Sonoran Explorin' Camp

You can expect an email the Monday before your camp begins with all the details you need. If you need information before then please contact Camp Coordinator Moonie at ces-tvfcamps@arizona.edu.

For the safety of your camper and to ensure proper liability management, we are unable to accept forms via email. You must bring your forms with you on the first day of camp, send them with your camper, or fill them out the morning of camp. Please do not send your camper without forms if they are arriving with someone who is not a parent/guardian. If you don’t have a printer and you want to fill out the forms ahead of time to bring with you, you can pick up blank copies of the necessary forms at our front desk located at 4210 N Campbell Ave, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A detailed packing list will be provided prior to camp. Expect to bring essential items include proper footwear, sleeping bag, clothing layers, a backpack, and personal items.

Yes. Campers are welcome to bring their own backpacking gear. We also have a limited supply of equipment available to borrow if needed. A detailed packing list will be provided in advance. 

No prior experience is required. We will teach basic skills such as packing, trail safety, Leave No Trace principles, and camp setup. This is a great space to learn about what camping entails! 

 Yes! Campers will learn hiking basics, campsite setup, outdoor cooking, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.

Yes. We will provide snacks, lunch and all meals during the day camp and overnight portion of the trip.

Yes. At least one staff member on the trip is Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified.

We like to say that if you don't hear from us, everything is great. We will provide pre-trip information and an estimated return time. In case of schedule changes, we will notify families.

We monitor forecasts closely. If conditions are unsafe, we will modify the route or reschedule as necessary and update parents as soon as possible. 

Campers will be taught proper backcountry hygiene practices following Leave No Trace Code of Ethics.

• Full refund 30 days before the camp start date.
• 50% refund up to 14 days before the camp start date.
• No refunds thereafter.

Yes, if you’d like to join the waitlist, please email ces-tvfcamps@arizona.edu with the following details: camper’s name, age, date of birth, food allergies, parent/guardian name, phone number, and email address. You will be placed on the waitlist in the order your email is received, and we will contact you if a spot opens up. There’s no need to email for follow-up unless instructed.

No, we reserve enough spots to accommodate scholarship requests. Occasionally, if we don’t need all reserved scholarship spaces, we may open up tickets to the public after a camp has sold out. Sign up for our newsletter here to be the first to know if tickets become available.

Scholarship applications open on March 2nd, and the deadline to submit is March 9th. You will be notified if you were selected by March 31st. 

In years past we have been able to offer every camper who applies at least one week of camp. We fundraise year-long with hopes to be able to offer the same opportunities each year of camp.

Scholarships will be issued and families notified by March 31st. Please let our camp coordinator Moonie (ces-tvfcamps@arizona.edu) know if you are unable to accept a previously applied for scholarship or are suddenly unable to make it to the week you were awarded. We do not want an empty scholarship spot that could have gone to another deserving youth due to no-show. If you let us know ahead of time there will be no penalty, if you no-show we may be unable to award you a scholarship in the future. 

In the registration you will let us know if your camper has allergies, dietary restrictions, and food preferences. We will use this information to create a thoughtful and inclusive meal plan that meets campers’ needs.

Please do not send food with your camper unless you have been approved to do so by our staff, as this helps ensure the safety of all campers.

TVF Camps are all SCREEN FREE, this gives your camper a chance to take a break from their device. They aren't allowed at ANY of our camps. Staff will have devices for emergency situations. 

For consistency's sake, if a summer holiday (Juneteenth or 4th of July) is on a Monday or Friday we will not hold camp, if the holiday lands on a Tuesday/Wednesday or Thursday we will have camp since we have found that it hard to take a day off of camp mid-week. We always start camps the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Unfortunately, we do not have the staffing to offer before or after care. Please ensure your camper arrives no more than 10 minutes before the camp start time to allow us to set up for the day. If you are more than 10 minutes late for pick-up, please call Moonie at 520-626-5856 (or the relevant camp coordinator) to make accommodations.