Nature Camp is located in Skofield Park in beautiful Mission Canyon, two miles southeast of Santa Barbara’s Botanic Gardens. Campers experience a full and rewarding two-week (ten-day) program focusing on the flora and fauna of the Santa Barbara foothills, studies of local creeks, hikes in Rattlesnake Canyon, Cold Springs and San Ysidro trails, and field trips to local beaches including Leadbetter, Butterfly, East Beach, and Carpinteria State Beach. Additional field trips include the Watershed Resource Center, Humane Society, Kids World, Museum of Natural History, and Los Baños Pool. All sessions include a camp overnight, which takes place on the second Thursday of each session. Parents bring a dinner at 5:00 PM, family and friends and have a picnic meal at Skofield with their camper(s). After dinner, the campers perform songs and skits for the parents. Please note that on the Friday following the overnight, camp will end at 12 noon. Campers are placed in groups of 8 to 10. Camp is limited to 35 campers each session. Each day begins at 9am with the “Morning Celebration,” -- a series of camp songs, an overview of the activities, and the daily Trivia contest. Nature Camp has a daily specific theme such as Welcome to Camp Day, Love a Beach Day, or Hike a Trail Day with all activities geared toward that theme.


Transportation
Campers in sessions 1,2,4 & 5 are picked up each morning from Mackenzie Park (near Las Positas Road and McCaw Ave) and transported to Skofield Park at 9am and returned to Mackenzie Park at 4pm. Session 3 due to El Mercado del Norte in Mackenzie Park pickup/drop off is at Oak Park. Parents must sign their camper into and out of camp each day.

Meet the Staff of Nature Camp 2007

Reese Beisser – Nature Camp Director
Reese just finished his third year of college and first year at UCSB studying microbiology.  This is Rees’s fourth summer working as a Nature Camp counselor and first summer as director.  “I’ve been a camper at Nature Camp since I was 8 years old, then a Junior Counselor, Counselor and now Director.  I know all about the craziness and fun that keeps families coming back”.  Reese plays guitar, and enjoys theatre and dance.  “I’m looking forward to yet another year and seeing campers from previous years and meeting new campers”.Kelci Hahn – Nature Camp Counselor
Kelci is a graduating senior from San Marcos High School returning to Nature Camp as a counselor for a second year. Many returning campers will remember Kelci as she was a Junior Counselor at Nature Camp for 5 years and has been a camper since she was 6 years old. Kelci is an honors student interested in theater, singing, and student government who will be attending UCLA in the fall studying Neuroscience. Yes, Nature Camp now has a potential brain surgeon at camp! Kelci encourages all JC's that really love Nature Camp to stick with it as JC's really do become counselors. Kelci says “I have fun ideas and games that I can’t wait to share”.Michael Hanson – Nature Camp Counselor
Michael is returning for his second year as a Nature Camp Counselor.  Prior to Nature Camp Michael worked as a counselor at Barbara Garner’s Performing Arts Summer Camp.  Michael is a Theater Arts major at U.C.L.A who will be sharing his fabulous talents with the campers at the infamous Family Night!  Molly Payne – Nature Camp Counselor
Molly is a Graduate of U.C.S.B who majored in English and Dramatic Arts.  Molly has distinguished herself as an employee of Santa Barbara School District and director of the Wizard of Oz for the A-OK program.  Molly loves working with kids and can’t wait to join the fabulous troop at Nature Camp.Oceana Moore – Nature Camp Counselor
Oceana, like many of our staff, was a Nature Camper as a child.  Oceana is an Environmental Studies Major at S.B.C.C and is working hard to save our planet in her own Oceana way.  Oceana teaches swimming lessons at the YMCA and looks forward to being a counselor for the famous Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department.

Extended Day
Available in the mornings starting at 7:30 am and in the afternoons from 4- 5:30 for families who need their camper supervised before and after regular camp hours. Extended Day takes place in Mackenzie Park in the Adult building next to the playground. Extended Day session #3 takes place at Oak Park (corner of Pueblo and Alamar near the playground) due to Fiesta activities at Mackenzie Park.