Summer Camp
Select a camp experience below for more information!
Explore nature, learn about our planet and get close to animals! Wildlife Conservation Society summer camps are for all young adventurers, from toddlers to teens. Recognized as industry leaders, WCS Education was the first department of its kind to offer zoo camps and continues to provide award-winning programming. Add underwater adventure to your summer vacation! New York Aquarium campers will gain an understanding of ocean life through play and exploration.
Can't wait for Summer Camp 2026? Explore our School Break Camps with full‑day adventure options at all locations and stay connected with our animals.
Schedule
Our summer camps run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily (with the option to extend until 5:00 PM) through the first week of September.
| June 29 — July 3 |
Cuttlefish: Creative Cuttlefish (PreK 4-K grade) Penguins: Spineless Wonders (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Migration Mysteries (3rd-5th grade) |
| July 6 — July 10 |
Cuttlefish: Creative Cuttlefish (PreK 4-K grade) Penguins: Ocean Extremes (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Ocean Invaders (3rd-5th grade) |
| July 13 — July 17 |
Penguins: Spineless Wonders (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Migration Mysteries (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: Jurassic Jaws (6th-8th grade) |
| July 20 — July 24 |
Penguins: Ocean Extremes (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Ocean Invaders (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: FINspired Science (6th-8th grade) |
| July 27 — July 31 |
Penguins: Spineless Wonders (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Migration Mysteries (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: Jurassic Jaws (6th-8th grade) |
| Aug 3 — Aug 7 |
Otters: Ocean Invaders (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: FINspired Science (6th-8th grade) |
| Aug 10 — Aug 14 |
Cuttlefish: Creative Cuttlefish (PreK 4-K grade) Otters: Migration Mysteries (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: Jurassic Jaws (6th-8th grade) |
| Aug 17 — Aug 21 |
Penguins: Ocean Extremes (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Ocean Invaders (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: DramA-quarium (6th-8th grade) |
| Aug 24 — Aug 28 |
Penguins: Spineless Wonders (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Migration Mysteries (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: FINspired Science (6th-8th grade) |
| Aug 31 — Sept 4 |
Penguins: Ocean Extremes (1st-2nd grade) Otters: Ocean Invaders (3rd-5th grade) Sharks: Jurassic Jaws (6th-8th grade) |
Camp Pricing
$565 members / $625 regular (5-day camp)
$180 members / $210 regular (Extended Care 5-day)
Booking Tips:
- If you attended camp last summer, update your family and camper(s) profile in the Parent Dashboard or create a New Family Profile now so you’ll be set when registration opens.
- Enter the camper's date of birth and select the grade they will enter in the fall. This ensures that only summer camps appropriate for their age/grade level are available for purchase.
- You cannot edit once you move on to the next step in registration.
- If you entered the incorrect camper DOB and/or grade, please email nyaeducation@wcs.org.
- Sessions are expected to fill quickly, so be sure to plan ahead and have backup camp dates and sessions ready.
- WCS Members, please have your membership ID# ready. Entering it will unlock access to exclusive membership pricing.
Age Pre-K 4 - K
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Cuttlefish - Creative Cuttlefish
Dive into your artistic side with Creative Cuttlefish! Designed for curious 4 and 5-year-olds, this fun-filled week blends ocean-themed crafts, music, dance, and animal encounters. Campers will explore the wonders of the sea through hands-on play and expression. Splash, learn, and create with us this summer!
DATES
6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026
7/6/2026 - 7/10/2026
8/10/2026 - 8/14/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
1st - 2nd Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Penguins - Ocean Extremes
Join us on the ultimate voyage through our oceans as we discover some of the most extreme examples of life. We’ll explore tiny plankton and giant whales, icy depths and volcanic vents and uncover how animals survive in the wildest places on earth.
DATES
7/6/2026 - 7/10/2026
7/20/2026 - 7/24/2026
8/17/2026 - 8/21/2026
8/31/2026 - 9/4/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
1st - 2nd Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Penguins - Spineless Wonders
Whether jelly or shell-y, many marine animals swim and scuttle without skeletons. Discover weird and wonderful invertebrates around the world through crafts, games, and behind-the-scenes tours. Campers will experience the aquarium's spineless superstars up close and personal with exhibit visits and animal demonstrations.
DATES
6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026
7/13/2026 - 7/17/2026
7/27/2026 - 7/31/2026
8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
3rd - 5th Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Otters - Migration Mysteries
How far would you go for an adventure? Discover the amazing journeys animals take across land and sea! Through animal encounters, hands-on activities and creative crafts, explore how and why creatures migrate and what it takes to survive the trip.
DATES
6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026
7/13/2026 - 7/17/2026
7/27/2026 - 7/31/2026
8/10/2026 - 8/14/2026
8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
3rd - 5th Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Otters - Ocean Invaders
From lanternflies to lionfish, invaders are everywhere! Campers will investigate invasive species and their environmental impacts, from those in our backyard to those impacting oceans afar. Join us for exhibit visits, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal demonstrations to explore and consider solutions to the ocean’s invaders.
DATES
7/6/2026 - 7/10/2026
7/20/2026 - 7/24/2026
8/3/2026 - 8/7/2026
8/17/2026 - 8/21/2026
8/31/2026 - 9/4/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
6th - 8th Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00 pm
Sharks - Jurassic Jaws
Submerge yourself on a journey through the prehistoric oceans where life first started over 3.5 billion years ago. From single-celled organisms to apex predators, we will explore how life has evolved and some of the weirdest and wildest animals along the way!
DATES
7/13/2026 - 7/17/2026
7/27/2026 - 7/31/2026
8/10/2026 - 8/14/2026
8/31/2026 - 9/4/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
6th - 8th Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00 pm
Sharks - FINspired Science
Stuck on a problem? Ask Nature! From shark-skin-inspired swimsuits to lifesaving horseshoe crab blood, discover how animals spark scientific breakthroughs. Through hands-on activities, behind-the-scenes tours, and up-close animal encounters, explore how the natural world drives real-world science, technology, and innovation!
DATES
7/20/2026 - 7/24/2026
8/3/2026 - 8/7/2026
8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
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6th - 8th Grade
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00 pm
Sharks - DramA-quarium
Lights, Camera, Ocean! Set inside the aquarium, campers create ocean-inspired performances that spotlight marine conservation. Through acting, storytelling, and hands-on eco-activities, young artists learn how to protect our blue planet, using theatre to give a voice to the sea. Make a splashing impact for the planet with DramA-quarium!
DATES
8/17/2026 - 8/21/2026
$625 non-member / $565 member
Extended Care
We offer an Extended Care add-on that runs from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Extended Care includes fun activities, exhibit visits, and nature play exploration. Add-on items such as Extended Care and additional camp t-shirts are available for purchase once you add a camp to your cart.
PreK - 8th
Monday - Friday, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Extended Care
Extended care is a great option for caregivers who can't pick up their camper at 3:00 pm and allows caregivers to pick up anytime before 5:00 pm. Extended care includes opportunities for free play, exhibit visits, and nature play exploration, weather permitting. Minimum number required to run the program.
DATES
6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026
7/6/2026 - 7/10/2026
7/13/2026 - 7/17/2026
7/20/2026 - 7/25/2026
7/27/2026 - 7/31/2026
8/3/2026 - 8/7/2026
8/10/2026 - 8/14/2026
8/17/2026 - 8/21/2026
8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026
8/31/2026 - 9/4/2026
$210 non-member / $180 member
Accessibility
Participants in this program will spend plenty of time outdoors during a range of weather conditions, including heat, humidity, and precipitation, as well as travel over uneven, natural surfaces. Accommodations may be available. Please contact us for more information.
