Youth Birding Camps

YOUTH BIRDING CAMPS

Young Birders Event - New York
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

For high school-aged young birders (students entering grades 9-12 in the fall). The Young Birders Event aims to bring together teenagers with a passion for birds and interested in pursing a career in the field. You’ll meet people who have successful careers that involve birds in a variety of ways from ornithological researchers to tour leaders, to audio specialists and computer scientists.

Camp Cascades - Washington
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

DATES AND INFO

July 28 - August 8, 2021
July 27 - August 7, 2022
A unique summertime youth program explores the biologically rich ecosystems of Washington State’s majestic Puget Sound and incomparable Mt. Rainier National Park. Camp Cascades, co-sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory
and the American Birding Association, offers young birders between the ages of 14 and 18 the unique opportunity to experience the beautiful Pacific Northwest with their peers. Focusing on two spectacular parts of Washington State, the camp provides a comprehensive survey of the flora and fauna of the Puget Sound region and the dramatic Cascades Mountains.

Daily activities will be based around thorough exploration of each of the distinct regions we visit, and campers will be educated on all forms of nature. Several lengthy hikes, birding field trips, and discussions will complement free time during which campers will have the luxury of exploring and discovering their natural surroundings on their own or in small groups. Campers should expect to witness some of the finest coastal and mountain scenery in North America. Along the shores of Puget Sound, we’ll experience the renowned temperate rainforests—a mixture of mighty, ancient conifers and lush, riparian forest, often festooned in a fantastic living carpet of mosses, liverworts, and ferns. Amid the forests, glaciers, and tundra of Mt. Rainier National Park, we’ll encounter magnificent vistas, plunging waterfalls, and meadows carpeted with wildflowers.

A sampling of the characteristic birds of the region includes Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Harlequin Duck, Sooty Grouse, three species of sapsuckers, White-headed Woodpecker, Varied Thrush, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Outstanding activities include hikes in ancient old-growth forests, a trip to the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, half-day hikes to spectacular Comet and Narada waterfalls in the national park, a hike on Mt. Rainier’s Skyline Trail for more world-class alpine scenery, and a grand finale day-hike to Mount Fremont Lookout from the park’s Sunrise area.

Long, learning-filled days emphasizing the region’s distinct birdlife and habitats; lots of hiking and some camping; elevations range from sea level to 7,000 feet; cool mornings and mild days with some precipitation possible.

Camp Chiricahua - Arizona
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

DATES AND INFO

July 7 - 18, 2021
July 13 - 25, 2021
July 6 - 17, 2022
July 12 - 24, 2022
Camp Chiricahua presents young birders with an extraordinary opportunity to share a mutual love of birds and nature in one of the greatest natural history locations in North America. The camp, co-sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and the American Birding Association, is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 to become familiar with the flora and fauna of Southeast Arizona.

The primary focus of the camp is on the rich birdlife of the region, but we will also explore all aspects of nature, and spend time learning about habitats and ecosystems. Campers do not need to be expert birders, but should possess an interest in birds and nature.

Campers should expect to see most of the special birds of Southeast Arizona, including such sought-after species as Elegant Trogon, a good variety of hummingbirds, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Red-faced Warbler. Evening night drives will provide additional opportunities for mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Through the years, Camp Chiricahua has endured as a testament to VENT’s dedication to employing nature as a vehicle for learning, and positively influencing the lives of young people. Many campers have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, and many of them cite their time spent at Camp Chiricahua as a defining event in their lives.

Long, learning-filled days emphasizing the region’s birdlife and varied habitats; lots of hiking and camping; cool mornings and warm to hot days with afternoon thunderstorms.

Monhegan and Hog Island Birding for Teens - Maine
Hog Island Audubon Camp

DATES AND INFO

July 18-23, 2021
Designed for ages 14-17 only
This intensive 6-day, 5-night program on Hog Island allows enthusiastic young birders to connect with people their own age, learn field identification and explore bird ecology. An emphasis will be placed on field journals, the Maine Bird Atlas and seabird conservation. A tour of the Mad River Decoys by Audubon workshop will be provided, including a paint-your-own decoy activity. Each teen will take home a one-of-a-kind decoy to remind them of their week in Maine. Teens will learn about conservation projects around the world and see how decoys are produced to restore bird species.

Camp Avocet - Delaware
American Birding Association

DATES AND INFO

2021 Schedule TBA
Open to all birders aged 13 to 18. Camp Avocet is based at the mouth of Delaware Bay in Lewes, Delaware, within easy reach of some of North America’s most celebrated birding hotspots including Bombay Hook, Prime Hook, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuges, Cape May, NJ and many more. Membership in the ABA is required for attendance.

Camp Colorado - Colorado
American Birding Association

DATES AND INFO

July 25-31, 2021
July 23-30, 2022
Open to all birders aged 13 to 18. From the shortgrass prairie of northeastern Colorado to the aspen groves and alpine tundra of Rocky Mountain National Park, Camp Colorado has it all! Membership in the ABA is required for attendance.

Camp Zebra Hills - South Africa
American Birding Association

DATES AND INFO

Schedule to be determined, 2021
Open to all birders aged 15 to 19. The American Birding Association is thrilled to announce Camp Zebra Hills, a life-changing, horizon-expanding birding and wildlife experience in South Africa! Membership in the ABA is required for attendance.

Camp Costa Rica
American Birding Association & Hog Island Audubon Camp

DATES AND INFO

July 30, 2021 - August 5, 2021
Designed for ages 15-19 years old. Join this joint American Birding Association and Hog Island Audubon Camp camp session heading to Costa Rica! The camp will include trips to La Selva Biological Station, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Bogarin Nature Reserve, and a night program at Tirimbina Biological Station. Arenal Observatory Lodge and Selva Verde Lodge will serve as the base camps as you partake in evening lectures by local bird guides and biologists and night hikes into the tropical forest. Selva Verde is located 2 hours from San Jose and comprises 500 acres of rainforest. An emphasis will be placed on research efforts, conservation and biology of neotropical bird species.

Ornithology Field Camp - Minnesota
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center

DATES AND INFO

July 12-17, 2021
For budding scientists entering grades 10 – 12. Experience the exciting world of bird research! In this hands-on camp, you will participate in bird banding, conduct song surveys, and explore the diverse ecosystems that draw so many species to northeastern Minnesota. Two levels, Introductory and Advanced, are available.

​YOUTH BIRDING CAMPS​

YOUTH BIRDING CAMPS