a full change of clothes — you'll get muddy. Daily hikes run 2–7 km, rain or shine.

Claim your camper's spot

Spots are limited — fill out the quick sign-up form and we'll hold a place for your camper.

Aug 17–21, 2026 · Ages 6–13 · $375/week or $75/day