Nature Day Camp - Summer Registration

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

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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