As a working animal welfare organization, we provide care for animals with a wide variety of personalities, behavioral and medical needs. Campers will see and interact with appropriate animals directly while keeping safety our number one priority.

What should my child bring with them to camp?

Please provide your child with a snack, lunch (*NUT-FREE only) and a water bottle each day. We will be in touch with you prior to camp with more details about planning and preparation to make sure you and your child are all set for camp.

What if my child is being picked up by someone other than me during camp?

For safety purposes we do not release children at pick up time to anyone not listed on the “authorized to pick up” list. We check ID daily at checkout time. To add someone to the authorized list, you must include their name, contacts and any other relevant information during registration. If you are adding someone to the list after registration has been submitted, please email lusana@ncal.com.

What if my child has allergies or medical needs?

Please be sure to provide their allergy/medical information during the registration process. Kindly note that we will have daily exposure to common allergens such as hay, pollen and pet dander. If your camper has strong reactions to any of these, please reconsider enrolling them in our program.

What COVID-19 safety protocols are being followed at camp?

All of NCAL’s COVID-19 safety protocols are updated in accordance with local CDC recommendations as they come. Masking is currently optional during any outdoor NCAL programming (if you would like your child to wear a mask during outdoor activities, please inform their camp counselors during drop-off). While inside NCAL premises, all campers, staff and visitors are required to wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.

Where do camps take place?

Horsemanship Camps take place at NCAL’s Equine Center. Humane Heroes takes place at both the Pet Adoption Center and the Equine Center.

Who leads the camps?

All our camps are led by qualified teams consisting of NCAL staff members and camp counselors.

What do I do if my child wants to attend camp with their friends?

During registration there is an ‘additional comments’ section. Please make a note of who you want your child to be in the same camp with – include their friend’s first and last names, as well as parent contacts. We are unable to guarantee group placements as your child’s friends may be registered with a different camp. For Horsemanship Camps, children are grouped according to their skills and riding levels, so this option may not be feasible.

What if my child has medication that needs to be administered during their camp hours?

Camp staff or counselors are unable to administer medication to a child (besides first aid approved by parents/legal guardians). If your child needs medication during their camp hours, a parent or authorized guardian will have to be present and administer it for them.