Summer Nature Camp
We will not have Summer Camp in 2025.
The weather in Winter 2023 and 2024, although welcome, affected the Nature Area significantly. The OUSD has closed the Nature Area due to the hazards present, and all programs, including summer camp are closed until further notice.
Location:
Summer Nature Camp takes place at the Wagner Ranch NATURE AREA, just adjacent to the Wagner Ranch Elementary School @ 350 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA.
Description:
Each day, campers will enjoy an ecosystem hike in the 18-acre historic nature preserve and then enjoy day-of-the-week theme-based activities: Ponds & Creeks; Connecting Trees & Birds, Native and Non-native plants; Adobe Brickmaking; Organic Gardening. Friday is a celebratory day in which campers help to prepare and cook their (organic) lunch and play nature games. Full-day campers will enjoy a variety of active and passive activities in the afternoon, based on their preferences.
Dates/Times/Rates:
Campers enroll on a week-by-week basis. No camp is offered the week of July 4th. Campers can sign up for multiple weeks - keep in mind the program is the same for each week.
Half-day campers arrive 8:45 and are picked up at noon (except Fridays where pickup is at 12:15).
Full-day campers arrive at 8:45 and are picked up at 3pm. Full day campers bring a bag lunch except on Friday when lunch is provided for them.
Please note that we do not give discounts for multiple-week signups, but will give a 10% discount for each sibling signing up for the same week.
What to bring:
Campers should arrive wearing sunscreen. Bring a small backpack with a refillable water bottle, a snack, and for full-day campers: a lunch. Campers should wear “camping-worthy” clothing and shoes (no sandals) that may get wet or dirty. On drizzly days, a hooded jacket is recommended. Full-day campers should also pack sunscreen to reapply mid-day. We conform to the state and county safety guidelines for COVID-19.
Camper Ages and Camp Size:
Summer Nature Camp is intended for campers ages 5 (must have completed Kindergarten) through 11. Minimum enrollment is 10 campers; Maximum enrollment is 30.
Staff:
Counselors-in-Training:
Students aged 12-14 years are invited to participate in Counselor-in-Training for the Summer Nature Camps. They will gain work experience by helping campers at the direction of the teachers and counselors. These are unpaid positions and camp is free for them. CITs must attend First Aid and Counselor training prior to camp, no exceptions. Here is an information flyer on the CIT Program. Please contact Brad McCullough at [email protected] if you are interested.
Counselors:
Counselor positions are offered to high school students. They will gain work experience and leadership skills helping campers and giving direction to CITs. Counselors must attend First Aid and Counselor training prior to camp, no exceptions. Any counselors who will be 18 years or older at camp must also complete online Mandatory Reporter Training no later than June 2, 2023.
Please contact Brad McCullough at [email protected] if you are interested.
Extras for Campers:
Snacks and a cup of herbal solar tea each day at snack time.
Campers will receive a bandana and T-shirt on the first day of camp. Full day campers will also receive a Journal.
Safety:
In the interest of safety, if air temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees, or air quality (e.g., from fires) is expected to reach the “Unhealthy” category, the Friends will cancel that day’s activities. The Friends will call parents the day before to notify of a cancelled day. We will issue a refund for the cancelled day at the end of the week.
Registration: We will update this section when Registration is open.
How to Make Payment: We will update this section when Registration is open.
Refund Policy: We will update this section when Registration is open.
If you have any questions, please contact Brad McCullough, [email protected].
We will not have Summer Camp in 2025.
The weather in Winter 2023 and 2024, although welcome, affected the Nature Area significantly. The OUSD has closed the Nature Area due to the hazards present, and all programs, including summer camp are closed until further notice.
Location:
Summer Nature Camp takes place at the Wagner Ranch NATURE AREA, just adjacent to the Wagner Ranch Elementary School @ 350 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA.
Description:
Each day, campers will enjoy an ecosystem hike in the 18-acre historic nature preserve and then enjoy day-of-the-week theme-based activities: Ponds & Creeks; Connecting Trees & Birds, Native and Non-native plants; Adobe Brickmaking; Organic Gardening. Friday is a celebratory day in which campers help to prepare and cook their (organic) lunch and play nature games. Full-day campers will enjoy a variety of active and passive activities in the afternoon, based on their preferences.
Dates/Times/Rates:
Campers enroll on a week-by-week basis. No camp is offered the week of July 4th. Campers can sign up for multiple weeks - keep in mind the program is the same for each week.
Half-day campers arrive 8:45 and are picked up at noon (except Fridays where pickup is at 12:15).
Full-day campers arrive at 8:45 and are picked up at 3pm. Full day campers bring a bag lunch except on Friday when lunch is provided for them.
Please note that we do not give discounts for multiple-week signups, but will give a 10% discount for each sibling signing up for the same week.
What to bring:
Campers should arrive wearing sunscreen. Bring a small backpack with a refillable water bottle, a snack, and for full-day campers: a lunch. Campers should wear “camping-worthy” clothing and shoes (no sandals) that may get wet or dirty. On drizzly days, a hooded jacket is recommended. Full-day campers should also pack sunscreen to reapply mid-day. We conform to the state and county safety guidelines for COVID-19.
Camper Ages and Camp Size:
Summer Nature Camp is intended for campers ages 5 (must have completed Kindergarten) through 11. Minimum enrollment is 10 campers; Maximum enrollment is 30.
Staff:
Counselors-in-Training:
Students aged 12-14 years are invited to participate in Counselor-in-Training for the Summer Nature Camps. They will gain work experience by helping campers at the direction of the teachers and counselors. These are unpaid positions and camp is free for them. CITs must attend First Aid and Counselor training prior to camp, no exceptions. Here is an information flyer on the CIT Program. Please contact Brad McCullough at [email protected] if you are interested.
Counselors:
Counselor positions are offered to high school students. They will gain work experience and leadership skills helping campers and giving direction to CITs. Counselors must attend First Aid and Counselor training prior to camp, no exceptions. Any counselors who will be 18 years or older at camp must also complete online Mandatory Reporter Training no later than June 2, 2023.
Please contact Brad McCullough at [email protected] if you are interested.
Extras for Campers:
Snacks and a cup of herbal solar tea each day at snack time.
Campers will receive a bandana and T-shirt on the first day of camp. Full day campers will also receive a Journal.
Safety:
In the interest of safety, if air temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees, or air quality (e.g., from fires) is expected to reach the “Unhealthy” category, the Friends will cancel that day’s activities. The Friends will call parents the day before to notify of a cancelled day. We will issue a refund for the cancelled day at the end of the week.
Registration: We will update this section when Registration is open.
How to Make Payment: We will update this section when Registration is open.
Refund Policy: We will update this section when Registration is open.
If you have any questions, please contact Brad McCullough, [email protected].
