Summer Camp

The Camp Explorations staff will be working hard to ensure that our camps are as safe as they can be. You and your camper(s) also have a role in protecting not only yourselves, but everyone else in camp from transmission of communicable diseases such as COVID-19. Campers must comply with applicable University of Michigan public health policies at the time camp occurs. The policies are subject to change, and we will keep parents informed.

Overview

• Face masks/coverings that cover mouth and nose indoors face coverings are recommended, but not required at camp.
  
• Camp capacities have been reduced and campers will be placed in groups of 9 or less.
• The museum will provide hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol content or greater throughout the facility. 
• All staff and campers will be required to complete a daily health screening prior to entering the museum 
• Drop-off and pick-up will be non-contact.
• Camp rooms and activities have been modified to allow for physical distancing and reduction of shared materials. 
• There will be increased cleaning and sanitizing of camp supplies and areas. 
• Food is not provided. Camp Families are responsible for packing lunch and snacks for their campers. This is a reminder that Camp Explorations is a NUT FREE camp.  Please be mindful that we have students with severe/life threatening nut allergies.

For more parent information and details on picking up/dropping off campers please visit the Camp FAQ page.

Adventure AM Sessions

For completed grades K-5
$195 per a.m. session (7/5-7/8 is $155)
8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
45 camper limit

PARTYcle Physics 6/20-6/24 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Join us for a party all about motion, sound and light! Design and build a roller coaster, explore glow sticks, and make oobleck dance!

Junior Archaeologist 6/27-7/1 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Dig into ancient civilizations, around the world and right here in Michigan. Create your own pottery and rock art. Discover the field of archaeology by participating in a mock dig and learn how archaeologists help piece together history. 

Try It! Science  7/5-7/8 SESSION FULL waitlist available
(No camp on Monday, July 4th)
Try a little bit of all the science topics! Try It! Science topics include chemistry, physics, and engineering. Activities are not repeated from other sessions, so campers enrolled in other weeks will have a great time, too!

Dinosaur Mysteries 7/11-7/15 - SESSION FULL waitlist available
Solve prehistoric mysteries with paleontology!  Use your detective skills to learn about different sizes of dinosaurs, fossils, and trackways. Learn what happened to the dinosaurs, how we know, and why we can still see their relatives today.

Astronauts in Training 7/18-7/22 - SESSION FULL waitlist available
Calling all astronauts! Explore planets, build rovers, and launch rockets in an “out of this world” adventure. Test your astronaut skills with our mental and physical challenges. Visit the museum’s Planetarium & Dome Theater.

Detective Academy 7/25-7/29 - SESSION FULL waitlist available
Can you solve it?  Learn some of the skills detectives use every day to solve mysteries. Take a visit to the University’s Police Department to see how they solve crimes. Decode messages, investigate suspects, examine fingerprints, and more as you try and crack the case. 

Adventures in Archaeology 8/1-8/5 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Uncover clues from the past as you learn the techniques and use the tools of real archaeologists. Examine ancient artifacts, analyze and record data, and discover the mysteries of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. 

Best of Camp Explorations  8/8-8/12 SESSION FULL waitlist available
This week celebrates the best activities from Camp Explorations. We bring back many of the favorites from previous weeks and years. Campers will visit the dinosaurs, launch rockets, visit the planetarium, and explore the Nichols Arboretum on campus.

Adventure PM Sessions

For completed grades K-5
$185 per p.m. session (7/5-7/8 is $145)
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
45 camper limit

Solar System Safari  6/20-6/24 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Explore the planets and stars in our wonderful solar system, and discover the rest of our incredible Universe. Visit the night sky in our new Planetarium & Dome Theater, discover a new planet and launch your own “rockets.” It will be an out-of-this world adventure!

Outdoor Explorers 6/27-7/1 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Get outside and explore the spaces around you! Learn how to build shelters, tie knots, purify water, and track animals. Make your own compass and then practice using it as you explore the university campus.

Digging Up the Past 7/5-7/8 SESSION FULL waitlist available
(No camp on Monday, July 4th)
Unearth different eras from the past, from dinosaurs to lost civilizations, fossils to ancient Greece, and more!

Animal Superheroes 7/11-7/15 
Uncover the secrets behind these master “heroes.” Learn about the masters of disguise, their speed and agility and other super skills that make them real-life superheroes. Discover their amazing adaptations like super-sight, super-strength and super-intelligence. 

Chemical Chaos 7/18-7/22 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Get ready for an explosion of science fun! Explore physical and chemical reactions, learn all about bubbles, play with slime, and discover the fizzing science of soda!

Inventor’s Workshop 7/25-7/29 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Do you like to create, design, experiment, and build? This camp is for you! Solve engineering challenges with hands-on projects and bring your creations to life in this innovative camp. Build the tallest tower and a car that can travel the farthest. 

Fantastic Fossils  8/1-8/5 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Travel back in time to discover the ancient world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. How were their fossils formed and what do they tell us?  Visit the museum’s Evolution: Life Through Time exhibit and dig for fossils. 

“Ology” Camp  8/8-8/12 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Are you fascinated with museum specimens and objects? This is the camp for you! Come explore the worlds of geology (rocks and minerals), paleontology (ancient life), biology (living organisms), entomology (insects), and more. Each day we will tackle a new “ology” with real specimens, exploring exhibits, and the University of Michigan campus. 

Little Explorers Sessions

A camp for the museum’s littlest explorers, ages 4-5
8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (a.m. sessions only)
$155 per session 
12 camper limit

Space Explorers* 6/20-6/24 
Blast off into space as we explore the night sky and planets. Become an astronaut as you complete training and learn about life in space. 

Science Explorers 6/27-7/1 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Do you want to be a paleontologist?...A biologist?... An astronaut? This fun-filled camp is for you!  Each day we will explore new science topics.

Dinosaur Explorers* 7/11-7/15 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Calling all dinosaur lovers!  Learn how to spot a dinosaur, dig for dinosaur bones and be a paleontologist.

Space Explorers* 7/18-7/22 
Blast off into space as we explore the night sky and planets. Become an astronaut as you complete training and learn about life in space. 

Dinosaur Explorers* 7/25-7/29 SESSION FULL waitlist available
Calling all dinosaur lovers! Learn how to spot a dinosaur, dig for dinosaur bones and be a paleontologist.

*Both Space Explorers and Dinosaur Explorers sessions have the same activities each week.  Please only select one week when registering for a session. 

Looking for an afternoon session for 4-5 year olds? Check out KidSport Summer Camps by the U-M School of Kinesiology.