Youth Nature Camps
Connect with nature, build friendships, and have a blast
Explore the great outdoors and let your love of nature bloom with GARNA’s summer nature camps! Join GARNA instructors as we invite campers to explore public lands in the Upper Arkansas Valley. Campers will hike mountain trails, collect bugs in streams, experiment, journal and much more while appreciating the joys of nature.
Nature Camp
Ages: 5 – 10 years old
Schedule: 9am-3:30pm, M-Th
Cost: $325
Lunch provided
Each day we will visit different locations to diversify our learning environment, introducing Nature Camp participants to different natural areas in our valley!
Scholarships are available, and can be applied for through the application process.
2026 Nature Camp Dates
For 2026, six weeks of Nature Camp will be based out of the Valley View Nature Learning Center (9051 County Road 140), and two will be based out of the Buena Vista Community Center.
Registration will open on March 2. Active GARNA Family members will have access to registration a week early.
Click session for more information.
Get connected with wildlife in the region during a week full of games, crafts, and hands-on activities all about animals. Search for signs of beavers by the water and small animals tracks at the schoolhouse, then make crafts that can help out animals! Birding, fishing, and live animal presentations are just some of the ways that your camper is sure to discover creatures of all shapes and sizes.
The Rocky Mountain region ROCKS! Join GARNA for a blast into the past with a visit to a mine and fossil making, with plenty of hiking along the way among the geologic features that make our region unique. Campers will learn how different foods tie in to the rock cycle and get to investigate the numerous types of rocks and minerals in the area.
Discover the impacts of local and sustainable practices in the Arkansas River Valley. This week incorporates field trips to local growers of mushrooms and farm animals to teach the next generation about the importance of sustainability! Campers will also get their hands in the dirt to learn about composting and native plants that Colorado ecosystems rely on to thrive for many years to come.
Each ecosystem in our region plays a pivotal role in supporting biodiversity. Campers will visit arid, high alpine ecosystems as well as damp, muddy wetlands to investigate their features and importance in nature. Guest speakers and hands-on activities will also demonstrate the wonderful world of forests and their trees. Grab your hiking boots and meet us outside for the Ecology Expedition week!
Discover the impacts of local and sustainable practices in the Arkansas River Valley. This week incorporates field trips to local growers of mushrooms and farm animals to teach the next generation about the importance of sustainability! Campers will also get their hands in the dirt to learn about composting and native plants that Colorado ecosystems rely on to thrive for many years to come.
Each ecosystem in our region plays a pivotal role in supporting biodiversity. Campers will visit arid, high alpine ecosystems as well as damp, muddy wetlands to investigate their features and importance in nature. Guest speakers and hands-on activities will also demonstrate the wonderful world of forests and their trees. Grab your hiking boots and meet us outside for the Ecology Expedition week!
From insects and soil to astronomy and engineering, campers will see the myriad of ways that science intersects with nature. This week is going to have opportunities to participate in active citizen science projects and look at how the data can impact future decisions about natural resources. We’ll make hypotheses about experiments that will be conducted and channel our inner engineers through different challenges during the week!
This week of camp is perfect for any child that loves to lean into their creative side! Make skits, connect with your senses, and create a nature journal, all while exploring the beauty of the outdoors during field trips. There will be plenty of paint and markers to go around as we make take-home crafts and discover the many forms of art!
Middle School Camps
Spring Break Camp
Rising 5th-8th graders
GARNA is hosting its first Middle School Spring Break Camp this year! Join us for 4 days of fun and adventure. $20 per session.
2026 Salida Dates
March 16-19
12:00-4:00pm
Camp GARNA
Rising 5th-8th graders
Four adventure-based activities throughout the summer.
Every other Friday in June and July from 9:00am-3:30pm:
June 12
June 26
July 10
July 24 and 25 (Overnight trip)
Stream Explorers
Rising 5th-8th graders
Stream Explorers is a 2-day mini camp in partnership with Trout Unlimited where students learn stream ecology and fly fishing skills.
2026 Dates Coming Soon