Nature Scouts Collective (formerly Little Scouts Nature Classes) offers nature-based enrichment classes with a pod-like teacher-student ratio of 1:6, as well as seasonal camps for children ages 4–12 in coastal North County, San Diego. Rooted in Forest School and Reggio Emilia principles, our 100% outdoor program nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection through nature-immersive, child-led exploration.
Give your child a summer filled with outdoor adventure, creativity, and hands-on discovery. Our North County San Diego nature camps for kids ages 4–11 help children connect with the natural world, build confidence, and create lasting friendships through exploration, art, and play.
2-Week Nature Camps (10:00am–2:00pm)
Our two-week camps follow the same rhythm as our school-year program, offering a familiar routine for kids while keeping your summer schedule flexible.
Cost: $345 per camp session
Choose the schedule that works best for your family:
- Mondays & Wednesdays – San Dieguito Park
- Tuesdays & Thursdays – Guajome Park
Artists in Nature
- June 8 – June 17 (M/W) – San Dieguito Park
- June 9 – June 18 (Tu/Th) – Guajome Park
Get ready to transform nature into art! At this camp, campers will gather recycled materials and natural treasures to create everything from beautiful mandalas to suncatchers, mobiles, and more. Along the way, we’ll explore how artists use nature as their inspiration, then create our own masterpieces. Whether weaving leaves or crafting with pinecones, this camp is all about creativity, nature, and the magic of art.
Sizzling Scientists
- June 22 – July 1 (M/W) – San Dieguito Park
- June 23 – July 2 (Tu/Th) – Guajome Park
Get ready to bubble, fizz, and blast off into a world of wild science fun! In this hands-on camp, campers will become real scientists, using the scientific method to make volcanoes erupt, rockets soar, and Pop Rocks pop. We’ll also explore nature while searching for turtles, ducks, and dragonflies, then cool off with water relays and field games. The messier, the better—because at Sizzling Scientists, science is meant to be a blast!
Camping Adventures
- July 6 – July 15 (M/W) – San Dieguito Park
- July 7 – July 16 (Tu/Th) – Guajome Park
Grab your gear and get ready for a camping adventure like no other! Campers will build forts and shelters, learn how to make campfires and solar ovens, and sing classic camp songs together. As the “fire” glows, we’ll become master storytellers, spinning epic tales under the “stars.” Whether crafting, exploring, or sharing stories, this camp is all about outdoor fun, creativity, and a little bit of campfire magic.
Nature Detectives
- July 20 – July 29 (M/W) – San Dieguito Park
- July 21 – July 30 (Tu/Th) – Guajome Park
Put on your detective hats and get ready for a wild adventure! Campers will track animal prints, search for signs of wildlife, and decode the clues animals leave behind. We’ll examine real animal artifacts and discover the fascinating adaptations that help local wildlife survive. Whether tracking, observing, or uncovering animal “superpowers,” this camp is packed with discovery and outdoor exploration.
3-Day Camps (10:00am–3:00pm)
These small, focused camps offer longer days and deeper exploration around a special theme.
Cost: $325 per camp session
Ultimate Survivor
- June 23 – June 25 – La Costa Canyon Park
- July 14 – July 16 – La Costa Canyon Park
During this camp, campers will become ultimate survivors in the wild through games, team challenges, and scavenger hunts while learning important wilderness skills along the way. Preparing shelters, practicing primitive fire making, learning orienteering, making tools, finding wild foods, assembling first aid kits, and playing outdoor games are just a few of the ways campers will build confidence and outdoor survival skills.
Water Wonders
- August 4 – August 6 – Moonlight Beach
Get ready to dive headfirst into the world of water! Campers will explore where water goes, who lives in it, and why it is so amazing. From wetlands to oceans, we’ll uncover the secrets of aquatic habitats and the clever ways water creatures adapt. We’ll also explore the science of water and enjoy hands-on water play, including zero-waste reusable water balloon battles.
Under the Sea
- August 11 – August 13 – Moonlight Beach
Make a splash into the wonders of ocean life and dive into the magic of marine ecosystems! Hands-on activities will help campers become ocean scientists as they learn to identify sea creatures, conduct experiments, and explore ways to help protect our oceans. With games, beach scavenger hunts, and plenty of splashing around, this camp is perfect for kids who love the sea.
Our Nature Summer Camps will include:
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🛖 Fort & Shelter Building – Kids collaborate using natural materials to construct imaginative outdoor hideouts, encouraging teamwork and problem-solving.
- 🔥 Survival Skills – Fun and age-appropriate lessons on outdoor safety, basic navigation, fire safety, knot-tying, and foraging awareness.
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🎨 Process Art – Open-ended art projects inspired by nature that focus on creativity and exploration over perfection.
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🔬 STEM in the Wild – Hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math activities rooted in natural phenomena (e.g., building catapults, exploring habitats, or studying insects).
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🥾 Nature Hikes – Guided walks through local trails to observe wildlife, identify plants, and build endurance while exploring the great outdoors.
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📓 Nature Journaling – Quiet time to sketch, write, and reflect on the day’s discoveries using all five senses.
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🌿 Child-Led Discoveries – Flexible, curiosity-driven moments where campers guide their own exploration and learning.
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👣 Multi-Sensory Adventures – Activities that engage sight, sound, smell, touch, and movement—like mud play, scent hunts, and sound mapping—to deepen kids’ connection to nature.
Encinitas
Carlsbad
Oceanside
