Get Involved

Camps are limited to 15 campers per session.

Our Director of Community Engagement, Lindsay, and Community Engagement Coordinator, Sydney, work alongside vetted volunteers to teach sessions.  Each session also features special guest speakers from other CHS departments and local organizations.

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and we cannot hold spots for potential campers. To ensure your child and a friend attend the same camp session, we recommend registering at the same time.

Once registration is officially processed, we are unable to switch camp sessions. If a change is needed, a refund can be issued; however, a $30 cancellation fee will apply. You may then submit a new registration for the desired session.

Please note: Camp groupings may vary, and while campers may register for the same session, we cannot guarantee they will be placed in the same small group or table. However, they will participate in many activities together as a larger group.

Each day of camp includes supervised critter interaction as curriculum allows.

Drop off time slot: 8:50-9:00am 

Pick up time slot: 12:00-12:10pm

Campers should be dropped off to Pieloch Pet Adoption Center no earlier than 10 minutes prior to the camp start time. Campers must be accompanied by an adult to sign them into camp each day. Camp Staff are not responsible for children until they are signed in by the adult accompanying them. Campers must be picked up and signed out by an adult immediately after camp concludes each day. 

Late pick-ups will be charged a fee of $1.00 per minute after 12:10pm. We appreciate your cooperation.

Parents MUST escort their child into the room to sign IN and OUT for the day. We also require a valid ID to be presented during sign in and sign out. 

Anyone who has not been authorized to pick up a camper will not be allowed to check that camper out until we have cleared that person with the camper’s parent/guardian/approved custodian.

Shoes must be closed-toe.  We recommend sneakers. Clothing should be appropriate for craft projects, such as painting. We also recommend wearing layers to accommodate indoor and outdoor activities, as well as windy or rainy weather.

To help maintain the safety and wellness of campers, staff, volunteers, animals, and the general public, the following conduct and behavior policy has been established.

Disciplinary action may be taken if a camper displays undesirable behavior that interferes with or disrupts the camp program. Examples of this behavior include inappropriate language, making fun of or insulting others, bullying, using profanity, harming or frightening the animals, physically harming others, not following directions, or unwelcome actions that make other campers feel uncomfortable.

Consequences to undesirable behavior are as follows:

• First offense: Verbal warning from staff
• Second offense: 10-minute time out; follow-up call to parent/guardian
• Third offense: Discipline report filed; meeting with parent/guardian
• Fourth offense: Removal from camp; no refund will be given in this occurrence
• In the event of extreme infractions, the Capital Humane Society reserves the right to remove a camper from the program immediately without prior warnings.

Every effort is made to accommodate campers with special needs, including campers with behavioral challenges. Parents/guardians of children who need special attention or have behavioral challenges must notify us of the issue in the “additional accommodations” section of the online registration form. Camp staff is trained to manage many common health and behavioral disorders; however, campers with severe behavioral disorders that may continuously interfere with or disrupt the camp program must have an aide present.
 

Campers are not allowed to have cell phones on their person during camp. Cell phones MUST remain in backpacks during the day. 

Parents/guardians will have a direct contact number to Camp Supervisors for emergency purposes.

The safety of all campers and animals in our care is our top priority. Our camp is centered around teaching safe animal interaction, compassion, and empathy towards all living beings. We have a limited number of animals our campers may interact with that have been approved for safety and disposition by CHS behavior staff. Campers will not interact directly with any adoptable dogs or cats in the shelter due to safety and liability restrictions. Instead, campers will have the opportunity to interact with dogs belonging to staff and/or guest speakers, many of which are Certified Therapy Dogs. 

If your child jeopardizes the safety and well-being of any shelter animals, owned animals, or fellow campers, then Camp Administrators reserve the right to dismiss your child. 

We understand that sometimes plans change, and we strive to be as accommodating as possible. Please review our refund policy before registering:

• No Full Refunds: A $30 cancellation fee will be deducted from all registration refunds.
• Before Camp Begins: If you request a refund before the first session of camp, you will receive a refund minus the $30 cancellation  fee.
• After Camp Begins: Once the first session has started, no full refunds will be issued. Partial refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances.

For refund requests, please contact Sydney at smarchant@capitalhumanesociety.org with your registration details.

Unfortunately we do not have the available space or staff required to offer additional camp sessions.