Fee: General admission for groups of 20 or more is $2 per person (both children and adults).
Lunch: There is a cafeteria area for groups to have lunch. Space is not reserved; we recommend that chaperones eat with their group of six as space allows. We have a limited number of carts to secure your bag lunches - no refrigeration or microwaves are available.
Supervision: The building is best experienced in small groups. We require one adult chaperone to accompany every six children throughout the OAC. Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Active and engaged supervision is required.
The following programs are offered June through August only, and will take place outdoors along the Dequindre Cut alongside the Outdoor Adventure Center and/or at Milliken State Park across the street. Day camps can add these programs on to a field trip visit at the OAC or choose them as a stand-alone program if groups are restricted to outdoor field trip experiences.
Each program includes hands-on exploration and/or activities related to nearby resources and recreation opportunities. Minimum student enrollment for each program is eight students.
FEE: $4 per person includes an outdoor program plus a visit inside the OAC, or $2 per student as a stand-alone program.
If your day camp is unable to visit us in person, learn more about our summer day camp virtual program offerings.
All animals need food, water, shelter and space to survive in their habitat. We'll meet some local Michigan wildlife species and discover how they get their needs met and what makes them special, then do a fun activity focusing on what it's like to be a raccoon looking for food.
Maximum 30 students
Age: 3-6
45 minutes
A walk in nature can reveal a variety of colors, shapes, sounds and textures! We'll explore the surrounding area and the riverfront with a nature "I spy" activity.
Maximum 30 students
Age: 3-6
45 minutes
A great program for those looking to learn more about some of the fish found in Michigan and who want to test their casting skills. In this program, participants will be introduced to the parts of a fish and how to identify fish. Participants will also get to try a fun casting activity that will put their aiming and release skills to the test. Note that this program does not include actual fishing.
Maximum 30 students
Age: 6 and up
1 hour
Nets, bugs, investigations and discovery! After an introduction to insects and their important roles in our ecosystems, participants will search high and low for the different types of insects found in our local habitat. We will take an up-close look at their characteristics and what makes them an insect (or not!).
Maximum 30 students
Age: 6 and up
1.5 hours
Meet some Michigan mammals! We'll spend some hands-on time getting up close and personal with some of Michigan's wildlife and learn what makes them specialized as a predator or a prey species. Then we'll play an active game that illustrates the importance of predator-prey relationships to wildlife populations.
Maximum 30
Age: 6 and up
1 hour
The Detroit River and riverfront area are home to a variety of nesting and migratory bird species - come find out for yourselves! We'll spend some time learning the basics of bird ID and how to use binoculars. Then we'll take a walk through the area to identify some local species in different habitats. We'll even submit our observations to the citizen science project eBird!
Maximum 20 students
Age: 8 and up
1 hour
Come discover the wonder of camping in Michigan’s great outdoors with a fun, hands-on learning-experience. Participants will learn about some of the essential gear for an outdoor campout/hike and discover how to choose a good campsite, pitch and breakdown a tent, survive the elements, and make the most out of a camping trip. These lessons give students the opportunity to partake in fun and educational games, allowing the children to practice creative thinking, problem solving and survival skills.
Maximum: 30 students
Age: 8 and up
1 hour
Discover the rich fish biodiversity on the Detroit river with a fun and educational Outdoor Adventure Center fishing experience! Participants will learn how to identify fish with a fun game, learn how to cast a fishing rod in a safe environment and try their hand in a fishing derby at the Milliken State Park harbor. Participants will also learn how to identify various species of fish and find out how they, as anglers, can help in the fight against aquatic invasive species. Fishing equipment is provided, but an additional fee is charged.
Maximum 25 students
Age: 8-17
1 hour
FEE: additional $2 per student
Visit our neighborhood wetland at the Detroit Riverfront and see if you can find the creatures that reside there. Participants will conduct some simple water quality tests and dive into why wetlands are important to wildlife and to people. Be prepared to get your hands wet!
Maximum 30 students
Age: 8 and up
1.5 hours