The cost varies depending on the camp session. Please click on the camp you are interested in above to find out the pricing.

The camp operates from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Half day options are available for the Sea Squirts camp (ages 5-6).

Campers should bring a packed lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat. A detailed list will be provided upon registration.

Meals are not provided. Campers should bring their own lunch and snacks each day. You do have the option to pre-purchase lunch from Coffee Importers for $11 a day. Lunch includes a sandwich (turkey, roast beef, or veggie) plus chips and fruit.

For the safety and security of our campers, parents cannot visit during camp sessions. If your camper requires an aid to be present during camp, please confirm with us ahead of time by emailing camps@oceaninstitute.org.

In order for the campers to be put in the same group, they will need to be registered for the same camp, during the same week. On the first day of camp, you can request for your child to be put in the same group as a friend when you drop them off. Please be aware, if there are any behavioral issues, campers may have to be separated into different groups.

• All medications must be in their original container with the dosage and schedule clearly indicated.
• Prescription medications require a physician’s note confirming the medication, dosage, and schedule.
• Over-the-counter medications require a signed note from a legal guardian with the medication name, dosage, and schedule.
• A completed Administration of Medication Form must be submitted on the first day of camp.
• Certified staff members with an Administration of Medication Certificate will be responsible for administering medication to campers who require it during the day.

For campers prone to motion sickness, please administer medication before arrival or send it with your camper in its original packaging.

If your camper requires medication, please fill out the 📄 Administration of Medication Form and bring it on the first day of camp.

At Ocean Institute, camper safety is our top priority. To ensure a secure check-in and check-out process, we follow these procedures:

• Authorized Pick-Up List – During registration, parents/guardians must provide a list of adults authorized to pick up their camper. Only individuals on this list will be allowed to check out the camper.
• Valid Photo ID Required – All authorized individuals must present a valid photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.) at pick-up.
• Daily Sign-In & Sign-Out – Campers must be signed in and out each day by an adult (18+ years old).
• Adding Authorized Adults – Parents/guardians may add names to the pick-up list during the camp week by contacting Ocean Institute or providing the name at check-in/check-out.
• Restricting Non-Custodial Parents – If a custodial parent wishes to restrict pick-up by a non-custodial parent, this request must be submitted in writing and the individual should not be listed as an emergency contact.
• Early Pick-Up – If your camper needs to leave early, a legal guardian must provide prior authorization and notify the camp administrator. Please note that early pickup will not be accommodated after 3:30 pm.

🚨 Important: Be sure to list full legal names (as shown on ID) for all authorized pick-ups. Labels such as “Grandma” or “Babysitter” will not be accepted.

Registration for camp will open on February 26, 2026. You can register online through our website or contact our office for assistance. Ocean Institute members at the Family, Senior, Sea Star, Captain’s Compass, Sea Life Sponsor, and Ocean Advocate levels will have access to early registration starting February 12, 2026. For further instructions, please see our How to Register Guide

Yes, you can transfer to another camp or session (depending on availability). There will be a transfer fee of $40 for each camper being transferred. To initiate a transfer, please email guestservices@oceaninstitute.org.

Cancellations made 15 days or more prior to the start of the session will receive a 50% refund minus the registration fee. Cancellations made 14 days or less before the start of the session are non-refundable.

We will not retro-apply membership discounts for those who register without inputting member information OR decide to purchase a membership after registering for camp.

We are unable to register children for partial weeks of camp. When you sign up for camp, please select a camp where you anticipate attending the full week, when possible.

Yes! Our camps’ curriculum alternates between even and odd weeks, so your camper can have new experiences when attending multiple sessions. Families can also enjoy exclusive savings when registering a camper for multiple sessions:

• $25 off per camp when registering for two or more sessions
• $30 off per camp when registering for three or more sessions

The discount applies whether a camper repeats the same camp or tries different ones. To qualify, all sessions must be in the cart under the same camper’s name at checkout. (This is not a sibling discount.)

We do not refund fees for missed camp days, as your camp tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance. We will not offer a refund for missed camp days camp due to vacation, illness, calendar conflicts, or personal choice.

Ocean Institute is a safety-conscious organization and works hard to make sure your camper’s experience is the safest possible. We have provided information on activities your child may participate in with a level of risk because of the potential for injury in any activity. Our goal is to mitigate risk, balancing fun with safety at camp, so your camper will have an unforgettable experience!

Campers participate in a variety of hands-on activities with our instructors; while Ocean Institute makes every effort to create a safe and fun learning environment, the following are activities that may need additional explanation.

NOTE: Please read carefully, as each specific activity lists which camp(s) participate. Not all camps participate in all specific activities.

Outside Activities: All Camps

Many of the camp activities will occur outside and this usually means in the sun. We provide shade for some activity areas and Ocean Institute requires sunscreen be applied in the morning before camp; campers will be asked to reapply sunscreen during the day. Campers should bring their own sunscreen and are responsible for applying it themselves; staff are available to help!

Maddie James Seaside Learning Center: All Camps 

This floating dock contains labs where campers discover the techniques and technologies used by scientists as well as the Maritime Historical Boathouse for Maritime camp activities. Campers are always supervised, and the facility has rescue equipment readily available.

R/V Sea Explorer Cruise: Neptune’s Mysteries, Buccaneer Adventures, Ocean Discovery, Shipwreck Hunters, Coastal Explorers, and MSCIA 

The R/V Sea Explorer is a federally documented and US Coast Guard-certified vessel and does not require the use of passenger life jackets. Approved Coast Guard-certified life jackets are available for use ONLY in the case of an emergency. If you would prefer your camper to wear a life jacket, you may provide your own, and staff will ensure that campers wear it; again, life jackets are not required on this vessel. There is a safety rail around the vessel, and campers are always monitored while onboard. R/V Sea Explorer is equipped with heavy scientific gear used to collect samples for camper use during cruises, and these areas are marked and off-limits to campers. Like any vessel during times at sea, the environment of the boat can be slippery and unsteady. Safety orders are given before the vessel departs the dock.

Exploration in the Dana Point Marine Protected Area: Neptune’s Mysteries, Buccaneer Adventures, Ocean Discovery, Coastal Explorers, and MSCIA 

Campers visit the tide pools at the Dana Point Marine Protected Area. This is a wilderness area with rough terrain, uneven footing, and slippery rocks. Slipping and falling are possible; proper footwear (close-toed, close-heeled shoes with good traction) is required. Instructors carry first aid kits and radios. Please be aware tides are generally not low enough in the daytime during the summer to guarantee observation of tide pool animals, but we do our best to explore the intertidal area!

——————————————————————–

Specialized Activities: Camp varies, please refer to specific camp description. 

Sail on Spirit of Dana Point:

Spirit of Dana Point is a federally documented and US Coast Guard certified vessel and does not require the use of passenger life jackets. Approved Coast Guard Certified life jackets are available for use ONLY in the case of an emergency. If you would prefer your camper to wear a life jacket, you may provide your own and staff will ensure they wear it; again, life jackets are not required on this vessel. There is a safety rail around the vessel and campers are always monitored while onboard. There are lines and spars under pressure, hydraulics and working pulley systems. As with any vessel during times at sea, the environment of the ship can be slippery and unsteady. Safety orders are given before the vessel departs the dock.

Kayaking:

Dual sit-on-top kayaks are utilized for kayaking in Dana Point Harbor. There will be two campers per kayak; campers are required to always stay on their kayaks and wear life jackets. There is always an instructor on a separate kayak and a certified lifeguard in a safety boat supervising the activity.

Fishing:

Campers are supplied with a conventional fishing pole. The staff and captain always supervise campers and no overhead casting is permitted.

Going up the Mast in the Bosun’s Chair: (Buccaneer Adventures only) Campers will be lifted, individually, 8 – 10 feet off the deck in a traditional ship’s bosun’s chair. The chair has a safety line attached, handled by an instructor.

Learning Gunnery:

Campers practice the arts of an 1800s gunner aboard the Schooner Spirit of Dana Point‘s quarterdeck. Under the supervision of instructors, campers operate an unloaded replica cannon and gunnery tools to explore how ships defended themselves in the 1800’s.

Rowing Long Boats in the Harbor:

Campers row traditional long boats in Dana Point Harbor. All campers and instructors are required to wear lifejackets while in the long boat. A lifeguard in a motorized boat with a first aid kit, radio and life-saving equipment monitors the activities from the water. Campers practice rowing while tied to the dock and then apply their skills in the harbor.

 Laying Aloft on the Practice Yard:

In the Maritime Center Barn, campers climb onto the foot ropes of a replica yard. The foot ropes are 1-3 feet off the ground with mats below and minimum risk of falling. There are gymnastics mats under the yard and the campers are always supervised.

Moving Cargo with the Cargo Net or Barrel:

Campers handle lines to move cargo from one place to another using traditional block and tackle systems consisting of wooden blocks and synthetic lines. Campers are given line handling instructions before the activity and are supervised during by an instructor.