EDUCATION

Educational Programs

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art offers several exciting educational opportunities year-round for children and adults. We offer programming to public, private and homeschool groups, boy and girl scouts, senior and adult centers, and numerous others. We always encourage groups to visit the Center to experience all that our physical location has to offer, but we understand that isn’t possible for all groups – we can also pack up our lessons and come to your school or facility!

We offer several well-developed and popular programs but can also work with your group and customize your program to ensure you get the most out of your experience. All programs are led by the NSCNA Education Department staff or experienced volunteers, all of whom are experienced teachers who are passionate about what they do. Please see our downloadable Education Program Catalog for more information about our program offerings.

Hosting an educational event? We are also able to travel with educational displays and activities for boothed events. Please contact the Center at (717) 692-3699 or email our Director of Educational Programming, Emily Rosmus, at erosmus@nedsmithcenter.org for more information.

Please allow at least four weeks’ notice in scheduling for all program reservations.

Educational Program Catalog

Educational Program Reservation Request Form

Scout Program Reservation Request Form

Summer Camps

Join us as we discover our world together!

At the Ned Smith Center’s acclaimed Summer Camps, campers will not only experience authentic connections with nature, but with each other as well! We offer a wide variety of summer camp options for kids ranging from 4 to 16 years old.

Camp Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Full payment is due upon registration; please inquire about scholarship opportunities. Registration opens on March 1st, 2024 for members and March 8th, 2024 for non-members.

2025 Summer Camps

Discovery Series

Join us at the Center for our Discovery Series programming targeted to families and adults. We host a wide variety of events from art workshops, to citizen science programs, to hands-on nature experiences. We always appreciate pre-registration, as certain events may be attendance dependent and others fill up so fast, you’ll be glad you reserved your spot early!

If you have questions about any Discovery Series Events during this time, please call the Ned Smith Center at 717-692-3699.

2025 Discovery Series Events

Discovery Series Registration

Youth Art Contest

This year marks the 32nd annual Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Youth Art Contest! After so many years, we’ve seen thousands of entries from extremely talented artists all over the world. Because the contest has become so large, we are excited to announce some changes to the contest which will ultimately help us better represent Ned’s legacy and engage young artists.

Ned Smith was a wildlife artist who had a deep appreciation for nature and understood the importance of observing wildlife to better understand his subjects. Our contest theme this year brings us back to those roots, encouraging young artists to study their chosen subjects' relationship with their habitats and seasonal changes.

Theme: Gone for the Day: SPRING

This year’s youth art contest theme requires artists to depict a nature scene as it would appear in the season of spring. There must be a main subject (plant, animal, fungus, etc.) and there needs to be some inindication of the season being spring (habitat, seasonal trees/plants, springtime behavior, etc.).

Artists will be divided by grade into four categories: grades 1-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-9, and grades 10-12. Prizes will be awarded in each category: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention. One piece will be awarded Best in Show. Winners will be announced by the end of June and be on display in the Romberger Gallery at the Center.

Note: the rules and entry process have changed for 2025, so please read carefully to ensure your artwork is submitted correctly. Please read the rules at the link below for full details of the contest and entry process.

Contest Rules

Entry Form

2024 Contest Winners

Prizes provided by Blick Art Materials

ned talks & Live Stream

NED Talks is an informative, educational and fun exploration into nature and the arts in and around the Ned Smith Center. Join NSCNA educators Emily Rosmus and Erin Conway as they dive head first into the discovery and exploration of the world around us! NED Talks is posted regularly on our official YouTube page!

Thanks to the Coleman family's support, we can get a literal inside look at the nesting behavior of some of the birds which call the Ned Smith Center lands their home. Check in on the livestream to hopefully get a peak of an Eastern Bluebird building its nest, a Carolina Wren poking its head in to have a look around, or an Eastern Phoebe bringing back some delectable insects to its babies! We try to keep an eye on things, but if you see anything exciting let us know at info@nedsmithcenter.org.

NED Talks

Live Stream