Outdoor Experiential Learning Center

In 2008, Pretty Lake Vacation Camp partnered with one of Kalamazoo Public School’s elementary magnet schools, Edison Environmental Science Academy, to create the Outdoor Experiential Learning Center – affectionately referred to as our “farm.”

Thanks to a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, we repurposed the former “horse farm” to house this new venture. The center features 2.5 acres of gardens, small farm animals, and an outdoor and indoor classroom.

Available programs

Pretty Lake Vacation Camp offers a variety of programs at the Outdoor Experiential Learning Center. These programs include the Edison Summer Garden Club and a wide variety of field trips for students of all ages.

Students participating in the program learn about themselves, others and their world through land exploration, pond studies, gardening, team-building initiatives and animal husbandry. We promote the Michigan “No Child Left Inside” initiative by being an outdoor extension of the classroom.

Fulfilling “The Promise” together

This partnership follows the ideals of the “Kalamazoo Promise” – working together to give the children of Kalamazoo the opportunity for a rich and diverse learning experience. By pairing outdoor learning opportunities with state curriculum benchmarks, we support our local youth by fostering a greater understanding of nature and natural resources.

We are proud of our year-round commitment to providing youth with unique opportunities to learn in an engaging, experiential, outdoor setting. We plan to expand the Outdoor Experiential Learning Center and become a premier community resource for sustainable agriculture, alternative energies and youth-focused programs.