Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) announced a nature-based, youth after-school program at the El Dorado Nature Center starting next month, Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The camp program, called “Nature Detectives,” is geared toward elementary students between the ages of 5 and 10 years old and will feature hands-on activities designed to ignite an interest in nature and the outdoors.

In a statement announcing the camp, PRM said that “through observational skills and guided research, campers will make new discoveries while exploring the trails to answer some of nature’s most curious questions.”

The four-week camp offers a once-a-week session, designated by grade, Tuesday through Thursday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. and costs $80 per participant. Enrollment must correspond with the participant’s current grade level, and their birthday must be before Sept. 2, 2015. The schedule is as follows:

• Kindergarten and first grade, Tuesdays—October 6,13, 20 and 27
• Second and third grade, Wednesdays—October 7,14, 21 and 28
• Fourth and fifth grade, Thursdays—October 8,15, 22 and 29

Park officials have designed the camps to adhere to public health safety guidelines that include lower camper-to-staff ratios (10 to 1), health screenings for both staff and participants, cleaning and sanitizing facilities and high-touch areas multiple times each day, implementing social distancing protocols, including at check-in and check-out. A face covering will be required.

Registration for the “Nature Detectives” camp begins Tuesday, Sept. 22. People can register online at the PRM or in-person at the El Dorado Nature Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration will be open until the camps fill or until Oct. 6, whichever comes first.

Long Beach Parks also offers a low-cost parks-based after-school program, Monday-Friday for ages 5 to 12.

El Dorado Nature Center is located at 7550 E. Spring St.