SUMMER CAMPS 2023 OPEN FOR REGISTRATION May 3rd!
Check back starting Monday, April 24 for camp details. EYNC Members get week-long early bird registration! Summer camp registration will open to everyone beginning of May.
Summer camps are offered during summer school break.
Each camp focuses on the incredible natural world and includes lessons, crafts or other activities, and a hike. We encourage kids to dress appropriate for the weather (usually hats and sunscreen) and to wear clothes that can get a bit dirty. We will be outside, after all!
Camps are one week long for three or seven hours a day. Descriptions, dates, times and fees will be listed under each weekly camp title. Please refer to the sections below for registration.
Camps are listed below by age range: 5, 6-7, 8-11, and 12-15. We can’t wait to have your child join us!
Come to Camp Prepared!
Please have your camper dress for the weather, wear footwear that covers the toes, sunscreen, and bring a hat when coming to camp. They should also bring water. Please make sure your camper has a healthy, filling breakfast before coming to camp to keep them energized during each camp day. Be sure to pack your camper a healthy snack for every day of camp. If they are enrolled in both a morning and an afternoon Half Day camp, or a Full Day camp, also pack them a hearty lunch daily.
Special Summer Camp Activities
Some of our summer camps may include evening programs and/or local off-site trips. Please note that these activities are not guaranteed, but may happen depending on available staff support and planning. The camp leader will contact you at least one week before camp begins to provide details about activities in your camp, including location and appropriate attire for the activity. If you have questions or concerns regarding these special activities, please contact us at (916) 876-4918 or info@SacNatureCenter.net.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
A cancellation fee of 10% will apply to all cancellations made more than 14 days before the start of a camp. No refunds will be given if cancellation is 14 days or less before the camp. A rescheduling fee of $10 will apply for each camp change requested. A 24-hour notice to reschedule is required. Please note that the ACTIVE Network processing fee is non-refundable as that is a fee not collected by EYNC.
Covid-19 Safety Protocols
Please note that at this time, masks are recommended but not required. Campers, EYNC Staff, and EYNC Volunteers have the choice to wear or not wear a mask or face covering. As we closely follow CDC guidelines, to ensure everyone’s safety, we may return to our required mask policy if there is a rise in COVID-19 cases. If this occurs, all participants will be promptly updated. By signing our COVID-19 waiver during the registration process, you agree to follow the Effie Yeaw Nature Center’s COVID-19 policies and any updates to it. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Mon 6/19 – Fri 6/23 (3-hour Half-Day Camps)
Camp 5: Animal Extravaganza! Half-Day 3-hr Camps (2 Sessions: AM OR PM) |
Camp 5: Animal Extravaganza! Age 5 Only June 19 – 23 Session A: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Session B: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Calling all animal lovers! Come with us on an animal exploration extravaganza. The forests, fields, ponds and streams all have amazing and unique wild animals for us to find. We will also be investigating some of our resident animal ambassadors! Please note that Session A (morning) and Session B (afternoon) offer the same exact camp. Only enroll in one session (morning OR afternoon). |
Wed 7/5 – Fri 7/7 (3-day camps – no camp on Mon Jul 3 and Tues Jul 4)
Camp 5: Radical Reptiles
Age 5 Only
July 5 – 7
Half-Day 3-hr Camp (3-day)
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
If you think that snakes are super and turtles are terrific, then we have the camp for you! Explore the adaptations of our scaly neighbors, search for where they live, and see them up close and personal.
Wed 6/14 – Fri 6/16 (3-day Half-Day Camps)
Registration closes on June 12 at 11:59 PM.
| HALF-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Wings and Things (Ages 6-7) June 14 – June 16 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm This week is all about birds! What kind of birds can we find in the Nature Study Area? What do they eat? Where do they live? Explore our trails and discover the many species of feathered friends living in our preserve. |
Mon 6/19 – Fri 6/23
Registration closes on June 15 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Wildlife Neighbors (Ages 6-7) June 19 – 23 9:00 am – 3:00 pm What kinds of animals live outside our back door? What habitat do they live in? How do they find food? Come find out the answers to these questions and more! Explore the forests and fields to find out what it takes to be a great neighbor to wildlife. |
Mon 6/26 – Fri 6/30
Registration closes on June 22 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Happening Habitats (Ages 6-7) June 26 – 30 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Discover what it’s like to live in a bustling habitat as we explore a variety of fantastic habitats in the Nature Study Area. Adventure through forests, fields, and freshwater habitats to uncover different species of plants and animals that call these places home. |
Wed 7/5 – Fri 7/7 (3-day camps – no camp on Mon Jul 3 and Tues Jul 4)
Registration closes on June 30 at 11:59 PM.
| HALF-DAY Ages 6-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Red, White, and Blue! (Ages 6-11) July 5 – July 7 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm This All-Star camp for independent campers will take a close look at where these famous colors are found here in nature and discover the science of color. Each day we will focus on one color – you can even wear the theme of the day! We will discover local plants and animals, spend time on the trails, hear stories and get our hands into arts & crafts, including tie dye art. |
Mon 7/10 – Fri 7/14
Registration closes on July 6 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Nature Olympians (Ages 6 – 7) July 10 – July 14 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Join us in seeking out the superheroes of the animal world! Learn about fast-running, high-flying, super-swimming animals of the woods and river. Meet live animals every day and discover the amazing speed, strength, and senses they use to help them survive in the wild. |
Mon 7/17 – Fri 7/21
Registration closes on July 13 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Sun-Seeking Critters (Ages 6 – 7) July 17 – July 21 9:00 am – 3:00 pm What is herpetology? Slither and hop into the world of reptiles and amphibians to learn how they survive, how they experience their five senses, and more! Meet some of our scaly and slimy friends and learn why we take care of them at the Nature Center. Keep an eye out for our reptilian and amphibian friends on the trail, participate in games, and create crafts! |
Mon 7/24 – Fri 7/28
Registration closes on July 20 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Birds of a Feather (Ages 6 – 7) July 24 – 28 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Do you have an interest in all things beaked, feathered and flying? Then this might be the camp for you! Explore bird biology, anatomy, their habitats, and what they like to eat! Meet raptor ambassadors that live at the Nature Center and learn why they cannot return to the wild. |
Mon 7/31 – Wed 8/4
Registration closes on July 27 at 11:59 PM.
| FULL-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Woodland Tales (Ages 6 – 7) July 31 – August 4 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Lizards and birds and deer, oh my! Step into the tales of amazing animals to discover the sounds, smells, and sights of our furry, scaly, and feathered friends. Explore our oak woodland in search of these incredible critters, and meet a variety of our animal ambassadors throughout the week. |
Mon 8/7 – Wed 8/9 (3-day Half-Day Camps)
Registration closes on Aug 3 at 11:59 PM.
| HALF-DAY Ages 6-7 | 9 am – 12 pm |
The Animal Kingdom (Ages 6 – 7) August 7 – 9 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Campers will learn key characteristics of the animals that form the six basic animal groups as well as their habitats. We will get visits from our animal ambassadors and observe different wildlife on our hikes. These three days are all about different types of animals that can be found in our local area! |
Wed 6/14 – Fri 6/16 (3-day Half-Day Camps)
| HALF-DAY Ages 8-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Incredible Invertebrates (Ages 8-11) June 14 – June 16 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm They creep, they crawl, and play a significant role in our ecosystem! Get up close and personal with a variety of different invertebrates and learn about how these spineless critters keep the food chain running smoothly. |
Mon 6/19 – Fri 6/23
| HALF-DAY AM Ages 8-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Outdoor Adventures (Ages 8-11) June 19 – 23 | June 26 – June 30 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Our most popular camp fills quickly! Ready for an adventure? Then prepare to be outdoors and let the fun begin! You will spend two weeks enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, crafts, games, a night hike, and river rafting! Don’t miss out on the adventures you can have on the American River this summer! Nature Crafts (Ages 8-11) June 19 – 23 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Let’s get crafty! Connect with the great outdoors by exploring some nature-themed art activities. Design a tree hotel, build your own animal masks, and make prints using the sun. It’ll be a picture-perfect time! *This is a 2-week camp. * This camp will have at least one off-site day and may have one evening program. More details to come a week prior camp start date. |
Mon 6/26 – Fri 6/30
| HALF-DAY AM Ages 8-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Outdoor Adventures (Ages 8-11) June 19 – 23 | June 26 – 30 9:00 am – 12:00 pm [description and other details above] |
| HALF-DAY PM Ages 8-11 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Nature Experiments (Ages 8-11) June 26 – 30 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Explore nature through the power and wonder of science! Test the strength of an egg’s catenary arch, dissolve the hard shell of a chicken egg, create a human sundial, and more! Each day is packed with a variety of hands-on projects and experiments that is sure to amaze. |
Wed 7/5 – Fri 7/7 (3-day camps – no camp on Mon Jul 3 and Tues Jul 4)
| HALF-DAY Ages 6-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Red, White, and Blue! (Ages 6-11) July 5 – July 7 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm This All-Star camp for independent campers will take a close look at where these famous colors are found here in nature and discover the science of color. Each day we will focus on one color – you can even wear the theme of the day! We will discover local plants and animals, spend time on the trails, hear stories and get our hands into arts & crafts, including tie dye art. |
Mon 7/10 – Fri 7/14
| FULL-DAY Ages 8 – 11 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Take Flight! (Ages 8 – 11) July 10 – July 14 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Find out about the many things that fly, soar, and glide as we examine the science of flight! We’ll conduct some hands-on experiments and explore our Nature Study Area to catch a glimpse of birds, insects, seeds, and even people in the sky. |
Mon 7/17 – Fri 7/21
| FULL-DAY Ages 8 – 11 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Amazing Adaptations (Ages 8 – 11) July 17– July 21 9:00 am – 3:00 pm How does a tadpole become a frog? How do salmon transition from freshwater to saltwater? Why do hawks and falcons have such wonderful eyesight? This week, learn about amazing animal adaptations and how these adaptations allow them to survive in their habitat. |
Mon 7/24 – Fri 7/28
| FULL-DAY Ages 8 – 11 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Cold-Blooded! (Ages 8 – 11) July 24 – 28 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Explore the world of cold-blooded critters! How do you tell the difference between a reptile and an amphibian? Why do salmon prefer cold water versus warm despite being cold-blooded? What insects and other invertebrates are buzzing and crawling around the Nature Study Area? Meet a variety of different cold-blooded critters and learn about their amazing adaptations! |
Mon 7/31 – Wed 8/4
| FULL-DAY Ages 8 – 11 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Fabulous Feathers (Ages 8 – 11) July 31 – August 4 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Birds are capable of extraordinary feats – some can hover, dive at incredible speeds, or migrate thousands of miles! We’ll examine a different group of birds every day and discover fascinating facts about our feathered friends. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair of ours to get a closer look at the wild birds that call this area home. |
Mon 8/7 – Wed 8/9 (3-day Half-Day Camps)
| HALF-DAY Ages 8-11 | 9 am – 12 pm |
Biodiversity Blitz (Ages 8 – 11) August 7 – 9 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Biodiversity is one of the most important indicators of an ecosystem’s health. Greater biodiversity means a greater ability to cope with change. Campers will investigate the variety of species in an ecosystem and how this variety – or biodiversity – helps sustain life on Earth. |
July 5th – July 7th
*No camp on Monday, July 3 or Tuesday, July 4 due to the 4th of July holiday.
Registration closes on June 30 at 11:59 PM.
FULL-DAY Teen Camp Ages 12-15 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Junior Naturalists (Ages 12-15) July 5 – 7 (3-day camp) 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Calling all budding naturalists! Interested in the day-to-day life and responsibilities of being a naturalist or conservationist? Join us for 3 days of discovery, team-building, games, and activities. We will explore different environmental conservation efforts and traditional ecological knowledge, with the chance to apply your passion and knowledge for the great outdoors! * This camp may have an offsite field trip day. More details to come a week prior camp start date. |