Volcano Venture

Like many organizations and businesses, we've had to adapt quickly and make tough decisions. After extensive deliberations, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to cancel many of our 2020 and 2021 summer programs. You can read more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic here.

We are offering day programs for families called Private Family Adventures but not overnight summer camps for youth in the summer of 2021. For more information and to keep up to date with our programs, consider joining our mailing list.

Join us for science and art adventures at the place where the mountain KABOOMs, rocks zoom, and flowers bloom. Volcano Venture is a co-ed residential 2-night summer camp for youth ages 8-14.

 

“It’s such a great program. My daughter had an absolute blast. As a parent, I so appreciate that you offer such a learning-based, fun, affordable get-away.”

-Camper parent

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LOCATIONS

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Volcano Venture Information

WHO

Co-ed camp with sessions for youth ages 8-11 and ages 12-14

WHAT

We will hike, play, create art, and get nerdy about the geology and ecology of Mount St. Helens in the blast zone!

WHERE

Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center: 19000 Spirit Lake Highway, Milepost 43.3 State Route 504, Toutle, WA 98649

WHEN

Sessions run in mid-summer

HOW

Volcano Venture Summer Camp is cancelled for 2021. Registration information for Volcano Venture Camp in 2022 will be posted on this website in the spring of 2022.

A limited amount of need-based financial assistance for summer camps will be available.

Program Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information: Email learn@mshinstitute.org


Schedule & Activities

*Please note that our staff may change the schedule at any time. This is a general example.  2021's specific Volcano Venture schedules will be created at a later date.

DAY 1

  • 10:00: Check-in at Science and Learning Center
  • 10:30: Outdoor Activities
  • 12:00: Lunch
  • 12:30: Feet-on-bed time with quiet activities (nap, journaling, reading, etc.)
  • 1:30: Go to Johnston Ridge Observatory
  • 3:30: Activity at Coldwater Lake or Crafts
  • 5:30: Dinner
  • 6:00: Structured Free Time
  • 7:30: Large Group Game
  • 8:00: Evening Circle: Songs and Stories or Short dusk hike
  • 9:00: Final indoor activity and bedtime

DAY 2

  • 7:00: Wake up
  • 7:30: Breakfast
  • 8:00: Large Group Activity
  • 9:30: Hike
  • 12:00: Lunch
  • 12:30: Coldwater Lake Activity
  • 2:00: Feet-on-bed time with quiet activities (nap, journaling, reading, etc.)
  • 3:00: Choose Your Own Adventure (crafts, science activity, hike)
  • 4:00: Structured Free Time
  • 5:30: Dinner
  • 6:00: Group Game and Group Activities
  • 8:00: Evening Circle: Songs and Stories or Short dusk hike
  • 9:00: Final indoor activity and bedtime

DAY 3

  • 7:00: Wake up
  • 7:30: Breakfast
  • 8:00: Group activity
  • 9:00: Outdoor activity
  • 11:30: Lunch
  • 12:00: Feet-on-bed time with quiet activities (nap, journaling, reading, etc.)
  • 1:00: Choose Your Own Adventure (crafts, science activity, hike)
  • 2:30: Outdoor activity
  • 3:30: Pack up
  • 4:00: Final activities/closing ceremony
  • 5:00: Camper pickup at the Science & Learning Center

Locations

Science & Learning Center

  • The SLC is a re-purposed visitor center in the heart of the blast zone and just 10 miles from Johnston Ridge Observatory.
  • Site is wheel-chair accessible.
  • Learn more about the facilities at the SLC here
  • View location of SLC in Google Maps.

Hummocks Trail

  • Some Volcano Outdoor School programs include a guided hike on the Hummocks Trail.
  • The Hummocks are the landforms which formed during the 1980 eruption as the top of Mount St. Helens fell apart in a giant landslide the pieces of the old mountaintop slowed and stopped downvalley. The Hummocks Trail is a 2.7 mile loop trail which winds up and down through the hummocks, passing habitat which established after the 1980 eruption.
  • The Hummocks Trail parking lot is about a 10-minute drive from the Science & Learning Center.
  • View location of Hummocks Trail in Google Maps.

Coldwater Lake

  • Some Volcano Outdoor School programs include a visit to Coldwater Lake to eat lunch, conduct an aquatic study, or otherwise explore this incredible lake which formed as a result of the 1980 eruption.
  • Coldwater Lake sits in the valley adjacent to the Science & Learning Center. The Coldwater Lake vicinity includes a picnic area, restrooms, and the 0.6 mile interpretive “Birth of a Lake” boardwalk trail.
  • Coldwater Lake is about a 10-minute drive from the Science & Learning Center.
  • View location of the Coldwater Lake Picnic Area in Google Maps.

Lodging

  • Campers will sleep inside the Science & Learning Center in one of our two bunk rooms.
  • Our two bunkrooms (with a total of 26 total beds), as well as numerous large rooms, accommodate separate male and female sleeping arrangements.
  • There are centrally located bathrooms with hot water inside the SLC.
  • Showers are not available.

Apply for Financial Aid

A limited amount of need-based financial assistance for summer camps  will be available.  Information about how to apply for financial assistance for 2021 summer camp programs will be available in November.