2023-24 Day Off Camp Series:
All 9 Camps
Enroll in all 9 Day Off Camps for the price of 8!
See camp dates and descriptions below.
Please plan to bring a lunch from home. A Welcome Letter/Gear List with more information will be emailed to all registered families the week before each camp.
Ages 5-12
Pre-registration is required! You must register by 1 PM on Thursday, September 14, to get the Full Series discount.
After September 14, you can still register for individual camps until the week before each camp, if there's still space.
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Exhibit Hall / Trails and beyond
Cost for Full Series: $880 (Membership discounts apply for Pacesetter Level and above)
Dates and Descriptions
Date: Friday, September 15
Natural Artisans
Ever wanted to combine your love of nature, science, and art? We will hike to find our own natural objects to create amazing works of art while investigating our own love of science. Our animal ambassadors even love art and can show us their own artistic skills. If you want to put yourself to the test of becoming a natural artisan, join us at Irvine!
Date: Monday, September 25
What's Cooking?
This Day off Camp is for anyone who has a love for cooking and the outdoors. This program offers young gardeners and chefs the opportunity to engage in the process of harvesting, preparing, sharing, and celebrating local foods. From seasonal foraging of edible plants on Irvine’s property to local farms’ fall bounty, children will practice knife skills, food preparation, sustainability, and recipe taste testing.
Date: Friday, October 20
Indigenous Peoples of the Chesapeake
In celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we will commemorate the Native American tribes of the Eastern Woodlands for all they have taught us about connecting with the environment and using our natural resources sustainably. We will hike to Irvine’s Native American Site where children will get an insider look at Longhouse and Wigwam replicas that pre-colonial Native American tribes would have lived in. Participants will develop a respect for Native American culture as they learn about tool use, clothing, food, fire-making methods, and even games that are different than we see in today’s world.
Date: Monday, November 13
Animal Caretakers
If your child wants to be a veterinarian, zookeeper, or park ranger, they will love this camp! Our animal care professionals will provide campers with hands-on experience feeding, caring for, and training the many species of injured and imprinted animals that we house at Irvine!
Date: Monday, January 15
Winter Wonderland
One can only marvel at the abundance of natural wonders during an Irvine winter. In this Day Off Camp, we will be taking a closer look at the often-unnoticed beauty that our coldest season has to offer. Participants will take to the trails to search for signs of wildlife as they hike down to see some of Irvine’s picturesque streams and ponds in a frozen state. After some icy experiments and games, we’ll warm up with some hot cocoa by the fire before returning to warmth at the Nature Center to finish the day with some winter themed crafts.
Date: Friday, February 9
Wilderness Survival
What would you do if you got lost in the woods? In the Wilderness Survival Day Off Camp, children will learn outdoor survival skills that can keep them safe in the event that they ever find that they have lost their way. Students will learn how to properly pack for an outdoor excursion so that they are prepared for different conditions and scenarios that may arise. They will learn skills such as basic navigation and map reading, shelter building, fire building and safety, water collection and filtering, and how to use the resources around them to help them survive. Don’t miss out on this awesome learning experience for your child!
Date: Monday, February 19
Maple Magic
Maple syrup season is one of our favorite times of the year here at Irvine. We hope your child will join us for a close look at the process of collecting maple sap and turning it into the delicious syrup we all know and love! Participants will hike through our trails to visit our tapped trees and learn how the process has changed over time. We will visit the Barn to observe the process of sap changing to syrup as we enjoy some delicious treats by the fire!
Date: Monday, March 25
Awesome Amphibians
Do you know the difference between a frog and a toad? What sets amphibians apart from reptiles? Find out as we explore Irvine’s wetlands for frogs, toads, and salamanders and learn why they make their homes here. We will even meet some of our ambassador amphibians up close and practice our identification skills by sight and sound!
Date: Wednesday, April 10
Sustainability Stewards
To commemorate Earth Day, we want to bring our youth together to explore different topics regarding environmental stewardship and the impact each of us has on the Earth. Participants will spend the day learning sustainable strategies that can be practiced in daily life through hands-on activities and games. Our program will last for 7 hours, but we hope the values it will instill last a lifetime.
