Summer Nature Camp at Irvine offers children an immersive experience in the outdoors.
Do you have a child that asks why? Is eager to explore and inquire? Lights up with each small discovery? Enjoys animals, games, running around, and doesn’t mind a little mud? Irvine Nature Center’s SUMMER NATURE CAMP is for them!
CAMP OVERVIEW
• At Nature Camp, we fill our days with adventures throughout Irvine’s stunning 211-acre campus. During daily excursions, campers are immersed in the sights, sounds, textures, and smells of nature. Each weeklong camp session – taking place almost entirely outdoors – focuses on a unique, creative theme, making it fun for children to return week after week.
• Small group sizes allow for individualized attention, hands-on learning and a great bonding experience.
• Weeklong day camps from June 15 – August 21, 2026
- 9AM – 4PM for Discovery, Explorers & Adventure (ages 5-12)
- 9AM – 12PM for Saplings (ages 3&4)
- 9:30AM-11AM for Summer Little Birds (8 months-3 + caregiver)
• Optional Before (starting at 8AM) and After Care (ending at 6PM) for campers for an additional fee
• Single Days offered during the week of July 4th. Attend 1-4 days of your choosing. Daily themes described on registration portal.
• Each camper receives a Summer Nature Camp T-shirt
Summer Nature Camp is a Maryland State-Certified Youth Camp. 
Summer Nature Camp at Irvine offers curious children active, outdoor experiences, engaging with the natural world.
Every week of Nature Camp features daily outdoor exploration and plenty of animal encounters. Campers will make discoveries, memories, and friendships – all while learning about the diverse ecosystems and conservation issues in the Maryland Piedmont. The vast forests, meadows, and wetlands are our classroom, and our unique collection of Animal Ambassadors serve as teaching assistants.
Led by professional educators and naturalists, we offer day camps for FIVE AGE GROUPS. For ages 5-12 (Discovery, Explorer, and Adventure), camp runs from 9:00AM – 4:00PM. For campers age 3-4, we offer Saplings Camp as a half day, 9:00-12:00. Returning this year is Little Birds Summer Camp – a caregiver & toddler camp for children under 3.
Young teens (ages 13-16) can apply for our Counselor-in-Training program and continue enjoying the fun of summer camp while developing early leadership skills. CITs must be available Mon-Fri, for 2 consecutive weeks. The application deadline is April 15, 2026. APPLY NOW
Summer Nature Camp at Irvine is sponsored in part by the following organizations. We are grateful for their support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nature Camp includes daily excursions throughout Irvine’s 211-acre property. Campers will experience games, crafts, animal encounters, and general exploration through meadows, wetlands, and forests. Each week of Nature Camp has a different theme for each age group, making it fun to return week after week.
Each camp group contains a maximum of 16 children and will be supervised by at least two staff members.
Before Care is offered weekly from 8AM-9AM for a cost of $75/week. On Mondays, arrival for all campers begins at 8:30AM for the weekly Meet & Greet.
After Care is offered weekly from 4PM-6PM for a cost of $150/week. This option is available for campers ages five and up. (NOTE: For families choosing Before & After Care, the combined weekly fee is $200 per child.)
At Irvine, the health and safety of our community is always our highest priority. As the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly changing, we cannot be sure what regulations will be in place by summer. Regardless, we will abide by the Maryland Department of Health Youth Camp Directive at that time and have in place safety precautions which may include face masks, social distancing, and/or daily health screenings. More specific information will be sent to camp families in the late Spring.
While we encourage everyone to be vaccinated, it is not a requirement for campers to have had the COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes! Adventure Camp (ages 10-12) offers a variety of unique components for our oldest campers, including an evening program, campout, or field trip. Plus, Explorers Camp (ages 7-9) will include an evening program each week. Check the weekly descriptions for specific details.
Prices vary by age; in general, camps for older age groups cost a little more. Our camp sessions are all one-week long; while there is no discount for signing up for multiple weeks of Summer Nature Camp, many families do. Please refer to the camp brochure for the full listing of camp dates, themes, and prices.
There are two ways to save on Summer Nature Camp. 1) Sign up before February 17, 2025 and save an early bird 5%. 2) Irvine Members save! Become a Member of Irvine, at the Pacesetter level ($100) or higher, and your family will receive a discount on our Summer Nature Camps. Plus, members enjoy free admission to Irvine, for your entire household, for a full year. Additional benefits and discounts on most of our other education programs can be found HERE.
Located in Owings Mills, MARYLAND, Irvine IS JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM I-695, I-795 AND I-83. Summer Nature Camp will run fOR 10 WEEKS. We hope you’ll join us!
What Families Are Saying
My daughter just finished two weeks of camp at Irvine and is already talking about next year! She loved it even more than I imagined. From hikes, to crafts, meeting new creatures, and playing in the rain, it was hands down the best camp experience. Thank you Irvine staff for a fantastic experience!
