Summer Critter Camp 2018
A wonderful San Diego Summer Camp for kids – experience new summer camp themes!
Where kids connect with animals!
June 11–August 31, 2018
Preschool–8th Grade
Get a Summer Camp Discount Today
Receive $25 off your weekly camp fee or $5 off your daily fee if you register for Summer Critter Camp by April 30!
Summer Critter Camp is San Diego’s best animal camp for kids Preschool through 8th Grade! Children will experience a full week of amazing animal interactions and summer camp activities, including animal-themed games, crafts, songs and more! Each camper who signs up for a full week of camp will also receive a FREE Critter Camp T-shirt. Not able to commit to a full week? We offer four weeks (Week 4, 10, 11 and 12) of daily sign-ups.
Summer Camp Weekly Themes
Preschool through 6th Grade
Are you searching for a way to give your kids a super summer? Look no further because Critter Camp gives them the chance to interact with some awesome animals as they discover each critter’s superpower! Campers will marvel at the amazing adaptations animals have and their ability to make our world a better place. Spots fill up in a flash so sign up today!
Click to view more details! Activities will be similar to the following and may include: 1. Participate in a rabbit playgroup as you discover how their ears give them super hearing powers. 2. Interact with a Vietnamese walking stick and witness their amazing ability to camouflage with their surroundings. 3. Are you wondering how animals also save people? Find out one of the ways as you pet our surprisingly soft alpacas! 4. Hold a chicken and learn how their super strong stomachs allow them to digest food, despite the fact that they don’t have any teeth. 5. Does a skink’s blue tongue scare off the bad guys? Discover the answer when you interact with this reptile. 6. Superheroes should not only have physical powers, but should be willing to help humans as well. Meet and pet a dog while you learn about the canine contributions over the course of history. 7. Show off your power of turning nothing into a work of art as you create unique crafts. 8. Hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach as you uncover their secret identity, which benefits the rain forest that they are native to. 9. Have a parrot perch on your shoes while learning about their awesome ability to see UV light that our eyes can’t see! 10. Discover the true healing powers that animals have as you find out about our Pet Encounter Therapy program. 11. Interact with a chinchilla as you discover how their dense fur allows them to survive in extremely high altitudes and low temperatures. 12. Since box turtles can’t rely on powers like super speed or strength to defend themselves, they depend on their capability to hide in their shell. Find out how they do it when you meet one! 13. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (most Fridays for grades K-8th.) Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Must be at least 5-years-old to pet/hold reptiles.
This is not a full list of the animals that campers will interact with during the week – they will meet the majority of the species that are a part of the Education Department.
Does your child have an incredibly inquisitive mind? Then sign them up for camp where they will delve into the seemingly distant worlds of nature and technology and find out why they aren’t so different after all. Campers will uncover the ways that wildlife has influenced technology and our advancement as humans. Your kids won’t want to miss this exciting exploration!
Click to view details! Activities will be similar to the following and may include: 1. Horses and donkeys played a huge role in helping humans advance in several aspects of life. Find out how when you pet a miniature horse or miniature donkey. 2. Interact with a leopard gecko and discover how they have inspired the development of amazingly strong adhesive. 3. Scientists often work in teams to come up with inventions. Strengthen your collaborative and social skills as you play thrilling games and participate in awesome activities. 4. Pet or groom a sheep as you learn about technology’s role in transforming wool into clothing. 5. Biomimicry appears in several areas of our lives, including the improvement of body armor. Meet a hermit crab and see how their shells could inspire designers. 6. Are snakes accurately portrayed in movies? Find out when you interact with a rosy boa. 7. Pet a pigeon and learn how these feathered friends helped us send messages before communication went digital. 8. Get up close to a frog and discover the amazing adaptations that allow them to see in all directions and absorb water instead of drinking it! 9. Discuss the ways that small critters have inspired some pretty BIG scientific developments as you hold a guinea pig. 10. Interact with a parrot and find out about their contributions to many modes of transportation (not just to flight!) 11. Chinese water dragons have some awesome features, including a “third eye!” Meet one of these reptiles and come up with ideas about how their anatomy could inspire scientists. 12. Learn how humans can use science and technology to help animals as you meet a California desert tortoise. 13. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (most Fridays for grades K-8th.) Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Must be at least 5-years-old to pet/hold reptiles.
This is not a full list of the animals that campers will interact with during the week – they will meet the majority of the species that are a part of the Education Department.
Summer Camp Theme
7th and 8th Grade
Critter Camp Leaders in Training!
While still meeting the same animals as our Preschool through 6th grade camps, 7th and 8th graders will also develop lifelong leaderships skills during their time here at Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego.
Click to view details! Activities will be similar to the following and may include: 1. Earn 5 hours of community service by participating in a full week of camp (1 hour each day.) 2. Care for, feed and interact with barn animals such as sheep, alpacas and chickens. 3. Meet professionals in the animal industry and learn about the various career options you can pursue if you hope to work with animals one day. 4. Care for, feed and interact with exotic pets, such as parrots, rabbits, bearded dragons, turtles, tortoises and guinea pigs. 5. See the amazing abilities of a K9 member of the San Diego Police Department. 6. Visit Therapeutic Riding to see how the horses help people strengthen their motor skills and sharpen their cognitive abilities. 7. Assist our barn staff with various tasks, such as taking animals for a walk and bathing a miniature horse! 8. Help plan and lead Critter Camp activities for grades Preschool-4th. 9. Learn about Pet Encounter Therapy and interact with some of our therapy animals. 10. Help socialize our Education animals and learn how to animal handle like a Critter Camp instructor. 11. Make crafts, play fun games, make new friends and experience hands-on interactions with tons of animals! 12. Tour the Equine Hospital and Adoptions Department and learn about the different aspects of animal care. 13. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (most Fridays for grades K-8th.) Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
This is not a full list of the animals that campers will interact with during the week – they will meet the majority of the species that are a part of the Education Department.
Critter Camp Schedule
Preschool–2nd Grade (as of Fall 2018)
Technology Gone Wild
Week 1: June 11–15
Week 3: June 25–29
Week 5: July 9–13
Week 7: July 23–27
Week 9: August 6–10
Week 11: August 20–24 (daily rates)
Animals Have Superpowers
Week 2: June 18–22
Week 4: July 2–6 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 6: July 16–20
Week 8: July 30–August 3
Week 10: August 13–17 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 27-31 (daily rates)
3rd–6th Grade (as of Fall 2018)
Animals Have Superpowers
Week 1: June 11–15
Week 3: June 25–29
Week 5: July 9–13
Week 7: July 23–27
Week 9: August 6–10
Week 11: August 20–24 (daily rates)
Technology Gone Wild
Week 2: June 18–22
Week 4: July 2-6 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 6: July 16–20
Week 8: July 30–August 3
Week 10: August 13–17 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 27–31 (daily rates)
7th–8th Grade (as of Fall 2018)
Leaders In Training
Week 1: June 11–15
Week 2: June 18–22
Week 3: June 25–29
Week 4: July 2–6 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 5: July 9–13
Week 6: July 16–20
Week 7: July 23–27
Week 8: July 30–August 3
Week 9: August 6-10
Week 10: August 13–17 (daily rates)
Week 11: August 20–24 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 27–31 (daily rates)
Critter Camp Times, Rates, Options and Discounts
Critter Camp Times
Preschool (must be at least 4 years old): 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Kindergarten through 8th Grade: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Extended Care is offered from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. for $20 per day for grades Kindergarten through 8th.
• We also offer an 8 a.m. drop-off for Preschool for $10 each day. (No late pickup available for Preschool)
Weekly Critter Camp Rates
Preschool (must be at least 4 years old): $228 per week
Kindergarten through 8th Grade: $288 per week
Daily Critter Camp Rates (Weeks 4, 10, 11 and 12 only)
Preschool (must be at least 4 years old): $58 per day
Kindergarten through 8th Grade: $73 per day
• Receive $5 off each daily session if you sign up before April 30!
• Lunch options are available at the time of registration for $8 per day. All lunches include an entrée and two sides. Please provide your child with a water bottle and food for snack time each day.
• Photos of your child with an animal are available to purchase at the time of registration (except for Weeks 4, 10, 11 and 12). For $10, two digital pictures will be sent to your account email address after your child attends camp.
• All campers must be able to use the restroom confidently and on their own.
• We know that camp sounds fun for kids AND adults, but this camp 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 in order to attend camp.**
Camp Discounts
• 15% off camp tuition for active military (Call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 for the code.)
• Automatically receive $20 off the weekly tuition or $5 off the daily tuition when registering siblings. (Must register siblings at the same time)
• Automatically receive $25 off the weekly tuition fee if you sign up for 2 weeks or the daily tuition fee if you register for 5 sessions. (Must register for the sessions/weeks at the same time).
• Automatically receive $25 off the weekly tuition or $5 off the daily tuition if you register for Summer Critter Camp by April 30.
For more information about Critter Camp
Email us at education@animalcenter.org or call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318
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