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Summer Camp 2025

YSI science camps immerse children in the wonders of the natural world through outdoor adventures, hands-on activities, and exciting encounters with local wildlife and habitats. From interactive science games to live animal ambassadors, every day fosters curiosity, builds social skills, and inspires a lasting connection to the environment.

New for Summer 2025 we will be offering:
  • A return of our Orientation Day for caregivers and their campers to meet our instructors before the session to ensure a successful first day.
  • Improved extended care including structured play, learning, and relaxation activities
  • An extended morning camp option for PreK-Kinder
  • A new camp for the 3rd- 4th grade age group called Awesome Anatomy!
  • A new camp for the 5th-6th grade group called Boomin’ Biomes
  • New 'Female Focused' camp sessions designed to empower girls and girl-identifying individuals to love science

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
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Live Animal Encounters
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Unforgettable Experiences With Nature
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Friendly Hiking With Each for In-Person Camps
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Science Education With Every Summer Camp
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Located in Beautiful Vasona Lake County Park
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Science Program Experts Since 1953
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Summer Science Camps run from June 9 - August 8
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Early Registration & Multi Session Discounts

Camp Registration

YSI’s 2025 Summer Science Camp registration opens January 22, 2025, at 9:00 am! Below is a preview of the list of camps for this upcoming summer, pricing details will be posted in early January.  

If you have questions or need assistance, please email camp@ysi-ca.org or call 408-356-4945 x 15.‍

Select Your Child's Grade for the 2025-2026 School Year
(Science camp weeks Are sold separately)
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Investigators Camp

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.
* Note: June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to the holiday. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 27-July 1 or August 1-5.
*June 30 - July 4August 4-8
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Discovery Camp

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.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 20-24 or July 18-22.
July 7-11
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Curiosity Camp

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.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 5-8.
June 23-27July 28 - August 1st
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Explorers Camp

Delve into the world of energy by experimenting with sound and motion. Make musical instruments and do hands-on experiments demonstrating how sound travels. Meet a toad and analyze the difference between living and non-living things. It’s time to examine, experiment, and explore.

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.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 11-15 or August 8-12.
June 16-20July 21-25
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Questers Camp

Begin to develop skills used by scientists. Learn different ways to categorize what is around us, and then sort items we find into categories. Learn about different mixtures - can colors be mixed? How about oil and water? Learn about different types of rocks and how to sort them into different categories (now that you’re an expert at sorting!). What is wind, what’s in the wind? And how do plants use the wind to their advantage? Learn about evaporation, make a cloud, and more!

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.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 25-29.
June 9-13July 14-18
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Feathers, Fur, and Scales

Dive into zoology with YSI! We will actively investigate different kinds of animals from head to toe, and from the inside out. Examine bones, fur, feathers, claws, teeth, scales, and skeletons to learn more about animal adaptations. Together we will meet YSI’s live animals and get an up-close look at how these animals are built for survival.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
Note:
*June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to the holiday. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
Female Focused (FF) camp sessions are designed to empower girls and girl-identifying individuals to love science.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 20-24, July 18-22, or August 8-12.
June 9-13June 23-27June 30 - July 4th*July 7-11July 14-18July 21-25July 28 - Aug 1 (FF)August 4-8
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Radical Reptiles

During the week, campers will have the chance to meet and touch YSI’s wide variety of live reptiles. Take an up-close look at reptilian anatomy as we learn the proper techniques scientists use to examine skeletons, skins, shells, and fossils.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
Note: *
June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to 4th of July. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
Female Focused (FF) camp sessions are designed to empower girls and girl-identifying individuals to love science
June 9-13 (FF)June 16-20*June 30 - July 4July 7-11July 21-25July 28 - August 1August 4-8
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Nature Sleuths: $324

Learn to use your senses and the tools of a scientist to look more deeply into the mystery of the world around us. YSI’s favorite camp mascot, Peppermint Bob, will help us understand scents and the sense of smell while more activities explore other senses. Experience the scientific method with a simple chemical experiment. Learn to take fingerprints and follow a footprint trail. Decode a message and later transform yourself into a world-class detective! Finally, campers will combine their knowledge and apply these tools and insights to solve a natural mystery.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)

This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 21-25 or August 2-6.
June 21-25August 2-6
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Chemistry and Physics Jr

Microscopes, lab coats, and test tubes, oh my! Prepare yourself for a week of experimentation and creation. Learn about bonds as you make slime and create rocket power!  Find out what molecules have to do with properties and scent. Let your curiosity run wild!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 5-8 or July 25-29.
June 9-13June 16-20June 23-27July 14-18July 28 - August 1August 4-8
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Water World

Conduct hands-on investigation of the properties of water by dropping, spraying, heating, freezing, and mixing it. Explore the local watershed and meet live aquatic animals. Campers will develop a better understanding of water as both a liquid and as an ecosystem.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
* Note: June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to the holiday. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 27-July 1 or August 1-5.
*June 30 - July 4July 14-18July 21-25
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Wacky Weather

Explore the world of meteorology with YSI! Explore how the weather changes. What are the different types of natural disasters? What is the difference between weather and climate? Also, learn how to prepare for sudden changes and weather and how you and your family can be safe.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 27-July 1 or August 1-5.
June 23-27July 7-11
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Awesome Anatomy

How does our heart pump blood? What to brain cells look like? Can you see DNA? Learn the answers to these questions with our Awesome Anatomy camp! Learn about the human body and the fascinating science of Physiology. Learn all the ins and outs of how we function daily.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 5-8, or July 18-22.
June 23-27July 7-11
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Bike Hike

Biology and ecology are as easy as riding a bike! Practice and improve your riding skills, learn trail etiquette, and bicycle safety. Delve into the mechanics of various bike parts with hands-on experiments. Participants must bring their own helmet and two-wheel bicycle (no training wheels) and be comfortable riding. YSI cannot provide overnight bike storage.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 5-8, or July 18-22.
June 16-20July 14-18August 4-8
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Vast Voyagers

Send your child blasting into space with this week-long program! We will discover the many differences and similarities between the planets in our solar system plus their moons. We will also talk about many different galaxies, the ingredients of a star, and so much more during this fun-filled voyage together. Plus, your child will do many hands-on projects that they will bring home to share with you. It'll be a blast-off!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
* Note: June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to 4th of July. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 18-22.
*June 30 - July 4July 29 - August 2
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Groovy Gardening

Do you have a love for gardening and want to learn some tricks of the trade? YSI has you covered! Spend the week with us and get your hands dirty while gaining some knowledge of horticulture science!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
Join waitlist for June 13-17.
June 13-17July 21-25
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Fishy Fun

Explore our watershed and examine how its health affects the fish that live there. Learn special traits that our aquatic friends possess to survive and thrive in the water. Learn how to fish, fishing safety and etiquette, and then go fishing! YSI provides fishing poles & bait, so grab your hat and sunglasses and get ready to go fishing!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for June 20-24, July 25-29, or August 8-12.
June 9-13June 23-27July 7-11July 28 - August 1
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Chemistry and Physics

Unlock the secrets to the physical realm with physics! Discover the principles of physics while making music, creating and flying airplanes and rockets, and conducting experiments with magnetism, electricity, light, and more.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
* Note: June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to 4th of July. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 18-22, August 1-5 or August 8-12.
June 9-13June 16-20*June 30 - July 4July 21-25July 28 - August 1August 4-8 (FF)
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Predator vs. Prey

Do all insects bite? Are all spiders dangerous? Is every snake venomous? Let's' talk about it! This week, YSI will teach you about each group of animals while discussing which animals are safe, and which ones aren't. You'll also learn the difference between predators and prey, and meet live animals each day to discuss which group you think they fall under based on natural and scientific evidence you gather!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
Female Focused (FF) camp sessions are designed to empower girls and girl-identifying individuals to love science.

This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 11-15.
June 9-13June 16-20June 23-27 (FF)July 7-11July 14-18July 28 - August 1
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Boomin' Biomes

Learn about the wonders of our natural world. Focus on a different biome each day and learn how the ins and outs of them. What causes deserts to form? What kind of adaptations do plants need in dry grasslands? How do scientists study the health of a habitat? Learn about the science of ecology in this immersive and fun camp!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
June 23-27July 14-18
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Bike Explorers

Explore our park and beyond on two wheels! Practice and improve your bike skills, learn how to keep your bike in good working order, and do some basic repairs while learning some biking physics. Participants must bring their own helmet and two-wheel bicycle with gears, and be comfortable riding up and down hills. YSI cannot provide overnight bike storage.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
June 9-13July 7-11July 21-25July 28 - August 1
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Sea-u-tiful Science

Learn about the wonders of ocean habitats and the animals that call it home! Campers will spend the week focusing on a specific marine habitat like coral reefs, the deep ocean, and polar seas. They will be introduced to our animal ambassadors and learn about the particular adaptations their marine cousins would require. Campers will do activities that teach them about tides, and how currents are made, and make various crafts like a windsock squid and a model hydrothermal vent! They will also dissect squid and learn about the dynamics of how they survive! We can't wait to dive in together for a week of fun!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
Note:
*June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to 4th of July. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
Female Focused (FF) camp sessions are designed to empower girls and girl-identifying individuals to love science

This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for August 1-5.
June 16-20 (FF)*June 30-July 4July 15-19August 5-9
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Something's Fishy

Explore the aquatic environment and search the creek for critters. Dissect a fish and learn more about the unique adaptations that allow them to survive in water. Cast a line and go fishing in Vasona Lake! YSI provides the fishing poles & bait, so grab your hat & sunglasses and get ready to go fishing.

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)
Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
* Note: June 30-July 4 week is only a 4-day week due to 4th of July. There is no camp on Friday, July 4th.
Join waitlist for June 13-17 July 5-8, July 11-15. or July 18-22.
June 16-20*June 30 - July 4July 14-18July 21-25August 4-8
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Wildlife Wonders

Actively investigate animal bodies and behaviors with art, experiments, and games. Meet live animals, handle specimens, and learn to identify adaptations that help species survive. It’s going to be a wildly wonderful week of wildlife!

Location: Vasona Lake County Park (333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, California 95032)

Camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an extended care option up to 5:30 pm.
This camp is currently full. Join waitlist for July 25-29 or July 5-8.
August 4-8

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a discount for early registration?
All registrations made before February 19, 2025, will qualify for $10 off their registration. Please use code EBD2025 at checkout to apply this discount.

Are there multi-session discounts?

10% off 3rd week plus all additional weeks. For Example, If you register your child for 4 (non-sequential) weeks, the first two weeks will be full-priced science camps, and the following two weeks will be 10% off!

Are there multi-person discounts?
5% off all camp weeks for the 2nd child registered plus all additional children registered. For Example, if you are registering four children, the 1st child registered will have a full-priced science camp, the following three registered will each have 5% off their science camps!

Does YSI have a cancellation policy?
For YSI Summer Science Camp cancellations, the following rules apply:
• 20% of total program fees plus a $50 administrative fee are non-refundable for cancellations made any time before May 12, 2025.
• Cancellations between May 12 and two weeks before your camp start date result in a refund of 50% of total program fees and a $50 administrative fee.
• Cancellations within two weeks of your camp start date are non-refundable. Cancellations due to medical emergencies will be assessed on an individual basis.
• If federal, state, or county COVID-19 guidelines change and prevent YSI from operating our Summer Science Camp programs, registrants can donate program fees, defer program fees to our ACTIVE account to be used as a credit for another camp, or receive a full refund. Scholarship donations are non-refundable.

Enrollment Change Policy:
Any change requests (e.g., canceling out of one camp and enrolling in another camp) must be made at least 14 days before the camp start date and are subject to availability. There will be a $50 administrative fee and the camp fee. Camps and extended camps are not transferable to another person.

Minimum Enrollment:
If minimum camp enrollment is not met two weeks before the first day, that camp may be canceled. If a camp is canceled by YSI, a full refund will be issued.

What grade level of camp should I register my child in?
Your camper should be registered for the grade level they will enter during the fall season of the 2025/2026 school year. For example, if your camper is currently finishing fourth grade, you would register your camper for the YSI camps that are fifth to sixth-grade level.

What ages can attend YSI Summer Science Camp?
YSI’s Summer Science Camps are weekly, half-day camps from 9:00 am to 11:30 am for our preschool and kindergarten camps and from 9:00 am to 1:00pm for campers entering first through sixth grade. All preschool campers must have a birth date before January 1, 2022, and be able to use the restroom independently.

What are the Female Focused Camp Sessions?
These camp sessions are designed specifically to enable girls and girl-identifying individuals an opportunity to learn in a fun and supportive environment with curriculum adjusted to highlight the critical role females have made in advancing scientific understanding. These camps are open to all genders; however, the intent is to empower girls, as females remain under represented in all areas of STEM. For questions, please contact YSI's Interim Executive Director: Pamela Bentley Mills at pamela@ysi-ca.org.

Where and when is YSI Summer Science Camp?
All YSI Summer Science Camps are in the beautiful Vasona Lake County Park. For directions, please email camp@ysi-ca.org or call 408-356-4945 x 15.

Does YSI have an option for extended care?
Yes! Extended Day Camp is available for grades 1st through 6th and runs daily from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM. To add this option to your registration, simply select Extended Day Camp from the menu during the registration process. The cost is $200. per child per week.

For PreK/Kinder grades, we offer an Extended Morning Camp option that runs from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. To add this option to your registration, select Extended Morning Camp from the menu during the registration process. The cost is $100 per child per week.

Does YSI have an immunization policy?
Yes, we do. Click here to read our immunization policy.  

Does YSI provide scholarships?
Yes, YSI does have this option available to families who would like financial assistance. To apply, please fill out the scholarship form and email it to camp@ysi-ca.org.

I want to donate to YSI’s Scholarship Fund. How do I proceed?
By clicking on the camp of choice, you will see options under sessions to donate a designated amount. All donations made to the scholarship fund are tax- deductible.