Kids’ Camps and Parent Perks – Summer Fun at San Diego’s Animal Sanctuary
The San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm (formerly known as the Children’s Nature Retreat), a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine, is embracing the ‘dog days of summer’ with a new summer program!
Starting on the first day of summer, June 20, everyone will receive a free popsicle during their visit through September 2!
Engaging Activities for Young Animal Lovers and Parent Perks
The Sanctuary & Farm now offers day camps, as well as three-day-a-week and five-day-a-week experiences.
Limited to just three children at a time, kids seven years old and up can shadow the Farm’s experienced Animal Keepers, taking part in activities such as feeding the tortoises, pigs, and barnyard animals, walking with the goats, cleaning pens, picking vegetables in the garden and more. What fun!
To compliment the kids camps, the Sanctuary & Farm is launching a new Parent Corner space for parents to work remotely for the day while their kids are at camp. The area includes a cool and shady spot to work outside, free Wi-Fi, and other accommodations. How cool is that!?
Cool Comforts and Scenic Spots
The Sanctuary & Farm also has misters on the trails throughout the farm.
“One of the common misconceptions is that it’s unbearably hot at the farm; however, we’re in a special spot—we’re at 2,600 feet in the mountains of Alpine, so we actually get quite a bit of ocean breeze,” explains Agnes Barrelet, founder and executive director for the Sanctuary & Farm.
“One of my very favorite spots at the farm is our beautiful and enormous oak tree in the center of the farm, which provides so much shade, with lots of picnic tables. We also have a lot of other shady seating areas as well.”
A Diverse Range of Animal Residents
The San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is home to more than 200 domesticated livestock and exotic animals, from a bison to camels and zebras to a mélange of farm animals. Most of the animals were pets who lost their homes due to their previous owners’ illness, death, or financial difficulties.
The Farm is open seven days a week, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Reservations are no longer required. You can also feed orchard hay through or over the fence for $5/bucket and poultry feed for $2/cup.
See you there!
Single-day admission is $40 for adults and $25 for kids (children under two years are free); seniors (65+) are $36. Parking is complimentary. Get your tickets here.
Day camps are $195 per day from 9 AM to 5 PM. Three-day-a-week experiences are $495 per week, and five-day-a-week experiences (Monday through Friday) are $695 per week.
The Farm is located at 5178 Japatul Spur in Alpine. For more information about the kids camps, visit their website here and follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
See you there, San Diego!
