Nature Day Camp - Summer Registration

Information
A group of children relax in nature and have a popsicle on a hot day.
Find the dates, times, locations, and ages for all the Nature Day Camps for the upcoming summer.
On this page

Registration for Summer 2023 begins at 12:30pm on May 1

Camp dates, locations, and registration links are listed below. 


General information

Age Range
Nature Day Camps are offered to children age 5 to 12.

Locations

  • Hoyt Arboretum, Southwest Portland, meeting at Steven's Pavilion (4000 SW Fairview Boulevard)
  • Mt Tabor Park, Southeast Portland, meeting at the covered shelter across from the visitor's center (turn right at the park entrance at SE 69th Avenue and Yamhill Street)
  • Powell Butte Nature Park, Meet at the lower end of the parking lot East of the Visitor's Center(up the hill from SE 162nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard)
  • Sellwood Park/Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Southeast Portland, meeting at Picnic Area "I" at Sellwood Park (near SE 7th Avenue and Malden Street)
  • Pier Park, North Portland, meeting at the covered picnic area near N James Street and Reno Avenue

Traveling groups and friend requests
Campers will be assigned to traveling groups of 10-12 children who are close in age. Traveling groups have two assigned staff, with floating staff and support staff helping during required breaks and lunch. During the registration process, parents can name one (1) other registered camper, close in age (within 2 years), to be grouped with for the week of camp. 

Nature Day Camp policies
Before you register, make sure you are familiar with our camp policies. This includes information about withdrawal fees, late fees, lightning, and cancellations due to air quality or extreme heat. 

Start and end times
Camps begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:30 pm. Extended drop-off window is from 8:30 - 9:00 am. After-care is from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. 

Some shortened weeks
Week 1 of camp (June 27 - 30, 2023) will be a 4-day camp week
Week 2 of camp (July 5 - 7, 2023) will be a 3-day camp week 

Extended drop-off and after-care options
We offer a 30-minute extended drop-off window before camp begins each morning. Drop off between 8:30 - 9:00 am, no registration required. We will be offering optional After-care in 2023. Pre-registration is required. After-care goes from 3:30 - 5:30 pm.


Camp Costs and the Access Pass model

Camp Costs

  • Five-day weeks   |   $300 - Portland residents, $420 - Non-residents  
  • Four-day week (June 27 - 30, 2023) |   $240 - Portland residents, $336 - Non-residents
  • Three-day week (July 5 – 7, 2023)  |   $180 - Portland residents, $252 - Non-residents

After-Care Costs

  • Five-day weeks | $60 - Portland residents, $84 - Non-residents
  • Four-day week (June 27 - 30, 2023)| $48 - Portland residents, $67- Nonresidents
  • Three-day week (July 5 - 7, 2023) | $36 - Portland residents, $50 - Non-residents

Need to lower the cost of camp? Nature Day Camp will be using the Access Pass model in 2023. See the Access Pass webpage for more information


Registration Tips

  1. Set up your account ahead of time. Before the morning of registration, take the time to create or update your PP&R ActiveNet account. Make sure there is an account for your family (including the parent or adult who is doing the registration and each camper. List yourself as the Parent/Guardian and each child as a dependent). Add a saved credit card if desired.  
    Update or create your account 

  2. Pay attention to camp dates! Some weeks have five-day camps, and others have three-day camps.

  3. Need to lower the cost of camp? Make sure to register for an Access Pass. Do this ahead of time!

  4. Nature Day Camps have a withdrawal fee. A 20% non-refundable withdrawal fee is charged each time you register for a camp and then withdraw. 

  5. Use payment plans to spread out the cost. Nature Day Camps offers the following payment plan option: Pay 20% when registering for camp, and then pay the remaining balance fourteen (14) days before the camp starts. A valid credit card must be on file to use a payment plan. Note: PP&R staff will follow up on any unpaid balances. Unpaid balances are sent to collections after 120 days. 

  6. If a camp is full, always join a waitlist. This is our only way to fill spots if they should become available.  We rely heavily on waitlists to fill camps which means if you are not on the list, you will not get a call that a spot is available. 


Summer 2023 Schedule and Registration Links

Summer 2023
Camp DatesTimesActivity TypeLocationCamp Nature ThemeActivity Number

June 27 - 30
*Four Day Week

9:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampMt Tabor ParkMarvelous Mammalscoming soon!
June 27 - 30
*Four Day Week
3:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionMt Tabor Park n/acoming soon!

June 27 - 30
*Four Day Week

9:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Marvelous Mammals

coming soon!

June 27 - 30
*Four Day Week

3:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refugen/acoming soon!

July 5 - 7
*Three Day Week

9:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampMt Tabor Park Rock & Roll Lifestylecoming soon!
July 5 - 7
*Three Day Week
 
3:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionMt Tabor Park n/a

coming soon!

July 5 - 7
*Three Day Week
9:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampPowell Butte Nature ParkRock & Roll Lifestylecoming soon!
July 5 - 7
*Three Day Week
3:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionPowell Butte Nature Parkn/acoming soon!
July 10 - 149:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampMt Tabor ParkBranching Outcoming soon!
July 10 - 143:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionMt Tabor Parkn/acoming soon!
July 10 - 149:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampPowell Butte Nature ParkBranching Out

coming soon!

July 10 - 143:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionPowell Butte Nature Parkn/a

coming soon!

July 17 - 219:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeHabitats are Hipcoming soon!
July 17 - 213:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refugen/acoming soon!
July 24 -289:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeWe Can Wing Itcoming soon!
July 24 -283:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refugen/acoming soon!
July 24 -289:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampHoyt ArboretumWe Can Wing Itcoming soon!
July 24 -283:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionHoyt Arboretumn/a

coming soon!

July 31 - August 49:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeBackbone Not Requiredcoming soon!
July 31 - August 43:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refugen/acoming soon!
July 31 - August 49:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampPier ParkBackbone Not Required

coming soon!

July 31 - August 43:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionPier Parkn/a

coming soon!

August 7 - 119:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeBuzz & Fluttercoming soon!
August 7 - 113:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionSellwood Park - Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refugen/acoming soon!
August 7 - 119:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampPier ParkBuzz & Flutter

coming soon!

August 7 - 113:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionPier Parkn/acoming soon!
August 14 - 189:00-3:30 pmNature Day CampMt Tabor ParkEnchanted by Plantscoming soon!
August 14 - 17**
NO AFTER CARE ON 8/18 so all of our staff can attend the End of Year Celebration!
3:30-5:30 pmAfter-care optionMt Tabor Parkn/acoming soon!

Register for camp online, over the phone, or in-person

Online

  • Click the links above (once registration is open) to register for camp or visit the PP&R registration page and search for "Nature Day Camp" 

By phone

  • Call the Customer Service Center at 503-823-2525 and refer to the activity number of the camp.
  • Call the EE office at 503-823-3601 during our office hours from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

In person

  • Visit your local community center to register in person or call 503-823-3601 to set up a time to meet at the EE Office in Southwest Portland. 

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Contact

Rose Ramirez

Coordinator for Environmental Education - Camps and Classes

Location

Park Location or Entrance
SE 7th Avenue and Sellwood Blvd
Portland, OR 97202
Park Location or Entrance
SE 7th Avenue and Miller Street
Portland, OR 97202
Park Location or Entrance
SE Spokane Street and Oaks Parkway
Portland, OR 97202
Park Location or Entrance
SE 60th Avenue and Salmon Street
Portland, OR 97215

Hoyt Arboretum

Arboretum
Park Location or Entrance
4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Portland, OR 97221
Park Location or Entrance
16160 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97236

Pier Park

Park
Park Location or Entrance
N Lombard Street and Bruce Avenue
Portland, OR 97203