East Bay Summer Camps
Why choose a TrackersBAY camp this summer?
1) See extraordinary things and have real adventures Your kids do things in our camps they don’t get the chance to do almost anywhere else. In our programs we might build and sail traditional boats, make fire by friction, weave baskets, fish, build hidden villages in the woods, practice martial arts and grow organic gardens.
2) Spend the entire day outside in amazing natural landscapes Our programs take place on bays, beaches, mountains, farms and ranches of the Bay Area. The woods and waters are our boundless classrooms.
3) Let kids be kids So much of our learning comes from joyful play and following natural curiosities. In TrackersBAY programs we let kids follow their natural curiosities, gently and playfully guiding rather than forcing their learning process.
4) Trust our awesome staff Trackers camp staff are highly skilled and trained outdoor educators in the field of nature awareness, ecology and wilderness skills. We each bring a wealth of life experience and training in arts that are lost to our modern world. Read more about our outdoor education staff
5) Enjoy our low instructor to camper ratio We realize that nature connection is best guided with caring human connection. For safety and to deliver the best camp experience possible we have a 1:5 ratio for younger children (ages 4-10) and a 1:8 for older kids (ages 11-18).
Upcoming 2010 Summer courses
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2010 East Bay Summer Camp Schedule
Week 0
Nature Village: Naturalist Training
The ancient trackers knew their land like they knew their homes. Every rock, every tree and plant were familiar. To them nature was family. We seek to train a village of young naturalists who not only appreciate the green world around them, but choose to become a part of caring for it.
Ages 5-6 $315 with early reg discount, June 14-18, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 7-9 $315 with early reg discount, June 14-18, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 10-12 $315 with early reg discount, June 14-18, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration Nature Village: Naturalist Training
Week 1
Ancient Skills of Land and Sea
The relationship of sea and land have been a fundemental part of the awareness of many people who live close to the land. In this camp we explore the land through the awareness of the ancient tracker and the water as ancient mariner traveling in our traditional skin-on-frame umiak boat.
Ages 6-8 $315 with early reg discount, June 21-25, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $315 with early reg discount, June 21-25, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration Ancient Skills of Land and Sea
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-11 $315 with early reg discount, June 21-25, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Week 2
Scout Team: Survival Adventure
The ancient scouts walked queitly and silently in the forest. This week we hone our awareness and seek out the wild places, train to fire a bow by steady arm and keen aim, learn to travel with ease through the wilderness with only the clothes on your back and take a journey in our traditional umiak boat.
Ages 6-8 $315 with early reg discount, June 28-July 2, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $315 with early reg discount, June 28-July 2, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Scout Team: Survival Adventure
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-11 $315 with early reg discount, June 28- July 2, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Archery Apprenticeship & Bow Making
During this week you work with mentors to develop and hone your skill as an archer. Every morning we practice with various types of bows up at Anthony Chabot Regional Park under the guidance of our expert instructors. All this plus you spend the afternoons crafting your own traditional wooden bow.
Ages 12-15 $360 with early reg discount, June 28- July 2, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Archery Apprenticeship & Bow Making
Week 4
The Art of Nature
During the Art of Nature Camp we weave different art media together to tell the story of our natural greenspaces. We honor the birds, the trees, the plants and the animals with the art we make from their inspiration.
Ages 5-6 $315 with early reg discount, July 12-16, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 7-9 $270 with early reg discount, July 12-16, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 10-12 $270 with early reg discount, July 12-16, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for The Art of Nature
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-11 $315 with early reg discount, July 12-16, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Week 5
The Forest Village
Do you think of yourself as a denizen of the greenwood? Have you always wanted to live among the trees in a secret forest village? This week is your chance to recreate a way of life as old as time itself. Campers make their own tools, build shelters and even roast their lunch over a fire made by the ancient art of the bow drill (no matches).
Ages 6-8 $265 with early reg discount, July 19-23, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $265 with early reg discount, July 19-23, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for The Forest Village
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-12 $315 with early reg discount, July 19-23, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Mendocino Overnight Wilders Guild: Homestead & Ranch Camp
Wilder's hold a deep connection to the natural world. They feed, clothe and shelter their family while taking care of the land they live. In homage to the Little House books, Wilders create a world where the needs of people and the needs of what is natural peacefully coexist.
Ages 8-13 $650, July 18-23 overnight
More details & online registration
Mendocino Overnight Wilders Guild: Homestead & Ranch Camp
Rangers walk quietly and silently in the forest. They act as scouts for the village. Rangers are keen trackers and well versed in wilderness survival, bows and the ways of the animals.
Ages 8-13 $650, July 18-23 overnight
More details & online registration
Week 6
Animal Adventure
We look for all kinds of animal tracks and sign: bobcat, coyote, raccoon, deer and more! We learn what the difference is between them all and make casts of the footprints of all the different creatures we find.
Ages 5-6 $315 with early reg discount, July 26-30, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 7-9 $265 with early reg discount, July 26-30, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 10-12 $265 with early reg discount, July 26-30, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Animal Adventure
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-12 $315 with early reg discount, July 26-30, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Teen Overnight The Tribe: Wilderness Survival Village
Come together for 4 days to form a tribe in the middle of the wilderness. Learn and truly apply ancient survival and bushcraft skills. We cover lighting matchless fires, making your own primitive tools, creating your own clothing and shelter and much more.
Ages 12-15 $650 , July 25-30 Overnight
More details & online registration
Mendocino Overnight Wilders Guild: Homestead & Ranch Camp
Wilder's hold a deep connection to the natural world. They feed, clothe and shelter their family while taking care of the land they live. In homage to the Little House books, Wilders create a world where the needs of people and the needs of what is natural peacefully coexist.
Ages 8-13 $650, July 25-30 overnight
More details & online registration
Mendocino Overnight Rangers Guild: Wilderness Survival Camp
Rangers walk quietly and silently in the forest. They act as scouts for the village. Rangers are keen trackers and well versed in wilderness survival, bows and the ways of the animals.
Ages 8-13 $$650, July 25-30 overnight
More details & online registration
Week 7
Wilderness Survival: My Side of the Bay
This week, train the ultimate skills of bushcraft and wilderness survival including: lighting fires with no matches, proper carving skills, making traps, primitive cooking, learning to safely harvest wild edible plants, animal tracking, building the best shelters for different situations and much more.
Ages 6-8 $265 with early reg discount, August 2-6, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $265 with early reg discount, August 2-6, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Wilderness Survival: My Side of the Bay
Nature Riders
At Nature Riders, we spend every day discovering the trails and woods of our extended backyards. A tribe of explorers, reminiscent of the movie Goonies, we go where we want to go guided by our curiosity, the landscape and the sun. We'll spend our time wandering by foot or bike, playing games and taking a break in the shade of trees and creeks. Learning about the world around us as we go.
Ages 7-11 $315 with early reg discount, August 2-6, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Nature Riders
Family Camp Nature of the Village Family Camp
How does a village live, breathe and work? Come participate in an open space village especially for families, where you tell your story and take the actions that the village needs to thrive.
Ages ALL $100-$250 varies with group size, August 5-8, 2010 Overnight Camping
More details & online registration for Nature of the Village Family Camp
Week 8
Forest Ninja
Everyone wants to be able to turn invisible, we teach you how! Like the ancient ninjas of yore, the Apache Scouts of yesteryear and even the wildlife you really want to see, stealth and skill is what this camp is all about. Through a series of awareness games and training we learn self defense, discipline, camouflage and other nature awareness skills. We also practice ancient ninja arts such as martial arts.
Ages 6-8 $265 with early reg discount, August 9-13, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $265 with early reg discount, August 9-13, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Forest Ninja
Week 9
Trailblazers
All campers are part of the decision making process, while the instructor is there to keep them safe and gently guide them, the kids will help decide what their merry pack of rebel rousers will do from day to day. This could include making a camp fire, building a shelter, safe wood carving and much more.
Ages 6-8 $265 with early reg discount, August 16-20, 2010 9am-3pm
Ages 9-12 $265 with early reg discount, August 16-20, 2010 9am-3pm
More details & online registration for Trailblazers
Tween Overnight Scout Team Marine: Overnight Excursion
Join us as we explore the coves and islands in Tomales Bay. We will sail, learn knots, fish and catch crabs for dinner, go elk tracking, learn to identify wild edible and medicinal plants. We will make bolas, atlatl, traps and snares, and start the fires the old way by rubbing sticks together in our hands. In the evenings we'll enjoy stories and songs around the fire.
We help children to feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: independent, tired, muddy, wet and happy from the woods and wild. We are acutely aware of full and real hazards of the out of doors after years of working in environmental education. We try to move away from the highly structured and limiting tolerances of conventional environmental education while keeping kids truly safe but not encapsulated from, or phobic of nature. We are deep patriots to the value of offering guided yet very free and transparent experiences for kids. We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. It builds empathy and care for the gifts of life. It fosters adventure and sincere accomplishment. We also believe it is critical to feel supported and cared for as they truly explore their passion and responsibility. And through a healthy life immersed in nature, they test the limits and great potential of the often untapped physical and emotional resiliency they possess
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