Two kids running in the snow. We all need nature—and nature needs you. Together, we can protect the wildlife and wild lands of Massachusetts for generations to come. Make a tax-deductible donation today.
Two kids running in the snow. We all need nature—and nature needs you. Together, we can protect the wildlife and wild lands of Massachusetts for generations to come. Make a tax-deductible donation today.
boardwalk trail through a grassy meadow
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellfleet

Wellfleet Bay Nature Camp Programs & Pricing

Wellfleet Bay Nature Camp on Cape Cod offers summer camp sessions for ages 4–13. See a list of dates for the upcoming summer season and learn more about day camp pricing below.

Note: Online registration for Wellfleet Bay Nature Camp will open on Wednesday, January 31 at 6:00 am. Registration by phone and customer support will not be available until regular business hours. Year-round Cape Cod residents with campers who attend a local school can register by phone beginning on January 10.

To ensure that as many children as possible are able to participate in camp, families may register each camper for no more than four weeks of camp.

Nature Camps

Monday–Friday • Themed weekly sessions
June 24–August 16 (no camp July 4–5)
Note: some age groups do not run every week

Full-day Camp: 9:00 am–2:30 pm
Half-day Camp: 9:00 am–12:15 pm (for Discoverers and Adventurers age groups only)

Session Themes

For more details about the session themes for each age group, download the file below.

Age Groups

At Wellfleet Bay, we register campers based on the grade level they are entering in the fall, not on their age. We believe all children in our camp groups should be at a similar developmental level, and our programming is designed with this in mind. Please use your camper’s rising grade when choosing which group to register for.

Discoverers • Entering Grades Pre-K–K (Ages 4–5)
Counselor-to-Camper Ratio: 1 to 5

See available sessions

Adventurers • Entering Grade 1 (Ages 6–7)
Counselor-to-Camper Ratio: 1 to 5

See available sessions

Explorers • Entering Grades 2–3 (Ages 7–8)
Counselor-to-Camper Ratio: 1 to 8

See available sessions

Naturalists • Entering Grades 4–5 (Ages 9–10)
Counselor-to-Camper Ratio: 1 to 8

Sessions for Naturalists include off-site trips the weeks of July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12.
Sessions DO NOT include off-site trips the weeks of Weeks of June 24, July 1, July 8, and July 15.

See available sessions

Ecologists • Entering Grades 6–8 (Ages 11–13) 
Counselor-to-Camper Ratio: 1 to 10

All sessions include off-site trips.

See available sessions

Counselors-in-Training (CIT) • Ages 14–17

Monday–Friday • 9:00 am–2:45 pm
Weekly sessions from June 24–August 16 (no camp July 4–5)

CITs must participate in at least 2 sessions in order to create meaningful bonds with their camper groups and counselors. Please have your teen contact the Assistant Camp Director to request an application and set up a meeting to go over the program information to make sure this program is the right fit.

2024 Camp Pricing

Mass Audubon is committed to ensuring that every family that wants their child to experience summer camp should have the opportunity to do so. A sliding scale model helps us work toward that goal through an easy and dependable process for families. With the sliding scale structure, every family enrolls for camp at a tuition rate based on their annual gross income and size of family. 

Mass Audubon Membership

Registering for camp is one of the many benefits of Mass Audubon membership. In order to register for camp, your membership must be current through the end of your camper's last session; if you need to purchase or renew your membership, you should do so as part of your camp registration transaction. 

All camp families registering at Tiers 1–3 will receive a free one-year Family membership (new or renewal), thanks to the generosity of members at the Protector level and higher who chose to donate their free gift membership benefit. 

Review Sliding Scale Tiers

Exceptions for Cape Cod Residents

Camper families who reside on Cape Cod year-round do not need proof of income to register for tiers 3–5. Proof of the camper’s enrollment in a Cape Cod school district in the form of a report card, progress report, or letter from the school must accompany registration. All other camper families must provide proof of income to register at Tiers 1–3. If cost is still a barrier under the tiered structure, please contact the Camp Director; financial aid may be available.

Refund Policy

A full refund, minus the nonrefundable deposit, is provided to camp families who cancel in writing on or before May 15. After May 15, no refund is available. Deposits are not transferable, and refunds are not given for participant dismissal, failure to attend, absence, or sick days. If we must cancel a session, you will receive a full refund. If we have not received payment in full by May 15 and have not been in contact with you, your space is forfeit and will be given to another family. 

Prior to Registration

To make sure you’re prepared to register for camp, please read our registration instructions and camp policies, which include changes to pricing and membership.