Nature’s Navigators STEM Camp aims to broaden science opportunities for autistic youth by providing a summer camp that supports inquisitiveness in a non-threatening, nontraditional, and inclusive learning environment. We provide nature-based, hands-on learning opportunities and encourage pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees and careers.
Open to autistic youth in grades 6–12 during the 2025-2026 school year, Nature’s Navigators embraces neurodivergence and the associated unique thinking and learning of autistic youth through flexible teaching strategies.
Attendees will participate in hands-on outdoor and indoor activities, such as barging to and exploring Blackhawk Island, geocaching for treasure, Lego robotics, collecting and investigating macroinvertebrates, and hiking through beautiful landscapes. The camp will be held at Upham Woods, along the famous Dells (Dalles) of the Wisconsin River, two miles northwest of Wisconsin Dells. Upham Woods consists of 320 acres of land on the banks of the Wisconsin River, including a 210-acre island called Blackhawk Island, which offers an excellent “river classroom” to study Wisconsin’s natural and cultural history.
Nature’s Navigators is funded in part by a Wisconsin Idea Collaboration Grant and a gift from the Read Coakley Family Foundation. The camp is free to all attendees. All youth campers must be accompanied by an adult during the duration of the camp sessions.
Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. on September 27, October 4, and October 11, 2025
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center
N194 County Road N
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
The registration deadline has passed.
View recaps from previous years:
Courtesy of Extension NRI
Camp Details
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When is the camp?
Nature’s Navigators STEM camp will take place Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. on September 27, October 4, and October 11, 2025.
What support is available for my child during camp?
We want your child to find success at Nature’s Navigators this summer, so we offer multiple support levels at camp. Our staff is trained to work with campers who use assistive communication devices, how to de-escalate during moments of stress, and considerations around sensory needs. However, staff are not trained to be personal care assistants (PCAs). We are also not a certified respite service. As a result, we cannot provide one-on-one support to campers or assist with bathroom needs.
We value your insight as a parent or guardian and ask you to consider the needs of your camper. We are happy to accommodate access to a caregiver or PCA during the camp by having the caregiver/PCA attend for free.
- If your camper would be most successful with 1 on 1 support throughout the camp, a caregiver or PCA will need to come with your camper to provide the necessary support.
- If your child is generally successful in small groups of 4 campers, our staff are trained to provide the support they need. However, you can still bring a caregiver/PCA if you and the camper feel more comfortable with the level of support.
How much does the camp cost?
The camp is free to all attendees.
When is the registration deadline?
The registration deadline was September 18, 2025.
For questions about registration, contact Molly Silva, Upham Woods administrative assistant director, at molly.bodde@wisc.edu.
Contact
Molly Silva
Administrative Assistant Director
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension
(608) 254-6461
molly.bodde@wisc.edu