provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is accepting registrations for its 2026 Conservation Summer Camp, a program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade focused on wildlife, conservation, and applied science learning.
The camp, held at CROW, 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, gives students an up-close look at Southwest Florida wildlife and conservation through activities such as wildlife hospital tours, habitat-building projects, and encounters with wildlife ambassadors. Campers also learn basic veterinary skills through demonstrations and supervised activities, including suturing labs.
“Our goal is to give students a hands-on understanding of wildlife and conservation while keeping learning engaging and interactive,” says Brittnay Laster, CROW’s Education and Outreach Coordinator. “Campers explore science concepts in a real-world setting and see how those lessons apply to protecting local species.”
Students in grades 2-8 may participate in age-appropriate dissection labs, including owl pellets, starfish, frogs, and rats. CROW obtains animals used for these activities from regulated suppliers in compliance with federal standards for educational purposes.
Camp sessions are organized by grade level, and different camp sessions are offered in June and July:
• Plovers (grades K-1, age 5 and older), single-day camps:
June 19, 2026 (Life on Land) and July 8, 2026 (Life in Water)
• Royal Terns (grades 2-4), four-day camps:
June 8-11, 2026, and July 13-16, 2026
• Crows (grades 5-8), four-day camps:
June 22-25, 2026, and July 20-23, 2026
Camp hours run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for grades 2-8 and 8 a.m. to noon for grades K-1. Application deadlines are May 21 for June sessions and June 25 for July sessions.
An Osprey camp for grades 9-12 will be offered only if at least six students register. Interested families should contact blaster@crowclinic.org.
Camp fees range from $50 to $350 per session, depending on the age group, with lunch and aftercare available for an additional cost. Scholarships are available for eligible students. Families can apply for financial assistance, and community members can donate to the scholarship fund to help cover a student’s camp costs.
Register for Summer Camp, apply for a scholarship, or make a camp donation here.
Call 239-322-5074 for more information.
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