Austin Nature & Science Center Camps, Events, and Community Programs

The Austin Nature & Science Center offers nature-based programs for members of the community and visitors from all over,       including school break camps, weekend programming, virtual programming, special events, and seasonal festivals.

Updated Summer Camp registration details below.

Fall Break Camp

2026 Fall Break Camp Information coming soon! Registration will be in fall 2026. 

 

Winter Break Camp

Check back later for 2026-2027 Winter Break Camp Information! Registration will be in fall 2026. 

Spring Break Camp

2026 Spring Break Camp is currently full. 

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.

 

Spring Break Camp Dates: March 16 - 20, 2026

7:30am – 6:00pm

Fees: $225/City of Austin residents, $300/nonresidents

Register here.

 

Ages and Themes: 

Frogs (Ages 5-6): Bugs and Blooms 

What kind of habitat do different insects prefer? What kind of flower smells like a grape popsicle? We’re celebrating the wonderful worlds of plants and arthropods as we welcome the start of Spring.

Salamanders (Ages 7-8): Nature Detectives 

Are all rocks solid inside? What are some signs of creatures that lived here millions of years ago? How can we tell what an owl had for dinner last night? Nature is full of clues about the life all around us and we’re playing detective this week!

Pathfinders (Ages 9-10): Trail Trekking

Lace up your hiking shoes because we’re hitting the trails this week! Each day we’ll visit a different state park or nature preserve to hike among trees, hills, falls, and more.

Cancellation and Refunds

Program attendance is the responsibility of the participant. Failure to attend a class does not entitle a participant to a transfer, makeup, prorate or refund. Substitutions, including family members, are not permitted. Registrations cancelled at least 7 days prior to the first day of class may be issued a refund, minus a $40 non-refundable deposit per class and a $35.00 processing fee per transaction. No refunds are issued for registrations that are cancelled without 7 days advanced written notice of the first day of camp. Refunds will be applied to outstanding balances before funds are released. Refunds are issued to the charging credit card, or by check from the City of Austin (please allow 4-6 weeks for processing). You may request to have the refund applied to your account as a household credit. All checks sent to ANSC must be processed. There is a $25 cash fee on all returned checks. Should you need to cancel your camp, please email anscprograms@austintexas.gov with the name and age of the camper and the date(s) you need to cancel.

Deposits

All deposits are non-refundable. A $40 deposit per session will secure a place until three weeks (21 days) prior to the first day of camp. If you fail to pay the remaining balance, you will lose your deposit and forfeit your child's place in that session to another child on the waiting list. You are encouraged to make full payment at registration to avoid missing deadlines and losing your childs place in camp. Full payment is the responsibility of the participant.

Summer Camp

 General Registration opens on February 21st,
10:00 AM for Austin residents & 12:00 PM for non-residents of Austin.

Please read all details and registration instructions in the 2026 Austin Nature & Science Center Summer Camp Brochure.

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

Austin Nature Day

Join us for Austin Nature Day on Saturday, April 18th from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Take a guided hike in Zilker Nature Preserve, meet some of ANSC's resident animals up close, and enjoy family-friendly activities from Central Texas Mycological Society, American Chemical Society, Capital Area Master Naturalists, and more! Parking and event are FREE and open to all. 

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

March 9, 2026

April 13, 2026

Saturday Programs

Enjoy free, family-friendly science programs! Programs last approximately 30 minutes and will be ongoing from 10:00am-2:00pm.

January 17 – Planetarium

Travel through outer space in our very own onsite planetarium. Learn about planets, moons, constellations, and more.

January 24 – Fossil Exploration

Explore the fossilized remains of prehistoric animals and compare some similarities and differences with modern day creatures. 

January 31 – Meet the Animals

Meet some of ANSC’s resident animals up close and personal!

February 7, 14, & 28 – Planetarium-palooza!

Travel through outer space in our very own onsite planetarium. Learn about planets, moons, constellations, and more.

March 7 – Creek Creatures

Observe and learn about some of the tiniest creatures found right here in ANSC’s creek and ponds. 

April 4 – Guided Hikes + Nature Journaling

Make your own nature journal and join us for guided hikes in our onsite nature preserve. 

April 11 – Meet the Animals

Meet some of ANSC’s resident animals up close and personal!

April 25 – Creek Creatures

Observe and learn about some of the tiniest creatures found right here in ANSC’s creek and ponds. 

Suppertime Star Parties

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.