summer camp 2026
Looking forward to seeing you at Summer Camp 2026!
Get ready for another exciting summer of hands-on science, outdoor adventures, and unforgettable memories! YSI’s Summer Camp 2026 will feature favorite returning programs along with new themes designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of nature. Full details, session dates, and registration information will be available in early spring—stay tuned!
YSI Summer Camps
What Makes YSI Summer Camps Special?
Nature Meets
Exploration
Our camps combine scientific concepts with hiking, arts & crafts, and interactive games with special programs featuring our live animal ambassadors.
Exceptional Staff,
Unforgettable Experiences
Our dedicated team includes passionate college students, classroom teachers, and full-time YSI educators. Every staff member is carefully selected, trained in child safety, CPR, first aid, educational content knowledge, and customer service.
Small Groups for
Big Adventures
We maintain low camper-to-staff ratios: General Camps: 1:9 | Fishing & Biking Camps: 1:6 | Extended Day Camp: 1:10
Unforgettable Experiences With Nature
Friendly Hiking With Each for In-Person Camps
Friendly Hiking With Each for In-Person Camps
Live Animal Encounters
See you this Summer!
If you have questions or need assistance, please email camp@ysi-ca.org or call 408-356-4945 x 2
Select Your Child’s Grade for the Upcoming 2026 - 2027 School Year
Science camp weeks are sold individually
Investigators Camp | $350
Take a deeper look at some of the invisible forces that act on the world around you with hands-on science! Join fellow campers as we investigate the sound, the power of magnetic fields, and buoyancy through scientific experimentation. Meet an isopod and learn the important role they play in keeping the environment in balance.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Discovery Camp | $350
Come join the fun and discover the facts behind many natural wonders using hands-on science. How do birds fly? Why do animals move the way they do? Are there different ways to make bubbles? Discover the science behind these questions and more through your journey through YSI Discovery Camp
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Curiosity Camp | $350
Practice basic botany, take a closer look at worms, and learn about bees! Actively experiment with solids and liquids to learn more about the states of matter. Let your curiosity run wild with hands-on science activities, crafts, and guided exploration.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Investigators Camp | $350
Take a deeper look at some of the invisible forces that act on the world around you with hands-on science! Join fellow campers as we investigate the sound, the power of magnetic fields, and buoyancy through scientific experimentation. Meet an isopod and learn the important role they play in keeping the environment in balance.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Discovery Camp | $350
Come join the fun and discover the facts behind many natural wonders using hands-on science. How do birds fly? Why do animals move the way they do? Are there different ways to make bubbles? Discover the science behind these questions and more through your journey through YSI Discovery Camp
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Curiosity Camp | $350
Practice basic botany, take a closer look at worms, and learn about bees! Actively experiment with solids and liquids to learn more about the states of matter. Let your curiosity run wild with hands-on science activities, crafts, and guided exploration.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Investigators Camp | $350
Take a deeper look at some of the invisible forces that act on the world around you with hands-on science! Join fellow campers as we investigate the sound, the power of magnetic fields, and buoyancy through scientific experimentation. Meet an isopod and learn the important role they play in keeping the environment in balance.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Discovery Camp | $350
Come join the fun and discover the facts behind many natural wonders using hands-on science. How do birds fly? Why do animals move the way they do? Are there different ways to make bubbles? Discover the science behind these questions and more through your journey through YSI Discovery Camp
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Curiosity Camp | $350
Practice basic botany, take a closer look at worms, and learn about bees! Actively experiment with solids and liquids to learn more about the states of matter. Let your curiosity run wild with hands-on science activities, crafts, and guided exploration.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Investigators Camp | $350
Take a deeper look at some of the invisible forces that act on the world around you with hands-on science! Join fellow campers as we investigate the sound, the power of magnetic fields, and buoyancy through scientific experimentation. Meet an isopod and learn the important role they play in keeping the environment in balance.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Discovery Camp | $350
Come join the fun and discover the facts behind many natural wonders using hands-on science. How do birds fly? Why do animals move the way they do? Are there different ways to make bubbles? Discover the science behind these questions and more through your journey through YSI Discovery Camp
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
Curiosity Camp | $350
Practice basic botany, take a closer look at worms, and learn about bees! Actively experiment with solids and liquids to learn more about the states of matter. Let your curiosity run wild with hands-on science activities, crafts, and guided exploration.
Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camps run from:
9:00 am to 11:30 am with an extended morning care option until 1:00 pm.
fAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Any Questions?
Feel free to reach out over email or give us a call
Is there a discount for early registration?
Are there multi-session discounts?
When booking a program, you agree to the following terms:
$50 change fee for any changes made after booking (date, time, program type, or participant numbers).
$50 cancellation fee if cancelled more than 30 days before the program date.
$100 cancellation fee if cancelled within 30 days.
$175 cancellation fee if cancelled within 14 days.
$200 cancellation fee if cancelled less than 14 days before the program.
Full program fee if cancelled within 72 hours or for no-shows.
Please double-check all details before finalizing your registration.
Are there multi-person discounts?
YSI nature centers: no more than 4 instructors per school group
At school sites: no more than 2 instructors per school group
Animal-based and non-station programs: maximum of 34 students per school group
Does YSI have a cancellation policy?
Yes. Programs run September 1, 2025 – May 29, 2026.
Some programs are better suited for certain seasons. Contact programs@ysi-ca.org for recommendations.
Enrollment Change Policy:
Yes! Thanks to grant funding, Title I schools may qualify for:
Free or discounted programs
Transportation reimbursements
Contact YSI Administration during registration to check eligibility.
Programs at Vasona, Alum Rock, and Sanborn Parks
Arrival time: Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to unload and split into groups.
The front gate to Vasona Park opens at ~8:00 a.m.
Snack breaks:
Standard: 15-minute break for back-to-back groups
Life of an Ohlone (3-hour): snack break must be requested during registration
Moving, Exploding Earth: includes a snack-based activity
Food storage: Indoor storage is available for snacks/lunches.
Picnic areas: Each location has public picnic areas. To guarantee space, please reserve through the park websites.
Parent drivers: YSI will email a parking permit to distribute to drivers for free entry.
Parent chaperones: No set limit, but space is limited in classrooms. Student and instructor space takes priority.
Accessibility:
Alum Rock: Mostly paved, can be modified for accessibility
Sanborn: Limited paved paths
Vasona: Mostly paved, routes can be modified
Restrooms: All three locations have accessible restrooms.
Photos: Absolutely! We’d love to see your photos.