Ballona — Nature Navigators
Ballona Nature Navigators offers day camps for children aged 5-11, focusing on nature exploration, environmental education, and outdoor activities at the Bal...
▌ Editor's read The Ballona Nature Navigators camp, operated by the Friends of Ballona Wetlands, offers day camp experiences for children aged 5-11. The program focuses on nature exploration, environmental education, and outdoor activities within the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. The camp website details activities such as bird watching, nature journaling, and habitat restoration, emphasizing hands-on learning. While the website provides program details and registration information, it does not mention ACA accreditation or specific staff-to-camper ratios. There is no explicit language regarding staff background checks. The Friends of Ballona Wetlands has a Google review rating of 4.9 stars based on 105 reviews, with many reviewers praising their educational programs and conservation efforts. Social media handles include @ballonafriends on Instagram and 'ballonafriends' on Facebook, both actively showcasing their work and camp activities.
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 8–11
Ballona — Nature Navigators 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: (310) 306-5994
- Email: [email protected]
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: Yes
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Ballona — Nature Navigators
- What ages does Ballona — Nature Navigators accept?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators cost?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators's hours?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators provide lunch?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators offer financial aid?
- Yes — Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators compare to other outdoors/nature camps in Los Angeles?
- Ballona — Nature Navigators 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 — Nature Navigators 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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