The Howell Conference and Nature Center(HCNC), owned and operated by the Presbytery of Detroit, is a multi-faceted facility that serves over 800 large and diverse groups of community members (over 45,000 people) that include church organizations, schools, scouting groups, clubs, corporate groups, and families. The well-educated and trained staff share a love and commitment to children and the environment.Teaching proper stewardship of God’s natural world remains a very high priority. Offering Environmental Education Programs for children and adults, providing information to those who call for wildlife advice and demonstrating care and stewardship by rehabilitating approximately 3000 birds and mammals each year is the Howell Conference and Nature Center’s Mission. The Eagle Quest Challenge Program at the HCNC is designed to present groups with a sequence of increasingly challenging activities that require the participants to utilize and improve important skills for a successful team. Our program also specializes in guiding individuals to recognize achievable goals that provide personal challenge. Each program is unique. Our trained facilitators design programs to specifically meet the needs and goals of every group. The HCNC offers over 70 environmental education programs and activities. Our classroom is 270 acres of some of the most beautiful countryside in Southeast Michigan. Schools may customize class selection to enhance and reinforce class curriculum. Our hands-on approach allows students to develop an empathy with nature and wildlife. We have programs for everyone from preschool to adult. Working in conjunction with Heifer Project International, one of the goals of HCNC is to educate people about the root causes of global hunger and poverty. Through the Global Gateway Program, an interactive approach provides first hand experiences with global issues during day or overnight programs. The village consists of replicated structures of a slum dwelling, a border town shanty, an African mud hut, a rural American home, a block house of Nepal and a Thailand house. The HCNC offers a variety of exciting summer camp experiences geared for children in grades second through senior high. We are committed to providing a quality camp experience offering exciting challenges and loads of hands-on exploration.Our 6-day camps offer everything from traditional activities such as archery and canoeing to our Eagle Quest Program with its 60 foot climbing tower, high ropes course and thrilling 500 foot zip line. Older children will enjoy off-site camping excursions. Summer Day Camps offer children in grades 1st through 5th exciting programs revolving around nature and the environment. Programs such as Nature Scavenger Hunt, Skins and Skulls, Wild Wonders Tours, Wildlife Rehabilitation, are just of few nature oriented classes geared for elementary school children.