Weekly Themes

Coastal Camp offers a variety of exciting themes throughout the summer customized for students in Kindergarten, Grades 1-6, and Grades 7-9.

Kinder Camp New!

Kinder Coastal Camp offers morning (9:15-11:45 a.m.), afternoon (1-3:30 p.m.), or full day (9:15 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.) sessions with an optional mid-day lunch. Each session includes a daily snack. Kinder Campers must be entering Kindergarten in Fall 2012 or be at least 4 years old by December 2011 to participate.

Everyday at Kinder Camp is an opportunity to laugh, play, explore, discover, and make friends in the great outdoors. Weekly thematic programming is designed to help prepare campers for kindergarten by developing social skills and highlighting nature, inquiry, creativity, movement, and music.

Bugging Out

June 11-15 Morning or July 16 –20 Afternoon (FULL)

Lift a log, sift through mud, and follow the buzz in search of bugs, butterflies, and compost critters. Collect macroinvertebrates from Rodeo Pond, create your very own magnifying bug box, and design vibrant butterfly mosaics.

Tales on Trails

June 18–22 Morning (FULL) or July 30–August 3 Afternoon (FULL)

Let your imagination take flight and creativity soar as you hike along trails, listen to tall tales, and create your own nature inspired puppet to use during storytelling.

The Wild Bunch

July 9–13 Morning or August 6-10 Afternoon

Take a walk on the wild side and discover which animals are at home in the Headlands. Check-out animal specimens in the Skins & Skulls lab, head out on the trail in search of animal tracks, and create a paper mache critter of your very own.

Growing Up Bird

June 11-15 Afternoon or July 16-20 Morning (FULL)

Calling all chickadees, fledglings, and owlets! Join us for birding adventures as we explore the secret lives of birds. Practice bird calls, create the perfect nest, and learn about wings while flying hand-made kites at the beach.

Stars of the Sea

June 18 – 22 Afternoon (FULL) or July 30-August 3 Morning (FULL)

Explore the wonders of the underwater world and meet some of your favorite sea-leberties. Feed a seastar in the marine lab, visit some pinniped patients at The Marine Mammal Center, and see how you measure up to an 82 foot blue whale skeleton.

Artventures

July 9-13 Afternoon or August 6-10 Morning

Head out on the trail, take a closer look, and get creative! The Headlands are alive with shapes, patterns, colors, and texture that are sure to inspire your inner artist. Lend a hand to an “up-cycled” group mural, create eco-art at Rodeo Beach, and get inspired through poetry, music, movement, and more.

Grades 1-6

Seal Scouts

June 11-15

July 16-20 (Grade 1-2 FULL)    $353/ week

Journey to the world of fin-footed marine mammals and discover wonderful whiskers, buoyant blubber, and fabulous flippers. Through our unique partnership with The Marine Mammal Center, you’ll get up close with a variety of ocean dwellers while examining seal and sea lion pelts and specimens. Become an ocean rescuer for the day during a mock seal rescue and practice nursing sick seals back to health. Hike out to Point Bonita to conduct your own seal behavior research, investigate tide pool creatures in the Marine Lab, and get creative sculpting your very own ocean-inspired souvenir!

Call of the Wild

June 25-29 or August 13-17       $353/ week

Join us for expeditions into the wild as we travel deep into the hills tracking the animals of the Headlands. Break out the binoculars to catch a glimpse of soaring raptors and introduce yourself to some special live animal ambassadors during their visit. Use powerful microscopes to identify the tiny critters you collect from the pond and examine animal specimens in the Skins & Skulls lab. Unleash your curiosity and creativity designing plaster animal tracks, pressing native flowers, and playing a few rounds of camouflage tag in the Cypress Grove.

Oceans Alive

June 18-22 (Grades 1-2 and 5-6 FULL) or July 23-27 (FULL)    $373/ week

Featuring a Bay sailing adventure!
Explore the wonders of an ocean in motion, discover underwater seascapes, and learn about bioluminescent creatures glowing beneath the ocean’s surface. Experience a day in the life of a marine biologist as you collect tide pool data, use scientific instruments, and test your theories in a quest to solve The Mystery of the Giant Green Anemones. Midweek, you’ll step aboard the schooner Seaward to observe marine mammals frolicking in the Bay, collect and analyze water quality samples, and identify plankton under microscopes, all while you navigate the epic Golden Gate.

Tunnel Through Time

July 2-6 (no camp Wednesday, July 4th)     $280/ week
July 30-August 3                $353/ week

Back by Popular Demand!
Travel back through time and catch a glimpse of Marin Headlands history, from underwater volcano to National Park. Your journey begins with a tasty, edible experiment at Point Bonita where you’ll unlock the tunnel door to a rocky geologic past. History comes alive as you weave cordage inside a Miwok kocha, explore the hidden underground military tunnels of Battery Townsley, and ride the rocket elevator to the top-secret storage area at the Nike Missile Site. Uncover the story behind the lost city of Marincello, interview a ranger, and celebrate National Parks with a special stewardship project.

The Great Headlands Challenge

July 9-13 or August 6-10     $ 414/ week

Featuring an overnight for grades 1-6!
All for one, one for all! Get set for fun and games in the great outdoors as you discover new friendships, gain leadership skills, and challenge yourself to learn and grow. Play a round of One Fish Two Fish and do the Hula Hoop Wiggle as you master daily teambuilding games and earn merit beads to celebrate your accomplishments. Decorate your own camp T-shirt with the help of your friends, and create an official team cheer and pennant to present during the all-camp pep rally. Head out on the trail and take some teamwork tips from nature as you explore animal interconnections. Let your leadership skills and team spirit shine during The Great Headlands Challenge Hike, and lend a hand in an eco stewardship project to discover that together we can make a difference!

Grades 7-9

Eco Quest '12 New!

June 25-29 or July 23-27        $557/ week

Featuring a two-day overnight backpacking trip in Marin!
Let your quest for adventure guide the way as you explore the wonders of the natural world. Begin your journey with a focus on ocean ecology. Feed sea stars in our Marine Lab, study harbor seal behavior at Point Bonita, and map out your mid-week backpacking trek. With camping gear and orienteering equipment in tow, you’ll head out Wednesday to follow the watershed past riparian corridors, through ancient redwood forests, and along windswept coastal hillsides. Chart your locations along the way with GPS coordinates and record your findings on a collective orienteering map. Return to the Headlands at week’s end to share your stories of discovery and adventure with friends and family at the Friday Showcase.