​In accordance with UC Davis's current policies, we are temporarily closed to the public until further notice. Please reach us by email. ​​

Summer 2021 Camps postponed 

We regretfully announce that Bio Boot Camps for the 2021 summer are not able to happen due to many factors, including the current situations of our essential partners on and off campus. However, we are exploring the  possibility of an in-person  winter break camp.   There will be a poll later this summer to determine interest in this new possibility. We know this is disappointing to many.  For those who are looking for summer and year round research opportunities, we've updated the list of other science or nature programs for pre-teens and teens that we  know of.   Please scroll to the bottom of this page. (June 2, 2021)
Questions? Send an email to tabyang@ucdavis.edu

Important Information

We want to provide opportunities to as many people as possible, but there are many constraints that we have no control over. We regret that we have wait lists, but we don't want to compromise the quality of the camps. We do take into consideration whether a camper has previously applied to the camp and been wait listed as it shows a strong desire to attend the camp. We also take into consideration the grade of the camper.  Applications typically come from all over California,  but also across the US and the world. 

We truly welcome feedback and suggestions. Campers and their families have influenced the evolution of the camps in countless ways and will continue to do so. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Contact Tabatha Yang, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the  Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis, at  tabyang@ucdavis.edu, if you have any questions. Please use the words "Bio Boot Camp question" in the subject line. ​

2020 Camp Forms - the deadline is Friday, March 20, 2020

The application due date is 11 PM on Friday, March 20, 2020. We may need to talk with student applicants to clarify or verify their answers below. We will do so through the phone number provided for responsible adults. The Application process has been delayed and notices will be given on or before April 13 and given the option to accept and register. Others will be automatically placed on a wait list unless they opt out.

If you are in the junior high category and you attended camp last year when we visited Sagehen Creek, then you may apply to Mountain Camp in 2020, but we will give preference to eligible students who have not attended Mountain Camp before.

Camp Descriptions & Dates

Bio Boot Camp
For students entering grades 7, 8 & 9 in fall 2020

Together with the  UCD Museum of Wildlife & Fish Biology  and  Campus Recreation  we launched Bio Boot Camp in 2011, a camp for junior high aged students who are interested in the natural sciences. There is limited enrollment and so we ask that the students themselves be part of the enrollment process. This is a full day camp from 8:30 am-5:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday based at UC Davis. Then on Thursday morning we travel to a UC Reserve for an overnight experience either  to the coast at the UC Davis Bodega Bay Marine Lab and Reserve or to the mountains at the UC Berkeley Sagehen Creek Field Station just outside of Truckee in the Sierras. We return to Davis on Friday afternoon.
 Transportation (vans), 3 meals, and housing (bunkhouse or cabin) are provided. Each camp has an enrollment of 12 students and 2 instructors. 

Coastal Session- Not offered in 2020 

Mountain Session- August 10-14, 2020 
Monday-Wednesday: 8:30 am-5:30 pm & Thursday 8:30 am-Friday 5:30 pm
Total cost is $425
Partial need-based scholarships are available.
Bio Boot Camp overview
Monday  (8: 30 am - 5:30 pm) - We get to know each other, play games, explore the UC Davis campus, and go behind the scenes at the two host museums: the Bohart Museum of Entomology and the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology.
Tuesday  (8: 30 am - 5:30 pm)  - We spend the day outside mucking around in local streams, catching insects, observing birds and exploring nature with  guest scientists. Bring a change of clothes and a sense of adventure!
Wednesday (8: 30 am - 5:30 pm)  We go deep into standard museum practices from collecting data to preparing specimens including invertebrates and vertebrates.  This can be a very hands-on day, if you so choose.
Thursday 8:30 am -Friday 5:30 pm (overnight)  The vans get loaded with campers and gear and we visit a UC Reserve to compare the nature and biodiversity of the Central Valley to either the coast or the mountains. We put into practice everything we learned at camp and we have a lot of fun while doing it.  
 Bio Boot Camp 2.0
For students entering grades 10, 11 & 12 in fall 2020

 Together the  Bohart Museum of Entomology,  UCD Museum of Wildlife & Fish Biology, and Campus Recreation  launched Bio Boot Camp 2.0 in 2013 after much enthusiasm from Bio Boot Campers who graduated out of the junior high program. The camp spans 7 days and 6 nights, so Sunday at 2:30 pm to Saturday at 2:30 pm. Pick-up and drop-off will be at the museums on the UC Davis Campus.  The first day the students drive up to the mountains to get to know the ecology of the Sierra and each other and settle in at the  UC Berkeley's Sagehen Creek Field Station outside of Truckee, CA . There we will  conduct a group project and a mini individual project and explore the area and discuss college and career paths. However, this is still camp, so there are wandering hikes, exploring Lake Tahoe, silly games, and a lot of fun throughout. We will be stopping at the UC Davis campus on Friday for part of the day to tour the museums and the campus before traveling to UC Davis Quail Ridge Field Station outside of Winters, CA for the last night of camp. Campers will get to compare the Sierra to the Central Valley, prepare for their presentations  and have their costumed dinner party. Transportation (vans), housing (tents/cabins) and food will be provided, but campers will be expected to help prepare group meals and clean up after themselves. This camp has an enrollment of 10 students and 3 instructors.

July 26-August 1, 2020
Sunday 2:30 pm -Saturday 2:30 pm (7 days, 6 nights)
Total cost is $795
Partial need-based scholarships are available.

Quotes

Overall, what was the most beneficial part of the program? "Seeing my child so enthusiastic and engaged with learning about biology in realistic settings and doing realistic tasks. She has learned some practical scientific skills that most people don’t even become exposed to until a much later age." - a parent's evaluation (Bio Boot Camp 2011)

"I loved this camp! It went far past all my best expectations."- a camper's anonymous evaluation (Bio Boot Camp 2016)

"It was so fun!  Loved all the people & activities."- a camper's anonymous evaluation (BBC 2.0 2016)

"I was elated that BBC [2.0] had a broad view of biological topics."-a camper's anonymous evaluation (BBC 2.0 2016)

Other Teen programs that offer hands-on science

   https://headwatersscienceinstitute.org/    (  research program is virtual in 2021)

 https://johnmuir.ucdavis.edu/education-outreach/gals/  (virtual  for 2021, deadline passed)

https://precollege.ucdavis.edu/programs  (virtual for 2021)

https://cosmos.ucdavis.edu/  (virtual for 2021)

https://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/visit/camps_and_classes/summer_camps    (virtual and openings for in-person  day camps (Berkeley, CA) for  entering  grades 10, 11 and 12) 

https://www.coa.edu/summerprograms/summer-field-institute/ (postponed until  2022) 

https://cty.jhu.edu/about/     (virtual for 2021)

 https://earth.stanford.edu/academics/young-investigators (For San Francisco Bay Area teens)   (virtual for 2021- deadline passed)

Other Teen programs that offer outdoor experience

  https://www.nols.edu/en/about/expeditions/ (in person)

https://www.thesca.org/serve/choosing-program-thats-right-you   (in person)