Thanksgiving break gives kids a welcome pause from school, but that doesn’t mean the learning, exploration, and fun have to stop. Camp Live Oak’s Thanksgiving Break Camp turns four days away from the classroom into an outdoor adventure filled with nature, hands-on activities, new friendships, and plenty of opportunities to discover something new.
Held at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, the 2026 Thanksgiving Break Camp takes place on November 23, 24, 25, and 27, with camp closed on Thanksgiving Day. Designed for children ages 5–13, the program divides campers into age-appropriate Manatees and Panthers groups so activities can be tailored to different ages and abilities. Each day introduces a new theme, giving families the flexibility to choose individual days or enjoy the complete four-day experience.
Day One: Thankful for Nature
The week begins on Monday with Thankful for Nature, a day dedicated to appreciating the plants, animals, and waterways that make Florida such an incredible place to explore.
Campers get out on the park lake for canoeing while observing wildlife and learning how different parts of an ecosystem are connected. Hands-on science activities turn the surrounding environment into a living classroom, while creative projects encourage campers to think about what they appreciate about nature and Florida.
It’s a fitting way to begin Thanksgiving week and a reminder that gratitude can extend beyond family traditions to include the natural world around us.
Day Two: Target the Wild
Tuesday brings an entirely different adventure with Target the Wild. This day combines archery with science, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Younger campers are introduced to beginner-friendly archery, learning proper form and practicing their skills with nature-themed targets. Older campers can take on more advanced accuracy and distance challenges. Along the way, campers explore concepts like force, direction, movement, angle, and distance through hands-on experiments.
The combination demonstrates what Camp Live Oak does especially well: taking an exciting outdoor activity and turning it into an opportunity to learn. Campers aren’t simply practicing archery. They’re discovering some of the science behind every shot while developing patience, coordination, and focus.
Day Three: Cast, Explore & Discover
On Wednesday, campers head toward the water for Cast, Explore & Discover, a day centered around fishing and Florida’s freshwater ecosystems.
Campers practice fishing skills while learning about the animals and habitats found around the water. Younger campers are introduced to supervised casting, aquatic life, and safe catch-and-release practices. Older campers can build additional skills such as knot tying, baiting, and safe fish handling while making observations about fish habitats and other wildlife they encounter.
Fishing requires patience and careful observation, making it an excellent activity for helping kids slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. A day by the water can quickly lead to questions about fish, birds, plants, water quality, and the many relationships that make an aquatic ecosystem work.
Day Four: Giving Trails
After taking Thanksgiving Day off, campers return Friday for Giving Trails, a final day dedicated to exploration, discovery, and celebrating the week’s adventures.
Campers head onto the trails of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park to search for interesting plants, insects, animal signs, tracks, and other natural discoveries. Activities include nature science, outdoor challenges, and opportunities to put observation skills to work. Older campers can also take on leadership roles during portions of the day’s activities.
The program concludes with a camp-wide outdoor challenge and celebration where campers can share some of their favorite discoveries. It’s a fitting finish to four days centered on experiencing and appreciating the outdoors.
Something Different Every Day
One of the highlights of Camp Live Oak’s Thanksgiving Break Camp is the variety. In just four days, children can experience canoeing, archery, fishing, nature exploration, science, art, outdoor games, and team challenges.
That variety keeps the experience exciting while giving campers opportunities to discover new interests. A child might arrive most excited about fishing and leave talking about archery. Another might become fascinated by an animal spotted along a trail or something discovered during a science activity.
Just as importantly, these experiences give children time to stay active, meet other campers, build confidence, and spend their school break away from screens and surrounded by nature.
Spend Thanksgiving Break at Camp Live Oak
Camp Live Oak’s 2026 Thanksgiving Break Camp runs November 23, 24, 25, and 27 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, with morning and after care available. The program is open to children ages 5–13, with Manatees for ages 5–8 and Panthers for ages 9–13. Families can register for the entire four-day camp or select individual days.
Instead of spending the entire school break indoors, kids can paddle, fish, practice archery, explore trails, learn about Florida wildlife, and create new camp memories. To learn more about Thanksgiving Break Camp or find the right Camp Live Oak program for your child, contact Camp Live Oak today.