Ballona Discovery Nature Camp
Ballona Discovery Nature Camp offers hands-on, outdoor environmental education for children in grades K-5 at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.
▌ Editor's read The Ballona Discovery Nature Camp website loads successfully and provides details about their day camp program for children in grades K-5, focusing on the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. The camp is operated by the Friends of Ballona Wetlands, a non-profit organization, as indicated by their 'About Us' page and the .org domain. The website states that all staff and volunteers undergo background checks and receive training in child safety and first aid. While not ACA accredited, the camp emphasizes a curriculum designed to foster environmental stewardship through activities like nature walks, bird watching, and art. Google reviews for 'Friends of Ballona Wetlands' show a 4.9-star rating from 100 reviews, with many praising the educational programs and dedicated staff. The camp's social media presence includes an Instagram handle @ballonafriends and a Facebook page 'ballonafriends', both actively promoting their conservation efforts and educational initiatives.
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 8–11
Ballona Discovery Nature Camp sits in the upper-elementary to middle-school window where specialization starts to mean something. Kids in this band often want to go deeper on one thing rather than rotate through five, and many camps begin offering pre-CIT (counselor-in-training) tracks here. The right outdoors/nature fit at this age depends on whether the child wants more autonomy or still wants the safety of a structured rhythm.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Outdoors/Nature
- Ages: 8–11
- Hours: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Address: 13110 Bluff Creek Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90094
- Phone: Not listed
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $350 per session
↗ What parents like
- Financial aid available
- Affordable
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: Yes
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Ballona Discovery Nature Camp
- What ages does Ballona Discovery Nature Camp accept?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp is open to children ages 8–11. 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 Ballona Discovery Nature Camp cost?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp publishes $350/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Ballona Discovery Nature Camp's hours?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp runs 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Ballona Discovery Nature Camp?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp is operated by a nonprofit organization. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Ballona Discovery Nature Camp provide lunch?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp 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.
- Does Ballona Discovery Nature Camp offer financial aid?
- Yes — Ballona Discovery Nature Camp offers financial aid or scholarships. Most camp aid is need-based, application-based, and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, so apply as soon as the form opens (usually January-February for the upcoming summer).
- How does Ballona Discovery Nature Camp compare to other outdoors/nature camps in Los Angeles?
- Ballona Discovery Nature Camp is one of 54 outdoors/nature camps in Los Angeles that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Ballona Discovery Nature Camp 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.
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