COVID-19 Update

Dear Life Lab Camp Families,

We hope you are doing well and staying healthy in this unusual time. Thank you for your patience in awaiting news about our summer camps at the Garden Classroom. We have been following the evolving COVID-19 situation closely over the past three months and deliberating about if and how to go ahead with camp this summer and examining every possible way to run our programs. With the information in the Santa Cruz County Public Health Order, and with much discussion and consideration of the risks, we have decided to cancel all Life Lab camps for this summer. We looked at several options to continue the program, however due to the significantly reduced group sizes, facility restrictions, and social distancing protocols, we felt cancellation was the safest and most fair approach.

We cherish our relationship with you, our camp families, and are very disappointed to cancel camp, as we know you are, too! When all of us are experiencing the need to get outside and play, it is especially sad that we are unable to share the Garden Classroom and UCSC Farm and wildlands with your kiddos this summer! Our first priority for now, though, is the health and safety of you, your children, our staff, and the overall community.

We look forward to being here for you next summer, and your wonderful support as campers and contributors lifts our spirits and helps sustain Life Lab through this challenging time.

With Gardens of Gratitude from all of us at Life Lab,

Cara Wild-Sundell, Wildlands and Watering Cans Camp DirectorDaniela Etchegaray, Garden Sprouts & OWLS Camp DirectorJennifer Eckert-Bernau, Garden Sprouts TTh Director

2020 Camp Registration Information

Life Lab is pleased to offer summer day camp programs for children ages 4-14, at the Life Lab Garden Classroom on the UCSC Organic Farm.

Registration for our day camps is online only; please click the Register button below to sign up or join our waiting list. (Click Para información en español)

One Session Per Child

Please register your child for only one session, since each session repeats the curriculum of the previous session. If you feel that your child would truly benefit from repeating the same curriculum over two sessions, please check in with the Garden Programs Manager (contact info at bottom of page).

Age limits

Please respect our age limits when registering for camp. We sincerely appreciate your interest in your children attending camp, and we would love to have them when the time is right. For Garden Sprouts, our campers must be four by the first day of camp in order to participate; for Wildlands & Watering Cans, campers must be seven by the first day of camp. We hold to these age ranges so that we are able to provide activities that are developmentally appropriate for each group. Thank you for your understanding and for helping keep our camps the highest quality possible for all participants!

Financial Assistance

Limited financial assistance is available at multiple levels; the financial assistance application is available as part of our regular registration. Please register early on in the registration period if you are applying for financial assistance.

Registration opens Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 at 7:30 a.m.

Please note, due to schools in our area starting earlier in August, Session 4 will be a one-week session this year.

Garden Sprouts Session 4 will be a one-week, Monday through Friday five day session.

Click to jump to information about:

Garden Sprouts Summer Day Camp for 4-6 year olds
Wildlands and Watering Cans Summer Day Camp for 7-11 year olds
OWLS Camp Leadership Program for 12-14 year olds
EAGLES Camp Volunteer ing for 15-18 year olds

Garden Sprouts Summer Day Camp for 4-6 year olds

Come explore the garden and farm with us! Our camp days include harvesting, making garden snacks, singing, storytelling, garden caretaking, garden crafts, and exploration of the natural world. Each day has a theme (past examples: Bugs, or Seeds, or Birds). This camp serves 24 campers with a 1:6 ratio of counselors to campers, allowing us to tailor camp activities to the ages and interests of our campers. We offer a MWF program and a TTh program. The camps offer the same curriculum so please register for either the MWF program or the TTh program, not both. This year we do offer one M-F session for one week (Session 4). After-care (1:00-3:00) available for all sessions (limited number of spaces).

Monday/Wednesday/Friday Garden Sprouts 2020 dates

Session 1 – June 22, 24, 26, 29, July 1 (MWF 9:00-1:00) (no camp July 3)
Session 2 – July 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17 (MWF 9:00-1:00)
Session 3 – July 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31 (MWF 9:00-1:00)
Session 4 – see below for Session 4 M-F five day camp

MWF Garden Sprouts Session 1: $295 (pro-rated for no camp July 3); Session 2 or 3: $350
Sibling discount $25 off second child’s registration.
After-care MWF 1:00-3:00 with pick-up at 3:00, Session 1 after-care: $115 (pro-rated for no camp July 3); Session 2 or 3 after-care: $135 (flat rate for 2-week session).
Financial assistance available at multiple levels; please apply early.
Registration for whole session only.

Tuesday/Thursday Garden Sprouts 2020 dates

Session 1 – June 23, 25, 30, July 2 (TTh 9:00-1:00)
Session 2 – July 7, 9, 14, 16 (TTh 9:00-1:00)
Session 3 – July 21, 23, 28, 30 (TTh 9:00-1:00)
Session 4 – see below for Session 4 M-F five day camp

TTh Garden Sprouts Session 1, 2 or 3: $240
Sibling discount $25 off second child’s registration.
After-care TTh 1:00-3:00 with pick-up at 3:00, Session 1, 2 or 3 after-care: $90 (flat rate for 2-week session).
Financial assistance available at multiple levels; please apply early.
Registration for whole session only.

Monday-Friday Session 4 Garden Sprouts 2020 dates

Session 4 – August 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (one week only, M-F 9:00-1:00)

Garden Sprouts Session 4: $290
Sibling discount $25 off second child’s registration.
After-care M-F 1:00-3:00 with pick-up at 3:00, $115 (flat rate for session).
Financial assistance available at multiple levels; please apply early.
Registration for whole session only.

Click Album to View Garden Sprouts Camp Photos

Wildlands & Watering Cans Summer Day Camp for 7-11 year olds

Come explore, harvest, prepare and enjoy fresh food from the farm, hike, create garden crafts, art and music, play games, and form new friendships! Each day has a theme (past examples: Bug Day, Solar Energy Day, Chickens & Eggs Day) and each day begins with farm chores (Chickens, Fresh Fruit Popsicle-making, Farm Update, and Weather Report) and ends with storytelling under the walnut tree. The last Friday afternoon of each session, families join us for a kid-harvested Farmer’s Market Party. Each session serves 32 campers with a 1:8 ratio of instructors to campers. After-care (3:00-5:00) available for all sessions (limited number of spaces).

Session 1 – June 22-26 & June 29-July 2, 2020, 9:00-3:00 (no camp July 3)
Session 2 – July 6-10 & 13-17, 2020, 9:00-3:00
Session 3 – July 20-24 & 27-31, 2020, 9:00-3:00
Session 4 – August 3-7, 2020 (one week only) 9:00-3:00

Click below to see a past camp schedule and get a feel for what our sessions are like.

Session 1 $635 (pro-rated for no camp July 3); Session 2 or 3 $705; Session 4 (one week) $380.
Sibling discount $25 off second child’s registration.
After-care M-F 3:00-5:00 with pick-up at 5:00; no after-care on the last day of each session due to family party.
Session 1 after-care $145 flat rate (pro-rated for no camp July 3); Session 2 or 3 after-care $165 flat rate; Session 4 after-care $75 flat rate.
Financial assistance available at multiple levels; please apply early.
Registration for whole session only.

Click Album for Wildland & Watering Cans Photos

OWLS Camp Leadership Program for 12-14 year olds

This is an exciting opportunity for capable and fun-loving youth aged 12-14, who enjoy working with children, to take on leadership roles at our Garden Sprouts Summer Camp! OWLS (Outdoor Wonderful Leaders at Summer camp) will assist the Garden Sprouts counselors and directors in making camp a nurturing and joyful learning experience for our 4-6 year old campers. Duties include helping set up in the morning, supporting the counselors while they lead the day’s activities, buddying up with Sprouts who need extra assistance at snack and lunchtime, participating in songs and games, holding chickens, and being a role model for our littlest campers. This program is designed for young teens to participate in a camp experience while developing their leadership skills. No previous experience working with children is necessary.

**Required training session for all OWLS- Wednesday, June 17th, 2020, 2:00-4:00 p.m.**

Session 1 – June 22-26 & June 29-July 2, 2020 (no camp July 3)
Session 2 – July 6-10 & 13-17, 2020
Session 3 – July 20-24 & 27-31, 2020
Session 4 – August 3-7, 2020 (one week only)

The OWLS camp day runs 8:00-1:00, M-F.
Each session hosts four OWLS; one OWL per session may extend their camp day until 3:00 and assist with our 4-6 year old after-care program (choose this option at registration if available).
Families bring their OWLS directly to the Garden Sprouts area at 8:00 a.m., and pick them up at the Hay Barn at 1:00 (or 3:00 if their OWL is assisting with after-care).
**Required training session for all OWLS- Wednesday, June 17th, 2020, 2:00-4:00 p.m.**
Session 1 $300 (pro-rated for no camp July 3); Session 2 or 3 $330; Session 4 $180 (one week only).
Aftercare: no fee.
Financial assistance available at multiple levels; please apply early.
Registration for whole session only.

EAGLES Camp Volunteering for 15-18 year olds

Application open only until May 21st! Download Eagles Application

**Required training session for all EAGLES- Monday, June 15th, 2020, 8:00- 4:00 p.m.**
Youth ages 15-18 are invited to volunteer as EAGLES (Educators Assisting with Garden Leadership Each Summer). Work with our counselors at Wildlands & Watering Cans to make camp happen! Assist with teaching camp activities, leading hikes, and behind-the-scenes tasks such as setting up stations and stocking materials. Gain valuable experience in environmental education! EAGLES are accepted for whole camp sessions only (any session of Wildlands & Watering Cans).
Cost: free

Camp Community Volunteers

Application open only until May 21st! Download Volunteer Application

Volunteers & interns assist with our garden-based summer camps. Work with our counselors to make camp happen! Assist with teaching camp activities, leading hikes, and behind-the-scenes tasks such as setting up stations and stocking materials. Gain valuable experience in environmental education!
Some volunteers/interns work one or more set days of the week all summer (for example, every Tuesday); others work every day for one or more entire session (for example, M-F all of Session 2). Volunteers are appreciated at both camps, Garden Sprouts for 4-6 year olds and Wildlands & Watering Cans for 7-11, and in our aftercare programs.
**Required training session for all volunteers/interns – Monday, June 15th, 2020, 8:00- 2:15 or 4:00 p.m., depending on the chosen camp**

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations 30 days or more in advance of your session will be refunded minus $25 fee. Cancellations less than 30 days in advance will be refunded minus $25 fee, only if your space is filled by a wait-listed camper; otherwise no refund can be given.

Questions?

For questions about our camps, please contact:
Cara Wild-Sundell, Garden Programs Manager, cara@lifelab.org
or (831) 459-4035.

Join our email list to receive camp announcements. Please be sure to check the box “Camp & Children’s Programs”.

Para registrar en español, favor de llamar a Whitney a (831) 459-5395.

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