Durango Summer Camps for Youth

Curiosity and Community All Summer Long

SJMA is proud to continue Durango Nature Studies’ tradition of providing enriching and educational summer camps for youth.

Learning doesn’t have to stop with the school year. SJMA’s summer camps provide wild and engaging opportunities for your child to discover and be adventurous with support from trained educators in the field. Hands-on science education and social and emotional development are key components of every session offered by SJMA. 

Elementary School Summer Camps

Junior Naturalist Field Camps: SJMA is happy to offer Durango Nature Studies’ most beloved and enriching summer camps in Durango. SJMA offers week-long camps where elementary-aged children (rising 1st – 6th graders) will spend time learning about the natural world. In addition, they’ll get to play with old friends and make new ones, too. Campers leave camp with memories, new friends, and a better understanding of the world in which they live.  SJMA is offering six week-long camps during the months of June – August in La Plata County and our very first one in Montezuma County!

Middle and High School Adventure Camps

Secondary Adventure Camps are for middle and high school students (rising 7th – 12th graders) giving them the opportunity to explore the San Juan mountains and rivers, connect with like-minded friends, and spend one night camping under the starry sky. In addition to learning about plants, flowers and local forests, camping basics and Leave No Trace ethics, kids will gain leadership and communication skills while hiking among peers and SJMA Naturalists. SJMA is offering one week-long camp based in La Plata country and one week-long camp based in Montezuma County.

Counselor-in-Training (CIT)

Didn’t get enough of Junior Naturalist Field Camp, but now you’re too old? No problem! If you are between the ages of 13 -17 years old (we will also consider mature 12 year olds), you can sign up to be a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) at our elementary school summer camps. This free program is a great way to gain experience while playing outside and connecting kids to the outdoors.

Organized Groups at Nature Center

If you run a program in the summer for kids, we open up days for you to bring your group to the Durango Nature Center for a day of games, water play, hikes, and activities led by a SJMA outdoor educator. We schedule these programs on days that we are not running our summer camp.  

Details

  • Minimum of 8 kids and maximum of 25 for each program
  • Please provide a chaperone for every 8 kids
  • Group is responsible for their own transportation to the Nature Center
  • Field Trips are from 10:00-1:00 unless other arrangements are made.  Plan to have a picnic with your group around noon.

Things to Bring

Make sure each child brings good walking shoes, a day pack, water shoes, bathing suit, towel, hat, sunscreen, water bottle, 2 snacks, and lunch.

Pricing

  • Contact our Education Director, Adriana Stimax for pricing
  • Payment is due the day of the field trip, or SJMA can send your organization an invoice
  • If you cancel the field trip on the day of your program, we will invoice your organization for the number of estimated kids in order to cover staff costs. If you must cancel, please do so before your program date.