Summer Camp
AWS summer camp gives animal-loving students days packed with fun activities and adventures, both inside the Adoption Center and outside in the fresh air.
About this Program
During the week-long day camp, students learn to be as curious as a kitten, as energetic as a puppy and as agile as a bunny. They enrich the lives of AWS animals with hands-on projects such as preparing treats or reading stories. They participate in interactive games, lessons and presentations to learn about companion animals and the many roles they play in our lives. During the week, students take several off-site field trips to learn about wildlife conservation and animal rehabilitation. Every day of camp, students engage their curiosity, use their imagination and make new friends of all kinds!
Daily instruction from AWS’ Youth Programs Coordinator helps students become the best animal advocates they can be. Whether students love snakes or squirrels, horses or house cats, puppies or pandas, AWS camp is the place to be!
2024 Camp Schedule & Registration
AWS Camp registration is now CLOSED for the season as all slots are filled.
We look forward to seeing you starting in July!
Due to strong interest in our summer camp program, slots fill up fast. Because there are so many local children who want to enjoy the summer camp experience at AWS, we request that you register your child for only one week of camp. AWS Summer Camp is a one-week experience, not a full-summer experience, as the activities follow the same schedule each week. Thank you!
Click on your desired camp session below to access the registration form.
Junior Camp (ages 7-9)
Senior Camp (ages 10-13)
Frequently Asked Questions
We receive many inquiries about our summer camp program, so before you call or email, please take a moment to review our FAQs. If our FAQs do not answer your question, then please contact our Youth Programs Coordinator.
While we take a few days for field trips, when we are on-site at AWS, we play indoor and outdoor games (depending on weather of course), do crafts, visit and volunteer in the Adoption Center, have hands-on time with friendly program animals, take trail walks at AWS and listen to presentations from our dog trainers.
Our camp takes place in our Youth Programs Classroom in the Boston House building (the white house on AWS’ property) and just for the summer, we put up a large tent for outdoor classroom space.
We go offsite to visit other animal and nature related organizations that help us show students their connection to all living things. We contract Atlantic Limousine to provide transportation and we take a small (and very comfortable) bus with seatbelts. Field trips are chaperoned by AWS Youth Programs Coordinator and Summer Camp staff members.
Yes, rising second graders are welcome to become an AWS camper. However, you know your child best. Our camp hours are 9am to 3pm and can be a long day for some young participants.
As for sixth graders, on the cusp of both sessions, you know your child’s maturity level best. Senior weeks are geared towards a middle school age group. The younger group tends to have more active outdoor time while older groups like to play card games and group games like Uno. The field trips and core activities for both sessions are the same.
We know this may add a level of complication to your summer plans, but we do ask that you only enroll you child in the appropriate session, based on age/maturity level. Because our camp weeks are geared towards an older and younger audience, we want to ensure that your child gets an age-appropriate experience. We do wish we could accommodate all families, and we appreciate your understanding.
There are many local children who want to enjoy the summer camp experience at AWS, and each week has the same fields trips and activities. Therefore, we request that you register your child for only one week of camp to allow as many children as possible to attend. If there are open spots after July 1, then you can enroll your child in a second session. Please contact our Youth Programs coordinator if you have any questions or concerns.
Yes, campers visit and volunteer in the Adoption Center nearly every day. They experience how an animal shelter operates and assist with daily tasks, such as windexing windows, helping with afternoon animal chores, help prepare meals for the animals, including making daily salads for small animals and visit and interact with friendly animals. Which shelter animals students interact with depends on our population at the time. When there are limited shelter animals for children to engage with, they visit with Youth Program animals and pets of staff and volunteers.
AWS staff are no authorized to dispense or administer medications to your child. Please reach out to our Youth Programs Coordinator with more questions.
Regarding allergies:
- Animal Allergies: Yes, children are exposed to animals. AWS staff can make no guarantees about which animals your child may be exposed to as it depends on our pet population at the time of their camp week, and our population is always changing.
- Environmental/Seasonal Allergies: AWS has grassy fields, abundant trees, wildflowers and more. Much of the camp takes place outdoors. Please plan accordingly.
- Bee Allergies: AWS’ grounds play host to an active bee hive in the summer, and we are outdoors often. Please plan accordingly.
- Peanut Allergies: AWS is not a nut-free facility or campus. Many of our dog treats and enrichment snacks contain peanut butter.
If you have any additional questions, please contact our Youth Programs Coordinator.
Gallery
Questions?
For more information, please contact Youth Programs Coordinator via email or telephone at (207) 985-3244 ext. 109.
