Registration is now open for museum members and the general public!
Online registrationis preferred, but you may register in person at the ticket desk, online, or by phone: 309.863.3069.
We no longer offer discounts outside of our member price and multiple sibling discount $10 off per additional child. To receive the multiple child discount, please register either in person or over the phone.
We offer SEVEN exciting weeks of Summer Camp!
June 8-12 | "Creatures of Light" - Ready, Set, Glow!
June 15-19 | Engineering Marvels, Now + Then
June 22-26 | Game On!
July 13-17 | Science of Pop Culture
July 20-24 | Color Olympics
July 27-31 | Curate Your Own Exhibit!
August 3-7 | Forensic Science - The Verdict Is In! Teen Week!
Yes, once you have registered for camp a confirmation packet with further paperwork (i.e. medical release form, camper agreement, and media release form) and helpful reminders will be emailed to you. Please be sure to provide your email address at registration as confirmation packets will not be mailed unless specifically requested.
Payment in full is due at the time of registration.
After care is offered at a flat rate for the week $50 and may be added anytime during the week. A variety of activities will be planned, and a late-afternoon snack will be provided for after care. After care runs from 4 to 5:30 pm. The museum will charge a $5 fee for every 5 minutes that a camper is at the museum before or after their designated time. After care are subject to cancellation in the case of insufficient enrollment.
Registration is available for every week of camp online, in person, or over the phone.
A nut-free mid-morning snack is provided for all campers each day. If your camper has food allergies, please consider providing an alternative snack.
Sack lunches must be provided by caregivers each day, but please note that no refrigeration, utensils, or a microwave are available.
Please remember, camp is NUT FREE! Please be considerate when packing your child’s lunch and avoid packing nuts or nut butter. Nut Free includes Peanuts, Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Chestnuts, Filberts, Hazelnuts, Hickory nuts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Walnuts
All campers are assigned to an age appropriate camp of 15 children. Themed activities are planned by the museum's staff of camp instructors. Depending on the week for which you have registered, activities range from art and science projects to visits to the museum galleries, planetarium, and Giant Screen Theater.
A 'Quick Glance' board will be located in the Auditorium during drop-off and pick-up times with general information about what your camper will be doing each day. On the first day of camp, guardians will be handed a more detailed informational sheet outlining daily activities and offering dinner-table questions to get your camper talking about all that they learned each day!
Each camper will receive one camp T-shirt at pick-up time on the first day of camp of their first week of camp. We ask that parents take the shirt home on Monday afternoon. Campers are welcome to wear that shirt the last four days of camp, however a camp t-shirt is not mandatory. Keep in mind that many camp activities/crafts are messy, so please dress your child appropriately.
Please note, t-shirts and specific sizes are not guaranteed to campers registering less than two full weeks before a camp begins.
Our camp instructors are highly motivated, knowledgeable, and talented teachers from the local community who enjoy working with kids, and strive to see learning continue through the summer.
Our volunteer assistants range from area high school students working on Service Credit Hours, to college students and adults in the community looking to give back. The volunteer assistants are assigned to a camp or a camp instructor. Each camp has a volunteer assistant who will accompany the camp throughout the day. If numbers allow, each instructor will also have a volunteer assistant who will assist the instructor in preparation for the daily activities as well as provide assistance to the campers. For more information about our volunteer program, or to apply to become a Summer Camp volunteer, please send us an email.
Parents may stay with their campers during the drop-off period. At the start of our day, we ask that parents leave their campers in the care of our camp staff. Please keep in mind that all members of the camp staff have experience and an interest in working with children. They will strive to make camp the best experience possible for your child. If your child requires an aide or helper, they may stay with your child during camp hours for no additional fee.
We prefer at least a month’s notice if you plan to cancel or withdraw from a week of camp. A full refund will be given to a camper who withdraws from at least two full weeks prior to the start of their camp, minus a $25 processing fee. A 50% refund will be given upon withdrawal less than two weeks before camp begins, minus a $25 processing fee. No refunds will be given once camp begins.
The museum reserves the right to charge a $5 fee for every 5 minutes that a camper is present at the museum before or after their designated time. If you need to pick-up your child outside of the standard times (8 am, earliest drop-off and 4:15 pm, latest pick-up), please register for after care (4-5:30 pm).
We are not authorized to give any medication. However, if your child requires an EPI pen, you will need to fill out an emergency action plan so that we may administer it in a crisis situation. Please note this special need at the time of registration.
Please note that our staff is not trained to work with children with special needs and cannot provide one-on-one care. You may opt to provide your child with a caregiver during camp (with no additional registration fee) if you wish to have your child participate in camp.
Call the Front Desk at 309.863.3069 for more info or to register.
