Inspire’s Call of the Wild Camps are outdoor nature camps with hikes, exploration, play, biology, art, and language arts enrichment in forests and nature preserves of the Bay Area! Keep your child both physically active and educationally engaged with a fun blend of experiential learning, environmental education, and outdoor play. Children enjoy outdoor education with fun, hands-on activities in day camps in summer, fall, winter, and spring. Single-day weekend camps are also available across the East Bay on the second Saturdays.
* Open Now for Single-Day & Multiple-Day Registration (Spaces Open):
- Spring Break Camps in Berkeley’s Tilden Nature Area, Oakland’s redwoods, and Cupertino’s Rancho San Antonio
- Weekend Camps on second Saturdays through May 2026 in East Bay
* Our Campers: ages 5-10, grades K-5. Inspire’s camps are for young trailblazers, curious naturalists, eager readers, budding writers, and nature-inspired artists who enjoy a fun mix of outdoor education, recreation, and nature connection outdoors.
* Small Groups: up to 10 kids per group with 5:1 ratios. Families love our small groups!
* Activities: hiking, boating, outdoor exploration, learn biology and animal rights, practice environmental stewardship, enjoy visits to science museums and centers, read colorful and interactive nature books, enjoy storytimes, act in skits, write in nature journals, tell stories, draw and paint nature-inspired art, identify flora and fauna, play forest-themed games, build forts, climb trees, enjoy free play, make friends, and more!
* Theme weeks: summers include Enchanted Forest Art, Enchanted Forest Reading, Enchanted Forest Writing, Enchanted Vegan, Trailblazers, and more theme weeks.
* Our Approach: emergent curriculum and experiential learning flexibly honor children’s emerging skills and interests, so the curriculum adapts to each group and the adventures and curiosities of the day. Campers love our child-centered, emergent curriculum, exploring their interests in the great outdoors!
* Day Camp Session Times: school break and summer camps 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. We have a convenient 30-minute window for sign-in from 8:30 AM-9:00 AM and sign-out from 4:00 PM-4:30 PM. Saturday camps 9:00 AM-5:00 PM with sign-in from 9:00 AM-9:30 AM and sign-out from 4:30 PM-5:00 PM.
* Second Saturdays 2025-2026: Oct-May in multiple cities (Castro Valley, Oakland, and Berkeley)
* Spring Break Camps 2026:
- March 30-April 3 (Berkeley’s Tilden Nature Area)
- April 6-10 (Oakland’s Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park)
- April 13-17 (Cupertino’s Rancho San Antonio)
* Summer Camps 2026: June-August in multiple cities (Oakland, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Cupertino/Los Altos Hills)
* Fall Break Camp: Oakland’s Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
* Winter Break Camp: Oakland’s redwoods and Chabot Space and Science Center
* Nature Camp Locations:
- Oakland: Joaquin Miller Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Chabot Space and Science Center, Dimond Park, Lake Merritt
- Berkeley: Shorebird Park, Tilden Park, The Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley Botanic Garden
- Vacaville: Lagoon Valley Park and Andrews Park
- Los Gatos: Oak Meadow Park and Vasona Lake County Park
- Cupertino and Los Altos Hills: Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve
- Castro Valley: Lake Chabot
* Discounts: early bird, sibling, refer-a-friend, and parent volunteer discounts. Scholarships for 50% off registration. Most discounts may be combined!
* FREE Counselor in Training (CIT): Nature Camp Counselor internships for teens in grades 9-12, including 8th graders over the summer, and college undergrads majoring in education, biology, environmental science, or closely related fields. Interns have fun learning to be outstanding educators and can get volunteer hours.
* Learn more and join us today! Register for Call of the Wild Camps to open a wondrous door to our living classroom in the great outdoors.
Ages: 5 – 10 years old
Camp Sessions: single-day Saturday sessions, 3-day fall break session, 5-day spring break sessions, 5-day summer sessions
Cost:
1 day: $129.99
2 days: $259.98
3 days: $389.97
4 days: $519.96
5 days: $649.95
Financial Aid Available: Yes
