Check Out a List of Our Outdoor Science Camp Adventures!
For the past 30 years, AstroCamp has fine-tuned our formula to create the perfect outdoor summer camp. Unique among overnight camps, AstroCamp offers a blend of outdoor adventure and science-based activities like robotics and rocket building. Our campers are able to totally geek out and push beyond their comfort zone.
AstroCamp is located in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains near the town of Idyllwild. Our sprawling 100-acre outdoor campus is on the edge of a mountain meadow and surrounded by pine, oak, and manzanita trees, providing a rare opportunity for campers to enjoy hands-on experiences in nature.
Our unique environment gives campers plenty of space to roam and enjoy amazing summer camp outdoor activities while truly connecting to the world around them.
What Do You Do at Summer Camp?
At AstroCamp, we cater to a wide range of interests. We believe in a balanced curriculum and offer a unique blend of STEM, creative arts, and adventure activities for our campers. We also value a hands-on approach to learning and recognize the power of connecting to nature.
While there are indoor activities available on rare rainy days, most of our activities are held outdoors because the weather here in sunny California is simply unbeatable. In fact, there are a handful of activities that can only be done outside at AstroCamp.
Our focus on outdoor immersion helps campers build practical skills, confidence, and a love of nature. Plus, it makes for a fun and unforgettable experience!
AstroCamp Summer Camp Outdoor Activities: One-Week Session
The outdoor summer camp programs we offer differ between our one-week and two-week sessions. Here are a few outdoor activities available to our campers during the week-long session.
1. Use a Telescope & Experience Night Stargazing
After a short hike to one of our telescope viewing areas, campers learn how to gaze at the stars and see deep-space objects. We’re able to take images of the night sky using our digital telescope camera, so your camper can take home a photo of their favorite constellation after experiencing one of the best places to stargaze in California.
2. Nature Hikes
We love to explore our beautiful location. That’s why we lead immersive nature hikes that help campers gain a greater appreciation for the outdoors. On these hikes, campers get the chance to wander the forest trails and learn helpful facts about local wildlife, all while spotting woodpeckers, pine trees, and awe-inspiring outlook points along the way.
Our hikes also offer a great opportunity to bond with fellow campers and these adventure-seekers often feel a sense of accomplishment after exercising in the fresh mountain air.
3. SkyCoaster
Strap into summer camp’s biggest swing! After being buckled into the SkyCoaster’s harness, campers elevate their friends via a pulley system all the way to the top of the tree line. Then the swing is let loose and campers swing through the air almost like they’re flying, all while experiencing one of the most thrilling summer camp outdoor activities.
4. Archery & Axe Throwing
In this course, campers learn the fundamentals of target archery and axe throwing. Novices and experts alike feel welcome in this course as they learn new skills. Not to worry, parents—the focus is always on safety and proper technique!
5. Power Pole
Campers get the chance to overcome their fear of heights during this wacky adventure. First, they climb up a telephone pole (strapped to a safety harness, of course) to reach a platform up high. Campers then jump off the pole in order to try and hit a tetherball swinging nearby. This thrilling activity builds character and is a camp favorite.
AstroCamp Summer Camp Outdoor Activities: Two-Week Session
During our Two-Week Sessions, campers get to enjoy a variety of immersive experiences that bring them closer to nature—and to each other.
6. Wilderness Survival
For an immersive nature experience, your camper can partake in our wilderness survival course. They’ll learn how to build a shelter, search for food, discover the basics of orienteering, and dive into other essential survival skills. This course is for anyone who loves being out in the woods exploring.
7. Mountain Biking
Campers get to rip it up on our very own mountain biking trails. During this course, campers learn to shift gears strategically, ride on trails, and other basics of this sport. We set up a series of biking challenges that help take the camper’s riding skills to the next level.
8. Adventure Overnights
Adventure overnights are off-site camping trips where campers get to experience the great outdoors in a dynamic, immersive setting. Your child will sleep under the vast network of stars that paint the skies above California’s San Jacinto Mountains.
9. Geocaching
A geocache is a treasure left behind that you have to find using a handheld GPS device and clues—a real-life treasure hunt! During this course, campers travel around the camp hunting for these hidden gems, making it one of the most exciting summer camp outdoor activities we offer. Plus, they’ll even get the opportunity to create their own geocache.
10. Advanced Rocketry
We go a step further than water bottle rockets in this course. Campers get to build their own combustion rockets that go thousands of feet into the air. During the two weeks with us, they’ll build their rocket. Then at the end of camp, we take them to have an off-site launch where they get to see which rocket flies the highest.
11. Engineering Activities
If your camper loves creating or building things, they’re in luck! We help campers hone their skills with engaging engineering activities through our Future Engineers program. They’ll get to flex their brain power and think outside the box with design and construction challenges that are educational, and of course, fun. Campers can expect to build bridges, make robots, launch ballistic machines, and more!
Which Outdoor Science Camp Session is Right for Your Child?
We offer two unique options perfect for all types of campers. Learn more to discover which outdoor science camp is best for your child.
Consider a One-Week Session if:
- Your child is new to camp experiences
- Your child has a busy summer lined up
- Your child wants to build confidence
Our shorter sessions are great for kids looking to dip their toes into the world of exploration, adventure, and connection. They’ll get the chance to learn, grow, and have fun with some of our most popular activities. Enroll today!
Consider a Two-Week Session if:
- Your child is hoping for a more tailored experience
- Your child thrives in immersive environments
- Your child is looking to build deeper connections
Our longer sessions offer a university-style environment and are catered to each camper’s unique interests. They’ll get the chance to learn new skills, gain leadership experience, and form lifelong bonds. Enroll today!
More Outdoor Science Camps at AstroCamp
These are just some of the outdoor adventure courses we offer at AstroCamp—and we didn’t even delve into the full range of our STEM camp activities! AstroCamp is unlike any other program and we’re proud to offer a unique blend of summer camp outdoor activities and science-based learning your child will love.
With guidance and support from our trusted instructors, campers get the chance to find a passion for nature and give their science skills a boost, all while forming lifelong friendships along the way.
Explore our One-Week Sessions or our Two-Week Sessions today. Have a child looking for deeper creative experiences? Check out our Geek Week, an awesome, epic weeklong journey designed for the inner geek in us all.
If your child loves the outdoors and also enjoys geeking out with like-minded kids, then AstroCamp is the place for them. Be sure to enroll today and secure your child a spot in one of our overnight summer camps for this summer.
