2024 Camp Information coming soon
2023 Camp Information
Waitlist Information:
Due to the community's overwhelming interest, ALL of our Day Camp sessions are FULL!
If you are interested to put your name on a waitlist, please email natureninos@nmwildlife.org with your name and phone number, your camper's name and birthday, and which session you are interested in. All of this requested information is required to be on the waitlist.
NOTE: A camp spot is not guaranteed with your name on the waitlist. Should a change occur, we will contact the next name on the waitlist and will have 24 hours before we move to the next name.
Volantes en español:
We have a lot of fun planned for the summer and want you to join!
Choose either our Day Camp or our Overnight Camping!
Day Camp is designated for ages 8- 14.
Overnight Camp is designated for ages 12 - 17.
Campers are eligible for only ONE session of any summer program.
Each session is $40*.
Session Dates
Day Camp - 2-week session. Monday - Thursday.
9AM- 3PM
Session 1: May 29th - June 8th
Session 2: June 19th - June 29th
Session 3: July 10th - July 20th
Breakfast & Snack Included
Bring Your Own Lunch
Overnight Camp - 1 week session. Tuesday - Friday.
Each Tuesday will be a full day "camp prep" at Shady Lakes (9AM-3PM)
Campers will be camp with NMWF staff Wednesday & Thursday night and return back to Shady Lakes Friday mid-morning.
Drop off Wednesday at 9AM
Pick Up Friday at 11AM
Session 1: June 6th - June 9th
Session 2: June 27th - June 30th
Session 3: July 18th - July 21st
Tuesday: Bring Your Own Lunch for "Camp Prep" Day
Wednesday AM- Friday AM- All Meals Provided.
*If finances are keeping your family from participating, please email us for options.
Location:
Nature Niños Outdoor Classroom -
11033 4th St. NW Albuquerque, NM 87114
Shady Lakes Trout Fishing, ABQ North Valley
As the schedule develops, other locations will be specified for field trip destinations for Day Camp and the Overnight Night camping location.
If for any reason a location needs a change or the schedule needs to be updated you will receive an email within 24hr of class and the class will be updated on our website and Google Calendar. Location for each week can always be double checked on the Google Calendar on the Nature Ninos website: www.natureninos.org/calendar
What to bring to Day Camp:
We do suggest that you LABEL all of your child's camp belongings before the first day of camp.
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen, bug spray, hat and/or sun glasses
- Towel to sit on or dry off
- Healthy Lunch (please be sure your child's lunch is labeled and is self contained with ice packs)
- Wear clothes that are comfortable & able to get dirty
What to bring to Overnight Camp:
If your child is signed up for overnight camp with the Nature Ninos team you'll receive a packing list 2 weeks ahead of camp. Our team is able to provide all camping essentials such as tent, sleeping bag, etc. Youth attending the overnight camp will be tent sharing with other youth in the program.
Disclosure:
Nature Niños is leading a research project focused on the best practices to create a youth program. Our project is highlighting community collaboration with local partners, how to get youth without much outdoor access involved in the outdoor world, specifically in conservation, hunting, and fishing, and focusing on the social & emotional benefits of nature play.
By participating in this program, all students will be taking part in this project, where we will be implementing these best practices into our program and evaluating the effectiveness of those practices. This research will not affect your child's experience at this program - if anything, we hope it makes it better! Data will be collected through observation of general camp success and through staff and student input. Any data collected will not share names of children, but may include images, including photography and filmography, of the planned camp activities for presentational and future marketing purposes.
If you have any questions, regarding this aspect of the program, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Take a peek at our Outdoor Adventure Camp!
Meet Our 2023 Summer Staff
Liv Martinez - Day Camp Lead
Liv Martinez was born and raised in the South Valley of Albuquerque, the community was her initial exposure to outdoor exploration. This facilitated a passion for conservation, leading her to employment with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps as a crew member and assistant crew supervisor. From there Liv interned with the U.S. Forest Service where she developed a Life Science curriculum for kindergarten students. After high school she studied briefly at Fort Lewis College majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in botany. During the pandemic Liv moved back home where she began an assistant teaching job at a local daycare where she worked with children ages 3 to 5. In January of 2022, Liv joined the Nature Niños crew as an outdoor educator as well as our NASP certified basic archery instructor. She is stoked for the summer and building connections with your kids! Pilamayeksto!
Amy Mathis - Overnight Camp Lead
Amy graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Music and Theater and she also holds a BS in Geology from New Mexico Tech. Amy has been a lifetime outdoor enthusiast with a focus on camping, backpacking, and hiking. She has been a dedicated instructor for local Cub Scout and Boy Scout organizations on Maui and currently here in Albuquerque where she teaches Basic Scouting Skills, assists in leading High Adventure outings, and is a Merit Badge Counselor. Her other interests include birding, plant identification, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and gardening. Amy cares deeply about the world around us and understands that our children are our future.
Summer Camp Counselors coming soon!
2022 & 2021 Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp
Thank you to all of our partners that made our first session so amazing!
VARA Winery for our amazing space, Albuquerque Sign Language Academy, ABQ Bio Park Botanical Gardens, Valle De Oro, Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, Ciudad Water and Soil Conservation District, New Mexico Wildlife Federation staff