Camps

JHS is proud to offer a selection of educational camps for children of all ages. JHS camps provide youth 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.

Summer Camp

JHS Summer Camp is for kids in rising grades 1-8. Please choose the grade your child will be entering in the fall.

Cost: $300/week

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (extended care available for an additional fee)

View our 2025 Summer Camp dates and themes to learn more about what each theme entails.

During “Generosity Breeds Joy” and “Careers with Pets” weeks, campers will work with both cats and dogs. During “All About Cats” week, campers will only work directly with cats but may be exposed to dogs. During “All About Dogs” week, campers will only work directly with dogs but may be exposed to cats.

Weeks with the same theme will feature the same activities and content, ensuring a consistent experience for all campers.

Register for Week 6: July 21-25, 2025 (Theme: Generosity Breeds Joy) Sold out for all grades – join the waitlist.

Register for Week 7: July 28-August 1, 2025 (Theme: Careers with Pets) Sold out for grades 3-5 and 6-8 – join the waitlist. Spots still available for grades 1-2.

Summer Shelter Squad

Children in rising grades 3-8 are invited to be a part of our 2025 Summer Shelter Squad from August 5-7, 2025!

Shelter Squad participants will engage in various service projects directly benefiting the pets at JHS and have the opportunity to meet and interact with a JHS dog and kittens (depends on the availability of suitable animals).

Service projects may include:

creating enrichment items for the pets such as dog and cat treats, food puzzles, cat toys, and more
making heating pads for neonatal kittens and surgery patients
folding laundry
helping the JHS Animal Care team get our Adoption Center ready for the day (may include light cleaning tasks)
reading to the pets to help them feel more relaxed in their kennels

Shelter Squad members will be awarded 3 community service hours at the end of each day. Children who complete all 3 days of the program will earn a total of 9 community service hours.

Dates: August 5-7, 2025 (choose one day or all three)
Cost: $45 per day
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

All days sold out – join the waitlist!

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].