UPDATE (June 10, 2026): We are now hiring staff to help us run OWL later this summer. Please see the available positions and the link to the application here – Job Postings
Register for the 2026 Outdoor Wonder Lab (Camp dates are August 9th – August 15th).
National Youth Science Academy and Science Adventure School have combined forces to create an exciting new opportunity for WV youth!
National Youth Science Academy has decades of programming under our belt specializing in introducing students from all over the globe to the exciting opportunities to learn here in WV. Science Adventure School specializes in outdoor adventure education and positive youth development having served almost 4000 youth since 2019. Together, we unite our high-impact programming with WV’s greatest natural places to form a seven-day adventure experience of a lifetime for rising 5th and 6th graders in WV.
What will we do at OWL?
Participants will meet our team at the National Youth Science Academy campus in Davis, WV. From there, our fun-filled week will include:
- Exploring iconic WV sites like Blackwater Falls State Park, Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, and more.
- Experimenting with outdoor activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, caving, mountain biking, and more. No experience needed!
- Experiencing the sometimes hidden science behind WV’s treasures including astronomy, geology, fossil hunting, and many other exciting topics.
Watch our video highlight reel and see some photos from all the fun we had during our inaugural program in 2025!
Sample Schedule
Below is an example schedule of what a week at OWL Camp might look like. Because we are an outdoor education and adventure program, this schedule of activities may change based on weather in the region and other factors. As such, this is just a high-level overview and subject to revision. Please also note that there are many more fun activities and educational opportunities buried in each moment of the day in addition to those listed below.
Sunday Afternoon – Arrive at NYSA campus in Davis, get to know each other, set up camp, play team building and ice-breaker games, and enjoy an opening fire.
Monday – Explore the area on an interpretive hike, learn mountain biking skills and the Science Behind the Sport of Biking, and play in the Blackwater River.
Tuesday – Work with a local artist and learn how to connect your fun outdoor experiences to sketching, watercolors, and other media, visit Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and learn about benthic macroinvertebrates and water health with WV Department of Environmental Protection.
Wednesday – Depart NYSAcademy campus for an expedition through some of WV most iconic places like Dolly Sods Wilderness and Seneca Rocks. We’ll be taking our time, learning about the uniqueness of these places, and exploring as we enjoy our road trip. We’ll end at Green Bank Observatory and set up camp there.
Thursday – Discover concepts in astronomy and physics from local college professors using our inflatable dome planetarium!
Friday – Flatwater paddling on Spruce Knob Lake and exploring what’s underneath our great state via caving in Pendleton County. We’ll return to Davis for a fun campfire celebration and our last night together!
Saturday – Participants return home and enjoy a cookout lunch with families and local food from Charm Farm in Beverly, WV! Participants share stories about their exciting adventures, so please plan to join us for lunch and a presentation of our week together.
FAQs:
Do I need to have experience in adventure activities?
No! You sure don’t. This program is built to help youth gain comfort and excitement for outdoor activities through thorough and patient instruction by our experts. We strictly adhere to “Challenge by Choice,” meaning that we’ll help you step out of your comfort zone with support and encouragement, but we’ll never ask anyone to do anything they truly don’t want to do!
What gear or equipment do I need to participate?
We ask that you bring along personal clothing and shoes, but that’s all you truly need! If you have your own gear (like headlamps sleeping bags, sleeping pads), you’re welcome to bring them along, but we have all those items in clean, new, and working condition, ready for your use! You’ll receive a complete packing list as part of your registration packet, but for now, anticipate a list that includes clothing for seven days (pants, shorts, t-shirts, socks), toiletries, towels, shoes, rain gear, hat, medications, a sheet, and a pillow.
Who are the people who are running this program?
For the duration of the program, you will be guided by some of WV’s most highly trained and experienced outdoor, STEAM, and adventure educators. Leaders include:
Ryan Haupt – A WV native from Charleston, Ryan is the Executive Director of the National Youth Science Academy. He earned his PhD in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Wyoming which included the study of ground sloths and the WV state fossil – Megalonyx jeffersonii (a 10 foot tall ground sloth that lived in WV during the last ice age!). Ryan brings a wealth of experience and passion for science education to the team, and is eager to provide WV youth with top-tier, STEAM-based opportunities.
Ali Jeney – From Clarksburg, WV, Ali is an environmental geoscientist, educator, and outdoorsperson. She is currently the Director of Science Adventure School, a cutting-edge outdoor orientation program designed for 6th grade students in WV. She specializes in using adventure sports and the outdoors to facilitate unique and appropriately challenging learning opportunities to help students recognize their own individual value, strengths, and pride.
Nathan Sams – The Associate Director of Programming and Development at NYSAcademy, Nathan brings to our team over 25 years of teaching experience in formal and informal settings in WV. With degrees in mathematics and chemistry, as well as a doctoral degree in STEM Education, Nathan is passionate about inspiring lifelong learning through leveraging students’ interests and natural sense of curiosity and wonder.
Guest Speakers, Lecturers, and Volunteers – In addition to the four full-time guides, students will enjoy activities with experts and enthusiasts in various STEAM fields throughout the week.
Use the form below to register your child for OWL Camp!
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