About the Summer Camp:
The Water and Wildlife Summer Camp is provided as an educational experience to middle school students, grades 7th- rising 9th graders, that is aimed specifically at creating lifelong stewards of the lake and its watershed by engaging them in scientific research and enhancing their science education about lake watershed biology, chemistry, and ecology.
This will be the fourth year the camp is offered, after a successful pilot year in 2022, two weeks of half-day camps in 2023, and finally a one week full day program in 2024. The camp continues to receive wonderful reviews from both camp attendees and parents:
“I loved all of it.”
“The camp was perfect and nothing should be changed.”
“Thank you thank you it was an amazing experience.”
“Don’t change anything.”
“I loved everything we did this year.”
SUPPORTED BY:
In 2024, another year of funding for the Water and Wildlife Summer Camp was provided by the Guido & Ellen Palma Foundation! A huge THANK YOU goes out to this amazing foundation for its continued support of this program. We are hoping for additional funding for the summer of 2025 to continue to make the camp affordable for all and to offer scholarships for those in need.
Exploring Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Vertebrates
August 11th -15th, 2025: 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM (8 AM- 4 PM for before & aftercare)
Part of the camp activities with consist of analyzing the aquatic macroinvertebrates (AMI) of the Canandaigua Lake watershed. Campers will learn about the food webs in the Canandaigua area and how invasives are upsetting the balance. Collect and analyze the insect larvae and other invertebrates in the stream beds. The lessons will be led by watershed educators and local college professionals, and activities will be intermixed with games and hiking that simulate the instructional lessons. The study of AMI will culminate in a bus ride around the lake to collect these specimens along with water samples for analysis.
For the last 3 years, FitzGerald Brothers Bus Company out of Geneva has sponsored the bus trip around the lake by giving us an extremely generous discount! Thank you so much for your continued support of the camp. We are so grateful!
The second part of the camp curriculum will consist of activities analyzing the vertebrates in the Canandaigua Lake watershed. Local college professionals will lead campers through the exploration of the fish and amphibians that are commonly found in the area. Campers will learn how to complete population estimates via mark and recapture as well as learn about fish shocking, fishing techniques and fly tying. The field trip for this aspect of camp, youth will have the opportunity to go on a boat and/or kayaking trip and will perform water quality tests while enjoying the beauty of the Lake! 
This year’s boat trip will again be generously donated by Canandaigua’s Freedom Boat Club of Seager Marine. We are so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you so much to the owner’s of Freedom Boat Club and to all the amazing staff who took the campers on the boat trip!
Cost:
$300 with no before or aftercare (9 AM- 3 PM)
$350 with before and aftercare (8 AM- 4 PM)
*There are some scholarships available for campers that are eligible*
CLWA Camp Registration Contact:
Lindsey Ayers
Education Program Coordinator
layers@canandaigualakeassoc.org
585-394-5030
*Our mission is to inspire the entire watershed community to become stewards of Canandaigua Lake through education, scientific research, and advocating sound public policy. By engaging all stakeholders, we strive to preserve, protect and restore the lake and its watershed for current and future generations.*