Summer Day Camp
Spend the summer outside with this weekly day camp for kids ages 7-9! Fun-filled days are spent outdoors with games, art, science, and exploration of vast ecosystems–from the forests of the Wynn Nature Center, to the beaches of the Homer Spit! Each week has a different theme for campers to explore.
2026 Weekly Themes:
June 8-11: Grow! Grow! Grow! (Local Plants, Wildflowers, and Gardening)
June 15-18: Low Tide Exploration
June 22-25: Wild About Wildlife!
June 29-July 2: Wilderness Survival
July 6-9: Music, Art, & Nature
July 20-23: All About Fish
July 27-30: Incredible Inverts (Insects, Beach Creatures, and Sea Jellies, oh my!)
Aug 3-6: Harvest Week
Aug 10-13: Fantastic Fungi & Lovable Lichen (and other odd friends)
Price
Child (age 7-9): $350 per week
Duration
There are 9 sessions in our 2026 Day Camp season. Each session is 4 days long.
Drop-off: 8:30am
Pick-up: 4:00pm
Aftercare (additional cost): 4:00-5:00pm
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Day Camp is based at the Wynn Nature Center’s Daisy Lee Bitter Outdoor Learning Space in Homer. Unless otherwise noted by staff, pick-up and drop-off will be there every day.
Scholarships are available to help ensure our programs remain accessible. Learn more.
If you chose to just pay the deposit when you booked a Day Camp session, you can stop by the office, contact our Bookkeeper or mail a check to pay the balance due. This must be done before the first day of your child's camp. If not paid by then, we will use the credit card on file to charge the remaining balance.
Day Camp Staff will contact you about specific things your child might need for each week, but in general your child will need rain gear (coat, pants and boots), good walking shoes, a lunch every day, a water bottle, and a day pack.
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Cancellations made 30 days or more prior to your registered session's start will receive a full refund.
Cancellations made 15-29 days prior to the start date will receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations made 14 days or fewer prior to the start date do not receive a refund.
Sudden Camp Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel due to an emergency or the participant cannot stay for the full camp after the camp has already started, please contact us and we can discuss options around a partial refund. Examples include but are not limited to: family medical emergency, participant experiences an illness and needs to go home, camp cannot meet pre-disclosed participants behavioral health needs. This Sudden Camp Cancellation Policy does not apply when there is a violation to our Behavior Policy, section “Right to Revoke Access.”
If you cancel your reservation, that spot will be offered to someone on our waitlist. We do not accept recommendations as to who should fill your cancellation.
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How quickly does this camp fill?
Due to our new lottery application system, we do not know how competitive spots will be in 2026. After the lottery, remaining open spots will be available for general registration (around February 9th). If you are not able to secure a spot, please contact us to inquire about our waitlist.
Why is campers’ attendance initially be limited to a maximum of 5 weeks?
This is to avoid camper burnout and spread the camp opportunities around town.
One of my friends cancelled their booking. Can my child take their spot?
In the event of any cancellation, we will first call our waitlisted campers to offer them the open spot. If those campers refuse the offered spot, only then will we consider an ad hominem request to fill the spot.
Will campers be outside if it's raining?
Yes! Campers' daily schedules are filled with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, but this camp primarily takes place outside. Even in the rain, campers are able to explore and experience the incredible ecosystems around Homer. Please make sure your child comes to camp with appropriate rain gear. As the old saying goes: there's no such thing as bad weather, just ill-suited clothing!
Do I need to pack my child a lunch?
Our staff provide some snacks periodically throughout the day, but campers should bring their own lunch and additional snacks. If your camper has any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please let our staff know during registration.
What if my child has developmental, behavioral, learning, health, or other needs?
If your child receives support at school or other group settings (OT, PT, DSP, SPED, IEP, CBC, ABA), we encourage you to let us know so we can have a conversation about how we can support them at camp. Even if your child does not receive support at school or otherwise, but struggles with:
Social interactions with other youth
Following directions/engaging in set activities
Elopement
Regulating their emotions
Or something else notable…
please email us about support before registration—or include this information in your Lottery Application—so we can reach out.
Knowing the support your child needs in advance allows our staff to help them have a successful and fun camp experience. Your child’s support needs will not impact your lottery chances. They do, however, allow us to plan camp thoughtfully. For more information, see our Behavior Policy.
How does Coastal Studies manage campers' behavior?
Our staff are dedicated and have basic training to help all participants have successful and educational experiences. Please review our Behavioral Policy to learn more about how we support our students and create a positive learning environment.
Can you clarify the age requirements?
When registering for camps, please respect the age limits we have set for each camp. This allows us to best support youth in an age-appropriate way. If your child is too old or too young for a camp, please explore our other camps for programs aimed at younger or older children.
If your child has a summer birthday (June, July, or August), and will meet the minimum age requirement for a camp at that point you may register them for Day Camp so long as they have completed 1st grade. If your child has a spring birthday, please register them for camps based on their age at the time the camp will run (not based on their age at registration). If your child has a June, July, or August birthday and will just barely exceed the upper age limit for camp, please contact us to discuss options: katieg@akcoastalstudies.org or 907-235-1974
What is the camp schedule?
While every camp day brings surprises, this general schedule served as the foundation for a well-paced, engaging, and developmentally supportive camp experience. Built around outdoor learning, creativity, movement, and rest, this rhythm helped campers feel secure while offering enough flexibility to respond to energy levels, weather, and camper interests. Here is an example of the 2025 routine and 2026 may differ slightly.
Opening Circle, Welcome campers, name games, review 3 respects, build community
Exploration Block, Nature walk, beachcombing, observation, or inquiry-based adventure
Snack Break, Refuel and rest
Creative Expression, Art, music, storytelling, journaling, or nature-based crafts
Lunch & Free Play, Unstructured time for social growth and self-directed play
Science or Stewardship Project, Experiments, habitat care, wildlife tracking, etc.
Snack Break, Quick reset before the final activity block
Group Challenge or Camp Game, SEL-based team games, obstacle courses, cooperative or nature-based games
Reflection Circle, Share highlights, appreciations, or group storytelling to close the day
Pick-Up & Wind-Down Activities, Drawing, puzzles, reading, or mellow games as campers are picked up
Aftercare (Optional), Supervised free play, nature journaling, and quiet-time games
If camp is full, are there other options in the area?
Check out our other day and overnight programs for kids. Homer Council on the Arts, the Pratt Museum, Kachemak Bay Adventure Club, and Camp K (overnight in Cooper Landing) are other local options we are familiar with.
