Summer camps that offer outside play and communing with nature are a balm in our increasingly digital world. This roundup of summer camps also includes cool East Bay camps that involve caring for and observing animals as well as the wilderness. Find more summer camps in our Annual Camp Guide.
Thanks to our wild and wonderful sponsors
- Monkey Business Camp is a 100% outdoors classic day camp with an emphasis on nature, crafts, games, and songs. Sessions run from 2 days to 3 weeks for grades K to 5 in Tilden Park.
- Call of the Wild Camps explores biology and language arts, hiking, reading, and writing with kids ages 5 to 10 in Berkeley, Oakland, Cupertino, and Vacaville.
- Wild Ones Art Camp is a fun, safe, inclusive outdoor exploration experience in Berkeley and Oakland parks for kids 51/2 to 10. Save 5% with code 510families.
East Bay camps that emphasize Nature and Animals
Click through to find all the details on their respective websites.
100% unplugged and outdoors. Kids enjoy nature exploration, arts & crafts, food projects, games, songs and special surprises in Tilden Park! Popular longer 3-week sessions with same kids and staff, with some shorter length options. Campers ages 5-10. Youth Leaders 11+.
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
$668 per week based on longer sessions. Early birds save $20 before 4/30.
Save $20 with code 510Fam. Expires 8/15.
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Berkeley
Golestan’s dual-language English-Persian summer day camp serves ages 6–18 in a fully outdoor, nurturing setting. Campers engage in hands-on activities like cooking, mosaics, science, woodworking, and textiles, with fieldwork at Tilden Park and organic meals prepared by an in-house chef.
9 am to 3 pm
$625 per week
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Aug. 17-21
- El Cerrito
Bay Area Discovery Museum offers an unforgettable summer for ages 3–8 under the Golden Gate Bridge. Play becomes powerful learning through exploring hidden grottos, hands-on science, and art adventures. Kids unleash curiosity, imagine boldly, and discover something new every day.
Age 3: 9 am to 1 pm, Ages 4-8: 9 am to 3 pm with some extended care options
Age 3: $465 per week, Ages 4-6: $640 per week, Ages 7-8: $725 per week
- ages 3+
- preschool (ages 4+)
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Aug. 17-21
- Marin County
Explore, discover, and invent at UC Berkeley's public science center! Aspiring young scientists dive into topics like engineering, astronomy, and more. Camps take advantage of the interactive Planetarium, Animal Discovery Zone, Outdoor Nature Lab, and other hands-on science exhibits.
9 am to 4 pm
$1,295 for a two-week session
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- 6th
- June 1-5
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Berkeley
Let’s get outside! Join KIDS for the BAY for a fun-filled summer of hands-on science and nature exploration in the outdoors. Your Camper will investigate unique ecosystems, make discoveries at creek, bay and ocean habitats, and become an inspired Environmentalist!
9 am to 3 pm with extended care until 5 pm
$565 per week
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- 6th
- 7th
- 8th
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Berkeley
Call of the Wild outdoor nature camps are for kids aged 5-10 to enjoy a fun balance of learning & play, forest hikes, nature connection, friendship, storytelling, creative writing, reading, games, science exploration, biology, animal rights, veganism, environmental stewardship & more!
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
$649.95 per week. Save $50 for early bird, siblings, & refer-a-friend. Scholarships are 50% off.
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- June 1-5
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Berkeley
- Oakland
- South Bay
Adventure is calling at Wild Ones Art Camp! Located in the beautiful East Bay parks, camp combines nature hikes and outdoor games with immersive art projects. Give your child a summer filled with fresh air, creative sparks, and unforgettable memories.
9 am to 3 pm
$625 per week | $135 per day
Save 5% with Code 510Families
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Berkeley
- Oakland
Sees the Day is committed to helping children develop respect and appreciation for each other and the natural world. Activities include nature awareness, storytelling, improv, music, imaginative play, cooperative games, beading, fairy house/fort building, gratitude circles, and classic summertime fun!
8:45 am to 4:30 pm
$550 per week. $110 per day. Partial sessions or days upon request. Sessions are 1, 2, or 3 weeks long
$50 off for one two-week session through summer, 2026. Please note this offered discount on your child's Emergency Form.
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- 6th
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Aug. 17-21
- Berkeley
Outdoor Kids Camp is a small-group nature-based therapy summer camp let by licensed occupational therapists. They support children with anxiety, ADHD, autism and developmental differences through supported play, social connection, and outdoor fun!
9 am to 1 pm
$1097 per week includes individualized goal setting, OT intervention, regular reports and optional pre- and post-camp OT consult calls.
- preschool (ages 4+)
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Berkeley
- Oakland
- San Francisco
Literacy activities and nature together.
9 am to 3 pm
$500 per week
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Oakland
Horses, bunnies, goats, farm chores, and ranch life.
9 am to 2:30 pm
$900 per week
- K
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- 6th
- 7th
- 8th
- 9th
- 10th
- June 22-26
- July 6-10
- July 20-24
- Castro Valley
Farm, horses, ranch camp.
9 am to 3 pm
$1140 per week
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- 5th
- 6th
- 7th
- 8th
- June 1-5
- June 8-12
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- June 29-July 3
- July 6-10
- July 13-17
- July 20-24
- July 27-31
- Aug. 3-7
- Aug. 10-14
- Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda
