SWIFTS Nature Camp

SWIFTS Nature Camp includes Forest Friends, where campers in Grades 1 and 2 spend the week exploring the forest Sanctuary with games, science, and imagination. It also includes Super Scientists for Grades 1 and 2, Creature Creators for Grades 2 and 3, Nature Explorers for Grades 3 to 5, Outdoor Naturalists for Grades 6 to 8, and Science in the Wild for Grades 9 to 12, with activities that include exploration, experiments, arts and crafts, specimen investigations, art projects, hiking, discovering plants and animals, wilderness skills, wildcrafting, and birding.

Programs

• Forest Friends — Grades 1 & 2 · Our youngest campers spend the week exploring our forest Sanctuary with games, science, and plenty of imagination.
• Super Scientists — Grades 1 & 2 · Spark your love of science and nature by discovering all that lies within the Sanctuary through exploration, experiments and arts and crafts!
• Creature Creators — Grades 2 & 3 · Meld your love of science and art with specimen investigations, art projects, experiments, and nature exploration in our Sanctuary.
• Nature Explorers — Grades 3-5 · Travel to some of the most beautiful green spaces in the metro area to hike, create and discover some of the incredible plants and animals that call Portland home.
• Outdoor Naturalists — Grades 6-8 · Head out to Pacific Northwest ecosystems, gain new wilderness skills, and enjoy wildcrafting: combining the beauty of nature with artistic expression in the natural world.
• Science in the Wild — Grades 9-12 · Join us on an immersive birding adventure across the region.
• Wildlife Champions — Grades 1-2
• Earth Protectors — Grades 2-3
• EcoArt Explorers — Grades 3-5
• Wild in the City — Grades 6-8 · FULL

At a glance

• Ages: 6–18 years old
• General schedule: 3-week SWIFTS Nature Camp tracks continue in three-week cycles throughout the summer. Sessions 1, 2, and 3 are all the same camp.

About the provider

SWIFTS Nature Camp tracks run in three-week cycles throughout the summer, and Sessions 1, 2, and 3 are all the same camp. Aftercare is available Monday through Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., with a $25 fee for any child picked up after 3:15 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and after 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Pre-registration for aftercare is required.

Aftercare is available Monday through Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. There is a $25 fee for any child picked up after 3:15 p.m. (M-Th) and 1:30 p.m. (Fridays). Aftercare pickup location: Bird Alliance of Oregon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210. Pre-registration for aftercare is required.

Last updated October 11, 2026.