Day Camp Policies & Registration Information

To ensure that your camper has an amazing summer experience, please read the following information about how to register, sliding scale pricing, membership, and more.

Our Philosophy & Goals

We are committed to ensuring that every camper has the best possible summer while in our care. It is our goal that, by the end of each camp session:

• Campers of all racial, economic, gender, and other backgrounds/identities feel comfortable in the outdoors and want to explore local ecosystems.
• Campers learn conservation through STEAM activities.
• Campers leave with a deepened feeling of responsibility and stewardship for natural habitats, and understand their importance in the world.
• Campers have age-appropriate knowledge and tools to take environmental action in their local communities.
• Campers and staff feel supported and accepted socially and emotionally.

When Can I Register for Camp?

Registration for Mass Audubon Camps begins in January each year; a schedule of exact dates will be published prior to registration go-live. 

Many camps have specific policies and procedures, such as a limit to the number of sessions each child can sign up for or pre-registration for local resident families. Please visit the webpage for the specific camp you are interested in for details, contact information, and links to register online.

How to Register for Camp

You may register for a specific Mass Audubon Camp online or by phone. On the morning that camp registration goes live, phone and customer service may not be available until regular business hours. 

The instructions below apply to online registration for most Mass Audubon Camps. Please note that Boston Nature Center Camp  uses an online lottery system for registration; please visit their webpage for specific registration instructions.

1. To ensure a smooth registration process, please log in to your registration account ahead of the registration opening day to verify that you have the correct login information and to check that your account and contact information are up to date.
2. At registration time, log into your account and you will be directed to your account overview page. On the right-hand side, click the "New Search" button. You will be directed to the "Search for Programs" page.
3. Select the location of the camp for which you wish to register your child from the drop-down list of wildlife sanctuaries. Under “Program Type,” select "Camp" and also turn on the “Include Camps” toggle. You may also select the age of your child or your preferred dates to further customize your search results, but it is not necessary. Click the "Search" button. You will be directed to a Program Search results page.
4. Scroll through the available programs and click on the summer camp session that you would like your camper to attend. Click the “Register!” button and select your income tier from the drop-down menu; the system will automatically calculate the appropriate price for your selected tier. A Tier Eligibility Table is available at this stage to help you select the correct tier.
5. Click “Add to Cart.” You may add multiple weeks to your cart and register multiple campers at once. You should also join Mass Audubon or renew your membership at this time, if you are registering for Tiers 4–5. Families registering at Tiers 1–3 qualify for a free, one-year Family-level membership (new or renewal) as part of their camp registration, which they will receive within a few weeks of completing the registration process. Families registering at Tiers 1–4 will be asked to provide income verification documentation (such as tax returns, pays stubs, etc.) at a later time. Tier 5 registrants are not required to verify their income.
6. After you click "Add to Cart", a "Cart Updated" note will appear. Please click the "View Cart" link after you add all your chosen summer camp weeks to your cart. You will then be directed to your cart.
7. Please complete the Participant Info for each camp week.
   • If this is your first time registering your child for a Mass Audubon Camp, click "Add New Name" or "Create New Camper".
   • If you have registered your child for a Mass Audubon Camp before, click on their name to update the information on file for this year, such as grade level or t-shirt size.
8. You will now be ready to check out and pay the deposit by using your credit card. Please note Mass Audubon’s online system is secure and does not keep your credit card information on file. 

Registration Confirmation

A confirmation email containing important documents and information will be sent once your camper’s registration has been processed.

My children have attended Mass Audubon Camps for four years; it is something they look forward to each summer! Thanks for making these camp weeks special year after year!

Mass Audubon Membership

Registering for camp is one of many benefits of Mass Audubon membership. In order to register for camp, your membership (at the Family level or higher) must be current through the end of your camper's last session. 

If you are unsure of your member status, you can check by logging in to your existing Mass Audubon account, or contacting Mass Audubon Member Services at 781-259-9500 or [email protected] (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm).

Free Membership for Qualifying Camp Families

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. As a Mass Audubon member, you will enjoy access to our day camps, free admission to all of our wildlife sanctuaries, discounts on programs and gift shop purchases, and other great benefits. 

• Families registering at Tiers 1–3: You will receive information regarding your free one-year Family membership within a few weeks of completing your camp registration.
• Families registering at Tiers 4 or 5: If you need to purchase or renew your membership, you should do so during the camp registration process using the easy-to-follow prompts at checkout.

As an educator and a parent, I'm thrilled...My daughter is learning about diverse animal species, the environment in which they live, and the ways in which humans impact the environment, both positively and negatively.

Pricing & Affordability

The balance of your camp tuition is due by May 15. If registering after May 15, payment in full is required and a specific camp form deadline will be set for you.

Make a payment

Sliding Scale Pricing  

Sliding scale pricing is a key part of Mass Audubon’s commitment to ensuring that every family can give their child the opportunity to experience the friendships, community, confidence, and connection to nature that takes place at Mass Audubon summer camps. With the sliding scale structure, every family enrolls for camp at a tuition rate based on their annual gross income and family size. 

Learn more about sliding scale and find your income tier

Financial Aid  

We believe connection with the natural world should be available to all. If pricing or the nonrefundable deposit is still a hardship at Tier 1, please contact the camp director prior to registration; additional financial aid or payment plans may be available. Payment plan options are also available upon request to all families, regardless of income tier.

Deposit  

A nonrefundable deposit is required to register for camp. The deposit will be applied to your camp tuition and cannot be transferred to another camper, family, or camp location. If registering after May 15, payment in full is required, unless a payment plan has been established with the camp director. If the nonrefundable deposit is still a hardship at Tier 1, please contact the camp director prior to registration; additional financial aid or payment plans 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. 

Important Deadlines  

All camp health forms, waivers, and the balance of your camp tuition are due by May 15. If registering after May 15, payment in full is required and a specific camp form deadline will be set for you. A camper cannot attend camp and their spot is not guaranteed until all forms, waivers, and payments are completed (or a payment plan has been established with the camp director).

Make a payment

Session Transfers  

Session transfer requests will be honored if there is space available and if a request is made at least two weeks prior to the session start date, after which transfers are not permitted.

Behavior Expectations

Our staff is trained to create a safe environment for all children by establishing expectations, fostering positive mentor and peer relationships, and offering guidance throughout each day.

Mass Audubon sanctuaries are open to the public and groups may spend time in areas that have moving vehicles, outside school groups, and wild animals. In order for all children to gain the most from their experience in our programs, children are expected to follow Mass Audubon’s Participant Code of Conduct with minimal one-on-one support.

Mass Audubon’s Youth Program Participant Code of Conduct

1. Respect Yourself. Examples include: 
   1. Drink water, eat food, and go to the bathroom when you need to.
   2. Apply sunscreen and bug spray.
   3. Stay with your group and on the path.
   4. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, talk with an adult.
   5. It’s okay to make mistakes. Keep trying and ask for help.
2. Respect Nature. Examples include:  
   1. Carry in / carry out – take trash and recycling with you or put in an appropriate bin 
   2. Leave animals, plants, and other parts of nature where you found them  
   3. Observe wild animals from a distance – use your eyes not your hands 
3. Respect Others. Examples include: 
   1. Listen and follow through with instructions given by Mass Audubon Instructors  
   2. Stay with your group at all times 
   3. Listen to all ideas and be inclusive – allow others to join/play with you 
   4. Treat others the way they want to be treated and celebrate each other’s individuality 
   5. Use caring and kind language 
   6. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself  
   7. Respect other people’s physical space and objects.  

Every day, my child came home filthy and tired and smiling, even when it was raining (and somehow had grass in her hair). That is what childhood is about!

Accommodations for Children with Disabilities

Mass Audubon is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and inclusion to ensure that everyone can participate fully in the magic of our nature programs. As an outdoor, nature-based program, it is important that families of children who have disabilities understand Mass Audubon’s expectations, programs, and terrain prior to enrolling. 

Due to the outdoor and exploratory nature of our camp programs, campers will be moving on uneven terrain throughout the day. The terrain at our sites varies from hard-packed, gently sloped paths to steeper, uneven trails that may have exposed rocks, tree roots, and other obstacles. Additionally, weather conditions could affect our trails’ conditions. We encourage all families to visit the camp’s sanctuary prior to enrolling to understand its unique terrain. 

If your child requires accommodations, please contact the camp’s director as soon as possible; a delay in request could have the unintended consequence of disrupting your child’s Mass Audubon camp experience.

One-on-one Aides

Mass Audubon camps do not provide 1:1 support; however, we do welcome 1:1 aides with children when they are provided by the family. Aides must follow Mass Audubon’s Child Protection Standards, including obtaining a CORI/SORI and background check prior to their time participating within our programs. Depending on the regulations of a specific Mass Audubon program, more information and training might be required prior to the Aide starting within the program. If your child requires an aide in school, please contact the site's camp director as soon as possible to discuss how Mass Audubon can best support your child.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At Mass Audubon Camps, we strive to create a safe, inclusive, and caring camp environment where each person is respected and supported in their learning and growth. We believe that diversity—both in nature and in our human communities—is essential to strength, resilience, and innovation, and we are committed to recognizing the unique contributions of each community member.

To learn more about how Mass Audubon respects and embraces our campers’ and staff’s unique identities and needs, please review our Gender Inclusion at Camp policies and practices.

Licenses & Accreditation

Camp License 

All Mass Audubon Camps comply with the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 430) and are individually licensed by the local Boards of Health for the city or town in which each camp is located.  

ACA Accreditation  

Mass Audubon Camps are proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association. Developed exclusively for the camp industry, this nationally recognized program focuses on program quality, health and safety, management, and camp operations.    

Camp Policy Requests  

You may request copies of the background check, healthcare, discipline, bullying, and grievance policies for any Mass Audubon Camp at any time by contacting the Camp Director for each camp location or emailing [email protected].

Meningitis Fact Sheet

Campers are not considered to have increased risk of Meningococcal Disease, but the Department of Public Health requires us to provide information online.