Nature Day Camp - Summer Registration

Registration for Summer 2025

Sign ups for Nature Day Camp will be added here when they are finalized. Registration begins on Thursday, May 15 at 9:30am for all 8 weeks of Nature Day Camp. We only participate in Session A of registration.

How to register:

• ONLINE at portland.gov/parks/register
• CALL any community center or PP&R Customer Service 503-823-2525 during operating hours.
• IN-PERSON at any PP&R facility, including the Customer Service Center.

General information

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

2025 Locations

• Mt Tabor Park (central SE)
• Sellwood Park/Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (lower SE)
• Hoyt Arboretum (W)
• Pier Park (N)
• Powell Butte Natural Area (Outer SE)

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. Pickup begins at 3:00 and goes until 3:30. After-care is from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. 

Some shortened weeks
Weeks that will be shortened include Week 1, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 8. See schedule below for details.

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 2025. Pre-registration is required. After-care goes from 3:30 - 5:30 pm.

Camp Costs and the Access Discount Program

Camp Costs

• Five-day weeks   |   $300 - Portland residents, $420 - Non-residents 
• Four-day weeks |   $240 - Portland residents, $336 - Non-residents
• Three-day week |   $180 - Portland residents, $252 - Non-residents

After-Care Costs

• Five-day weeks | $60 - Portland residents, $84 - Non-residents
• Four-day week | $48 - Portland residents, $67- Nonresidents
• Three-day week | $36 - Portland residents, $50 - Non-residents

Need to lower the cost of camp? Nature Day Camp will be using the Access Discount Program in 2024. See the Access Discount Program webpage for more information

Registration Tips

1. See the Access Discount Program webpage and sign up for the program before the morning of registration.
2. 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
3. Pay attention to camp dates! Some weeks have five-day camps, and others have three-day camps.
4. Need to lower the cost of camp? Make sure to register for an Access Pass. Do this ahead of time!
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 2025 Schedule and Registration Links

Registration begins on Thursday, May 15 at 9:30am for all 8 weeks of Nature Day Camp. We only participate in Session A of registration. The links below will be live on that day.

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