The Austin Nature & Science Center offers nature-based programs for members of the community, such as school break camps and seasonal festivals.
Updated Summer Camp registration details below.
- Fall Break Camp
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2025 Fall Break Camp Registration opens Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Pack a lunch, a water bottle, and two healthy snacks. Participants should wear weather-appropriate, comfortable clothes and shoes that can get dirty and damp. Camp activities are subject to change in the case of inclement weather.
Please see General Information about City of Austin Camps before registering!Fall Camp Class Dates: November 24-26, 2025
7:30am – 6:00pm
Fees: $135/City of Austin residents, $180/nonresidents
Register here.
Ages and Themes:
Frogs (Ages 5-6) – Nature in Motion
From the sky above us to the ground below us, nature is always in motion. This week we’ll observe the signs of the changing seasons and visit a local farm to learn about some of the cycles in nature.
Salamanders (Ages 7-8) – Habitats and Hideaways
Austin provides a home to so many different animals – including multiple endangered species! Join us as we observe creatures in their natural habitats and hideaways here at ANSC as well as a local nature preserve.
Pathfinders (Ages 9-10) – Outdoor Adventurers
Autumn is for outdoor adventures and we’re ready to spend our week hiking, biking, and paddling our way through Austin! Campers must be able to ride a bike 3 miles unassisted.
- Winter Break Camp
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2025-2026 Winter Break Camp Registration opens Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Pack a lunch, a water bottle, and two healthy snacks. Participants should wear weather-appropriate, comfortable clothes and shoes that can get dirty and damp. Camp activities are subject to change in the case of inclement weather.
Please see General Information about City of Austin Camps before registering.Winter Camp Class Dates:
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December 22-23, 2025
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December 29, 2025 - January 2, 2026 (no camp January 1)
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January 5, 2026
December 22 -23, 7:30am – 6:00pm
Fees: $90/City of Austin residents, $120/nonresidents
Register here.
Ages and Themes:
Frogs (Ages 5-6) – Outdoor Explorers
We’ve got trees to climb, trails to hike, fossils to find, parks to explore… the great outdoors is calling and we have so much to go discover!
Salamanders (Ages 7-8) – Nature in the City
We live in the midst of some incredible nature right here in our big, bustling city. This week we’re slowing down to appreciate the plants, wildlife, fossils, and more that exist all around us.
Pathfinders (Ages 9-10) – Urban Green Spaces
Austin is home to so many parks and urban green spaces! We’ll spend our days exploring Waterloo Greenway and Butler Park right here in the heart of the city.
December 29 - January 2*, 7:30am – 6:00pm
Fees: $180/City of Austin residents, $240/nonresidents
Register here.
Ages and Themes:
Frogs (Ages 5-6) – Blast from the Past
How long does it take for a cave stalactite to form? What kinds of creatures can we find fossil remains of today right here in Austin? How did people long ago use the stars to navigate? This week we’re bringing the past into our present.
*No camp on January 1st
Salamanders (Ages 7-8) – Geology Rocks
Are you a fan of rocks, minerals, and fossils? So are we! From incredible cave formations to fossilized remains of the past found right here in Austin creek beds, we’re ready to dive into the wonderful worlds of geology and paleontology.
*No camp on January 1st
Pathfinders (Ages 9-10) – Up, Down, All Around
Climb to new heights above ground and explore life deep underground in a local cave. Hike and bike your way around Austin and beyond! Campers must be able to ride a bike for 3 miles unassisted.
*No camp on January 1st
January 5, 2026 , 7:30am – 6:00pm
Fees: $45/City of Austin residents, $60/nonresidents
Register here.
“A Day with ANSC” (all 3 age groups)
Spend a day with us at ANSC! Meet some of our resident animals up close and personal, take a hike in our nature preserve, dig for fossils in the Dino Pit, and travel through space in the planetarium.
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- Spring Break Camp
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2026 Spring Break Camp Registration opens Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Pack a lunch, a water bottle, and two healthy snacks (AM and PM). Participants should wear weather-appropriate, comfortable clothes and shoes that can get dirty and damp. Camp activities are subject to change in the case of inclement weather.
General Information about City of Austin Camps.2026 Class Dates: March 16-20
Details & Fees coming soon!
- Summer Camp
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2025 Summer Camps are full. You can still register to be placed on a waitlist here: Summer Break Camp Registration.
Pack a lunch, a reusable water bottle, two healthy and substantial snacks (AM and PM), sunscreen, and clothing and shoes that can get wet and dirty. Camp activities are subject to change in the case of inclement weather.
General Information about City of Austin Camps
Class Details and Fees:
- Sessions for ages 5-6 (Frogs), 7-8 (Salamanders), 9-10 (Pathfinders), 11-12 (Explorers), and Specialty (ages will vary by week).
- Program time is 7:30 am-6:00 pm.
- June 9-August 13, 2025*. $225 City of Austin residents / $300 non-COA residents
*No camp sessions on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, July 4.
- Roots & Wings
The Roots & Wings Festival is held from October 18 – November 2 and is a community wide celebration honoring Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day in Austin.
Join ANSC on Saturday, November 1 from 10:00am – 2:00pm as we host “Bee” a Friend to Pollinators: A Roots & Wings Festival Event”. Enjoy a guided hike in our nature preserve, an interactive presentation from “The Bug Safari Lady”, Story Time with Beevo Beekeeping Society, and family friendly crafts and activities!
- Fall Fest
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Get a rare glimpse of ANSC after dark at our annual Fall Fest on Saturday, November 8 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Take a flashlight hike in our preserve, meet live animals, and enjoy family friendly activities from Capital Area Master Naturalists, Park Rangers, and more.
- Austin Nature Day
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Austin Nature Day will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Stay tuned for more details in 2026!
- Science Storytime
Free drop-in story time designed for ages 4 and under; no registration required. Hear a science related story and meet an animal or touch a nature object!
Mondays, 9:30am
October 20, 2025
November 17, 2025
December 8, 2025
January 12, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 9, 2026
April 13, 2026
- Saturday Programs
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Enjoy free, family-friendly science programs! Programs last approximately 30 minutes and will be ongoing from 10:00am-2:00pm.
November 15 – Planetarium
Travel through outer space in our very own onsite planetarium. Learn about planets, moons, constellations, and more.
December 13 – Meet the Animals
Meet some of ANSC’s resident animals up close and personal!
2026 Dates Coming Soon
Suppertime Star Parties
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Join us on Zoom for free family Suppertime Star Parties! Programs run from 6:00-6:45pm, so log on, bring your chicken nuggets and ranch dressing, and then head outside to gaze up at the skies above! Sign up for one session or for all four; registration is limited to 10 families. Registration required.
Nov 18 -Intro to Astronomy
See our sky go from day to night, learn about the constellations we can find in each season, and take a look at what’s up in the sky tonight!
Dec 16 – Planets and Our Solar System
From Mercury, Venus, and Mars to the outer gas giants, get a close-up look at our planetary neighbors in our solar system.
Jan 20 – Ancient Astronomy and Star Stories
Hear some of the stories that ancient cultures told about the stars and constellations. We’ll share how stars served as everything from calendars to to-do lists to navigational aids to natural wonders.
Feb 17 – Space Exploration
Head into the final frontier to learn about upcoming space missions. Who is next to land on the moon? What are we learning from samples collected from the surface of Mars? Where else are we boldly going?
Past Programs
A back catalog of content is available on our YouTube playlist. Videos include sensory activities, animal facts, nature storytime, TEKS learning objectives, and mindfulness strategies.