Enrollment is offered to those children who have completed kindergarten and up through those who have completed 6th grade.  The fee for the program covers the one week enrollment and  includes all instruction, equipment, insurance, and activities.  The Outdoor Education Laboratory is a 501(c)3 corporation that depends entirely on tuition.  Since the program is non-profit and self-supporting, fees are set to cover expenses.  If the session that you select is already full, you will be notified and given the opportunity to enroll in another session, or you will receive a full refund.  Students who find it necessary to cancel their enrollment must notify the office two weeks before that session to receive a full refund.  Due to the popularity of our program, we cannot accept telephone reservations.  OEL reserves the right to cancel any session that does not have more than twenty students.  If this occurs, we will work to find another session for you or send you a full refund.  We will accept a down payment of a certain portion of the total amount for each week enrolled, to reserve a place in the session you desire.  The balance will be due two weeks before that session.  Upon receiving your payment, we will send you confirmation. 

Locations

Red Cedar Forest - Located one mile west of 183rd and Metcalf, Red Cedar Forest is one of the most scenic natural areas of Johnson County. The sheltered valley includes mature woodlands surrounding a clear rock stream. The Outdoor Education Laboratory has operated summer programs at this site since 1989.		Sycamore Springs - Located at 183rd and State Line Road, this former Boy Scout Camp is the site of the original Outdoor Education Laboratory Program. The pond, stream, woodlands, and native prairie provide an ideal location for our programs.
Bus Stop Information		Bus Stop Information
Shawnee Mission South High School 107th and Lamar Overland Park, KS 66207 Departs 8:20am - Returns 4:15pm   Regency Place Elementary 13252 Greenwood Olathe, KS 66062 Departs 8:40am - Returns 3:55pm   Blue Valley Baptist Church 8925 W 151st Street Overland Park, KS 66221 Departs 8:55am - Returns 3:40pm   No Bus - Camp Drop off 9:05am - Pick up 3:30pm		Shawnee Mission East Highschool 7500 Mission RD Prairie Village, KS 66208 Departs 8:15am - Returns 4:15pm   First Church of the Nazarene 11811 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64114 Departs 8:35am - Returns 4:00pm   Christ Community Church 14200 Kenneth Rd Leawood, KS 66224 Departs 8:55am - Returns 3:40pm   No Bus - Camp Drop off 9:05am - Pick up 3:30pm

 

Activities More Information Activity Set A   Activity Set B   Activity Set C   Activity Set D Animal Holding   Animal Holding   Animal Holding   Animal Holding Fishing   Fishing   Fishing   Fishing Seining   Seining   Seining   Seining Aquatics (RC)   Aquatics (RC)   Aquatics (RC)   Aquatics (RC) Camouflage   Animal Babies   Amphibians & Reptiles   Bird Identification Fungi   Skeleton   Animal Locomotion   Butterflies & Insects Dinosaurs   General Plants   Backpacking   Creek Ecology GPS   Cycles   Biodiversity   Dangerous Organisms Invertebrates   Insect Cages   Environmental Impact   Flower Identification Tree Books   Map and Compass   Weather   Tree Game Microscopic Life   Paint in Nature   Spiders & Webs   Food Webs Bird Feeders   Predator/Food Chain   Photography in Nature   Survival Ships Ahoy   Reptile Search   Tracks   Tie-Dye Yard Games   Fossils   Scavenger Hunt   Collages in Nature

Sessions (tentative)

Summer 2026 Red Cedar Forest Sycamore Springs Week 1 May 26, 2026 - May 29, 2026 Only 4 days Sycamore Springs Only Cost: $175.00 Best of A, B, C, and D Week 2 June 1, 2026 - June 5, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set A Cost: $210.00 Activity Set A Week 3 June 8, 2026 - June 12, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set B Cost: $210.00 Activity Set B Week 4 June 15, 2026 - June 19, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set C Cost: $210.00 Activity Set C Week 5 June 22, 2026 - June 26, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set D Cost: $210.00 Activity Set D Week 6 June 29, 2026 - July 2, 2026 No camp July 3rd Cost: $175.00 Best of A, B, C, and D Cost: $175.00 Best of A, B, C, and D Week 7 July 6, 2026 - July 10, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set A Cost: $210.00 Activity Set A Week 8 July 13, 2026 - July 17, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set B Cost: $210.00 Activity Set B Week 9 July 20, 2026 - July 24, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set C Cost: $210.00 Activity Set C Week 10 July 27, 2026 - July 31, 2026 Cost: $210.00 Activity Set D Cost: $210.00 Activity Set D Down Payment Option: $50.00/Session - Remaining balance will be two weeks prior to the first day of the session.  Enrollments are non-transferable. If a week is listed as Non-Bus Only, this means the bus is already full.  You may enroll, but you must provide your own transportation.

 

Enrollment occurs only between March 2 (starting at 7:00pm for Red Cedar and at 8:00pm for Sycamore Springs) and August 15.

 

Mailing List

* = required

Enrollment for Summer 2026 will begin March 2, 2026. We do NOT take enrollment over the phone. Enrollment during the initial hour may be slow due to traffic. If you would like to receive notification when the enrollment for the Summer 2026 season begins, fill in the required fields below to be included on our mailing list.  (Anyone enrolled or waitlisted for the Summer 2025 season will automatically be included.  E-mail will be sent from Enrollment@OutdoorEducationLaboratory.com.  Add this address to your safe life to ensure proper delivery.) *First Name: *Last Name: *E-mail: