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Summer Critter Camp

Summer Critter Camp 2017

A wonderful San Diego Summer Camp for kids – experience new summer camp themes!

Where kids connect with animals!
June 12–September 1, 2017
Preschool–8th Grade

Register Now!

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 is signed 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–6th Grade

Do you dare to take a walk on the wild side, boldly going where no camper has gone before? Join us for an extraordinary exploration and allow our animals to awaken your sense of adventure! From discovering the different habitats that some animals call home to skillfully decoding their secrets of survival, it’s sure to be action-packed.

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Activities will be similar to the following and may include:

  1. Interact with a rabbit and discover their cunning ability to avoid predators.
  2. Visit Adoptions and learn about the journey that adoptable pets go through to find their forever home.
  3. Pet an alpaca and identify the differences between the way we get around and the way these unique animals do.
  4. Meet a box turtle and see how they can use their shells as a secret hideaway.
  5. Learn about the rain forest of Madagascar as you hold a hissing cockroach.
  6. Explorers rely on their keen sense of direction during journeys in unknown places. Meet and pet a dog while you learn about their superior senses.
  7. What snacks would you pack for a long voyage? Find out what our feathered friends like to feast on while a bird perches on your toes!
  8. Participate in a guinea pig playgroup as you decode their cryptic communication.
  9. Teamwork is a crucial part of a successful adventure. Interact with a chinchilla as we discuss how animals help people and how people can help animals.
  10. How can an animal travel without any legs? Find out when you meet a snake.
  11. Horses used to be one of the main modes of transportation for explorers. Find out what else these amazing animals can do as you walk or groom a miniature horse.
  12. Seek out hidden clues and uncover secret treasures during a scavenger hunt.
  13. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (every Friday for Grades K-8.)

Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Must be at least 5-years-old to pet reptiles.

Do you want to have a wonderful and whimsical experience this summer? Come to Critter Camp and immerse yourself in the magical world of animals where our critters will certainly charm you. Their amazing adaptations and mysterious behaviors will conjure up your curiosity and stun your senses. Don’t miss out on the chance to find some fantastic creatures!

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Activities will be similar to the following and may include:

  1. You will discover that animals really do have healing powers when you learn about our Pet Encounter Therapy program.
  2. Take our sheep on a walk as you discover what their wool can transform into and their amazing ability to make food disappear!
  3. Feel the soft feathers of a dove and find out what makes them so good at flying.
  4. Do a skink’s blue tongue and a bearded dragon’s spikes mean they are dangerous? Or are they just an illusion? Learn the answer when you meet these reptiles.
  5. Interact with a Vietnamese walking stick and see why they don’t need an invisibility cloak to hide from danger.
  6. Meet and feed our charming chickens.
  7. Master the art of conjuring up crafts and working as a team as you participate in games.
  8. Get up close to a frog and discover the amazing adaptations that allow them to see in all directions and absorb water instead drinking it!
  9. Pet a cat and learn how to read their behavior, which can sometimes seem mysterious.
  10. Interact with a miniature horse and find out why these fantastic creatures often appear in mythological stories and art.
  11. Animals have some awesome abilities that allow them to thrive in their natural habitat. Meet an alpaca and learn what life is like in their world.
  12. Learn how powerful words can be as we discuss the various ways that we can be a voice for animals.
  13. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (every Friday for Grades K-8.)

Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Must be at least 5-years-old to pet reptiles.

Summer Camp Theme
7th & 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.

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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.
  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. View amazing demonstrations of the healing technique called Reiki (weeks 1, 2, 5, 6) and dog agility (weeks 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12),  as well as the abilities of a K9 member of the San Diego Police Department (all 12 weeks.)
  6. Visit Therapeutic Riding to see how the horses help people strengthen their motor skills and sharpen their cognitive abilities.
  7. You will have a rare opportunity to participate in a chinchilla playgroup where you will observe their behavior and help them feel comfortable around people.
  8. Assist our barn staff with various tasks such as taking animals for a walk and bathing a miniature horse!
  9. Help plan and lead Critter Camp activities for grades Preschool–4.
  10. Learn about Pet Encounter Therapy and interact with some of our therapy animals.
  11. Help socialize our Education animals and learn how to animal handle like a Critter Camp instructor.
  12. Make crafts, play fun games, make new friends and experience hands-on interactions with tons of animals!
  13. Tour the Equine Hospital and Adoptions department and learn about the different aspects of animal care.
  14. Get up close to beautiful exotic birds brought to camp by Avian Behavior International (every Friday for Grades K-8.)

Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.

Sign Up Now!

Critter Camp Schedule

Preschool–2nd Grade
Adventure with Animals
Week 1: June 12–16
Week 3: June 26–30
Week 5: July 10–14
Week 7: July 24–28
Week 9: August 7–11
Week 11: August 21–25 (daily rates)

3rd–6th Grade
The Magical World of Animals
Week 1: June 12–16
Week 3: June 26–30
Week 5: July 10–14
Week 7: July 24–28
Week 9: August 7–11
Week 11: August 21–25 (daily rates)

7th–8th Grade
Leaders In Training
Week 1: June 12–16
Week 2: June 19–23
Week 3: June 26–30
Week 4: July 3–7 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 5: July 10–14
Week 6: July 17–21

Preschool–2nd Grade
The Magical World of Animals
Week 2: June 19–23
Week 4: July 3–7 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 6: July 17–21
Week 8: July 31–August 4
Week 10: August 14–18 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 28–September 1 (daily rates)

3rd–6th Grade
Adventure with Animals
Week 2: June 19–23
Week 4: July 3–7 (daily rates, no camp 7/4)
Week 6: July 17–21
Week 8: July 31–August 4
Week 10: August 14–18 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 28–September 1 (daily rates)

7th–8th Grade
Leaders In Training
Week 7: July 24–28
Week 8: July 31–August 4
Week 9: August 7–11
Week 10: August 14–18 (daily rates)
Week 11: August 21–25 (daily rates)
Week 12: August 28–September 1 (daily rates)

Critter Camp Times, Rates and Options

Critter Camp Times
Preschool (must be at least 4-years-old): 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Kindergarten–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–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): $220 per week
Kindergarten–8th Grade: $280 per week

Daily Critter Camp Rates (Weeks 4, 10, 11 and 12 only)
Preschool (must be at least 4-years-old): $55 per day
Kindergarten–8th Grade: $70 per day
Receive $20 off if you sign up for all 5 days of a daily week (per child.)

Critter Camp Discounts:

  • 15% off camp tuition for active military (Call 858-756-4117 ext. 318 for the code.)
  • Automatically receive $20 off camp tuition when registering siblings (must register siblings at the same time)
  • Automatically receive $25 off camp tuition when signing up for 2 weeks of camp (excluding Weeks 10, 11 and 12)

**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.**

*Lunch options are available at the time of registration for $8 per day. All lunches include an entrée and fresh fruit or apple sauce, plus Goldfish® crackers. 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.

Register for Summer Critter Camp!

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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