Summer BayCamps

Save The Bay’s Junior BayCamp is the perfect way to introduce the younger camper to the fun and excitement of learning about our environment and the interesting animals in it. Throughout the week, campers will interact with live animals through our various touch tanks and will learn about the Bay and its inhabitants through fun games and interactive models. Campers will also explore the shoreline, while learning about some of the Bay’s diverse habitats.

For Completed Grades: K-1
Location: Exploration Center & Aquarium, Newport
Time: Half Day / 9:00 a.m.–noon
Cost: $160 for members, $175 for non-members

Save The Bay’s Junior BayCamp is the perfect way to introduce the younger camper to the fun and excitement of learning about our environment and the interesting animals in it. Throughout the week, campers will interact with live animals through our various touch tanks and will learn about the Bay and its inhabitants through fun games and interactive models. Campers will also explore the shoreline, while learning about some of the Bay’s diverse habitats.

For Completed Grades: K-1
Location: Providence, Newport
Time: Full Day / 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 for members, $300 for non-members

Campers will join Save the Bay staff for a fun and educational week exploring one of Rhode Island’s greatest resources, Narragansett Bay! Throughout the week Campers will be traveling to the bay’s most interesting locations aboard a Save the Bay education vessel, and will have fun swimming, snorkeling, exploring, and learning about environment. During this camp, campers will travel to remote locations around the Bay. Many locations require the vessel to anchor and campers to wade to shore.

For Completed Grades: 2-4
Location: Providence, Wickford, Newport, Bristol
Time: Full Day / 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 for members, $300 for non-members

Campers will join Save the Bay staff for a fun and educational week exploring one of Rhode Island’s greatest resources, Narragansett Bay! Throughout the week Campers will be traveling to the bay’s most interesting locations aboard a Save the Bay education vessel, and will have fun swimming, snorkeling, exploring, and learning about environment. During this camp, campers will travel to remote locations around the Bay. Many locations require the vessel to anchor and campers to wade to shore.

For Completed Grades: 2-5
Location: Westerly
Time: Full Day / 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 for members, $300 for non-members

Shipboard camps take place aboard one of Save The Bay’s research/educational vessels. During the week, campers will head out on the Bay to explore and research Rhode Island’s shoreline. Campers will learn to use the latest in scientific tools, gather and study live animals, and explore the calmer waters of Narragansett Bay with snorkeling and swimming. During this camp, campers will travel to remote locations around the Bay. Many locations require the vessel to anchor and campers to wade to shore.

For Completed Grades: 5-7
Location: Providence, Newport, Wickford, Bristol
Time: Full Day / 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 for members, $300 for non-members

This week is perfect for high school students interested in pursuing a college career focused in the environmental sciences. Throughout the week students will travel throughout the Bay on board a Save The Bay research/education vessel. Students will participate in research while learning from Save The Bay experts and guest speakers about environmental issues in our area.

Topics include climate change, water quality, invasive species, fisheries, and exploring college and career options within the environmental field. During the week students will also participate in a weeklong service-learning project. Students receive a Certificate of Completion at the conclusion of the camp.

For Completed Grades: 8-12
Location: Providence
Time: Full Day / 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 for members, $300 for non-members

No, campers attending a full day camp are required to bring lunch every day. Snacks for all camps are highly recommended. Campers need their energy! Also, make sure to bring plenty to drink, especially water. We do provide water on the boats, but each camper will need their own water bottle.

You should drop off your camper between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and pick them up between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.. You may not drop off any earlier than 8:30 a.m.. and you must pick up your camper before 4:30 p.m.

It is important that our staff have sufficient time in both the morning and afternoon to set up and break down the day’s activities in order for your camper to have the best experience possible, and we are unable to do that if we are watching over early or late campers. A fee may be added if you fail to comply.

Save The Bay runs camps for K-1, 2-4, 5-7, and 8-12. Each camp is based on “grade completed” levels at the end of the current school year. For example, if your child is entering 2nd grade, they will attend K-1 camp, because their most recent grade completed at the end of the school year was 1st grade.

We will send an email a week before the start date of your camp session informing you of everything your camper will need. There also should be a copy of our “What to Bring to Camp” list on your registration page.

Typically, our camps run with 2 counselors as well as a counselor-in-training. During our BayCamp sessions, a captain will normally be on-hand as well. The ratio of our camps average 7:1.

Absolutely not! We have all sorts of activities running simultaneously during an average day at BayCamp, so whether or not swimming is on the agenda is completely up to the camper. We do have open-water trained lifeguards on-site during all sessions where campers will be swimming.

BayCamp staff at Save the Bay comprises both full-time educators and seasonal marine educators. The majority of our summer staff also participate in our school-year programming. Each staff member has a background in marine sciences, as well as either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in their respective fields.

In addition to our educators, we also will have three captains on hand, each with at least a 100 Gross Ton License issued by the United States Coast Guard.

All BayCamps have First Aid/CPR-certified staff as well as certified lifeguards (at BayCamps with a swimming option).

Absolutely, you will find that here.  Please bring with your on the first day of camp.

Unfortunately, no. Our camps are designed with activities and lessons tailored to that specific grade level. Also, do the popularity of our camps (most camps will completely fill), we would like to leave the spaces available for the grade appropriate campers.

All camps taking place out of Providence are located at our Save The Bay Center (main office) and our Newport Junior BayCamp takes place at the Save The Bay Aquarium. Students have access to indoor space for additional activities.

All BayCamps  and Shipboard BayCamps taking place out of Newport, Bristol, Westerly, and Wickford locations do not have an indoor space during most days (with the exception of rain days). Therefore, each day is spent outdoors and/or on our vessel for the entire day of camp. These are considered more remote camps.