Camps, Classes & Special Events for Children

THRIVE OUTSIDE

At Irvine Nature Center, we believe that learning and playtime go hand-in-hand. Children who spend time exploring their natural world build life-long skills like problem solving, creativity, cooperation, and confidence.

Weekend Nature Programs

Spend your free-time at Irvine learning new skills, meeting animal friends, or heading out on a hike. Our public programs offer a unique way for families to spend quality time together. Check out our upcoming programs and events:

  • Maple Magic – great for all ages! Four public sessions Saturday, Feb 11th and Sunday, Feb 19th
  • Owl Prowl – great for children ages 8+! Friday, March 10th, 7:00-8:30PM
  • Animal CSI: Critter Scene Investigation – A Drop Off Program for ages 7-12. Saturday, March 25th, 10AM-noon.

Plus, many more!

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Tales & Tails Story Time

Join us every Friday for a FREE story time & an animal encounter in the Outdoor Classroom. This ‘caregiver and child’ program will allow you to build connections with nature and your neighbors in an outdoor learning environment. Visitors are encouraged to come early or stay after to discover Irvine’s trails, meadows, and wetlands with the family. This program is ideal for children 5 and under and an accompanying adult. 

Tales & Tails is made possible in part by:

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Registration for Summer 2023 is now open.

Summer Nature Camp

Exciting explorations, awesome adventures, and delightful discoveries await your child at Irvine! All Nature Camp programs are designed and led by environmental educators and naturalists who bring their knowledge of science, nature, and animals on each exciting adventure. Offering full day camp for children ages 5-12, half day camps for 3-4 year-olds, a one-of-a-kind “Caregiver and Child” camp for 2-3 year-olds, and a Counselor-in Training program for 13-16 year-olds. Limited space – sign up today!

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Offering nine dates during the 2022/23 school year. Enroll in ALL NINE Day Off Camps and Save!

Day Off Camps and Programs

Your child will love spending their day off from school with Irvine’s award-winning environmental educators for a day of exploration and outdoor fun. Our young environmental stewards will be inspired to explore nature as they are led through a day filled with animal encounters, science experiments, hiking, nature crafts, and more.

School Year 2022-23 Day Off Camps:

  • Monday, September 26, 2022
  • Wednesday, October 5, 2022
  • Friday, October 21, 2022
  • Tuesday, November 8, 2022
  • Monday, January 16, 2023
  • Monday, January 23, 2023
  • Monday, February 20, 2023
  • Monday, April 10, 2023
  • Friday, April 21, 2023

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Eco-Explorers Afterschool Club

Irvine’s award-winning after-school program, ECO-EXPLORERS, offers students an alternative way to spend time with friends and learn about the natural world – after the bell rings. Students will enjoy time exploring the great outdoors, creating nature crafts, conducting science experiments, and getting to meet live animal ambassadors from Irvine Nature Center. Eco-Explorers is led by Irvine’s environmental educators, one day per week, at your school.

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Little Birds is fully enrolled for school year 2022/23, as is the waitlist. Enrollment for next year will begin in late Spring 2023.

Little Birds

Little Birds Classes give your little one the chance to meet new animal friends, create nature crafts, sing songs, and explore outside. Perfect for parents, grandparents, nannies, and other caregivers who are seeking a unique and meaningful experience. Registration for Fall 2023 will open in June. 

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