a white logo with text at the bottom saying Helen Woodward Animal Center. There are two kids with dogs, a horse, a bird and cats under a tree.

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Critter Camp

Wonderful San Diego day camps where kids connect with animals!

No school? No Problem! All throughout the year when school is out of session, Helen Woodward Animal Center runs day camps that are filled with exciting animal encounters, creative crafts, team-building games, thought-provoking activities, and tons of fun! From birds and mammals to reptiles and invertebrates, Critter Camps offer a new adventure each and every day.

A group of children in orange shirts with a sheep
A group of children in orange shirts with a sheep

Critter Camps

Our registration links will direct you to Jumbula, our new booking platform for camps in 2025.  A Jumbula account is required for secure registration, and additional details will be provided during the registration process.

We’re now operating out of our brand-new Humane Education Campus!
This exciting new space comes with habitat-themed classrooms and themed playgrounds, offering amazing opportunities for hands-on learning.

New Details

  • We have two spacious indoor event rooms where campers can store their belongings, eat snacks and lunch at grouped tables, and connect with friends in their grade range.

 

  • Outside each event room, our themed playgrounds, either park-inspired or pollinator-focused, offer safe, age-appropriate outdoor fun throughout the day. Campers are grouped by age and given time to play and explore in areas designed just for them.

 

  • Our animal encounters take place in immersive, habitat-themed classrooms or outdoor presentation zones, depending on the species. Each classroom features custom wall art and nature-inspired themes that spark curiosity and help children connect with the natural world.

 

  • Whether you’re joining us for Summer Critter Camp or one of our upcoming programs and events, this campus offers a truly hands-on, unforgettable experience.

 

  • Now open and ready to explore! Browse the photo carousel below to see our hands-on learning spaces and playful outdoor areas.

Summer Critter Camp

  • Critter Camp runs June 2 – August 22 with fun weekly themes, hands-on animal time, crafts, activities, and more. Join us for one day or all summer at our new Humane Education Campus.

 

  • Weekly campers receive a FREE Critter Camp shirt! 7th-8th grade registrations available on select weeks with the same career-focused theme each week. Other grades have two different themes that alternate each week and change each summer.

 

  • 2025 odd week theme, Adventure with Animals: Explore the fascinating adaptations that enable animals to survive and enjoy life in their environments. Discover the incredible strategies these creatures use to thrive in the wild!

 

  • 2025 even week theme, Magical World of Animals: Discover how animals have unique skills that seem magical to our eyes, from acrobatic agility to extraordinary adaptations, and explore the wonders of nature behind these incredible abilities!

Fall Critter Camp

  • No PreK registrations available for this camp.

 

  • This fall break camp (only certain schools run this break, usually end of October) focuses on animal communication, the food chain, and predator-prey relationships. Campers also explore the bond between humans and animals and how we can protect their habitats.

Thanksgiving Critter Camp

  • This three-day Thanksgiving break camp explores animal connections, the importance of appreciating all creatures, and how seasonal changes impact critter diets and behaviors.

Winter Critter Camp

  • This winter break camp examines how animals adapt to cold weather, whether they migrate or stay put, and how they survive winter conditions with unique adaptations.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Critter Camp

  • This one-day camp fosters compassion for all living things, teaching campers about animals’ roles in the environment and encouraging empathy and kindness toward creatures that share our world.

February Critter Camp

  • This week-long President’s Day camp explores how animals communicate, build relationships, and adapt to their environments, fostering understanding, empathy, and conservation.

Spring Critter Camp

  • This spring break camp explores animal life during the season of renewal, from senses and eating habits to unique parenting styles. Campers will reflect on fostering compassionate relationships with animals and the planet.

Camp Details

We offer daily registration, but for camps that run an entire week, you can sign up for the whole week with a better rate! Please pay close attention to the text for the dates you sign up for to ensure you’re selecting the option you want.

  • Daily registration: a single day which applies the daily rate, regardless of how many days you register for. Allows flexibility to fit your schedule needs!
  • Weekly registration: a single week which applies the weekly rate, but we do not prorate or transfer credits if you don’t attend all the days of that week. Best value option and over Summer Critter Camp weekly campers receive a free t-shirt!

Preschool

  • 9:00am – 1:00pm
  • Extended Care option: Early drop-off at 8:00am available for an additional fee, per day. No extended day option available for Preschool.
  • Must be at least 4 years old and able to use the bathroom independently.

 Kindergarten – 8th Grade

  • 9:00am – 3:00pm
  • Extended Care option: Early drop-off at 8:00am and/or extended day to 5:00pm available for an additional fee, per day.
  • Be aware that camp has frequent transitions that can make an aide more necessary during camp than at school.
  • Most Critter Camps only go up to 6th  grade. Only Summer Critter Camp offers a camp for 7th-8th graders on select weeks! Their theme is the same each week and different from the weekly themes the other grades follow.

 Discounts

  • 15% off camp tuition for active military. Call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 for the coupon code before you book.
  • Your child may be eligible for a scholarship! Please click here to find out more.
  • Your camp fee may provide a partial tax credit. Check with your tax professional to see if you qualify.

Details

  • All campers must be able to use the restroom confidently and on their own.
  • Must be at least 5 years old to pet reptiles.
  • Animals assigned to a theme may vary depending on animal health, safety, and availability.
  • Please provide your child with a snack and water bottle each day.
  • Lunch can be purchased for an additional fee, per child, per day, before 9:30am. It includes a main entrée and two sides. It is listed as a separate activity that you sign each child up for.
  • We know that camp sounds fun for kids and adults, but this camp is for kids only! If your child has an aide at school and you plan to have them come to camp with your child, please call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 so that we can help them complete the fingerprint process. All aides must be fingerprinted through us in order to attend camp, which can take 2 weeks or more. Be aware that camp has frequent transitions that can make an aide more necessary during camp than at school.
Playground
Playground
Playground
Playground
Playground
Lunchroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom

Critter Camp Frequently Asked Questions

AUTHORIZED PICK UP & ID CHECKING
  • For safety purposes we do not release children at pick up time to anyone not listed on the “authorized to pick up” list. We check ID daily at checkout time.
  • To add someone to the authorized list, we must confirm you are one of the parents/guardians and then we can add any additional names, or you can log into your account and add more in yourself.
MAKING SURE CHILDREN ARE IN THE SAME GROUP
  • During registration there is a section for “my child would like to be in the same class as” and that is where you should add the first and last names of other children to group with, if any. We group children into classes by grade level first; if we have multiple classes of the same grade level then we’ll pair requests together.
  • We generally group classes as follows: PreK/Preschool, Kinder, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th. Depending on registrations for each grade level we may combine nearby grade levels into one class, such as a Kinder-2nd class.
  • We only move older children down into the younger groups.
  • If you need your child with another child regardless of grade level, please contact the office by email or phone to escalate your request to a need. Please do this before the start of the camp week you’re attending so that it can be taken care of prior to the start of grouping for that week.
EARLY DROP OFF AND EXTENDED DAY
  • You can add extended care as late as day of by contacting the office about adding it at any time, or sign into your account and add it yourself. Extended care includes Early Drop-Off and Extended Day (Early Drop-Off is the only option for Preschool).
  • Early Drop-Off is 8:00-8:45am. Children will mostly free play with camp staff supervision. This is the only option available to children younger than Kindergarten.
  • Extended Day is 3:00-5:00pm. Children will do a craft or activity, have some guided games, help check on our outdoor animals for the night’s close, and free play under the supervision of camp staff. It is advised to pack extra snacks so your child has food for this time.
CAMP LUNCH
  • You can add lunch as late as morning of, as long as you do it before 9:30am when the lunch order is placed. Camp lunch includes an entrée and two sides.
  • You can contact the office about adding it day of or sign into your account and add it yourself (but please only add it yourself if its 24 hours’ notice otherwise it may be missed – we print rosters each morning at 8am).
CAMP SCHEDULE
  • Campers rotate locations and activities every 20-40 min (10-40 min for PreK). They meet 5 different animals and those presentations and interactions are dispersed throughout the day. Campers typically do a craft or a class activity before snack, then a craft or class activity before lunch (whichever they didn’t do before snack), and then after lunch the campers play a multi-class game.
  • 8:45-9:15: check in period, campers free play in our pavilion.
  • 9:15-9:30: circle up with the class to discuss the day, camp rules, and icebreakers.
  • 10-10:30: younger camper snack period. 20 min for snack, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 10:30-11: older camper snack period. 20 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 11:30-12:15: younger camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 12-12:45: older camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 2:45-3:15: check out period, campers stay circled up with their class and play quiet games.
CANCELLATION POLICY
  • Please stay home if a member of your household is sick. We can transfer registrations that haven’t started to another day, if that day has room, for any purpose. Communicate with us about child’s illness and we can discuss the cancellation policy allowances.
  • Daily registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp day, we can refund you with a $10 cancellation fee per day.
  • Weekly registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp week, we can refund you with a $50 cancellation fee per week.
  • If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the day for daily registrants or the start of the week for weekly registrants you will not receive a refund.
Register Now

Your program fee helps support all of our adoptable animals, as well as the many human and animal services Helen Woodward Animal Center provides.

For more information:
Please contact us at education@animalcenter.org or 858-756-4117 ext. 406

Follow us online to get more humane education virtually including animal facts, cute animal photos and videos, and notifications about upcoming programs!

  • For safety purposes we do not release children at pick up time to anyone not listed on the “authorized to pick up” list. We check ID daily at checkout time.
  • To add someone to the authorized list, we must confirm you are one of the parents/guardians and then we can add any additional names, or you can log into your account and add more in yourself.
  • During registration there is a section for “my child would like to be in the same class as” and that is where you should add the first and last names of other children to group with, if any. We group children into classes by grade level first; if we have multiple classes of the same grade level then we’ll pair requests together.
  • We generally group classes as follows: PreK/Preschool, Kinder, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th. Depending on registrations for each grade level we may combine nearby grade levels into one class, such as a Kinder-2nd class.
  • We only move older children down into the younger groups.
  • If you need your child with another child regardless of grade level, please contact the office by email or phone to escalate your request to a need. Please do this before the start of the camp week you’re attending so that it can be taken care of prior to the start of grouping for that week.
  • You can add extended care as late as day of by contacting the office about adding it at any time, or sign into your account and add it yourself. Extended care includes Early Drop-Off and Extended Day (Early Drop-Off is the only option for Preschool).
  • Early Drop-Off is 8:00-8:45am. Children will mostly free play with camp staff supervision. This is the only option available to children younger than Kindergarten.
  • Extended Day is 3:00-5:00pm. Children will do a craft or activity, have some guided games, help check on our outdoor animals for the night’s close, and free play under the supervision of camp staff. It is advised to pack extra snacks so your child has food for this time.
  • You can add lunch as late as morning of, as long as you do it before 9:30am when the lunch order is placed. Camp lunch includes an entrée and two sides.
  • You can contact the office about adding it day of or sign into your account and add it yourself (but please only add it yourself if its 24 hours’ notice otherwise it may be missed – we print rosters each morning at 8am).
  • Campers rotate locations and activities every 20-40 min (10-40 min for PreK). They meet 5 different animals and those presentations and interactions are dispersed throughout the day. Campers typically do a craft or a class activity before snack, then a craft or class activity before lunch (whichever they didn’t do before snack), and then after lunch the campers play a multi-class game.
  • 8:45-9:15: check in period, campers free play in our pavilion.
  • 9:15-9:30: circle up with the class to discuss the day, camp rules, and icebreakers.
  • 10-10:30: younger camper snack period. 20 min for snack, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 10:30-11: older camper snack period. 20 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 11:30-12:15: younger camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 12-12:45: older camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 2:45-3:15: check out period, campers stay circled up with their class and play quiet games.
  • Please stay home if a member of your household is sick. We can transfer registrations that haven’t started to another day, if that day has room, for any purpose. Communicate with us about child’s illness and we can discuss the cancellation policy allowances.
  • Daily registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp day, we can refund you with a $10 cancellation fee per day.
  • Weekly registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp week, we can refund you with a $50 cancellation fee per week.
  • If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the day for daily registrants or the start of the week for weekly registrants you will not receive a refund.
  • For safety purposes we do not release children at pick up time to anyone not listed on the “authorized to pick up” list. We check ID daily at checkout time.
  • To add someone to the authorized list, we must confirm you are one of the parents/guardians and then we can add any additional names, or you can log into your account and add more in yourself.
  • During registration there is a section for “my child would like to be in the same class as” and that is where you should add the first and last names of other children to group with, if any. We group children into classes by grade level first; if we have multiple classes of the same grade level then we’ll pair requests together.
  • We generally group classes as follows: PreK/Preschool, Kinder, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th. Depending on registrations for each grade level we may combine nearby grade levels into one class, such as a Kinder-2nd class.
  • We only move older children down into the younger groups.
  • If you need your child with another child regardless of grade level, please contact the office by email or phone to escalate your request to a need. Please do this before the start of the camp week you’re attending so that it can be taken care of prior to the start of grouping for that week.
  • You can add extended care as late as day of by contacting the office about adding it at any time, or sign into your account and add it yourself. Extended care includes Early Drop-Off and Extended Day (Early Drop-Off is the only option for Preschool).
  • Early Drop-Off is 8:00-8:45am. Children will mostly free play with camp staff supervision. This is the only option available to children younger than Kindergarten.
  • Extended Day is 3:00-5:00pm. Children will do a craft or activity, have some guided games, help check on our outdoor animals for the night’s close, and free play under the supervision of camp staff. It is advised to pack extra snacks so your child has food for this time.
  • You can add lunch as late as morning of, as long as you do it before 9:30am when the lunch order is placed. Camp lunch includes an entrée and two sides.
  • You can contact the office about adding it day of or sign into your account and add it yourself (but please only add it yourself if its 24 hours’ notice otherwise it may be missed – we print rosters each morning at 8am).
  • Campers rotate locations and activities every 20-40 min (10-40 min for PreK). They meet 5 different animals and those presentations and interactions are dispersed throughout the day. Campers typically do a craft or a class activity before snack, then a craft or class activity before lunch (whichever they didn’t do before snack), and then after lunch the campers play a multi-class game.
  • 8:45-9:15: check in period, campers free play in our pavilion.
  • 9:15-9:30: circle up with the class to discuss the day, camp rules, and icebreakers.
  • 10-10:30: younger camper snack period. 20 min for snack, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 10:30-11: older camper snack period. 20 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 11:30-12:15: younger camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 12-12:45: older camper lunch period. 30 min to eat, 10 min to free play if done eating.
  • 2:45-3:15: check out period, campers stay circled up with their class and play quiet games.
  • Please stay home if a member of your household is sick. We can transfer registrations that haven’t started to another day, if that day has room, for any purpose. Communicate with us about child’s illness and we can discuss the cancellation policy allowances.
  • Daily registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp day, we can refund you with a $10 cancellation fee per day.
  • Weekly registrants: If you need to cancel and provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp week, we can refund you with a $50 cancellation fee per week.
  • If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the day for daily registrants or the start of the week for weekly registrants you will not receive a refund.

Due to Hurricane Hilary, all  departments will be closing at 3pm today.  Stay safe!