Few may feel comfortable being left alone for a night in the woods, but for sophomore Mary Burns that is exactly what she did one night this summer. Burns attended Antioch University’s two week summer eco-camp in the beginning of August.



“Mrs. Borgia told her classes about the opportunity,” Burns said. Science teacher Lisa Borgia receives mailings regarding many summer activities.

Due to her interest in becoming an environmental educator, Burns decided to try it. The camp, located at the Glen Helen Ecology Institute in Yellow Springs, Ohio, involved daily hikes, interacting with young children and animals as well as a lot of time spent in the woods.

At one point the campers were sent into the woods and had to practice survival skills; they were also equipped with GPS location devices, so that they could be located.

“I guess I’m not that good at survival skills. The other campers found each other, but I was just kind of on my own,” Burns said. During this survival skills session the campers spent the night alone in the woods.

“I just kind of slept on the ground, it was only one night,” Burns said. However this is not how the campers normally spent their nights.

“Normally we slept in a large room with a lot of bunk beds,” Burns said. Also, the campers had many other activities such as free time in Yellow Springs. The campers had the opportunity to choose, by writing an essay, what large activity they wanted to participate in. They could help birds in rehab, teach kids about environmental sciences or learn about green architecture.

“I got to work with birds of prey that were in rehab,” Burns said. For Burns, this was her favorite activity at the camp. However during her work, she was attacked by one of the birds.

“It was really scary,” Burns said. Despite the attack, Burns greatly enjoyed her summer experience.

Burns said that she would recommend the camp to anyone with an interest in ecology, enjoys kids, animals, and the woods.