Welcome to the Chico Creek Nature Center, the gateway and official information center for Bidwell Park.

Day Camps

Let your child experience naturalist led fun in Bidwell Park!

Centered at the Chico Creek Nature Center in the heart of Bidwell Park, Camp Chico Creek is an environmental education-based day camp for children 5 to 11 years old. The programs are designed to provide outdoor recreation activities and foster awareness of nature in a fun, safe, and caring setting. Themes covering Park habitats and their natural and cultural histories are presented to the campers during each session.

We have trained staff and interns that promote fairness and encourage a spirit of cooperation in play. We think you’ll find that Camp Chico Creek offers a healthy and convenient way for children to make new friends and enjoy the summer fun in beautiful Bidwell Park.

Camp Chico Creek Summer 2013

Summer camp consists of ten one-week sessions. Different themes each week through guided nature walks, lab activities, presentations of the Nature Center’s live animals, arts and crafts and swimming in Big Chico Creek. 

Camp Themes

  • Week 1: (6/10-6/14) Marvelous Mammals  
  • Week 2: (6/17-6/21) Friends with Feathers
  • Week 3: (6/24-6/28) Creepy, Crawly, Slimy Slitherers 
  • Week 4: (7/1-7/5) All About Bidwell *
  • Week 5:(7/8-7/12) Crazy Creek Week
  • Week 6: (7/15-7/19) Marvelous Mammals
  • Week 7: (7/22-7/26) Friends with Feathers**
  • Week 8: (7/29-8/2) Creepy, Crawly, Slimy Slitherers**
  • Week 9: (8/5-8/9) All About Bidwell**
  • Week 10: (8/12-8/16) Crazy Creek Week**

* Week 4 will be only 4 days.  There is no camp on the 4th of July holiday.

** Themes are repeated but activities are NEW.

VOLUNTEER CIT(COUNSELORS-IN-TRAINING) June 10, 2013-August 16, 2013

Our CIT program is open to teen applicants who will be entering 9th – 12th grades in the fall of 2013. CITs selected to volunteer at camp will gain valuable job training while also experiencing all the fun of camp themselves. They will be assisting counselors, supervising campers, and preparing activities in a supportive and professional work setting. Applicants must have a sincere interest in nature and working with younger children.  They must be mature and able to get along with campers and co-workers in a professional manner. Not all applicants will be selected. All applicants must be able to work five days a week for the full 10 weeks and will be scheduled between the hours of 9:00am-4:00pm  (Days off /Family vacations will be granted with a minimum of two weeks advance notice). Free lunch is available to CIT’s under 18.

Download registration form for Summer 2013 here.