This article was written by Lower Loup NRD Information & Education Coordinator Alan Bartels as part of the Loup Lines Column.

Loup Lines
Volume 47, No. 2
February 2026

I know there is plenty of winter left, but it is never too early to begin thinking about summer camps. Plus, with the cold weather we’ve been having, can you blame me for thinking about warmer days?

Adventure Camp about the Environment – known the world over as ACE Camp –has become a popular summer tradition since being founded in 2010 by the Lower Loup NRD and the Upper Loup NRD. ACE Camp was hosted at the State 4-H Camp near Halsey for many years.

These days the Lower Loup NRD hosts Ace Camp near Burwell at Kamp Kaleo. Just like always, experts from several other NRDs travel to ACE Camp to educate campers on a variety of natural resources topics. The core subjects include water quality, soils, forestry, and range.

Heck, one duo of colleagues from the Papio NRD in southeast Nebraska even shows up to teach the wildlife session with a van full of turtles, lizards, toads, frogs, lizards, and a few harmless native snakes along for the ride. The campers always love the animals, (I do, too).

Other ACE Camp sessions in 2026 will include an edible plant walk hosted by famous Nebraskan plant expert Bob Hendrickson, archery – which will be hosted by colleagues from the Lower Platte South and Papio-Missouri NRDs, and hydrology – which will be hosted by professionals from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. Camp will wrap up with the popular Water Rockets session hosted by a colleague from the Lower Niobrara NRD. And of course there will be traditional summer camp experiences like campfire fun and fishing. Many activities change from year to year. So, if your child attended last year, many of the activities will be new for them in 2026.

ACE Camp is open to students who are about to enter seventh or eighth grades. The four-day, three-night camp will take place June 21-24.

Register at kampkaleo.com by clicking the “Our Programs” tab and then scrolling to and clicking on “Register.” New website visitors will need to create an account.

Registration is limited to 30 campers, and some Natural Resources Districts offer ACE Camp scholarships. Questions about ACE Camp should be directed to the Lower Loup NRD at (308) 728-3221.

Don’t wait too long. ACE Camp will fill up fast, and the warm days of summer will be here before we know it.