Nature Adventures Camps & Classes

Throughout the year, we offer camps and classes that bring kids into contact with nature and get them excited about science. Wondering about camp details or funding? Check out our frequently asked questions and scholarships pages. Being a Member has its perks, including early registration for some membership levels in summer and camp discounts for all levels year-round. Become a Member today.

Year at a Glance

Stay informed on Nature Adventures offerings by signing up for our e-newsletter and mark your calendar with the dates below.

- Spring camps registration now open
- Spring camps run March 24–28
- Spring classes run April 7–May 19
- Summer camp registration for Leadership Circles of Giving and Members at the Explorer level opens March 10
- Summer camp registration for Members at the Adventurer and Naturalist levels opens March 17
- Summer camp registration for the general public* opens March 21
- Summer camps run June 16–August 15

Get Ready to Register

Have you signed up with us recently? Make sure you have an account ready on our registration system.

Registration Now Open: Spring Camps, March 24–28

Our spring break camps for children ages 4–12 will focus on pollinators: everything from well-known bumblebees and butterflies to the pollinators you might not know are helping plants in the Santa Barbara biome! We'll spend our days looking at the animals and other organisms that allow our flora to flourish, and even those plants that pollinate all on their own. Register today for spring camps.

Price: $375 for Members, $400 for non-members.

Coming Soon: Summer Camps, June 16–August 15

Hours & Pricing

Camp hours 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
5-day camps: $375 for Members, $400 for non-members
4-day camps: $300 for Members, $320 for non-members
Extended day 9:00–5:00, $100/week

Summer Camp Details

June 16–20

Winging It
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
Birds, butterflies, bats—oh my! Learn about the diversity of organisms with wings through art, games, and our Museum exhibits. Fly into our exhibits and learn how to conserve these beautiful creatures.

Ocean Superpowers
Ages: 5 & 6
How can the largest animal on Earth eat just microscopic organisms? What allows a pelican to swallow fish whole? How does a squid move through the water? Dive into these questions and more, learning about the awesome adaptations that look like superpowers to us land dwellers. This camp is located at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

June 23–26 (4-day camp)

Can Ya Dig It?
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
From rocks and minerals to fossilized shells and Pleistocene species fossilized in tar, examine what the ground holds and what we can learn from unearthing these mysteries. Learn about the geologic forces that formed Santa Barbara and what lived here long before humans walked the earth. This is not a dino camp, but we will spend some time looking and learning about those awesome megafauna!

June 23–27

Deep Sea Discoveries
Ages: 7–9
Down in the deep sea where no light reaches, life thrives! Learn how fish use bioluminescence as a way to lure prey and deflect predators, while other deep sea creatures conserve resources to survive when prey is scarce. This camp is located at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

June 30–July 3 (4-day camp)

Museum Magic
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
Learn about the magic that takes place within our Museum walls. Take a potions class (chemistry), learn about owls, explore the world of transfiguration (metamorphosis), and more! Then use all of your wizarding science skills to face a challenge that makes the wizarding exam look easy.

What’s in the Ocean?
Ages: 5 & 6
The ocean covers more than 70% of our Earth’s surface. So what’s actually in it? Explore the diverse parts of our global ocean through investigations and games at the Sea Center. This camp is located at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

July 7–11

Stellar Mysteries
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
How did the solar system form? What’s going to happen to our Sun? Explore these questions and more as we tackle some of the most popular mysteries in astronomy. Use some of the same tools as NASA scientists and learn how to study objects light years away from our little, rocky planet. Older campers will dive deeper into the origins of the universe and deep time.

July 14–18

Spineless Wonders
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
Some crawl, some creep, and some hang tight just where they land. Come explore the exciting world of invertebrates with us this week. We will learn about crabs, clams, crustaceans, and other critters that lack backbones. Invertebrates are the largest group in the animal kingdom, ranging from the microscopic to the Japanese Giant Squid, as seen in the Marine Science exhibit here at the Museum!

July 21–25

What’s in the Ocean?
Ages: 5 & 6
The ocean covers more than 70% of our Earth’s surface. So what’s actually in it? Explore the diverse parts of our global ocean through investigations and games. This camp is located at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

July 28–August 1

July 28–July 31 (4-day camp)

August 4–8

August 11–15

Spineless Wonders
Ages: 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 7–9, 10–12
Some crawl, some creep, and some hang tight just where they land. Come explore the exciting world of invertebrates with us this week. Learn about crabs, clams, crustaceans, and other critters that lack backbones. Invertebrates are the largest group in the animal kingdom, ranging from the microscopic to the Japanese Giant Squid, as seen in the Marine Science exhibit here at the Museum!

What’s in the Ocean?
Ages: 5 & 6
The ocean covers more than 70% of our Earth’s surface. So what’s actually in it? Explore the diverse parts of our global ocean through investigations and games. This camp is located at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

Contact Us

Questions? Please email Nature Adventures Manager Clay Sipiora at csipiora@sbnature2.org or call (805) 682-4711 ext. 136.

Registration Portal