Camps

Teaching the next generation of !

Grade levels listed below indicate which camp is appropriate for your child based upon the grade they complete in the spring of this year. Youths must be registered for the appropriate camp that matches their grade.

camper and puppy

Camp Photos

Is an Animal Friends camp right for your child?

Our camps could be a great option if your child:

  • Loves Animals

    All camps include interacting with animals in a safe and monitored environment.

  • Enjoys Hands-On Activities

    Our camps provide plenty of opportunities for animal handling while learning how to safely care for them in a supervised setting.

  • Is Creative

    If your child enjoys using their imagination and getting creative, this camp offers plenty of opportunities for artistic expression, whether it’s crafting, making animal-related art, or engaging in role-playing activities.

  • Is Interested in an Animal Related Career

    We provide valuable insights into various fields such as animal care, training and veterinary science.

Our camps may not be right for you if your child:

  • Needs All-Day Childcare

    We do not provide pre- or post- camp childcare.

  • Has a Fear or Allergy of Animals

    Our camps are not appropriate for those who are allergic or fearful of dogs, cats or rabbits.

  • Struggles with Following Instruction

    For the safety of the children and animals, all campers or apprentices must be able to follow verbal directions or be accompanied by an adult assistant.

  • Requires Constant Supervision

    Animal Friends' Camp Staff may not be equipped to provide individual accommodations for issues that could disrupt the learning environment or affect the safety of others.

  • Has a Severe Nut Allergy

    Animal Friends is not a nut-free facility.

Please Note: While we strive to provide meaningful and appropriate animal interactions, they are just one of many activities offered during each camp/mini apprenticeship. Interactions are dependent on the consent & well-being of the animals and are therefore not guaranteed.

Upcoming Camps

Our camps sell out quickly!

If you would like to be added to the waitlist for a sold out camp, please provide your name, phone number and the specific name of the camp you are interested in attending, to Donna at AFU@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

2025 Spring Camps

Registration Opens on February 27

Animal Adventure Games Camp

Become a gamer for the greater good during this exciting spring-break experience.  Campers will dream-up and create all aspects of an animal-themed board game of their own – from crafting game-pieces to designing spinners and dice to imagining roadblocks, challenges, and shortcuts to meeting an animal-rescue goal.  To inspire winning designs based on the real lives of dogs, cats, and rabbits, campers will visit with a furry friend each day, meet Animal Friends staffers, and explore the shelter.

Note: the material covered is the same for both camp sessions so we kindly request only registering for ONE of the below sessions.

Youths must be registered for the appropriate camp based upon the grade they are in currently.

Session One:

Dates: Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuition: $155 per camper

Session Two:

Dates: Thursday, April 17 - Friday, April 18

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuition: $155 per camper

Registration Opens on February 27

Register Grades 1-3

Register Grades 4-6

Register Grades 1-3

Register Grades 4-6

Spring Teen Mini Apprenticeship Camp: Solutionaries

Our new teen mini apprenticeship this spring is "Solutionaries"! How can campers use their talents and abilities to make a change in the world? Students will consider how a person’s choices can have an impact on animals, other humans, and the environment.
Apprentices will:
  • Understand how the observation of animal behaviors can tell us what animals are thinking/feeling and will create an animal ethogram based on their own observations.
  • Go behind the scenes to help prepare food for our resident dogs, cats, and rabbits.
  • Learn about the importance and depth of the animal-human bond before creating care packages for the companion animals of local unhoused individuals.

Youths must be registered for the appropriate camp based upon the grade they are in currently.

Dates: Thursday, April 17 - Friday, April 18

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuition: $155 per camper

Registration Opens on February 27

Register Grades 8-12

2025 Summer Camps

Registration Date TBD

Littlest Animal Friends

For: Ages 3-5

This program is designed to introduce children to compassionate care of animals. In each lesson, children will develop their understanding of animal behaviors. We’ll share animal stories, do crafts and activities, and meet some furry friends! 

Critter Camp: Responsible Pet Care 

For: Students going into Grades 1-2 in the fall

Critter Campers will understand the roles that humans have in caring for companion animals. They will develop empathy as they begin to understand animals’ needs, and how they can safely interact with and help care for animals. Learners will do related artistic activities such as creating model pets with UV beads before building a shelter to  protect them from the sun. Campers can look forward to visits from a few furry friends!

Camp Animal Friends: Animal Senses 

For: Students going into Grades 3-4 in the fall

The objective of Camp Animal Friends is to foster curiosity and critical thinking while developing compassionate animal advocates Activities will include exploring what colors cats see and investigating why cats eyes glow at night Learners will have the opportunity to interact with staff and some animal friends along the way.  

Pets Plus: Medical care 

For: Students going into Grades 5-6 in the fall

Participants in this camp will begin the investigation of roles within the animal care field, particularly those in veterinary care. Campers will create first aid kits and make pill pockets for animals in need at Animal Friends. As they learn more about the resources that are needed to care for animals, campers will meet with medical staff and some four-legged friends, too.

Compassionate Change Makers

For: Students going into Grades 7-8 in the fall

This group of campers will explore ethical, real-life issues that animals and their caregivers face. Within our own local communities, learners will discover where services are needed and how they can be solution driven individuals. These Change Makers will then go into the community to make an immediate difference!  

 Learners will create change by creating posters about services provided at Animal Friends and displaying them at a local library, where students will also read to children about caring for animals and lead an activity.

Cooperative Care Camp Mini Apprenticeship

For: Students going into Grades 9-12 in the fall

Youths will be working closely with staff and animal professionals to explore operant conditioning, which is a form of training, used for behavior modification, that is based around increasing or decreasing the likelihood a behavior will happen again. In this program they will get to work with some of our Therapets dogs as they learn about cooperative care. Apprentices will learn the why and how of training exercises and most importantly, will be focusing on how to give animals a voice in their own care.

Animal Advocacy Summit

For: Students going into Grades 9-12 in the fall & for campers who previously participated in a mini apprenticeship or will this summer

The highlight of this summer will be the Animal Advocacy Summit, made possible by a generous grant from the Latham Foundation. For this in-depth experience, high school students who have completed a previous Animal Friends mini apprenticeship in 2023-2024, or will complete one in 2025, may apply. Apprentices will hear from experts in the field about why they choose to advocate for animals. These emerging advocates will consider the needs of domestic, farm, and wildlife animals, through both in-house activities and field trips. They will also work with a local chef to create a delicious vegan lunch. 

Summit attendees will consider the roles that media and government play in animal advocacy and will meet with animal advocates and lobbyists to hear what solutions they work towards to advance animal causes. Students will consider what was learned throughout the week, and what animal causes they are personally passionate about. They will then be given the opportunity to present these causes to local/state government officials about their chosen topics.