Nightengale Archaeological Center

Four smiling children wearing life jackets sit together on a boat, enjoying a sunny day on the water. Trees and houses are visible in the background, and the kids appear happy and relaxed.

summer Camp in the hIll Country

Kingsland, TX

Just west of Austin, Nightengale Archaeological Center resides on Lake LBJ where your child can explore the water and learn about the park’s historical artifacts.

Day camps are $250 per week. Full payment is required at the time of registration. Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards are accepted. 

What you'll Get

Starting June 8, children ages 5-12 can attend up to five weeks of day camp.

Camps are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with each week’s camp activities revolving around a different outdoor theme.

1 Week

of outdoor fun and education

1 Camp T-Shirt

custom designed for Hill Country campers

Camp Sessions

Survivalist Secrets

June 8-12 (week 1)

Master essential skills for surviving in the wild! Campers will discover how to build roaring fires, construct sturdy survival shelters, weave cordage from natural materials and more.

  • Test your inner engineer. Build your own survival shelter out of natural resources.
  • Fire 101. Using flint and steel, learn to start and maintain a fire.
  • Herbivores and carnivores. Observe and recognize different animal pelts, prints and tracks.
  • Reel ‘em in. Travel to Lake LBJ to learn fishing techniques and casting methods.
  • Field trip! Travel to Enchanted Rock for a day of hiking and adventure.

Blast from the Past

June 15-19 (week 2)

Go back in time and experience a blast from the past. Campers will learn about the Texas Hill Country and the native people who lived there thousands of years ago. Explore how they hunted, built homes and interacted with their surroundings.

  • Throw like a pro. Use primitive hunting instruments, such as an atlatl, like the Native Americans who used to live in the area.
  • Bullseye! Shoot a bow and arrow and practice on targets.
  • Get digging. Unlock your inner archaeologist and sort through simulation dig boxes.
  • Time for arts and craft. Make cordage out of native grasses.
  • Field trip! Travel to Longhorn Caverns to view stalagmites, stalactites and discover the importance of underground rock formations.

Mad Science

June 22-26 (week 3)

Unleash your creativity through wild experiments, crazy contraptions and mind-bending science projects. Campers will dive into hands-on adventures, spark curiosity and invent bold new ideas.

  • Blast off! Build your own rocket and watch it soar.
  • Look out below. Try and win the competition by dropping an egg from high above and protecting it from breaking.
  • Are you a mad scientist? Conduct a variety of science experiments that will have them saying ‘woah!’
  • Lava lamp – yes, you read correctly. Create your own and take it home!
  • Field trip! Travel to Johnson City Science Mill where they’ll explore the endless ways science affects our daily lives.

Wonderful World of Wildlife

July 6-10 (week 4)

Calling all animal lovers! Campers will learn about two classes of animals that are native to the Texas Hill Country. Through exciting activities and explorations, discover the unique traits and habitats of these fascinating creatures.

  • Discover different animals that are native to the Hill Country Area.
  • Friend or foe? Learn to identify animals by their pelts and prints.
  • Time for arts and crafts. Design your own bird house that you’ll be able to take home.
  • Back in time. Learn how Native Americans used to interact with a variety of animals and the lasting impact it has on us today.
  • Field trip! Travel to Exotic Zoo in Johnson City, Texas, for a petting zoo, exotic hayride tours and the chance to feed a giraffe.

Aquatic Adventures

July 13-17 (week 5)

Let’s make a splash! Campers will dive into a week of wet and wild fun with water sports, outdoor challenges and creating unforgettable memories by the water's edge.

  • Paddles up. Explore the waters of Lake LBJ by kayak.
  • Rivers 101. Discover how river systems work, as well as change paths through time.
  • Hook, line and sinker. Catch a variety of fish that live in Lake LBJ.
  • Watch out! Get competitive with other campers in a good old-fashioned water balloon fight.
  • Field trip! Travel to Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center in Round Mountain, Texas, and get a front-row seat to the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.

Camp Activities

archery

wIldlIfe vIewIng

Tubing

survIval skIlls

kayakIng

FIshIng

Optional Shuttle Service

For $50 per week, a shuttle service is available at one convenient location in Marble Falls, Texas. Maximum of 13 seats available.

First United Methodist Church

1101 Bluebonnet Dr, Marble Falls, TX 78654

Pickup: 8:30 a.m.
Drop-off: 4:30 p.m.

Children play outside, throwing colored powder at a smiling adult who stands in a circle. The group is enjoying a sunny day, wearing summer clothes, with trees and grass in the background.
A young boy wearing a cap and blue shirt holds up a fishing rod near a lakeshore, looking at the bobber, with trees, water, and fishing equipment in the background.
Three children wearing life jackets ride an inflatable tube on a lake, holding on tightly as they are pulled by a boat. The water splashes around them, and trees line the distant shore under a clear sky.
Two young children wearing red life jackets crouch on a sandy shore by the water, playing with the sand near the edge of a lake on a sunny day.
A group of children in matching blue shirts listen to a person in a cowboy hat and vest speaking, with old western buildings in the background and adults supervising.
A group of children wearing matching orange shirts walk along a wooden path surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation in a forest.
A group of children in matching bright orange shirts listen to a guide holding a flashlight inside a dimly lit cave, looking up at the cave ceiling.

No refunds will be given for cancellations after May 15. For cancellations made on or before May 15, your tuition will be refunded minus a $35 processing fee for each camp session canceled. Cancellations should be made by emailing [email protected]. Include the camper’s name and session(s) you wish to cancel. A confirmation email will be sent to you after the refund is processed.

After registration is complete, campers may transfer to a different session by paying a $10 transfer fee. Email [email protected] to request a transfer. Include the camper’s name and session(s) to which you want to transfer. We will do our best to accommodate transfers. You will receive an email notifying you of the status of your request.

it was a great week and we look forward to the upcoming camps. i think it’s fun that you make each week a dIfferent theme. Great job!

Kristie H | 2025

The counselors were all excellent! i love the game cIrcle tIme at drop-off to help kIddos get to know one another.

Camp Parent | 2024

You guys do an amazing job. counselors are fun and nIce, actIvItIes are engagIng- my daughter can't waIt to return.

Camp Parent | 2025