Discovery Camp

Discovery Camp 2023 Dates TBD

Come experience an adventure this summer with the City of San Marcos Discovery Camp! The Parks and Recreation Department is offering 8 themed weeks of exploring, adventure, and discovery for campers ages 5 to 10. Campers will have the chance to be outside, do experiments, build things, get messy, work as a team, develop leadership skills, and have fun! Each week may include in-town field trips to various locations. Past field trips have included the San Marcos Discovery Center, Rio Vista pool, Sunset Bowling Lanes, and more! We also work with SMCISD to provide lunch for the duration of the program. 

Registration is only available on the ACTIVE net website. If you need assistance creating your online account, or if you are having trouble logging into your account, our website has step-by-step instructions that can guide you. Please make sure your account information, including your cell phone number and email address, are up to date. For additional assistance, including questions about camp waitlists, please call the San Marcos Activity Center at 512-393-8280. 

For more camp updates, follow our Facebook page.


Registration Fees

  • Registration for residents is $150/week 
  • Registration for non-residents is $175/week 

Camp Details

  • 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Monday - Friday
  • Dunbar Recreation Center
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 5 - 10
  • Max participants: 25

2022 Parent Resources

ePACT for Summer Camps

San Marcos Parks and Recreation is proud to announce our adoption of ePACT Network for better safety! ePACT is a secure emergency network that we will use to collect medical and emergency contact information electronically. Not only will ePACT replace paper forms, but it will also ensure we have a way to communicate with you in the event of an unexpected situation.

Why We Are Using ePACT

  • To save you time - With ePACT, you only need to complete your child’s information once, and can then use that same record for other programs or subsequent years.
  • Improved privacy and security - Eliminating paper forms ensures that your key information is safe and secure. ePACT maintains the same levels of security as online banking, and limits access only to the administrators we assign for enhanced privacy.
  • Better support - ePACT makes it easy for you to share comprehensive health and emergency contact details, so we can provide the best support to your child. Plus, you can update this anytime and we will automatically receive those new details.

How It Works

  • You’ll receive an email from ePACT invite to share information with San Marcos Parks and Recreation.
  • Click ’Complete Request’ to create a free account, or log-in if you already have an existing ePACT account.
  • Enter the required information, like medical conditions, and share it with San Marcos Parks and Recreation so that program staff has access.
  • For ePACT assistance, please review their informational packet (English).

Cenikor at Camps

Cenikor Prevention Services provide free, age-appropriate evidence-based curriculum to students of all ages. Students are taught the skills necessary to develop good self-esteem, resist peer and media pressure, and explore tobacco/alcohol/drug-free activities. Prevention Specialists provide presentations to schools, parent groups, community groups, and other venues as requested.

Participants will develop and strengthen skills through various Positive Alternative activities designed to provide bonding opportunities and enhance social/emotional learning and wellness. Participants will engage in a series of physical activities/games to promote team building and goal setting to increase confidence and resilience. Arts and crafts will also be offered to help manage/regulate emotions and provide opportunities for creative self-reflection and expression.  

 Discovery Camp topics can include:

Making healthy choices, creating healthy friendships, conflict resolution, mindfulness/coping with anger and anxiety, teambuilding, communication and social skills.

 Summer Fun topics can include (in addition to those covered at Discovery Camp):

Assertiveness, resistance skills to overcome peer pressure, presentations featuring the dangers of substance use, abuse, misuse related to prescription drugs, tobacco/nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana (short and long-term health effects, laws, etc.), and the importance of adopting healthy stress relief strategies and self-care practices.