2026 Summer Camps
Now offering AM and PM camp options!
Effie Yeaw Nature Center's Under the Oaks Nature Day Camps give children the opportunity to experience, discover, and explore the great outdoors! EYNC day campers enjoy summer sightings along the American River, participate in outdoor activities, create lasting memories, and gain an appreciation for nature. Each day camp is focused on different nature-related themes with hands-on explorations, hikes, games, activities, and stories. This is the camp where friends and memories are made!
Day Camp Cancellation & Refund Policy
A 10% cancellation fee will apply to any cancellation made more than 14 days before the start of day camp.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations made 14 days or less before the day camp start date.
A $15 rescheduling fee will apply for each requested day camp change, and at least 24 hours’ notice is required to reschedule.
Morning Nature Camps
Many of our summer day camps (excluding the Age 5 camp) may include special activities such as local off-site trips or evening programs designed to enrich day campers’ experiences and deepen their connection with nature.
While we strive to offer these opportunities whenever possible, special activities are not guaranteed and may vary depending on staff availability and program planning. Your day camp’s Naturalist (day camp leader) will contact families at least one week before day camp begins with details about any planned activities, including the location, schedule, and recommended clothing or gear.
If you have any questions or concerns about special activities, please contact us: info@sacnaturecenter.net
Nature Olympians
June 15th - 19th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 6 - 7
Can you jump as far as a frog? Can you run faster than a coyote? Find out this week at camp as we go head-to-head against some of the wildest animal athletes out there. Discover what amazing adaptations animals (and ourselves) have!
Camp 5 - Planet Protectors
June 29th - July 2nd | 9am - 12pm
Age 5
Get creative this week at camp as we join forces and work together while discovering what we can do to be Superheroes for Planet Earth. Be prepared to become a superhero yourself - Up, Up and Away!
Birds of a Feather
July 6th - 10th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 8 - 11
Birds are capable of extraordinary feats – some can hover, dive at incredible speeds, or migrate thousands of miles! Throughout the week we’ll examine the science of flight, observe bird behavior in the wild, and engage in fun challenges to better understand these feathered creatures. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair of ours!
Wildlife Investigators
June 22nd - 26th | 9am - 12pm
or
July 27th - 31st | 9am - 12pm
Ages 6 - 7
Channel your inner detective as we explore the Nature Study Area in search of all the different animals that live here. Learn beginning tracking and observation skills as you look for animal tracks, scat, and other clues! Record your findings in your own scientific field journal (journals provided).
Junior Rangers: Mastering the Elements
June 29th - July 2nd | 9am - 12pm
Ages 12 - 14
Water, earth, fire, and air: together, these elements create our natural world. Spend time understanding each and observing how they work together in nature to gain the power to thrive within the world we call home. From surviving in ancient times to future sustainability practices, working with earth’s elements creates a deeper understanding of balance. Train with us as we learn to harness the elements through environmental wisdom and survival skills.
Outdoor Adventures
June 15th - 26th | 9am - 12pm
or
July 20th - 31st | 9am - 12pm
Ages 8 - 11
Our most popular camp fills quickly! Ready for an adventure? Then prepare to be outdoors and let the fun begin! You will spend two weeks enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, crafts, games, a night hike, and river rafting! Don’t miss out on the adventures you can have on the American River this summer.
Creature Features
July 6th - 10th | 9am - 12pm
or
July 20th - 24th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 6 - 7
How do different animals survive in the wild? Some fly; some leap; some have excellent eyesight or a great sense of smell. Others live in total darkness as they move through tunnels underground! We’ll explore amazing animal features each day as we learn about the various critters that call our Nature Study Area home.
Woodland Tales
July 13th - 17th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 6 - 7
Lizards and birds and deer, oh my! Discover the wondrous world of our furry, scaly, and feathered friends through creative storytelling, art, and scientific exploration. Use your senses to explore the hidden ecosystems all around us and keep track of your discoveries in a nature journal (journals provided).
Nature-ology
July 13th - 17th | 9am - 12pm
or
August 3rd - 7th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 8 - 11
Dive into nature this week with a different topic each day, from rocks to trees to animals. Daily walks and activities will activate our inner scientist, while games and art throughout the week will add an element of fun. We are all naturalists this week!
Wildlife Caretakers
August 3rd - 7th | 9am - 12pm
Ages 6 - 7
Do you love the outdoors and have a passion for wildlife? Would you know what to do if you found an injured animal? Step into the shoes of a wildlife rescuer and see what it takes to care for an animal in need! Get hands-on experience with how we care for our animals and discover what to do (or what not to do) if you find an injured or sick animal in the wild. Explore the natural habitats of local species, learn safe and respectful ways to find and observe wildlife, and meet the animal ambassadors we care for and hear their stories.
STEM Afternoon Camps
Campers enrolled in both morning and afternoon camps will have a lunch break before they transition to the STEM afternoon session. There is no additional fee for this lunch period.
Treasure Island Engineers Camp
June 15th - 19th
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Get ready for a thrilling adventure where campers stranded on a mysterious pirate island will work together using shipwreck supplies and island materials to build shelters, design pulley and zipline systems, and solve exciting survival challenges. Campers will explore the powerful storm that brought them to the island by creating a spinning water vortex, tell time by building their own sundials, and diving into hydraulic engineering by constructing water runs to transport water across Treasure Island. As they scan the horizon for rescue, campers will design incredible ships and rescue vehicles. And of course, no pirate adventure is complete without cracking secret codes and following treasure maps to uncover the legendary treasure hidden on Treasure Island!
Minecraft Coding Camp
June 22nd - 26th
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Wondering how to harness your child's love for Minecraft into fun-filled learning? In this Minecraft tech camp, kids become the ruler of their own world, controlling their mobs and creatures and learning to modify and customize their tools. They will learn conditionals, functions, coordinates and more in block-based coding language where the sky is the limit. Campers will have so much fun wielding their crafts while learning valuable skills.
Under the Sea Art Camp
June 29th - July 2nd
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 5 - 12
Join us as we follow mermaids down into the blue depths to see playful seahorses and discover the incredible wonder of Narwhals. From sea turtles to blowfish, we will capture the wonders of the ocean within our art masterpieces. A delightful variety of messy media will be provided to paint and 3-D sculptures and more. Camp will finish with an invitation to our art gallery showcasing projects created during the week of camp. *No Camp on July 3rd!
Videogame Design Camp
July 7th - July 10th
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Step into the world of creativity and coding, where you can become a real game creator! Campers will learn core game design concepts such as characters, levels, rules, goals, and challenges while designing games from the ground up. Using kid-friendly game design tools and block-based coding, students will bring their ideas to life by programming movement, scoring systems, sound effects, and animations. You’ll explore game mechanics, player choices, difficulty levels, testing, and proudly showcase a fully playable game you designed yourself!
Space Odyssey Robotics Camp
July 27th -31st
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Blast off into a world of discovery at Space Odyssey summer camp, designed especially for explorers! You will build and program space robots, explore distant planets, and tackling thrilling missions. Through hands-on robotics and coding, campers become junior astronauts and engineers--fueling imagination, teamwork, and a love for discovery. Campers use dedicated laptops and LEGO WEDO robotics kits to learn several aspects of engineering: automation, problem-solving, and programming.
Minecraft Modding Camp
July 13th - July 17th
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Get ready to code, create, and explore in our Minecraft Modding group, where you can become a game designer in your own Minecraft world! Learn how to create your own Minecraft mods by designing custom items, tools, blocks, and new game features that change how your Minecraft world looks. Using kid-friendly, block-based coding tools, you will discover how logic, events, and simple programming brings your ideas to life. Each day is packed with exciting challenges as you test your mods, experiment with new ideas, and see your creations appear instantly in the game. This camp involves problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork while building confidence as a real coder. We will have a blast adding adventures, surprises, and fun twists to Minecraft gameplay. By the end of the week, you will have created your own custom mods and can feel proud to call yourself a true Minecraft modder!
Animal Safari Stop Motion Videomaking Camp
July 20th - 24th
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages 6 - 11
Lights! Camera! Action! In this camp you will get to produce a LEGO stop-motion animation movie with an Animal Safari. You heard that right, and yes, it is tons of fun! Use LEGO bricks, LEGO minifigures, and special video-capture software to bring your LEGO dreams to life. Get creative with stories using different characters, backgrounds and sounds, and learn how to make characters move on screen, how to add backgrounds, how to add sounds, and even how to overlay explosions! Movies will be saved on a USB drive to share with friends and family after camp.