JHS is proud to offer a selection of educational camps for children of all ages. JHS camps provide children with the unique and invaluable opportunity to learn about animal welfare and sheltering, animal behavior, helping pets in our community, and the importance of kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Camps
Pawsident’s Day Camp
Monday, February 17, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (extended care from 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)
Grades 3-8
Animal enthusiasts in grades 3-8 are invited to spend a paw-triotic and fun-filled day at JHS! We’ll become behavior detectives and learn all about animal body language, design creative enrichment items for our dogs and cats like red, white and blue pup-sicles, and even help a few residents of JHS with their paw-sidential campaign posters. And, of course, we’ll have the opportunity to meet a new furry friend or two!
All campers will receive a certificate verifying 3 hours of volunteer service at the end of camp.
Snacks and Meals:
Campers MUST bring a lunch and a water bottle. One snack will be provided to all campers courtesy of our friends at SmartBox. Snacks offered typically include things like popcorn, Popcorners, and veggie straws.
What to Wear:
Campers should wear comfortable clothing that can get messy. Closed-toe shoes that cover the foot entirely are required. NO CROCS, PLEASE!
Register for Pawsident’s Day Camp
Generously sponsored by:
If you use code JHS10 to sign up for Pup O’clock, you’ll get 10% off your subscription AND JHS will get a $5 donation each month!
Spring Break Camp
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 – Friday, March 21, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (extended care from 7:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.)
Grades 3-8
Children in grades 3-8 are invited to “spring” into furry fun and learning at the Jacksonville Humane Society’s 2025 Spring Break Camp!
Campers will study animal behavior, try out some clicker training, make all kinds of fun enrichment items for the animals at JHS like treats and toys, help promote pets for adoption, plant catnip and cat grass, and SO much more!
All campers will receive a certificate verifying 9 hours of volunteer service at the end of camp.
Snacks and Meals:
Campers MUST bring a lunch and a water bottle. One snack will be provided to all campers each day of camp courtesy of our friends at SmartBox. Snacks offered typically include things like popcorn, Popcorners, and veggie straws.
What to Wear:
Campers should wear comfortable clothing that can get messy. Closed-toe shoes that cover the foot entirely are required. NO CROCS, PLEASE!
Summer Camp
Registration for the Jacksonville Humane Society’s 2025 Summer Camp will open on Wednesday, March 12. If you’d like to be notified as soon as registration goes live, please fill out the form below.
Questions about JHS camps?
Please check our Camp Handbook for answers to frequently asked questions such as which types of activities are included, how camp is structured, drop off/pick up protocols, medication info, dress code for campers, camper expectations, etc.
Check out our 2024 Summer Camp recap to learn even more about what to expect at JHS camps.
If you would like to schedule a one-on-one tour of the JHS facility with our Director of Development during camp drop-off and pick-up times, please contact us at [email protected].
Do campers get to interact with animals?
Yes, campers interact with both cats and dogs while at camp! However, the level and amount of interaction each day depends on factors that permit an appropriate pet to be available. In the event that an appropriate pet is not available for hands-on interaction on a given day, campers may spend time with the animals at JHS in other ways (for example, observing staff members training dogs, reading to dogs in front of their kennels, or passing out treats). View a sample camp schedule.
JHS Camp Registration Protocol:
Allergies: Camp is not recommended for children with allergies to pet dander or nuts. Camp is held on a campus that houses more than 200 dogs and cats. Dogs are given peanut butter daily and many treats contain nut allergens. For these reasons and the safety, health and well-being of your child, we do not recommend that children with these allergies attend camps at JHS.
Ages: For Summer Camp, JHS recommends that parents use “rising” grades (example, a child who is finishing 2nd grade should be registered as a “rising 3rd grader” since they’ll be entering 3rd grade the next school year). However, you know your children best and we encourage you to follow parental instinct. We reserve the right to make a professional judgment and move a camper to a more appropriate age group after consulting with you. For day camps, Spring Break Camp, and Winter Break Camp, please use your child’s actual grade level when registering them.
Cancellation: Cancellations must be made at least two weeks prior to the camp start date and must be received in writing via email to qualify for a 50% refund. A processing fee may occur for refunds.
Camp Scholarships:
JHS is proud to offer a limited number of camp scholarships annually thanks to the generous support of the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation. For more information about our Furyk & Friends: Lucky’s Pack scholarships, please email us at [email protected].
For more information, contact the Education Department:
Camp at JHS is supported by
