Cayuga Nature Center Summer Camps

Cayuga Nature Center Summer Camp takes place at a site that includes 100 acres of woodland and old field, a six-story treehouse called TreeTops, live native animals, a gorge and waterfall, more than 5 miles of walking trails, and a historic main lodge with exhibits on local forest ecology, wildlife, climate, and the ecology of the Cayuga Basin. Campers are in a setting that also includes the largest public aquarium in the Finger Lakes, which highlights the fish life of Cayuga Lake past and present.

• Schedule: General hours during the camp season are Monday and Thursday–Sunday from 10am–5pm.

The Cayuga Nature Center was founded in 1981. In January 2011, the Boards of the Paleontological Research Institution and the Cayuga Nature Center voted unanimously to move forward with a full merger of the two organizations, and in 2013 it merged with the Paleontological Research Institution and expanded its onsite exhibits and programs. The Cayuga Nature Center provides indoor and outdoor programs and exhibits that encourage visitors to explore and understand the natural history of the Cayuga Lake Basin as part of the regional and global ecosystems. It is part of the Paleontological Research Institution and is affiliated with Museums4All, Blue Star Museums, Discovery Trail, and Cornell.

Last updated May 28, 2026.