Thanksgiving Critter Camp

Thanksgiving Critter Camp

November 25th-27nd 2024

Preschool – 6th Grade

Daily sign ups available!

Get ready to celebrate the season of gratitude in the most pawsome way possible!  Join us this Thanksgiving as we embark on an unforgettable adventure with our amazing animal ambassadors. Discover the incredible ways animals enrich our lives and learn how we can give back through hands-on interactions with a variety of species. Campers will dive into heartwarming crafts,  exciting games, and engaging activities that spark compassion and create lifelong memories. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to connect with nature and make this Thanksgiving one to remember!

Camp Times, Rates, Discounts and Details

Preschool

  • $78 per child, per day
  • 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Extended Care option: Early drop-off at 8:00 am and/or extended day to 5:00 pm available for an additional fee, per day.
  • Must be at least 4 years old and able to use the bathroom independently

Kindergarten– 6th Grade

  • $98 per child, per day
  • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
  • Extended Care option: Early drop-off at 8:00 am and/or extended day to 5:00 pm available for an additional fee, per day.

Discounts

  • 15% off camp tuition for active military. Call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 for the coupon code.
  • Your child may be eligible for a scholarship! Please visit our website by clicking 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 9:30 am.
    – Hot Lunch option (same each day): cheese pizza
    – Sides: applesauce and a cheese cracker variant
  • We know that camp sounds fun for kids and adults, but this camp is for kids only!
    • Aides are suggested for camp if your child regularly works with one. Camp has frequent transitions that may make an aide more necessary during camp than at school. All aides must be fingerprinted through Helen Woodward Animal Center in order to attend camp. Please call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 so that we can help them complete the fingerprint process. It may take up to 7 days to receive fingerprinting results.

Thanksgiving Critter Camp Themes

Monday – Fur-ever Families

Monday – Furever Families

The holiday season is all about bringing families together, and the animal kingdom is no different! Discover how animals form tight-knit bonds and work together to survive. Campers will meet a miniature horse, guinea pig, dove, beetle, and bearded dragon as they explore the heartwarming world of animal relationships.
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Tuesday – Gratitude for the Wild

Tuesday – Gratitude for the Wild

We all have a role in protecting our planet, and today, we're showing our appreciation for the animals who share it with us! Learn how preserving the environment helps our furry, feathered, and scaly friends thrive. Campers will interact with a goat, dog, parrot, cockroach, and tortoise while uncovering the importance of respecting all life.
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Wednesday - Feast Fest: Wild Diets

Wednesday - Feast Fest: Wild Diets

From carnivores to herbivores, every animal has a unique diet that helps keep the ecosystem balanced. Dive into the fascinating world of animal diets, and see how they’re all connected in the grand food web. Campers will get up close with a sheep, rabbit, chicken, earthworm, and snake as they explore what fuels the wild side!
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Critter Camp Frequently Asked Questions

Most frequent questions and answers

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 early drop-off or extended day as late as day of by contacting the office about adding it at any time.
There is no extended day 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 it’s 24 hours’ notice otherwise it may be missed – we print rosters each morning at 8 am).

Please stay home if a member of your household is sick. We can transfer registrations which haven’t started to another day if that day has room.

  • If you need to cancel and can provide more than 24 hours’ notice to the start of the camp day, we can refund you minus a $10 cancellation fee per day.
  • If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours notice to the start of the day you will not receive a refund.
  • -Jean M. “It's so nice to be exposed to different animals that the kids don't usually have access to. I love that the animals are more varied than just "cats or dogs".
  • -Kirstie D. “Only camp he asks to go back to!”
  • -Lindsay B. “My 5yo says she wishes she could quit school and just go to animal camp every day instead!”
  • -Kristin G. “My daughter was so happy at the end of each day. She loved the animals.”

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 [email protected] or 858-756-4117 ext.318

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

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