Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs
Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers a variety of marine science-themed day camps for children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, focusing on ocean explor...
▌ Editor's read The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography offers summer day camps for various age groups, including the 'Sea Slugs' camp for specific grades, focusing on marine science education. The website clearly outlines different camp themes, age ranges, and dates, indicating a well-structured program. The camp is operated by a university-affiliated institution, suggesting a strong educational foundation. The website states that all staff and volunteers undergo background checks and receive training in safety and emergency procedures, demonstrating a commitment to child safety. While not ACA accredited, the affiliation with UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography provides a strong institutional backing. Google reviews for Birch Aquarium generally show a high rating (4.7 stars from 6,000+ reviews), with many praising the educational exhibits and engaging staff, which likely extends to their camp programs.
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University programRun by an academic institution
Who thrives here Ages 4–5
Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs is geared toward early-childhood campers — ages where ritual, repetition, and short activity blocks land better than long instructional sessions. outdoors/nature programs at this age work best when the day length matches the child's attention threshold and the staff knows how to handle separation moments without escalating them.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- University program
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Outdoors/Nature
- Ages: 4–5
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Address: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Cost notes: USD. Members: $255, General Public: $270
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs
- What ages does Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs accept?
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs is open to children ages 4–5. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs cost?
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs publishes $270/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs's hours?
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs runs 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs?
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs provide lunch?
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Birch Aquarium - Sea Slugs.
- Beginner Summer Surf Camp San Diego - La Jolla Shores Park · La Jolla · Ages 5–18 · $595/week
- iD Tech Mini — La Jolla, CA · UC San Diego · Ages 5–12
- Birch Aquarium - Sea Squirts · La Jolla · Ages 4–5 · $270/week
- Surf Diva – Kids/Teen Surf Camp · La Jolla · Ages 9–15 · $595/week
- California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) - UC San Diego · La Jolla · Ages 13–18 · $1,380/week
- Cooking Round the World Summer Day Camp · La Jolla · Ages 6–12 · $275/week
- Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity · La Jolla · Ages 14–18 · $1,225/week
- La Jolla Country Day School - Camp Torreys (Imagineers Lab: Camp Create) · La Jolla · Ages 6–10 · $492/week