Just east of Austin nestled along the Colorado River and the Lost Pines, is your child’s summer home away from home. With 1,100 acres of pine forests, box canyons and post oak meadows to explore, McKinney Roughs Nature Park is the natural place for your child to discover the wonders of the outdoors in a safe, fun and educational day-camp setting.

Campers investigate ponds, meadows, forests and the Colorado River using tools like binoculars, insect nets, dip nets and more. Register your child for the whole summer, and he or she will experience something new each week.

Camps and Sessions

McKinney Roughs Nature Camp offers three camps based on age. You will choose your child's camp based on his or her age at the time the camp session starts. Each camp's activities are graduated so that the campers look forward to more adventurous activities each year that they return and move into a higher age camp. We also offer eight weekly sessions throughout the summer. Sessions for 2013 will run from the week of June 17 through the week of August 12. No camp session will be offered the week of July 1. Each session's activities will revolve around a different natural science theme. In this way, campers can delve more deeply into natural science topics that are most interesting to them. Read a description of the camp's weekly themes. Below is a summary of each camp's activities that campers will participate in each week.  

Camp Tonkawa: Ages 6 - 7   $195/week
Campers explore the amazing, diverse environment of McKinney Roughs in a safe and stimulating setting. Our well-trained staff leads children through hands-on learning, live animal presentations, nature hikes, crafts, games and nature studies.

Camp Comanche: Ages 8 - 9   $195/week
Campers discover the world around them as they combine outdoor exploration, science and nature activities. Under the watchful eye of camp staff, kids learn wilderness skills, raft the Colorado River, climb a 40-foot rock wall to a zip line and swim at nearby Bastrop State Park.

Camp Caddo: Ages 10 - 12   $195/week
Campers connect with the natural world on adventurous studies of geology, hydrology, botany and more. Campers raft the Colorado, swim at Bastrop State Park and experience team-building and personal challenges on our high ropes challenge course led by our ropes-certified staff.

Camp CIT (conservationists-in-training): Ages 13 - 15   $280/2-week session (Limited space; a two-week session during weeks 1 and 2) 
CITs embark on a journey of self-discovery and friendship as they learn skills in leadership and mentoring while being mentored themselves. During week 1, CITs will develop their naturalist skills; meet in small groups to plan and implement a service project; assist counselors with activities for younger campers; work on low challenge course team-building and swim at Bastrop State Park. Week 2 of camp, CITs will delve into careers in natural science and recreation, complete their service project, assist counselors while leading an activity for younger campers; experience the thrill of the high elements on the challenge course and top off their week with a kayak trip on the Colorado River.

Camp Information and Options

Before and After Care is available on-site only during sessions three and six for $30 for before or after care and $60 for both. Before care runs 7 -9 a.m. and after care runs 4 - 6 p.m. Please pick up your child no later than 6 p.m. You will be charged for late pick ups. If you are registering a camper for one of these sessions, you can choose this as a financial option during online registration. Remember, you do not want  to sign up for before or after care if you are choosing the shuttle service as a financial option. The shuttle is available in the morning and afternoon for each session of camp.

Camp Registration and Cancellation Policy

Registration and Tuition  Registration is completely online and full payment is required at the time of registration. The cost of camp is $195 per session and the shuttle cost is $75. CIT camp tuition is $280 for a two-week session. Payments can be made in the form of Visa, MasterCard or Discover. To register for camp, click on the registration link in the upper right corner of this web page and follow the instructions. Customers registering for four or more weeks of camp have the option to pay in two installments but must register by phone.

Camp Installment Plan (four or more camps only) - For those registering for four or more sessions, you can choose to place a 50 percent deposit with the balance due by May 15, 2013. Final payment must be made by May 15, or your registration will be canceled and your deposit forfeited. Registration must be made by phone for this option. Do not register online if you are planning to use this option. The system will only allow you to pay in full.

Camp Cancellation Policy - No refunds will be given for cancellations made after May 15. Cancellations made on or before May 15, will have a $35 processing fee deducted from the refund. Cancellation notifications should be made by sending an email to outdoorprograms@lcra.org. Please include camper's name and session(s) you wish to cancel. A confirmation email will be sent to you when your refund is processed.

Session Transfers - Once registration is completed, a $10 transfer fee will be assessed to transfer a camper from one session to another session. Transfer notifications should be made by sending an email to outdoorprograms@lcra.org. Please include camper's name and session(s) into which you want to transfer. We will do our best to accommodate transfers if space is available. A confirmation email will be sent to notify you of the status of your transfer request.

For more information, or help with registration call (512) 303-5073 or email outdoorprograms@lcra.org.