About
Headwaters Summer Science Camps offers outdoor science camps where kids take part in hiking, water exploration, nature investigation, and hands-on outdoor science. Campers explore plants and wildflowers, animals and insects, and focus on topics such as water science, soil, rocks and wind, and biodiversity. Older campers can design and carry out real environmental research projects, investigate an ecology research topic in the field, design and perform experiments, and collect data in the field.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Truckee Summer Science Day Camp is a week-long outdoor science day camp; Girls Summer Science Research Camp is a 4-day, 3-night overnight science camp; Introduction to Research Overnight Science Camp is a 3-day, 2-night overnight field camp
Headwaters Summer Science Camps runs hands-on outdoor science camps for kids ages 5–15 across the Lake Tahoe region and the East Bay Area, along with additional overnight programs. All camps are led by experienced science educators and counselors. The Girls Summer Science Research Camp includes working alongside professional female scientists, and the Introduction to Research Overnight Science Camp introduces students to the scientific research process in an outdoor setting. Programs are based on Student Driven Research, guiding students to design and perform experiments that answer their own questions through the scientific method, and are designed to meet NGSS standards. Overnight programs are described as immersive 3–5 day experiences on Donner Summit in Northern California where students design their own research projects and collect data in the field. Financial assistance is offered.
The mission of Headwaters Summer Science Camps is to foster curiosity through science, led by educators, scientists, and community members. The leadership and staff team includes Matt Ellis-Ramírez, Bay Area Youth Program Coordinator and an interdisciplinary ecologist who was an NSF Microbiomes Fellow at UC Berkeley; Baylee Goodwin, Program Coordinator with a degree in Zoology from Oregon State University and six years of environmental education and conservation experience across eight states; Jenn Cotton, Senior Marketing, Communications, and Development Manager with a B.S. in Event Management and over 15 years of experience in education and science; Mary Kathryne Schumaker, Bay Area School Program Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Environmental Science and minors in Mandarin Chinese and Disaster Science & Management; Megan Joyce, Communications Director and Research Program Manager with a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences from Cornell University and an MPA in Environmental Policy from Syracuse University; Monique Allen, Program and Fundraising Assistant, Bay Area, with a double major in Biology and Science, Technology, and Society and a minor in Education from Vassar College; Chase Oishi, Program Coordinator of the Bay Area; Brea Gillespie, Youth Programs and Research Experience Manager with a PhD from the University of California, Davis, and San Diego State University and an undergraduate degree from Spelman College; Mary Ellen Benier, Programs staff member with a BA in Biology/Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz; and Eva Bradman, Program, Marketing, and Fundraising Assistant with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from UC Santa Barbara and minors in Science Communication and Spatial Science.
Headwaters reports serving over 225 students in Richmond, San Pablo, and El Cerrito, and notes that the WCCUSD Summer Science Camp is for WCCUSD students only. Headwaters also completed an Introduction to Research Field Science Program at McKeesport Area High School with 30 10th–12th grade environmental science and biology students. Testimonials from participants describe learning and improving science skills while having fun, interacting with females from across California who are interested in science, gaining a new interest in science, and learning about the importance of natural sciences and the role of women in science fields.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Truckee Summer Science Day Camp is a week-long outdoor science day camp; Girls Summer Science Research Camp is a 4-day, 3-night overnight science camp; Introduction to Research Overnight Science Camp is a 3-day, 2-night overnight field camp
Headwaters Summer Science Camps runs hands-on outdoor science camps for kids ages 5–15 across the Lake Tahoe region and the East Bay Area, along with additional overnight programs. All camps are led by experienced science educators and counselors. The Girls Summer Science Research Camp includes working alongside professional female scientists, and the Introduction to Research Overnight Science Camp introduces students to the scientific research process in an outdoor setting. Programs are based on Student Driven Research, guiding students to design and perform experiments that answer their own questions through the scientific method, and are designed to meet NGSS standards. Overnight programs are described as immersive 3–5 day experiences on Donner Summit in Northern California where students design their own research projects and collect data in the field. Financial assistance is offered.
The mission of Headwaters Summer Science Camps is to foster curiosity through science, led by educators, scientists, and community members. The leadership and staff team includes Matt Ellis-Ramírez, Bay Area Youth Program Coordinator and an interdisciplinary ecologist who was an NSF Microbiomes Fellow at UC Berkeley; Baylee Goodwin, Program Coordinator with a degree in Zoology from Oregon State University and six years of environmental education and conservation experience across eight states; Jenn Cotton, Senior Marketing, Communications, and Development Manager with a B.S. in Event Management and over 15 years of experience in education and science; Mary Kathryne Schumaker, Bay Area School Program Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Environmental Science and minors in Mandarin Chinese and Disaster Science & Management; Megan Joyce, Communications Director and Research Program Manager with a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences from Cornell University and an MPA in Environmental Policy from Syracuse University; Monique Allen, Program and Fundraising Assistant, Bay Area, with a double major in Biology and Science, Technology, and Society and a minor in Education from Vassar College; Chase Oishi, Program Coordinator of the Bay Area; Brea Gillespie, Youth Programs and Research Experience Manager with a PhD from the University of California, Davis, and San Diego State University and an undergraduate degree from Spelman College; Mary Ellen Benier, Programs staff member with a BA in Biology/Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz; and Eva Bradman, Program, Marketing, and Fundraising Assistant with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from UC Santa Barbara and minors in Science Communication and Spatial Science.
Headwaters reports serving over 225 students in Richmond, San Pablo, and El Cerrito, and notes that the WCCUSD Summer Science Camp is for WCCUSD students only. Headwaters also completed an Introduction to Research Field Science Program at McKeesport Area High School with 30 10th–12th grade environmental science and biology students. Testimonials from participants describe learning and improving science skills while having fun, interacting with females from across California who are interested in science, gaining a new interest in science, and learning about the importance of natural sciences and the role of women in science fields.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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