Eco
Explorer
Camp
June - August
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Ages 7-12
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Mornings
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Multiple Parks
What To Expect
What happens when you mix a naturalist, a magnifying glass, and a curious kid?
You get Rugged Research’s Eco Explorer Camp!
A week of muddy boots, bug hunts, stream science, and wide-eyed discovery.
Discover
New parks and hidden trails every day
Investigate
Wildlife, Plants & ecosystems
Create
Art, memories and nature journals
Connect
With friends and the living world around you
Camp Sessions
Nature Quest
Multiple Windsor Parks
July 20 - 24 (M - F)
Parent Info
Drop off/ Pick up each day
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Carpool Connections available*
Weather based location changes
Camps run 9 am - 12 pm
Nature Rangers runs 9 am - 1 pm
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Small groups led by trained naturalists and guides
Tuition: $280 - $325/ Session
At Rugged Research, curiosity guides our adventures. Each week follows the same spirit of exploration, while discoveries change every day. Choose the session/s that works best for your family.
Some camps run on a spaced M/W/F/M/W schedule due to location logistics and travel between sites. This format allows for flexibility while still offering a full five-day experience.
Camp Formats and Locations
Nature Quest
A roaming, multi-park camp that explores a variety of local natural areas. Kids experience different ecosystems throughout the week, from forests to wetlands to open spaces – learning how landscapes change and how life adapts from place to place.
Forest Explorers
Set at the historic MacGregor Ranch, a 2,000-acre working ranch bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This place-based camp invites kids to dive deep into Rocky Mountain ecology – exploring forests, meadows, beaver lodges, wildlife habitats, and the rhythms of one remarkable landscape all week long.
Nature Rangers
Hosted at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, this camp offers hands-on exploration in thoughtfully designed natural spaces right in the heart of the community. They’re rich in discovery, a little less rugged, and especially convenient for families looking for a centered, accessible camp experience.
More Than Just a Camp
It's the Joy of Discovery
At Rugged Research, we don’t just teach kids about nature, we help them fall in love with it.
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Through hands-on science, curiosity-driven exploration, and creative reflection, each day becomes a new adventure in awareness.
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Kids come home with muddy boots, full hearts, and wild stories about eagles, frogs, and the smell of the forest - but also something deeper:
a sense of belonging to the living world.
A Day at Camp
Where everyday is an adventure
No two mornings at Rugged Research are ever the same. One day we might follow animal tracks through the forest, another we’re dipping nets into the pond to see what tiny creatures call it home.
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Each park and trail becomes a living classroom - a place to explore ecosystems up close and discover how plants, animals, water, and weather all work together.
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Campers learn by doing: flipping over logs to see who’s living underneath, searching the treetops for an eagle’s nest, and uncovering the hidden connections that make the natural world come alive. Every day is full of fresh air, new discoveries, and that feeling of wow that comes from truly connecting with nature.
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Each week brings new adventures like:
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Trail of Tracks Become a wildlife detective and follow the clues animals leave behind.
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The Secret Life of Trees From roots to canopy, discover how forests breathe and communicate.
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Bugtopia! Meet the six-legged heroes that keep our ecosystems buzzing.
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Pond Patrol Grab your nets and dive into the hidden world beneath the water’s surface.
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Sky Watchers Study nests, feathers, and flight while keeping an eye out for eagles overhead.
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Mini Safari Embark on a mini adventure to spot, track, and learn about local wildlife.
How Nature Quest Works
Nature Quest Camp adventures take place across a variety of parks and open spaces in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, with each day offering a different landscape to explore. From rivers and lakes to foothills, forests, and mountain valleys, campers experience the incredible diversity of ecosystems Larimer County has to offer. Locations may shift day to day based on weather and trail conditions, and a detailed itinerary with exact meeting spots will be shared with registered families about two weeks before camp begins.
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Daily drop-off and pick-up happen at the main parking lot or trailhead of the open space we’re exploring that day, with Google Maps links provided for each location. While campers are off adventuring, parents are free to enjoy a little time for themselves - take a mindful hike, grab coffee in a nearby town, read a book by the river, or simply enjoy a quiet morning knowing your child is having a great day outdoors.