Green teen Machine camp
summer 2025: Oceans & Motions & Nature Connections
Tree Frog Treks is back for another summer of full-day Green Machine Adventures! Your trekkers are growing, and so is our programming; our Oceans & Motions: Nature Connections camp for kids entering 6th-9th grade is the perfect summer of outdoor fun and animal encounters.
Our “tween/teen” camp builds upon the Tree Frog Treks mission of getting out and getting dirty by taking our older campers from their home-base in Golden Gate Park further into the field and immersing them into the glorious biodiversity of the greater Bay Area. Through our explorations of coastal ecosystems (such as rocky shore tide pools, watersheds, exposed and sheltered beaches, bays, and estuaries) we strengthen our direct connection to nature and our connection to our community.
Campers will be introduced to local natural history, land stewardship, wildlife, oceanography (such as tides and currents), and basic water safety. We hike, we swim (with Naturalist supervision!), we dig in the sand, and we make new friends with our time at camp. Through responsive and experiential learning, we encourage the growth of compassionate leaders who are adaptable and resilient, exhibit personal responsibility, and think critically about their relationship and impact on the natural world. Campers will also have VIP access to Frog Hall (headquarters of Tree Frog Treks), where they can forge real connections with the many rescue animal ambassadors we house such as Chiquita the Burmese Python, Trucker the Tortoise, and Artemis the Blue Tongued Skink!
We do it all through adventuring in nature. Let’s Wander and Wonder Together!
Green Teen Machine Camp is designed for campers in 6th to 9th grade.
Full-Day Camp summer 2025 Dates:
Teen camps are from from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, for rising 6th-9th graders.
Week 1: June 9th-13th
Week 2: June 16th-20th
Week 3: June 23rd-27th
NO CAMP FOURTH OF JULY WEEK- Teens are able to register for a Junior CIT week at Golden Gate Park! Find out more & register here! Limited spots available!
Week 5: July 7th-11th
Week 6: July 14th-18th
Week 7: July 21st- 25th
Week 8: July 28th- August 1st
Week 9: August 4th- 8th
Week 10: August 11th- 15th
Welcome to the Green Teen Machine: Summer Themes Overview
Each week together in Green Teen Machine Camp, we’ll dive deep into big-picture themes that explore the natural world around us. These themes aren't confined to just one session – they’ll pop up and intertwine throughout our time together, creating a rich learning experience. Here's a glimpse at what we’ll be exploring during 2025 Summer Camp.
EstuariesExplore where fresh and saltwater meet. We’ll study the creatures that thrive in these habitats and talk about how water quality and pollution affect them. Expect hands-on science with pH, salinity, and temperature tests.
Coastal Tidal Zones
Life in the tidal zones is tough! This week, we’ll go tide pooling to discover how organisms survive in this extreme environment. We’ll also discuss how tides influence everything from plant growth to predator-prey relationships.
Ecosystem Relationships
How does life in a coastal ecosystem work together? From tiny plankton to towering kelp, we’ll learn how species rely on each other and maintain a delicate balance.
Nature Photography / Reporting Nature
Through photography, we’ll document our discoveries. Whether it’s taking snapshots of coastal life or exploring apps like iNaturalist, we’ll contribute to citizen science and learn the importance of “Leave no Trace.”
Water Safety
Dive into the essentials of water safety, from understanding the force of water to respecting its power. You’ll learn key skills for safe coastal adventures, possibly with beach lifeguards, hands-on demos, and tips for water fun.
Tides
Tides shape our coastline – this week, we’ll look at tidal patterns, understand how the tide impacts ecosystems, and learn how we interact with it (fishing, swimming, and surfing). Keep an eye on tidal charts as we track the changes!
Coastal Birds
Grab your binoculars! We’ll identify local coastal birds, learn about their vital roles in the ecosystem, and have fun with bird bingo as we track our sightings.
Biodiversity
Let’s count! Through a bioblitz, we’ll catalog as many species as we can in our location. Whether it’s bugs, birds, or plants, you’ll get hands-on with the incredible diversity of life around us.
Land/Sea Stewardship
Becoming good stewards of the environment means taking action! This week, we’ll clean up beaches, practice “pack it in, pack it out” ethics, and discuss how to protect the land and sea for future generations.
Rates:
FULL DAY camp rate per week: $755
Pro-rated rates for sessions with holidays.
Sibling discounts and multi-session discounts available.
Summer Camp 2025 Cancellation & Refund Policy:
For 2025 Summer Camp Sessions our cancellation REFUND policy is as follows:
Cancel on or before 17 days (2 weeks) before your session (always a Friday): Refund or credit issued less 10% Admin cancellation fee.
Cancel on or before 10 days prior to your session (always a Friday): Credit issued less 50% cancellation fee.
Cancel less than 10 days prior to your session: Camp fees are non-refundable, no exceptions.
Tree Frog Treks depends on the income from camp to operate all year, thank you for understanding that holding your credit supports our mission and pays our team. Credits do not expire and can be used toward any program in the future for any member of your family.
It is always free to switch your Block to another Block that works better for your schedule (as long as there is space in the Block you'd like to switch to). Please email our office at Info@Treefrogtreks.com to make a switch to your week, but last minute switches are highly discouraged and may not be possible.
Location: Mothers meadow in ggp: 573 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, San Francisco, CA 94122
Questions? Check out our FAQS.
Head Naturalist Bio: Jim Kurpius is a biologist, teacher, naturalist, and guide. He grew up in the Bay Area and has spent much of his life along the coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Jim completed his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology and graduated from UC Santa Cruz, earning a BA in biology. His research interests range from population genetics to paleontology and focused on evolutionary patterns of marine invertebrates in both fossil and living species. He believes that making connections with students is at the heart of teaching, whether in the field or in the classroom. Jim is keen to find out what interests students and engage with each student at their level.
Jim is a former whitewater river guide, sea kayak guide/naturalist, research diver, and ski instructor. He lives out at the beach in San Francisco, is raising two kids, and enjoys surfing, kayaking, back country travel, and adventures of all sorts.
