Tracks & Tides

A summer nature adventure by the Bay!

School is out and it’s the perfect time to spend a day on the beach with friends, better yet, friends who know a thing or two about the land and sea. On the land, we explore the beaches and hills of China Camp tracking, playing scout games, and practicing wilderness skills. In the water we swim, splash, kayak, and paddle board. A band of nature explorers, we comb the beach for treasures sneaking past the egrets to find our adventure.

This camp includes our core curriculum plus fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, beach tracking, and more. What could be better? We are really excited for this one.

Skills:

• Kayaking safety and technique
• Paddleboarding
• Swimming
• Water play
• Flora and fauna of the San Rafael area
• China Camp history
• Treasure hunts
• Beach inspired nature crafts

• Ages: 6.5–12 years old

• Location: China Camp State Park, San Rafael, CA

• Schedule: Multiple weeklong sessions offered throughout the summer, 9am–3pm daily

• Price: Tuition Per Session Rate A: $874, Rate B: $742, Rate C: $632

Tracks & Tides is part of Vilda, which is dedicated to facilitating meaningful connections with the natural world. Vilda started in Fairfax, California in 2008 and has been running programs since then, now serving over 1000 kids a year in Marin, Sonoma, and Tahoe. The organization is a 501c(3) non-profit and provides nature education, youth programs, homeschool programs, and summer camps in several Bay Area communities and in Tahoe and Truckee. The program is led by Vilda’s founder, Mia Andler, and uses a badge system for the attainment of skills badges.

One parent of a 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl describes the camp as a unique and positive nature experience of exploring and learning, speaking highly of the counselors. Another parent of two 7-year-old girls reports seeing changes in how their children notice nature, and a parent of a 9-year-old boy asserts that Vilda is their son’s favorite camp.

Vilda states that families in the Bay Area have differing abilities to pay and that it wants its programs to serve as many children as possible regardless of financial situation. Scholarships are available.