The CAMP H.O.P.E. Program is a one week-long summer day camp held Monday through Friday at the Santa Maria Animal Center. Youths aged 9-12 are invited to attend; cost is $300 per camper. This summer camp introduces campers to a variety of hands-on learning modes to allow youth to explore career and volunteer opportunities, basic pet responsibility, important life skills and local animal issues. The camp has a variety of sessions, guest speakers, crafts, activities, time spent daily with shelter animals, as well as ways youth can make a difference in the lives of animals within their community. Children are taught what to do if they lose or find an animal, how to protect themselves from being bitten by a dog, why animals are surrendered, or strays, how our community shelters work, and how our community's Animal Control Officers act as First-responders for companion animals. They are also taught disaster preparedness, the challenges of unaltered animals in our community and the benefits of spay and neutering, vaccinating, and the responsibility of training and health care for our pets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and Camp HOPE enjoys 72 campers annually. This all-volunteer program is directed and funded by the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation.

The Camp HOPE Counselor Program is open to teens 13-18 years old. Teens who are chosen work directly with and act as mentors to Animal Ambassador and Camp HOPE campers. Teens are required to complete 20 hours of training. This program offers an opportunity for teens to learn techniques to teach, assist, and care for youth on their team, as well as learn about the challenges shelter animals experience and how they can assist to make a difference. A Camp HOPE Counselor position is considered an unpaid staff position and teens earn community service hours and can requests letters of recommendation for jobs, college entrance and scholarship applications. The camp program has an average of 15 counselors and 4-6 volunteer adult staff per camp session. This program is directed and funded by the SBC Animal Care Foundation.

The Animal Ambassador Program is a free of charge day-camp program offered to the K-kids program at Adams School in Santa Maria. Held on two separate Saturdays in the Spring, it offers education similar to the Camp HOPE Program. The majority of children in this program speak English as a Second Language, therefore the camp modifies the content slightly to ensure greater comprehension and learning. This school's boundary are also within a prime target area within the City limits of Santa Maria where stray animals may be found. The Animal Ambassador Program assists to educate about the humane treatment of animals, the importance of spaying & neutering animals, animal body language & bite safety, what to do if you lose or find an animal, proper care and resources available to their family. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and children ride the bus to and from the shelter. The Animal Ambassador program participation is 36 students, 3 teachers plus Camp HOPE counselors and staff annually. This program is directed and funded by the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation in collaboration with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District and Santa Maria Kiwanis Club.