Summer Camps!
Registration Is Open
Find your Camp!
Join our compassionate and energetic staff to explore the outdoors through a variety of hands-on and sensory activities. Campers ages four to five will learn more about their role in the outdoors while strengthening their social skills!
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
$320 per week
Paws and Claws
- Learn Alaska animal print identification through finger painting.
- Meet a big bird from Bird TLC.
- Discover and practice what it’s like to eat with a beak!
Beaks, Bugs, & Bark
- Dissect and discover the world inside of a log.
- Explore our wild backyard on a Nature walk.
- Make bug art!
Baby Belugas
- Learn who lives in the sea.
- Sing & dance the Baby Beluga!
- Make art with sand and seashells.
Silly Science
- Create super slime!
- Blow giant bubbles.
- Launch a rocket.
The Fab Five
- Observe nature with all 5 senses.
- Create art you can touch from nature you find.
- Taste wild Alaskan berries.
Rock n Roll
- Hunt dino eggs.
- Learn the Rock Cycle dance.
- Explore volcanic eruptions.
Super Salmon
- Play the salmon life cycle game.
- Learn the Alaska Flag song.
- Create mountain art!
Buzz & Beyond
- Grow a plant!
- Learn about pollination.
- Meet a real beekeeper.
Happy Campers
- Sing around the campfire.
- Celebrate s’mores and fire safety.
- Earn your camping badge!
Join our enthusiastic instructors in our day programs, focused on many different environmental concepts. Your camper will take part in hands-on learning, activities, and games that encourage positive interactions with each other and the environment.
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
$320 per week
Little Rangers
- Design a park ranger badge.
- Make Alaskan animal print art.
- Learn the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.
Branching Out
- Learn “Hoo- Lives Here”- bird lesson.
- Make bark rub art.
- Join a scavenger hunt for types of trees!
Ocean Buddies
- Make a whale of a flower pot.
- Explore the food chain.
- Learn about blubber.
Creative Chemists
- Form fireworks in a cup.
- Make magic milk.
- Blast off balloon rockets!
Woodland Wizards
- Decorate magic wands
- Create a spellbook of Leave No Trace principles
- Build fairy houses in nature
Dino Days
- Classify rocks.
- Become a paleontologist and excavate a dinosaur.
- Paint a dino egg!
Alaskan Allstars
- Get moving with the Alaska Native Youth Olympics!
- Create Alaska Flag crafts.
- Meet a dog musher!
Out of this World
- Explore the Solar System through art.
- Grow a garden.
- Explore the world beneath us- earthworm activity
Colors of the Wind
- Explore wind chimes in nature.
- Build a beautiful paper kite.
- Play weather pattern games.
Water Wonder
- Create river wind chime art.
- Discover renewable energy!
- Explore a lake ecosystem.
S’more Fun
- Build a first aid kit.
- Race to build the perfect campsite!
- Learn fire safety & eat S’mores.
TDC Bonanza
- Dance with us to say goodbye to Summer.
- Celebrate with Water balloons!
- Join our Scavenger hunt and playground games.
Our knowledgeable and energetic instructors lead day programs focused on a wide range of environmental topics. Campers will take part in hands-on lessons, activities, and games that strengthen the concepts of outdoor stewardship and group cooperation.
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
$320 per week
Mighty Mammals
- Learn animal classification.
- Paint a spotted owl with watercolors.
- Get to know moose and bear safety!
Forest Forensics
- Write secret messages in invisible ink.
- Pick up animal tracking skills.
- Learn Compass and Map Skills for a scavenger hunt!
AK Ocean Commotion
- Explore the effects of oil spills.
- Create sand art.
- Play the ocean ecosystem game.
Up, Up, & Away
- Explore roller coaster creations.
- Launch a rocket!
- Make solar-powered crickets.
Mountain Mindfulness
- Meditate in nature.
- Hike and watercolor paint.
- Explore endangered species yoga.
Funky Fossils
- Get to know a glacier.
- Hike to find local fossils.
- Make Alaska dino art!
Arctic Adventures
- Pan for gold.
- Get moving with the Alaska Native Youth Olympics!
- Dog sled presentation and Iditarod lesson
Fire & Ice
- Make a homemade ice creation!
- Watch a volcano explode.
- Explore kinetic energy.
Photo-tastic
- Develop photography and video skills
- Grow a plant and learn about AK flora & fauna
- Join a Polaroid scavenger hunt!
TDC Outdoor Theatre
- Act, sing, and dance together!
- Improvise and explore saying yes.
- Create your own short play.
Carnival in the Chugach
- Tye-dye t-shirts.
- Join an outdoor scavenger hunt.
- Celebrate the end of summer with a bouncy house & games!
Learn, Practice, Explore! Our High Adventure Programs increase your outdoor survival & recreation skills. Get to know the lakes and trails of Anchorage through biking, boating, and other outdoor adventures.
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
2 Week Program- Land & Lake Stewards ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.
- Explore lake ecosystems & water conservation.
2 Week Program- Alaska Adventure ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Explore Alaskan plants and local trails.
- Develop backcountry navigation skills with geocaching.
2 Week Program- Land vs Water ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Go fishing in a local lake!
- Increase your outdoor skills through shelter building & navigation lessons.
2 Week Program- Wilderness Explorers ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Learn archery skills & safety.
- Design a meal and participate in camp cooking!
Outdoor Survival ($320)
- Develop hiking & camping skills such as cooking and animal safety.
- Build an outdoor shelter.
- Learn important wilderness first aid skills.
Trail Riders ($345)
- Learn trail biking basics.
- Explore & ride on local Anchorage paved trails.
- Get to know bike parts and maintenance.
Backcountry Adventure ($345)
- Explore dirt trails.
- Learn biking skills for single tracks.
- Cook up some fun camping meals.
Earth Explorers ($335)
- Hike along local trails!
- Learn to cook for camping and filter water.
- Develop backcountry navigation skills with geocaching.
Trail Travelers ($320)
- Bike along local Anchorage trails.
- Design a group 3-D Map and learn navigation skills.
- Hike in local parks and look for signs of wildlife.
Fantastic Fishers ($345)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Learn and practice fishing.
- Create Alaskan fish prints.
Pedal & Paddle ($345)
- Learn trail biking basics.
- Practice canoeing & kayaking.
- Join a wildlife Scavenger hunt.
Venture Bound Vikings ($345)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Explore Norse Mythology!
- Build your own Viking shield.
Fire Away ($345)
- Learn archery skills, and safety.
- Get to know how fire affects our ecosystems.
- Give it your best shot in an archery competition!
Nautical Knowledge ($345)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Make nautical knot bracelets & keychains.
- Build an aluminum boat.
Paddling Pirates ($345)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Learn map skills to find your gold during a scavenger hunt.
- Create a flag & defend your ship with dodgeball!
Our knowledgeable staff is excited to lead campers through a variety of programs that will connect them to their natural environment through creative activities, team building games, and hands-on lessons. Our goal is to encourage a deeper connection to the Alaskan environment and life-long learning!
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
$320 per week
Backcountry Artists
- Make friendship bracelets & felt art.
- Paint a mural as a group.
- Get out in nature and sketch.
Extraordinary Engineering
- Build a rockin’ rollercoaster.
- Paper Towel Competition
- Explore exploding experiments and launch a rocket!
Gold Miner 49er
- Dive into the history of gold panning in Alaska.
- Show off your smarts in an AK trivia competition!
- Pan for gold.
Earth: A Quest
- Discover new realms while LARPing on local trails.
- Create a weeklong D&D campaign.
- Concur wilderness challenges!
Climate Leaders in Action
- Renewable Resources Game
- Fight for the climate in a model UN
- Learn to lead: in partnership with AYEA - Alaska Youth for Environmental Action.
Backcountry Bloggers
- Work with digital cameras to create outdoor photos and videos
- Grow your outdoor cooking skills; prepare and photograph a meal!
- Publish your blog skills on the Trailside Instagram account.
TNT, Teacher Naturalist in Training- Ages 12+ ($250)
- Develop leadership and teamwork skills
- Design an environmental education lesson that aligns with your interests
- Run an activity for a younger age group
Photography in the Wild
- Develop photography skills.
- Create a storyboard and direct a video.
- Meet a wildlife photographer!
Summer Festival
- Join in on Minute to Win It games & competitions
- Practice soccer, basketball, and ultimate frisbee
- Build a wilderness obstacle course
Our knowledgeable staff is excited to lead campers through a variety of programs that will connect them to their natural environment through creative activities, team building games, and hands-on lessons. Our goal is to encourage a deeper connection to the Alaskan environment and life-long learning!
These programs run Monday-Friday. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 am, and pick-up times are 3:45-5:30 pm.
(Main session runs 9 am-3:45 pm)
2 Week Program- Alaska Adventure ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Explore Alaskan plants.
- Develop backcountry navigation skills with geocaching
2 Week Program-FABB ($690)
- Go fishing!
- Learn archery skills, and safety.
- Explore with canoeing, kayaking, and bicycling excursions.
2 Week Program- Land & Lakes Stewards ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.
- Explore lake ecosystems & water conservation.
2 Week Program- Xtreme AK ($690)
- Learn archery skills, and safety.
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking skills.
- Create a camp cook-out.
2 Week Program- Ride & Rescue ($690)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Learn wilderness first aid skills & practice rescue missions.
- Join a single track skills workshop.
Trail Riders Extreme ($345)
- Explore the single tracks of Kincaid and Hillside.
- Learn basic bike mechanics.
- Test your skills with bike challenges.
Pedal & Paddle ($345)
- Explore biking skills through trail riding.
- Practice canoeing & kayaking.
- Join our wildlife scavenger hunt.
Venture Bound Vikings ($345)
- Practice canoeing, kayaking, & paddle boarding.
- Explore Norse Mythology!
- Build your own Viking shield.
Iron Moose Challenge ($345)
- Push yourself to complete the entire Anchorage Moose Loop.
- Explore complex single tracks of Kincaid.
- Compete in hiking and geocaching races.
#Savage Seas ($345)
- Develop and practice kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding skills
- Direct, and film videos with underwater GoPros!
- Create digital content to teach water conservation.
Books & Boats ($335)
- Practice canoeing and kayaking skills.
- Relax by the lake with your favorite book.
- Play Mad Lib Mania and character charades!
TDC Olympians ($335)
- Play Minute to Win It games.
- Compete in archery, boating, and outdoor relay races.
- Find global flags on a bike scavenger hunt.
Fire Away ($345)
- Learn archery skills, and safety.
- Get to know how fire affects our ecosystems.
- Give it your best shot in an archery competition!
This program was designed to be an educational leadership program for mature campers who are interested in working in Environmental Education or related fields.
During the Teen Naturalist in Training (or T.N.T) program, campers will learn about the roles and responsibilities of an environmental instructor, behavior management, lesson planning and instruction, and developmentally appropriate practices. They will also put these skills into practice by leading games and lessons throughout the week with children ages 4-7. Campers are then given the opportunity to continue to hone skills by returning for subsequent weeks of volunteering to work with campers.
Cost: $250
Learn about our scholarship program
At Trailside Discovery Camp we firmly believe that camp is for everyone, no matter their economic background. Learn how you can help get your camper to camp or help support other campers getting outdoors through our Trailside Scholarship Program.
Let's Make Camp Possible for Every Camper!Want to learn more about our programs? Contact [email protected]or call (907) 274-KIDS (5437).