Bays Mountain Park invites Young Explorers to the mountain
Bays Mountain Park is extending an invitation to children to come and explore, investigate, and connect with the natural world through its popular Summer Day Camp program.
Registration is now open for 2026 day camp sessions for rising 1st through 6th graders. Each week-long session is filled with outdoor, nature-oriented activities, including wildlife encounters, fishing, hiking, scavenger hunts, hands-on science projects and planetarium shows.
The theme for this year’s Summer Day Camp is “Discovery” where campers can put on their detective hats and explore ways of conserving our wildlife. Experiences include learning about native fish with their feet in the water and stepping into the role of wildlife to discover what it takes to survive on the mountain.
“Campers will hike trails, meet live animals, conduct experiments, explore the night sky in the planetarium, and engage in immersive activities that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting,” said Miranda Wanninger, chief ranger of visitor engagement.
Day camp hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are limited to 30 students per camp.
Young campers (grades 1-3) can choose between the following two imaginative themes that encourage curiosity and creative thinking. These themes will be on a rotation with the 4-6th grade camp.
Theme 1: CSI: Critter Scene Investigators – Aspiring wildlife detectives will solve nature mysteries by examining clues, observing animal behaviors, and learning how scientists study the wild.
Session Dates: June 1-5, June 22-26 and July 13-17.
Theme 2: Kids for the Wild – This conservation-focused camp empowers children to learn how they can make a difference for wildlife and the environment through stewardship, empathy, and action.
Session Dates: June 15-19, July 6-10 and July 27-31.
Mystery on the Mountain – Older campers (grades 4-6) will put their detective skills to the test as they work together to solve an unfolding ecological mystery. Using science, observation, and critical thinking, campers will uncover how ecosystems are connected and why teamwork matters in the natural world.
Session Dates: June 8-12, June 29-July 3 and July 20-24.
Campers should bring a bag lunch with a drink each day and wear appropriate clothing. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Parents or guardians should plan to stay on the first morning for a short orientation of the week’s activities and expectations. Transportation to and from camp is the guardian’s responsibility.
Tuition is $75 for the first child with additional children costing $65 per person. A current Family Membership with the park is required to register your child for Day Camp.
Family Memberships are $65 and give your family an entire year of free entry into the park for one vehicle and up to six free passes per program (planetarium shows, barge rides and nature programs) every time you visit the park.
Bays Mountain Park will also be offering Day Camp t-shirts for $15 with registration.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/3UE9LGS. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or by going to www.kingsporttn.gov and clicking on the “CivicRec” link, then searching for “day camp” in the search bar. Sign up now as limited spots are available.
For more information about Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, visit baysmountain.com or call (423)229-9447.
