Discover Wild Child San Diego Nature School Child Care

Spend the summer exploring the outdoors with Wild Child San Diego Nature School! Our nature-based summer camps take place at Leisure Lagoon and Kate Sessions Park in Mission Bay, where children can play, explore, and learn in some of San Diego’s most beautiful natural spaces.

Each day is filled with adventure, from shoreline exploration and water play to nature hikes, fort building, creative art, and cooperative games. Our experienced teachers guide children through hands-on activities that spark curiosity, confidence, and a love for the natural world.

At Wild Child, we believe childhood should be muddy, adventurous, and full of discovery. Campers enjoy plenty of freedom to explore, build friendships, and develop practical outdoor skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Come join us for a summer of sunshine, nature, and unforgettable memories!

Camp Structure & Daily Rhythm

All campers will be dropped off and picked up at the same location. Children ages 3–10 will spend parts of the day enjoying mixed-age free play, which helps build friendships, leadership, and a strong sense of community.

Throughout the day, campers will also separate into age groups for snacks, lunch, games, and age-appropriate lessons and activities.

During free play, children will have access to a variety of inviting activity areas including sand toys, coloring, beading, a cozy book nook, swimming, and trips to the water trampoline or lily pad for our 3–4 year olds.

Older campers will participate in more structured skill-building activities, such as nature journaling, survival skills, archery, weaving, and other hands-on outdoor lessons designed to build confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Campers ages 11 and up will have their own group for activities such as paddle boarding, swimming, and learning advanced outdoor and survival skills.

Our Junior Counselors will focus on developing leadership and mentoring skills, while also assisting teachers and supporting younger campers during activities and free play.

Our daily rhythm balances freedom, exploration, and guided learning, giving children the opportunity to build independence, connect with nature, and create lasting summer memories.

Our Junior Counselor Program is designed for older campers who are ready to take on more responsibility and develop leadership skills in a supportive environment. Junior Counselors will spend part of their day learning advanced outdoor skills such as paddle boarding, swimming, and wilderness survival, while also gaining experience mentoring and assisting younger campers during activities and free play.

With guidance from our teachers, Junior Counselors practice leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, helping them grow in confidence while becoming positive role models within our camp community.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for older kids to stay engaged in nature camp while building real leadership experience.

18m-2.9 1 teacher to 4 kids 

3-4y 1 teacher to 7 kids 

5-10 1 teacher to 12 kids 

11-18 1 teacher to 15 kids 

Week 1: July 6 – July 10

Week 2: July 13 – July 17

Week 3: July 20 – July 24

Week 4: July 27 – July 31

Week 5: August 3 – August 7

Week 6: August 10 – August 14

Week 7: August 17 – August 21

Week 8: August 24 – August 28

Week 1

Monday: Fire Safety & How to Build a Fire

Tuesday: First Aid & Signaling if Lost

Wednesday: Finding Water when lost & water purification

Thursday: Shelter Building: Tent & Natural Materials 

Friday: National Marine Mammal Protection Foundation Workshop-POP for a Porpoise

Week 2

Monday: Hand Sewing & Simple Repairs

Tuesday: Soap Carving 

Wednesday: Archery & Yoga

Thursday: Learn to make a simple bread and cook it over the fire 

Friday: National Marine Mammal Protection Foundation Workshop-Dolphin Doctor 

Week 3

Monday: Identifying Edible, Poisonous Plants, and Nature Journaling/ Optional Archery

Tuesday: Finding Wild Clay & Clay Crafting

Wednesday: Composting Basics led & Yoga

Thursday: Basic Navigation Using Compass & Stars 

Friday: Building & Using a Simple Slingshot 

Week 4

Monday: Basic Knot Tying Lesson & Making a Wind Chime 

Tuesday: Woodworking: Build a Treasure Chest

Wednesday: Book Binding & Scientific Journal Entry & Yoga 

Thursday: Song Writing & Fire Performance & Archery

Friday:Building Rafts from Found Materials

Week 5

Monday: Whittling with Soap & With Wood for those who attended Week 2

Tuesday: Solar Fire Starter & Cooking Over the Fire 

Wednesday: DIY Water Filter out of Recycled Materials 

Thursday: Basket Weaving & Archery

Friday: Build a Lean To

Week 6

Monday: Making Natural Dyes from Plants 

Tuesday: Using Natural Dyes to Tie Dye & Archery

Wednesday: Practice Fire Building & Hand Drum Lesson

Thursday: DIY Survival Bracelet with Paracord 

Friday:Sew a Stuffed Animal & Archery

Week 7

Monday: Clay Crafting

Tuesday: Planter Box Building 

Wednesday: Cordage Making from Natural Fibers

Thursday:  Sewing a pouch using yesterday’s cordage 

Friday: Basic Cooking over a Campfire & Archery

Week 8

Monday: Comic Strip Writing 

Tuesday: Bookbinding 

Wednesday: Archery 

Thursday: Clay Crafting 

Friday: StoryTelling & Oral Traditions around the fire

Week 1: Sharks 

Week 2: Dolphins & Killer Whales 

Week 3: Sea Turtles & Coral Reef 

Week 4: Seashore Ecosystem & Pirates 

Week 5: Sea Lions, Seals, & Sea Otters

Week 6: Sea Horses, Manta Rays, and Jellyfish

Week 7: Sea Birds and Crustaceans 

Week 8: Whales & Porpoises & Narwhals

**Workshops added in where they fit and subject to date change based on vendor availability

8:30-3pm 

Early Drop @ 7:30 for $30/per day 

Late Pickup after 3pm and latest pickup 5pm-$14/per 30 mins per child per day 

Late Pickup and Early drop must be planned in advance. At least a week in advance to accommodate. Please email the director at Wildchildsandiegonatureschool@gmail.com.

Unapproved late pickup-$2/per minute late 

M, W, Th, F at Leisure Lagoon 

Tuesdays at Kate Sessions Park by the playground 

Please label ALL towels and clothing items 

• Hat with a chink strap 
• Sunscreen (apply to child before drop off)
• Water shoes with a back strap (crocs work great)
• Towel
• Rash guard and swim bottoms-the more coverage they have the less likely they are to get sunburned 
• Extra dry clothing 
• Two full water bottles 
• Two snacks and a full lunch-more food is better