Day Camps
“I wanted to thank you for running such an excellent program! My daughter attended the Animal Careers last week and really enjoyed the activities and learning, and especially the animal interactions. Your camp counsellors were all excellent and we appreciate their patience and willingness to work through her social anxiety that kicked in along with the care and understanding they gave her.
She can’t wait to gather a friend or two and attend next year!
Thank you for everything,
Katherine L.” – Camp Parent
Foster a Pet
About our Day Camps
Calgary Humane Society Day Camp is a place where kids connect with animals. Our goal is to provide a Calgary day camp for children to interact with and learn about the animals that share our world. An enthusiastic staff of instructors and friendly animals give your child an enriching experience filled with hands-on animal encounters, fun activities, crafts, and guest presentations. As they have fun, campers learn respect, compassion, and how to provide a lifetime of care for animals.
Activities are age and developmentally appropriate. Camps are a different theme each day, ensuring diverse experiences.
Campers will learn about animal characteristics, behaviour, and proper pet care. They’ll also have the opportunity to meet and interact with the following animals (if behaviourally and medically appropriate critters are in the shelter at the time of camp): bunnies, cats, dogs, reptiles, birds, and more!
We offer kids’ day camps for children in Grades 1 – 9 each year in the spring, summer, and winter.
Presentations for External Camps
We also offer Calgary Humane Society presentations for other, external camps that operate in Calgary and the surrounding area. This presentation can be provided outdoors or virtually. If your organization is interested in learning more about camp presentations, please email the team at humane.education@calgaryhumane.ca.
PD Day Camps, Grades 1 – 6
For youth who love all animals, we have Everything Animal PD Camps. Campers learn about a wide variety of the animal friends that share our world. Animal themed games, crafts and activities are selected to showcase animal adaptations and diversity. Of course, animal camp would not be complete without interactions with friendly animals at Calgary Humane Society.
Camp Fee: $65
Friday, April 26/2024 – Register here!
Friday, May 17/2024 – Register here!
Monday, June 10/2024 – Register here!
Summer Camps, Grades 1 – 9
Many are sold out for the 2024 season, full details below.
Here is a list of what is still available:
Pets 101 – Grades 1 – 3, July 2 – 5 – Register here!
Critters in Motion – Grades 4 – 6, August 6 – 9 – Register here!
How Animals Learn: Grades 7 – 9, July 8 – 12 – Register here!
How Animals Learn: Grades 7 – 9, August 19 – 23 – Register here!
So You Wanna Be A Vet: Grade 7 – 9, July 22 – 26 – Register here!
Animal Investigations: Grade 7 – 9, August 12 – 16 – Register here!
Pets 101
Which animals make good pets? What kind of care do they need? Will this puppy stay this small forever? Campers will explore all these questions and more—everything you wanted to know about having a pet but were afraid to ask. Perfect for the camper who may be ready to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership, or the one who maybe needs a bit more info.
Grades 1 – 3, July 2 – 5 – Register here!
Grades 1 – 3, July 15 – 19 – Full! Waitlist Available.
Fantastic Felines
Join us for a summer camp that is focused on our fantastic, furry, feline friends! Together, we will explore questions like: Why do people have cats as pets? What kind of care do cats specifically need? What should I consider before adopting a cat? How can I prepare to bring a cat into my home? How much does it cost to have a cat as a companion animals? How can I give back to the cats at an animal shelter while they wait for their forever home? This camp is purrr-fect for those campers that one day want their very own feline friend. The week will be rounded out with visits from animal guests (cats and other animals), cat-tastic enrichment toy building, and more!
Grades 1 – 3, July 22 – 26 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 1 – 3, August 19 – 23 – Full! Waitlist Available
Everything Animal
For campers who love all animals, we have Everything Animal. Campers learn about a wide variety of the animal friends that share our world. Animal themed games, crafts and activities are selected to showcase animal adaptations and diversity. Of course, animal camp would not be complete without interactions with friendly animals at Calgary Humane Society.
Grades 4 – 6, July 2 – 5 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, July 29 – August 2 – Full! Waitlist Available
Critters in Motion
Can your camper jump like a kangaroo? Run like a jaguar? Climb like a cat? Critters in Motion gives campers the chance to move with the animal kingdom. Activities focus on amazing animal abilities and plenty of time for games provides campers with ample opportunity to burn off extra energy. Perfect for campers who enjoy physical games and activities.
Grades 1 – 3, August 6 – 9 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, August 6 – 9 – Register here!
Walk on the Wild Side
Campers take a Walk on the Wild Side and learn about the wild cousins of our domestic animal friends. We explore domestication of animals while activities and crafts focus on the amazing array of animal adaptations that make life in the wild possible. Games, crafts and animal interactions round out the week.
Grades 4 – 6, July 8 – 12 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, July 15 – 19 – Full! Waitlist Available
Creative Critters
This theme provides budding artists the chance to flex their creative muscles and create animal-themed creative projects. Activities involve creating projects inspired by the art animals create in our natural world. Of course, no day would be complete without interaction with our shelter animals! Perfect for the camper who prefers arts, crafts, and creative projects.
Grades 1 -3, July 29 – August 2 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, July 19 – August 2 – Full! Waitlist Available
Animal Careers
Do you know an aspiring dog groomer? Kitty cuisine creator? Animal Cop? This week is for them! Campers will explore the wide array of jobs and careers where humans work side-by-side with animals. The week includes meeting special guests in animal welfare and other professions including seeing first-hand what some of our own shelter professionals do day-to-day. Fun activities, games, creative crafts and interact with a variety of critters round out the week.
Grades 4 – 6, July 15 – 19 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, July 22 – 26 – Full! Waitlist Available
Courageous Canines
Join us for a summer camp that is focused on our cool canine companions! Together, we will explore questions like: Why do people have dogs as pets? What kind of care do dogs specifically need? What should I consider before adopting a dog? How can I prepare to bring a dog into my home? How much does it cost to have a dog as a companion animal? How can I give back to the dogs at an animal shelter while they wait for their forever home? This camp is paw-fect for those campers that one day want their very own canine companion. The week will be rounded out with visits from animal guests (dogs and other animals), dog enrichment toy building, and more!
Grades 4 – 6, August 12 – 16 – Full! Waitlist Available
Once Upon an Animal
Campers will jump through the pages of their favourite storybooks as they explore the roles of animals and mythical creatures in storytelling. Then they’ll bring these stories to life by accessing their inner actor through drama games, mask work, and puppetry. With special animal guests and crafts, this will be a magical week your campers won’t forget.
Grades 1 – 3, July 8 – 12 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 1 – 3, August 12 – 16 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grades 4 – 6, August 19 – 23 – Full! Waitlist Available
How Animals Learn
Ever wonder how dogs, cats, rabbits and even reptiles make sense of their world and learn new things? Find out at this unique camp! As an intro to understanding animal training, campers will learn the fundamentals of animal training and try their hand at training different species. Throw in some games, creative projects and fun volunteer tasks around the shelter and you have a summer they will never forget!
Grades 7 – 9, July 8 – 12 – Register here!
Grades 7 – 9, August 19 – 23 – Register here!
So You Want to be a Vet?
Does your child dream of being a vet when they are older? With a week at vet camp, they’ll get to explore the ins and outs of the vet profession while spending time with our professional veterinarians and health professionals. Campers will have the opportunity to observe surgeries, shadow health technicians on their medical rounds, and have hands-on experience by looking at microscopic slides, x-rays, and learning about different medical concerns our animals face. On top of all of that, games and animal interactions round out this unique week.
Grade 7 – 9, July 2 – 5 – Full! Waitlist Available
Grade 7 – 9, July 22 – 26 – Register here!
Volun-Teens
Is your teenager itching to get some hands on experience volunteering at the Calgary Humane Society? Are they responsible and dependable? Do they love to learn? Then this is the camp for them! Consider this a pre-volunteer experience! In this camp, campers will have the opportunity to be trained in 1-2 different, age-appropriate, volunteer roles around the shelter (mostly focused on cats). They will be doing hands on assistant tasks throughout the shelter and they will learn about animal care needs and how to read different animal body languages. On top of all of that, games and animal interactions round out this unique week!
Grades 7 – 9, August 6 – 9 – Full! Waitlist Available
Animal Investigations
Ever wonder about the laws that protect pets? What about other animals? How are all those laws enforced and what happens when they are broken? Find out through this special camp where you will become experts in everything animal protection and enforcement. Campers will try their hand at solving practice cases, learn about forensics, and become familiar with the information animal investigators use while trying to solve a case. They’ll also meet the enforcers of the Animal Protection Act—our very own CHS Peace Officers. This camp will provide understanding of our judicial system, the chance to see what a being an animal investigator looks like, and, most importantly, how to be an ally in the fight to protect animals.
