Frequently Asked Questions

A sliding scale pricing structure can make day camp affordable by removing financial barriers and expanding access to camp for families in an easy, dependable, and confidential process. Sliding scale options are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is limited tiered pricing available per camp, per tier.  

In 2025, over 18% of campers came to camp on Tiers 1-3 sliding scale pricing; without sliding scale, many of those children would not have been able to attend camp.  

Tier 4 is what helps us cover the cost of camp, while Tier 5 helps others come to camp.  

Tiers are decided by income, but income is only part of what makes financial status. If you land in Tier 4 but are able to comfortably pay at Tier 5, we ask that you consider registering at Tier 5 to make it possible for more kids to go to camp. 

For more information, visit our sliding scale page online.  

Tiers are based on gross family income and family size. We ask that you use the gross family income of the camper’s primary residence (your gross income is the amount of money earned before taxes and other deductions). If your camper lives in more than one residence, you may average all incomes. You can find your tier here.  

You may withdraw from any camp session on or before May 1 for a full refund, minus the non-refundable deposit. After May 1, there is no refund available.  

Refunds are not given for participant dismissal, failure to attend, absence, or sick days. If we cancel a session, you will receive a full refund. Learn more about our refund policy. 

If your plans change, please contact us as soon as possible so that someone else can go to camp! 

Full payment is due no later than May 1. Contact your camp if you need to set up a payment plan.  

If you haven’t paid in full by May 1 and do not have a payment plan in place, you may receive a late fee and/or your registration will be canceled. 

All CampDoc documents are due no later than May 1. We would appreciate complete profiles as soon as possible to allow camp directors plenty of time to review information about campers. 

Due to Massachusetts Board of Health regulations, we are not allowed to accept campers with missing information. If forms are not completed by May 1, you may receive a late fee. 

We do not save credit card information. You will need to pay your balance by May 1. Log into your account to pay or call your camp directly to pay over the phone. 

Mass Audubon's tax ID number is 04-2104702.

We understand that camp can feel like a significant investment, and we want to share what goes into creating such a meaningful experience for every camper. These elements require thoughtful planning, skilled staff, and quality resources. The cost of camp reflects our commitment to providing a safe, enriching, and unforgettable camp experience. 

• Low camper-to-staff ratios: One of the biggest costs of camp is paying our counselors and other staff, and hiring enough staff to ensure that we can maintain low camper-to-staff ratios. Small group sizes ensure that every camper receives personal attention, support, and guidance. This also enhances safety and allows for more meaningful connections between campers and staff. 
• Competitive wages for staff: We’re proud to offer some of the highest wages in the camp industry, enabling us to attract talented and dedicated staff while recognizing and rewarding their skills, experience, and commitment to creating meaningful camp experiences. 
• A safe space to connect with nature: Camps take place at Mass Audubon’s stunning wildlife sanctuaries, offering children a rare opportunity to unplug and immerse themselves in the natural world, playing, exploring, and building confidence in outdoor settings that are both inspiring and restorative. Sanctuaries cost money to maintain, keep clean and safe. 
• Hands-on learning: Our programs are rich with hands-on science, art, games, hikes, and activities that make learning fun and memorable. Campers don’t just hear about nature—they experience it. Specifically, animal- and art-based activities, some of our campers’ highlights of camp, have higher costs associated with animal care and art supplies. 
• Supports our sliding scale camp model: Camp tuition helps fund our sliding scale pricing model, making nature-based camps accessible to families with limited financial resources. By choosing our program, you’re helping build a more inclusive camp community where all children can thrive. 

Please see your camp’s Family Handbook (available on each individual camp web page) for specific information about camp schedules. 

As a nature camp, we will spend most of the day outside. Wearing clothing that will help keep your child comfortable and safe is essential so they can enjoy their day. Sturdy shoes, a wide brimmed hat, and clothing that will feel good while they are active and getting a little dirty is great. Some campers prefer lightweight long sleeve pants and shirts to protect them from the sun, mosquitoes and ticks. Sunscreen and bug spray are highly encouraged, too.  

Camp days can be quite active, so packing plenty of snacks and a hearty lunch, along with a refillable water bottle, will help keep your camper fueled throughout the day. You can see a full list of what to bring in your camp’s Family Handbook.  

Some children sign up for 1 week and others sign up for 4 or more weeks! Some sites have a maximum number of weeks you can sign up for to ensure that everyone has a chance to experience our camps.  

We try to vary our activities and daily themes to make sure that campers who are with us for one week as well as returning campers have a great experience that feels fresh and exciting. 

Many campers sign up for multiple weeks, and it’s a great way to really get to know our sanctuaries. Camp staff have daily themes that guide the flow of the camp day. While some themes do repeat, we try to vary the games, activities and craft projects, so it will be an exciting camp day for new campers and returning campers alike.

Campers should be potty-trained. We make frequent bathroom visits during camp programming; campers are expected to be comfortable using the bathroom on their own.  

We understand that accidents can happen and will help coach a camper to clean themselves and change their clothing, however camp staff are not trained to help campers directly with toileting needs. If you have questions, contact your camp director to discuss your child’s needs. 

Some of our camp locations offer before and after care at an additional cost; please see camp program pages for more information. 

We want to ensure that campers are fully present at camp, so we ask that phones and other electronic devices be left at home. If a camper brings a phone or other communication device to camp, they may be asked to store it in their backpack or in the camp director’s office if it is interfering with the camp experience. 

To ensure that each camper has the best possible experience, our camps group children by age. This allows us to tailor activities, pacing, and group dynamics to meet the developmental needs of each age group. While we understand the desire for siblings to be together, placing campers in age-appropriate groups helps us create a fun, safe, and supportive environment for everyone. 

As an outdoor nature camp, we are well-prepared to respond to weather-related emergencies. Each camper group has access to indoor shelter spaces where they can stay safe and comfortable during extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding, or thunderstorms. Many of our activities and games can be adapted to be done while inside.  

Our camp leadership team closely monitors weather conditions throughout the summer and during the camp day and makes proactive decisions to ensure the safety of all campers and staff. This could include canceling camp or activating our camp evacuation plan. 

All our camps have American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation, which comes with the gold standard of health, safety, and risk management.  

Each site is also inspected by our local health departments. We have plans in place for a number of emergency situations, including but not limited to: missing campers, environmental hazards like thunderstorms, extreme heat and air quality, and active threats. Your camp’s family handbook will also have information about emergency plans. If you would like more information, please reach out to the site’s camp director or to [email protected]. 

If your child won’t make it to camp, please call or email your camp as soon as possible. We want to make sure all campers are accounted for. If we do not hear from you, we will contact you for an update.  

We ask that you keep home any camper with a potentially contagious illness. If they have a fever, they will need to be fever free for 24 hours without medication to be able to return.  

No refunds are given for days missed due to illness.  

Camp staff are trained in basic first aid and CPR and will provide care to campers according to their training and treatment procedures. Based on the signs and symptoms, we will determine if a call home is necessary to coordinate an early pick-up.  

If your camper experiences an emergency, staff will call 911, then immediately notify the parent/guardian.  

There are several ways to enjoy nature while reducing the risk of ticks: 

• Long pants tucked into socks and close-toed shoes can help us spot ticks.  
• Insect repellents like DEET and picaridin can help. You can find permethrin to treat clothing that will last multiple washes.  
• We do tick checks during camp, but doing a more detailed tick check at home each day is important. The likelihood of disease transmission increases with the length of time a tick is attached.  
• Showers at home after the camp day can help rinse off ticks. 
• Drying camp clothes on high heat can kill ticks that may be hidden in clothing. 

We keep a small supply of snacks on hand in case a camper forgets or drops their lunch, but we do not provide snacks on a regular basis. Because camp days are active and outdoors, campers often need more food than they do at school. Please be sure to pack plenty of snacks and a hearty lunch to keep your camper energized throughout the day! 

To ensure that we can best support your camper, please upload current health information to your camper’s CampDoc profile as soon as you can. You should be able to start filling out and updating their profile shortly after you register for camp. If you are due for a checkup with your primary care provider, make sure to book it with enough time to share updated forms with us by May 1. 

Any life-saving medication must be at camp during any time campers are there. If a medication is missing, we will contact the camper's listed caregiver to bring it to camp. 

Mass Audubon is dedicated to creating inclusive, equitable access to nature for people of all backgrounds and identities and making our wildlife sanctuaries a place of safety and belonging. Flying the pride flag demonstrates that commitment and acknowledges that Mass Audubon is made up of people with a broad range of identities—those who work at our organization and those who visit and support our efforts every single day.

Learn more about inclusion at camp