Those who dream of becoming the next Dora the Explorer need look no further than Jupiter Outdoor Center’s Summer Adventure Youth Camp whose instruction-focused programs have been cultivating critical life skills such as curiosity, collaboration, and emotional management since 1998.
Celebrating its twenty-fifth season, the camp’s fun and immersive adventures introduce campers to Mother Nature’s primordial magnificence. “Our camp is nothing short of an adventure within nature,” explains Jupiter Outdoor Center camp co-director, Dani Konrad. “Children are exposed to an incredible and diverse population of wildlife that resides within these freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.”
On Mondays and Wednesdays, kids will take part in an array of diverting land and sea activities at Riverbend Park such as canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, and archery. On Thursdays and Fridays, campers head to Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA) where snorkeling, paddleboarding, and additional endeavors like touring the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and its surrounding property await. Tuesdays will serve as flex days between the sites. Campers also receive goodie bags with t-shirts, towels, sunglasses, and other cool swag.
Camp activities include:
Archery
Kids who have imagined being Robin Hood or Legolas from The Lord of the Rings will learn the prehistoric art of shooting an arrow at the camp’s Riverbend Park outpost. This includes learning bow basics, proper form, and archery safety. Along with honing self-control, the sport offers added benefits such as developing mental acuity.
Biking and Hiking
With nearly 10 miles of interconnected trails, including a two-mile segment of the Ocean to Lake Trail, hiking through 665-acre Riverbend Park serves up a taste of Old Florida whose untamed landscape the state’s first settlers would have witnessed. As they pedal and traverse past open meadows, pine flatwoods, and oak hammocks, campers will get a glimpse of hundreds of native species of flora and fauna, including deer, bobcats, osprey, and great blue heron. At the 120-acre Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area—one of only three Outstanding Natural Areas in the country—trails lead to a scenic mangrove lagoon and the Indian River with postcard views of the Jupiter lighthouse.
Canoeing, Kayaking, and Paddleboarding
Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are peaceful yet exhilarating ways to access the freshwater habitats tucked around Riverbend Park. Gliding along the inner waterways or down the Loxahatchee River, which is one of only two National Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida, kids observe an abundance of wildlife ranging from gopher tortoises to alligators that like to sunbathe on the riverbanks. Another perfect setting for spotting marine life is the Jupiter Inlet, which serves as a haven for sea turtles, reef fish, and manatees.
Fishing and Dipnetting
Traditional fishing is an exciting pastime at any skill level. With South Florida’s abundance of aquatic life, children will have myriad opportunities to cast their reels. They also will learn the ancient art of dipnetting, or catching fish with nets, which can be performed at rest stops during hikes or bike rides around Riverbend Park.
Snorkeling
Summer is the perfect time for young ones to investigate Palm Beach’s underwater world with a mask. Depending on the day, campers will visit Cato’s Bridge, one of Florida’s oldest bridges, and float along the mangrove shorelines. As they swim in the calm, crystalline waters, newbie and intermediate snorkelers will delight in watching blue angels, butterfly fish, and spotted eagle rays drift by.
Tours of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Kids will have another opportunity to step back in time when they visit the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse in Tequesta. After summiting the lighthouse, which boasts breathtaking vistas of Palm Beach County’s cerulean coastline, they will embark on a guided stroll around the 120-acre property and explore the Tindall Pioneer Homestead, the Lighthouse Keeper’s Workshop, and other historic waterfront exhibits.
Jupiter Outdoor Center Summer Adventure Youth Camp locations include Riverbend Park, 9060 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter, FL 33477, and Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA), 600 County Hwy 707, Tequesta, FL 33469. 561-268-0725; jupiteroutdoorcenter.com/youth/summer-camp.
