Safari Summer Camp

Registration opens at 9am on January 15th for members; February 1 for non-members.

  • Weekly Cost: $400 members, $450 non-members
  • Session 3 Cost (3 days): $240 members, $270 non-members
  • Pre-care: $15 per day (begins at 7:30am)
  • After-care: $25 per day (until 5:30pm)

You must have a 6 Star or Family Membership valid through your chosen camps dates to take advantage of the member rate.

Kids sitting on the floor of a gazebo at Summer safari camp

About Safari Camp

Safari camp programs are designed to stimulate your child’s curiosity about the natural world. Fun-filled activities support inquiry-based learning and motivate children to make choices to help conserve our Blue Planet. Our dedicated counselors ensure a safe, enriching, personalized experience for each camper.

Children are grouped by the grade they are currently in—the fall 2023-spring 2024 school year.

Kindergarten: Periwinkles

Grade 1: Sea Stars

Grades 2-3: Green Crabs

Grades 4-5: Seafarers

To reach the Camp Director while Camp is in session, please call 603-812-9425.

Weekly Themes

Session 1, June 17-21 Ocean Commotion

We’ll dive into ocean topics this week, exploring sea life from the rocky shore to the ocean’s dark depths. Get your feet wet in the tidepools of Odiorne Point State Park, and learn what you can do to help protect the health of our one world ocean.

Session 2, June 24-28 Art in Nature

The natural world is filled with interesting patterns, shapes and colors. Investigate these wonders to the eye, and create your own works of art to take home, using natural items such as shells, driftwood, pine cones, and more. Guest artists will be featured throughout the week.

Session 3, July 1-3 (3-Day Week)The Edge of the Sea

We’ll venture out onto the rocky shore to look for sea stars, crabs, lobsters, urchins, and more! Learn about the adaptations these shoreline plants and animals have to survive, and thrive, between the tides.

Session 4, July 8-12 Seacoast History

Odiorne Point State Park is filled with many reminders of seacoast history, from salt hay farming to WWII structures and foundations of old homesteads. We’ll explore the Park to uncover mysteries of the past, hear tales of legendary Pirates, and learn how Indigenous Peoples lived on this land, before the arrival of Europeans.

Session 5, July 15-19 Terrific Tide Pooling

The intertidal zone is filled with a diversity of life. Get hands-on with these creatures and learn about predator/prey interactions on the rocky shore, and the challenges presented by invasive species.

Session 6, July 22-26Sharks and Ocean Predators

Sharks are amazing fish with their own special adaptations for survival. Learn what makes sharks and other ocean predators the great hunters of the sea. Design a shark tooth necklace to take home!

Session 7, July 29-August 2 Capturing the Sun

Join us for a week investigating life that gets its energy directly from the sun. We’ll learn about the process of photosynthesis, and explore the park and shoreline, taking a close look at colorful seaweeds, algae, plants and trees. Make a seaweed craft to take home! 

Session 8, August 5-9 Marine Mammal Mania

Dolphins, whales and seals oh my! Come learn about these air breathing masters of the sea, from the gigantic Blue whale to smaller ocean mammals that visit or call the Gulf of Maine their home. We’ll learn about our Marine Mammal Rescue operation, and do a mock rescue on the shoreline.

Session 9, August 12-16Tide Pool Explorations

Back to the tide pools we go! This week we will get our feet wet learning about the life cycles of animals found along the rocky shore. You’d be surprised by what some of these creatures look like in their planktonic stage!

Session 10, August 19-23 Boats and Nautical Week

Join us as we learn about fishing boats and commercial fisheries, research vessels conducting oceanography work, military ships, ocean tankers, and ships of old. If you like boats, this is your week! Design a boat craft to take home.

How to Register

Summer Camp registration opens at 9am on January 15 for members, February 1 for non-members. Not a member? Join today or when you register to take advantage of early registration and discounted fees. as well as may other great benefits. If you registered for camp via CampBrain in the past, your email address will be recognized. If not, you will be prompted to set up a new account. 

Confirmation, Medical Health Forms, Camper Guidelines, and other required forms

You will receive a confirmation email for your registration. Medical Health forms are now to be filled out and saved in your personal CampBrain (our new camp registration software) account. You will find information on camper guidelines and other required forms in CampBrain.

What to Bring & Other Important Information

Children should always come prepared with layers of warm outdoor clothing and boots. Please label all of your child’s belongings. We go outdoors, rain or shine, but focus on indoor activities during inclement weather. Please pack a peanut/tree nut-free lunch and snacks that do not require refrigeration.

Group of kids standing around lobster trap at Safari Summer Camp

Become a Member

Members of SSC are entitled to reduced camp prices and early summer camp registration. Membership must be active through the date for which you are registering to be eligible for the discount. Click here to learn more about all the great member benefits, and join, or renew your membership.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations that are made prior to two weeks before your child’s first day of camp begins will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after that time.

Camp Scholarship Fund

The Center has created a Camp Scholarship Fund to offer financial assistance to those otherwise unable to attend. We encourage your support of this fund; please donate now

To apply for financial assistance, please contact Henry Burke, Camp Director, at h.burke@sscnh.org or 603-436-8043, ext. 16.

Camper hanging artwork.

Questions?

Contact Henry Burke at 603-812-9425 or h.burke@sscnh.org.

CLOSED today.

Seacoast Science Center is closed today due to inclement weather.