Welcome to the outdoor education center!
The Outdoor Education Center (OEC) is a division of the Battle Creek Public School System. We are located on Clear Lake in Dowling, Michigan. The OEC offers a serene rural environment less than an hour's drive from Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
As the oldest school camp in the nation, we have been offering programs to supplement school curriculum for over 60 years. We currently offer camp programs to 18 schools including five grades of the Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS). We host weddings, family retreats, and workshops.
With 175-acres of forests, fields, and lakeshore, the OEC is the perfect setting for groups to connect with nature. Come camp with us! It’s a “clear” choice.
Farm Animal Program
Every spring the barn is filled with baby farm animals. Students have the opportunity to touch, smell, hear and feed a variety of domestic farm animals. Students learn how animals are important to us as a source a food and other useful products.
Pioneer Cabin Program
The reconstructed 1800’s pioneer cabin is equipped with tools and furnishings of the period with an outdoor cooking fire, chicken coop, small garden, smoke house and even a replica outhouse. Students can experience the life of a pioneer.
School Camp Program
The School Camp Program is the residential camp program offered to fifth and sixth graders. Schools can choose themes from any of our program areas. Schools can camp from one to four nights.
Adventure Camp Program
Adventure camp is a school camp program with the emphasis on individual challenge and teambuilding. We have a high ropes course, tower climb, low ropes course, teams’ course and a variety of group building activities that facilitate these goals.
Did you know?
Clear Lake Camp in 1940 became the first public school camp in the nation.
Enjoy the Holiday Season!
Get outdoors!
Highlights from our 2012 - 2013 Fiscal Year:
- -Over 1,900 students from 33 schools participated in our residential school program. These students spent a total of over 8,200 days at camp.
- -Over 850 students from nine different schools participated in day programs. 300 3rd graders from ten classes participated in our Pioneer Cabin program. 250 students from nine classes participated in our Farm Animal program.
- -Over 1,000 students from 12 schools took part in our new robotics program.
- -22 rental groups brought 1,500 people to these facilities.
- -The OEC participated in three festivals making contact with over 600 individuals.
Why choose The Outdoor Education Center?
- -College Degreed Staff Hired with School Safety Clearence
- -Hands-On Learning supporting MI GLCEs
- -Modern Boys & Girls Dorms that Sleep 70 Students each
- -175 Acres of Diverse Habitats and Trails
- -184 Acre Lake with a Boat Launch & Canoes
- -24 Hour Health Care and medication adminstration by Trained Health Officers
- -Family Style Dining with Kid-Friendly Menus
- -Social Skills Development Promoting Problem Solving
- -Separate Teacher Accommodations
- -3 Cook-Out Sites, Pioneer Cabin, & Nature Center, bird cabin
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