For more specific information about each camp please check out our camp catalog.

Outdoor Explorers Camp Sessions

Frequently Asked Questions 

When does my child need to be the requisite age? 

Camp this year is organized by age, not grade level. Children should be the requisite age by the time camp begins. For example, children enrolling in the June 17-21 Flying Squirrel camp should be 6 by June 17.

My child’s age falls under more than one age group. Which age group should I sign up for?

You can self select which group you think will be a better fit for your child, and what works best for your family. 

How many weeks can each child enroll in?

At first, we ask that you enroll your child in one week of camp. If you are interested in additional weeks of camp please sign up for our waitlist so that we can contact you if space becomes available. In addition to 1 regular week of camp, children may also take part in Family Camp.

Will there be a camp spot for my child?

To address growing demand, we have opened up four extra weeks of camp spots, especially for kids ages 7-9. That said, we still expect to be fully enrolled.  Even receiving an assigned day does not guarantee a spot will be available, however we expect and hope every family can find something that works for them. Our waitlist will open March 16th, so if you didn’t get a camp you want, you’ll be able to get on the waitlist just like always. (We regularly enroll children from the waitlist.)

What should my child bring? 

In a daypack: Please pack a sack lunch, water, and a snack. 

Clothes for the weather… usually rain gear, boots, warm layers, and a change of clothes. *If these are hard to come by, just let us know; we may have clothing to loan or give. 

How does tuition work? 

Discovery Southeast offers sliding-scale tuition – pay the amount that’s right for your family.  You can pay less than the recommended tuition, all the way down to zero. You can also pay more. (Operating camp costs approximately $480 per child). 

• Recommended tuition is $280/child/week for full-day camp sessions.
• Recommended tuition is $180/child/week for half-day camp sessions, or special camp sessions. Half-day camps and special sessions include: Haadaa Héeni camps, our afternoon-only middle school camp session The Nature of Energy, and our 3-day Family Camp session. 
• We ask those paying less than half of the recommended tuition per child to complete the youth scholarship program application and apply some or all of the awarded funds to Discovery Southeast tuition. 

What’s the paperwork? 

After registering we have some important paperwork that includes Medical Information, Risk Acknowledgement, and Legal Waivers. It’s all contained in our online Participant Agreement. The Participant Agreement is due by April 30, 2024. 

Can I cancel? 

If you cancel more than 10 days in advance, there’s a $25 cancellation fee. If you cancel 10 or fewer days in advance, a refund is only possible if we can fill your spot, and if so there’s still the $25 cancellation fee. 

If you don’t submit a completed Participant Agreement within 10 days of the camp, or if a child is not allowed to participate due to behavior reasons, that is considered a cancellation 10 or fewer days in advance. 

What’s expected of my child in camp? 

Campers are expected to follow directions from the adult leaders in order to keep them and the group safe. Any camper unable to follow safety directions, may be asked to be picked up, stay home the next day, or not return to camp. 

Will I ever get off the waitlist? 

Yes. We keep a waitlist for any camp that fills up, and we regularly enroll children from the waitlist. If a camp is full, please sign up on the waitlist, and there’s a good chance we can make it happen.

What’s up with the assigned registration days?

In past years, hundreds of families have tried to get camp spots first thing when our registration opens. It can be stressful for families, slow down our website, and create disparity for those who aren’t available on that given morning. By randomly assigning days to register we hope to avoid the derby. Yes, you’ll still have other families registering that same day, but fewer. And yes, if you are assigned a later day, you’ll have fewer choices remaining, but hopefully still be able to find a good fit for your family.

Do I need to sign up for an assigned day of registration? 

We recommend you do, because most (if not all) camp spots will be filled by the end of the first week.  Please sign up here by March 4th to receive an assigned day.  However, you are still welcome to register later during our open (“regular”) registration, starting March 16th, if you wish.

What if I want to enroll my child with a friend?

Registration days will be assigned by family, not friend groups. Fortunately, we believe our camps are great places to meet peers and develop new friendships. That said, if you want your child to be in the same camp as a peer, and that peer has a later registration date, you may wait until that later date to register both children at the same time.

Outdoor Explorers summer camp is made possible thanks to the US Forest Service, the citizens of the City and Borough of Juneau through sales tax revenue, and a community of support.