2018 Nature Day Camp
at the Yakima Area Arboretum
When
Weekly, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.*
*Camps run weekly except for the week starting July 2. NDC runs June 18 through August 17, 2018
CampTuition
Camp Fee: $160/week/child
YAA Member's Camp Fee (Fir and above): $150/week/child
Your child's spot will not be held and discounts will not apply until full tuition is paid or you have made direct contact with YAA staff about your payment options.
To reduce confusion the Yakima Area Arboretum has moved to a school-grade limit to determine camp readiness for your child. We will only allow campers that have completed a full year of Kindergarten and are going into the 1st grade to attend camp. Campers can expect to walk 2+ miles a day during camp and work in groups up to 15.
Every child deserves the opportunity to go to Nature Day Camp. Therefore, we are proud to offer scholarship funds for deserving families and campers in our community that are in need of financial assistance.
Please note that our scholarship funds are limited and applications must be turned into the Arboretum by May 25th, 2018. Arboretum staff will contact all applicants by June 1st about the status of their scholarship application(s). Any scholarships awarded after June 1st will be based on availability of funds, date application(s) is submitted, and information provided on the application(s).
To learn more about the Arboretum's scholarship fund please download this Scholarship Application.
*Scholarships are limited to 1 week of camp per child and up to 3 children per family. Selected awards are not guaranteed to receive full amount requested on application*
Submit completed applications via email, fax, mail, or in person to:
Yakima Area Arboretum
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, WA 98901
Hours: Mon - Sat, 9AM to 5PM
Phone: 509-248-7337
Fax: 509-248-8197
Email: info@ahtrees.org
Each child is required to have a completed "Health and Registration Form" on file with the Arboretum staff before starting camp. Download the form here or pick one up in the Arboretum's Jewett interpretive Center. Turning these forms in early will help us better serve your child/children.
THANK YOU!
Submit completed Health and Registration Forms via email, fax, mail, or in person to:
Yakima Area Arboretum
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, WA 98901
Hours: Mon - Sat, 9AM to 5PM
Phone: 509-248-7337
Fax: 509-248-8197
Email: info@ahtrees.org
Play
Create 
Explore
Where
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, WA 98901
Cancellation/Refund Policy
If you need to cancel your child's Nature Day Camp session for any reason, please contact us immediately. If the session is cancelled with at least 21 days notice you will receive a full refund minus a $30 processing fee. If the session is cancelled with less than 21 days, no refund will be given
After Camp Childcare
Pre-arranged after camp child care available from 3 pm - 5 pm ($10/child/hour). Call the Arboretum at 509-248-7337 to make arrangements.
Don't spend your summer indoors! Discover how much fun it is to spend time outdoors, exploring, playing, and learning about nature!
The Yakima Area Arboretum is committed to offering first rate environmental education to our Nature Day Campers. We believe that facilitating positive outdoor experiences while developing an understanding of local ecology can yield a powerful and lasting educational experience that helps create more informed, sensitive, and thoughtful citizens. We strive to provide a collaborative learning environment that blends the arts, sciences, and playfulness, that actively engages the hearts, hands, and minds of our students.
The themes for the summer camp season change each summer. These themes will help guide the games, lessons, activities, and exploration of each camp week to offer a wider variety for multi-week campers and a more focused week based on your child's interest. Check out our themes below for 2018!
Camp tuition includes a T-shirt and twice daily snacks.
Campers should come prepared each day with:
- Sunscreen already applied
- Backpack
- Lunch
- Water bottle
- Durable clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty
2018 Camp Themes:
Creature Creations NEW! - 1st through 7th Graders
Campers will be inspired to recreate engineering feats found in the natural world. Lessons include making "paper-wasp paper" for journal covers, hand made bird nests to take home, and making beaver dams and slides by the river.
Weeks:
June 18th through June 22nd COMPLETED
July 30th through August 3rd - 4th through 7th grade only (1st through 3rd Full)
Water World - 1st through 7th grade
Campers will get wet this summer with a week of water exploration. Discover the critters that live in our water, learn where our water comes from, and cool off with water inspired games.
Weeks:
July 9th through July 13th COMPLETED
August 6th through August 10th - 4th through 7th grade only (1st through 3rd grade FULL WAILTIST ONLY)
Leap, Slither, & Crawl - 1st through 3rd Graders
Explore the smaller creatures of the Yakima Area Arboretum. Campers spend their days looking for creatures that might be leaping, slithering, or crawling through the trees.
Weeks:
June 25th through June 29th COMPLETED
July 23rd through July 27th (FULL WAITLIST ONLY)
August 13th through August 17th (FULL WAITLIST ONLY)
Survivor - 4th through 7th Graders
Campers learn the basics of what it takes to survive in the wilderness. Learn how to create a survival shelter, purify water for drinking, build a fire, make rope, and identify native plants and animals. This is our most popular camp!
Weeks: 
June 25th though June 29th COMPLETED
July 23rd through July 27th (FULL CALL FOR WAITLIST ONLY)
August 13th through August 17th (FULL CALL FOR WAITLIST ONLY)
Nature in Motion - 1st through 5th grade
Campers spend the week outside moving, playing, and letting loose. Learn how fun it can be; being active outdoors while learning a thing or two about our natural world in this high energy camp.
Week:
July 16th through July 20th COMPLETED
Teen Naturalists NEW! - 6th through 9th Graders
Teen Naturalist campers will get a taste of the environmental sciences as they conduct a field study at the Arboretum for the week. Along with the many games and challenges, guest speakers from local State, Federal, and Tribal groups will give campers insight about their work and their experiences in field research throughout the week. They will be ending the week with a short presention on their study's findings to fellow campers and camp Staff.
Week: 
July 16th through July 20th COMPLETED
Please Keep In Mind
Please help your child put on sunscreen and insect repellent before camp!
Send your child to camp with weather appropriate clothing since we will be learning and playing outside rain or shine! Please select clothing that is not expensive or new. Pack an extra set of clothing to keep in your child’s camp-cubby, just in case!
Choose lightweight lunch foods that do not need to be refrigerated since we will be packing our lunches and picnicking often. No need for heavy drinks since we will have our water bottles with us.
Any necessary medications must be included on the registration form or explained to camp staff during sign in. Campers with potentially life-saving medication or medical devices (inhaler, epi-pen) CANNOT participate if they do not have the medication or device at camp.
Camp staff will have extra sun block, insect repellant, and itch relief ointment along with a complete first-aid kit including topical antibiotic and Benadryl. If you have concerns about these over-the-counter products being offered to your camper if she/he is in need, please talk with camp staff during sign in/out. All staff are First Aid/CPR certified.
We will be traveling to offsite locations such as Sarg Hubbard Park, Robertson’s Landing, and Sherman Park during the week. At these times all campers are advised to use facilities provided at the Arboretum before leaving. Once we have left Arboretum grounds, we will be using facilities provided at the various locations that may not be as well kept. Please speak with camp director Garrett Brenden if you believe this may be an issue for your camper(s).
Nature Day Camp is Sponsored by the Following Organizations:
