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 they 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 their age at the time of the start of the camp session. 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. (See weekly session dates along right-side column of this web page).  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. Click here to learn more about each session's theme. Below is a summary of each camp's activities that they will do each week in addition to the week's theme activities.  

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 lead 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 and 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-One 2-week session, weeks 1 & 2) 
CITs embark a journey of self-discovery and friendship as they learn skills in leadership and mentoring while being mentored themselves. During week one, 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 two 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 & Options

Registration and Tuition Like last year, our registration is completely online and full payment is required at the time of registration. This year the cost of camp is $195 per session and the shuttle cost is $75. CIT camp tuition is $280 for a 2-week session. Payments can be made in the form of Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Customers registering for four or more weeks of camp have the option to pay in two installments but must register by phone.

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 am and After Care runs 4-6 pm. Please pick your child up no later than 6 pm. You will be charged for late pickups. 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.

Photos This year we are using eCamp secure website for our camp photos. At the eCamp website parents can view and purchase photos of their child engaged in camp activities. Parents will receive an eCamp flyer by email at the end of their child's camp session week. The flyer will give instructions on how to access the site. This information will only be available to camp parents to limit access to the public. Please check the site on Friday evening to view the photos for that week's session. There is a 24-hour period for you to view the photos for free. After that you must purchase a $10 photo package. Parents may opt-out if they do not wish to have photos taken of their child by emailing the Camp Director Lynette Holtz at lynette.holtz@lcra.org. (Put "OPT OUT of camp photos" in the subject line and include your name, your campers name, and the session(s) attending).

Camp Registration Policy

Camp registration will begin on Sat., Jan. 28 at 8 am. On this day, a registration link will be active in the upper right-hand column of this web page. (No link will be visible until this date). To register for camp, click on the registration link above and follow the instructions. Be prepared to pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) to complete your registration.

Camp Installment Plan (4 or more camps only) - For those registering for four or more sessions, you can choose to place a 50% deposit with the balance due by May 15, 2012. Final payment must be made by May 15, or your registration will be canceled and your deposit forfeit. 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, 2012. Cancellations made on or before May 15, 2012 will have a $35 processing fee (per camp session registered) deducted from the refund. Cancellation notifications should be made by sending an e-mail to outdoorprograms@lcra.org. Please include camper's name and session(s) you wish to cancel. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you when your refund is processed.

Session Transfers - Once registration is complete, 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 e-mail to outdoorprograms@lcra.org. Please include camper's name and session(s) you wish to transfer to. We will do our best to accommodate transfers if space is available. A confirmation e-mail 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.