Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17)
Ballona Discovery Nature Navigators offers day camp experiences for children to explore the Ballona Wetlands through hands-on activities and nature education.
▌ Editor's read The website https://www.ballonafriends.org/nature-camp loads successfully and details the 'Nature Navigators' day camp program for children aged 7-11. The camp focuses on exploring the Ballona Wetlands through activities like nature walks, bird watching, and art. It is operated by Friends of Ballona Wetlands, a non-profit organization, as indicated by their 'About Us' page. The camp is not accredited by the ACA, nor does the website mention specific state licensing or staff-to-camper ratios. There is no explicit mention of staff background checks on the camp's page. The organization has a strong social media presence with an Instagram handle @ballonafriends and a Facebook handle 'ballonafriends'. Google reviews for 'Friends of Ballona Wetlands' show a rating of 4.9 stars from 100 reviews, with many reviewers praising the educational programs and knowledgeable staff.
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 8–11
Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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: Ballona Discovery Park, 13110 Bluff Creek Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90094
- Phone: (310) 306-5994
- Cost notes: $350/week. $50 non-refundable deposit. 5% multi-enrollment discount.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17)
- What ages does Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) accept?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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 Navigators (Jul 13–17) cost?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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 Navigators (Jul 13–17)'s hours?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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 Navigators (Jul 13–17)?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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 Navigators (Jul 13–17) provide lunch?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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.
- How does Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) compare to other outdoors/nature camps in Los Angeles?
- Ballona Discovery – Nature Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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 Navigators (Jul 13–17) 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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