If your children are ready to go wild this summer, there’s still time to sign up for some great local camps. BREC offers a variety of options that allow kids to experience animal encounters and appreciate nature.
For more information on any of these summertime favorites, visit brec.org.
Bluebonnet Swamp Summer Camp
Summer is a great time for kids to ditch their virtual-reality games and head out for some real adventure. At the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Camp, age-specific activities keep kids busy interacting with live animals, going on hikes, playing games, creating nature crafts and taking field trips twice a week.
All campers bring a bag lunch and drink; afternoon snacks are provided.
Sessions: 1. Swamp Squirts: June 6-10 for ages 5-6
2. Swamp Stompers: June 13-17 for ages 7-10
3. Swamp Stompers—girls only: June 20-24 for ages 7-10
4. Swamp Explorers: June 27-July 1 for ages 11-14
5. Swamp Stompers: July 11-15 for ages 7-10
6. Swamp Stompers—boys only: July 18-22 for ages 7-10
7. Swamp Explorers: July 25-29 for ages 11-14
8. Swamp Squirts: Aug. 1-5 for ages 5-6 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7 a.m. and late pick-up is until 6 p.m. for an additional fee of $25. Cost: $115 per East Baton Rouge Parish resident per session; $138 per out-of-parish resident per session.
Zoo Camp
If your children aim to do little this summer, the opportunity to walk and talk with the animals may be just what the doctor ordered. A week at zoo camp may be enough to engender a lifelong curiosity about other species and the environment.
Sessions: 3. Brought to You By…: June 6-10 for ages 8-10
4. Nature Thought of it First: June 13-17 for ages 8-10
5. Nature at Work: June 20-24 for ages 11-13
6. Sensory Safari: June 27-July 1 for ages 5-7
7. Wet and Wild: July 4-8 for ages 5-7
8. Bringing Up Baby: July 11-15 for ages 8-10
9. Wet and Wild: July 18-22 for ages 8-10
10. Decoding Nature: July 25-29 for ages 11-13 Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up is until 5:30 p.m. at no additional fee. Cost: $120 per child per week for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $142 per child per week for out-of-parish residents.
Outdoor Adventure Camp
Besides traditional camp activities, Outdoor Adventure Camp offers the excitement of high adventure activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, archery, hiking, biking, slack lining and more. Campers also learn survival skills, create fun nature-based arts and crafts and forge great friendships. Fees include all field trips to various destinations. Registration is limited to 25 campers per session. This camp fills up fast, so it’s a good idea to register early.
Greenwood Community Park sessions
June 6-10
June 13-17
June 27-July 1
July 11-15
July 18-22
July 25-29
City-Brooks Community Park sessions
June 13-17
June 20-24
June 27-July 1
July 11-15
July 18-22
July 25-29
Ages: 8-12 Hours: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost: $120 per participant per week
Farr Park Equestrian Center camps
Located only six miles away from downtown on nearly 300 acres, this Farr Park Equestrian Center offers three types of camps that teach basic riding and horsemanship skills and engages campers in crafts and games and other horse-related activities.
Horse Lover’s Camp (Sessions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8) One of the highlights of each session of this weekly camp is the horse show every Friday at 11 a.m. for parents. Campers participate in educational horse-related activities developed to keep horse-crazy kids happy by riding and learning about horse care.
Horse Lover’s Camp gives campers a solid introduction and foundation to horseback riding. Sessions are divided into three different groups: Pony camp for ages 6 to 8; Western-style riding for ages 9 to 12; and, English-style riding for ages 9 to 12.
Sessions: 1. June 6-10
2. June 13-17
4. June 27-July 1
6. July 11-15
7. July 18-22
8. July 25-29
Sessions 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 (half days) Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Ages: 6-12 Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up is until 1:30 p.m. at no additional fee. Cost: $130 per session for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $156 per session for out-of-parish residents.
Session 4 (full days)
Besides a half-day of riding and horse care, campers engage in other non-horse activities at Farr Park Equestrian Center and other locations. The Session 4 horse show begins at 4 p.m. Ages: 6-12 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up is until 5:30 p.m. at no additional fee. Cost: $200 per session for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $240 per session for out-of-parish residents.
Horse Lover’s Adventure Camp (Session 3 only) This camp combines a love of horses with a love of nature. Campers learn basic riding and horsemanship skills and participate in crafts and games and other horse-related activities in the morning. After lunch, campers learn skills in paddling (kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding), hiking, biking, fishing, archery, paddle skating, slack lining, land navigation, geocaching and other outdoor-themed activities. Dates: June 20-24 Ages: 6-12 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up is until 5:30 p.m. at no additional fee. Cost: $200 per session for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $240 per session for out-of-parish residents.
Junior Horsemanship Camp (Sessions 5 & 9 only) Designed for older kids, this camp educates equestrians in all aspects of the sport. Campers improve their English and Western riding skills, as well as gain experience with horses on the ground. Basic veterinary care, feeding, grooming and stall cleaning are just a few of the many activities campers will experience.
Session 5 dates: July 5-8 Session 9 dates: Aug. 1-5 Ages: 13-15 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Early drop-off/late pick-up options: Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up is until 5:30 p.m. at no additional fee. Session 5 Cost: $160 per session for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $192 per session for out-of-parish residents. Session 5 will only be four days long due to the July 4th holiday. Session 9 Cost: $200 per session for East Baton Rouge Parish residents; $240 per session for out-of-parish residents.
Know other critter-friendly summer camps? Tell us in the comments.
Creature feature
If you’d like to bring the furry fun home, SOS Rescue offers adoptable cats, kittens, puppies and dogs including:
Farfel is a 1.5-year-old boxer/hound mix. He interacts well with children, cat and other dogs. Farfel loves to chase balls, chew on his rope toys and play “tag” with his human friends. Most of all, Farfel loves attention and being part of a family.
Curly is a bold, happy little guy. This young short-haired adult cat has tons of energy and loves to cuddle. He got his name because he was born with a kink at the end of this tail. Curly loves playing with his kitty friends in his foster home and gets along well with dogs. He would be happiest in a home with other animals.
JoJo is an Anatolian shepherd mix puppy, who will probably grow up to weigh at least 50 pounds. She was rescued before her owner took her to the pound. She is super friendly, loves people and other dogs. She is cat curious but not aggressive. JoJo loves to play and she would love to find a home with lots of activity.
Brulee is a five-month-old flame point Siamese mix. This gorgeous blue-eyed beauty should adjust well to any cat-friendly home.
Marc Anthony is an adult foxhound/Catahoula mix, who was rescued while trying to enter a convenience store located off the highway. He was very malnourished and covered in mud. Nonetheless, he is a wonderful dog. Among his many virtues, Marc Anthony has perfect house manners, shakes hands, loves kids and loves to play fetch. He also gets along with other dogs and doesn’t seem to mind cats.
O’Malley is an adult bobtailed brown tabby. He is such a handsome fellow with swirled stripes. O’Malley loves playing with other kitties and people as well.
These great pets have all been vaccinated, spayed/neutered, microchipped and heartworm tested. Many other puppies, dogs, cats and kittens are available at sosrescuebr.org.
