KIDS for the BAY

KIDS for the BAY offers Summer Camp Adventures for ages 5-7 and Summer Camp Explorers for ages 8-11. The program also offers Camp Rangers helpers for ages 12-13, Leaders in Training / Interns for ages 14-17, and Junior Camp Leaders for ages 16-17. School programs include Bay Estuary Classroom Workshops, Creek, Bay and Ocean Field Trip Explorations, the Watershed Action Program, and the Storm Drain Rangers Program.

Programs

• Summer Camp Adventures — 5-7 · Monday through Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm; flexible drop-off 8:30–9:00 am; flexible pick-up 3:00–3:30pm; after-camp care 3:30–5:00 pm · Summer camp sessions for youth age 5-7.
• Summer Camp Explorers — 8-11 · Monday through Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm; flexible drop-off 8:30–9:00 am; flexible pick-up 3:00–3:30pm; after-camp care 3:30–5:00 pm · Summer camp sessions for youth age 8-11.
• Camp Rangers helpers — 12-13 · Middle school camp ranger helpers.
• Leaders in Training / Interns — 14-17 · High school leaders in training / interns.
• Junior Camp Leaders — 16-17 · Paid positions for junior camp leaders.
• Programs for Schools — School programs connecting students with nature and hands-on science learning.
• Schoolwide Science and Environmental Action Program — Schoolwide program for elementary school communities.
• Bay Estuary Classroom Workshops — Classroom workshops with hands-on activities about the San Francisco Bay estuary.
• Creek, Bay and Ocean Field Trip Explorations — Field trips to creek, bay, or ocean habitats.
• Watershed Action Program — Four two-hour interactive classroom lessons, an environmental action project, and a fully-funded field trip.
• Storm Drain Rangers Program — Four hands-on lessons and a schoolwide assembly about storm drain pollution prevention.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• General schedule: Summer camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00am–3:00pm, with flexible morning drop-off from 8:30–9:00 am and flexible afternoon pick-up from 3:00–3:30pm. After-camp care Nature Club runs from 3:30–5:00 pm daily.

About the provider

KIDS for the BAY has 32 years of impact. The organization collaborates with teachers to connect students with nature, inspire environmental action, turn students on to science, and create lasting impact. All camps are led by year-round KIDS for the BAY Educators. Programs are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Curriculum, and teachers receive professional development in environmental science education and academic credit units through partnerships with California State University East Bay.

Camper to staff ratio is 7:1 or less. Early bird discounts, multiple-week discounts, sibling discounts and scholarship spaces are available. Summer camp registration is now open. Sessions may be waitlisted or almost full. Scholarship programs are available for some school programs.

What families say

“Science is the lost subject in elementary schools because we are so focused on math and reading. It is very valuable to have KIDS for the BAY come in and help us not only teach science but take it to another level by giving students meaningful hands-on experiences with their local environment and ensuring that they become part of preservation efforts.” — Gabriel Chilcott, Principal, Mira Vista School, Richmond

“The field trip made what we learned in the classroom lessons come alive. My students loved being outside and we were excited to learn about the nature and science of the watershed we studied in the classroom.” — Denise Abersold, Fourth Grade Teacher, Ellerhorst Elementary School, Pinole

Last updated September 14, 2026.