Second and Third Grade Summer Camp Sessions

Nature Explorers 

Partner Camp with Red Butte Garden

Join us for a week of nature explorations! In the morning, campers will come to the Natural History Museum of Utah to investigate the animals and insects that call Utah home through excursions in the foothills around the Museum. We’ll also spend time learning to use the iNaturalist app as we become Citizen Scientists! Afternoons will be at Red Butte Garden, where campers will explore several ecosystems and habitats, becoming familiar with native plant species and examining food chains. To make things easy on parents, drop off and pick up will take place at Red Butte Garden and they will be walked by staff to and from NHMU. There is no camp on Friday. 

NOTE: Registration through Red Butte Garden website only. 

Week 1 | June 10 – 13 | 9:00am – 4:00pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

Dinosaurs Past & Present

Partner Camp with Tracy Aviary

Join us for a week of exploration! While at the Natural History Museum of Utah on Monday and Tuesday, campers will delve into the science of paleontology, discovering how fossils are formed, where we find them, and meeting some of the people who prepare and study fossils at the Museum. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent at Tracy Aviary, exploring the dinosaurs that live among us today—birds! Find out what makes a bird a bird and discover the amazing adaptations that allow them to live in diverse environments across the globe. Drop off and pick up will take place at NHMU on Monday and Tuesday and at Tracy Aviary on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 2 | June 24 – 27 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

Engineering Through Time

Let's go on a journey through time, discovering ancient and modern engineering marvels. Campers will spend 3 full days at NHMU investigating, designing, and building models of structures that have wowed architects and engineers for years. We will travel to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, China, Panama, and Rome to understand writing and record keeping as well as aqueducts, canals, and bridges. Lasting structures like the pyramids, the Parthenon and Stone Hedge as well as baskets and textiles will also be on the docket. This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Wednesday. No camp on Thursday or Friday.

Week 3* | July 1 – 3 (*M-W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $260 | Session is Full

Week 9* | August 12 – 14 (*M-W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $260 | Session is Full

Adventures in Science

Partner Camp with Camp Kostopulos

Let’s explore! Monday and Tuesday will be spent at the Museum, investigating forensic science—from analyzing handwriting and fingerprints to extracting DNA, examining microbes, and identifying unknown chemicals. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent at Camp K, exploring exciting science topics while conducting experiments to learn about the outside world. Students will also participate in additional outdoor experiences like rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and spending time with the horses. Drop off and pick up takes place at NHMU on Monday and Tuesday and at Camp K on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 4 | July 8 – 11 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

Rock & Roll, Museum-Style

Calling all rockhounds...have we got a great camp for you! Our week will be loaded with geologic investigations from volcanoes and earthquakes to the rock cycle, erosion, and tectonics. We’ll also spend some time diving into fossils and ancient ecosystems. We may even get the inside scoop on new dinosaur discoveries with tours of our Paleo Lab and collections areas. This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 4 | July 8 – 11 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

Engineering and Minecraft with LEGO®

Partner Camp with Play-Well TEKnologies

For kids who love to build! Monday and Tuesday will be spent with Museum staff, exploring simple machines, mechanisms, and structures as they build projects like merry-to-rounds, catapults, and go-carts utilizing LEGO® education kits. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent venturing into the world of Minecraft with Play-Well staff. Campers will build a base and craft tools while harvesting raw resources and battling to stop the Ender Dragon from ending the world! Please note that students will take apart all LEGO® creations at the end of the session and will not keep any of the LEGO® bricks. This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 5 | July 15 – 18 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

Planetary Detectives

Partner Camp with Clark Planetarium

Journey through the galaxy and explore the mysteries of our solar system. Monday and Tuesday will be at NHMU, investigating the powerful processes that sculpt our Earth from weathering to the water cycle. We’ll explore soil science, investigate rocks and minerals, and create volcanoes and earthquakes. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent at Clark Planetarium with campers learning about the planets, stars, and constellations while enjoying other spaced-out projects and activities including an IMAX, Dome, and Science on a Sphere show. Drop off and pick up takes place at NHMU on Monday and Tuesday and at Clark Planetarium on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 7 | July 29 – August 1 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full

The Science of Color & Art

Partner Camp with Visual Art Institute

Join us as we explore the intersection of art and science. Monday and Tuesday will be spent at NHMU exploring color through the lens of biology, chemistry, and physics. From learning about eyesight and understanding camouflage to finding out what colors absorb more heat, why Mars has a red-hued atmosphere, and why the sky turns red at sunset and sunrise—these are just a few of the questions we’ll investigate. Wednesday and Thursday will have campers at the Visual Arts Institute engaging in diverse art forms like sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and painting. Campers will make their own modeling clay, understand sculpting tools, experiment with cyanotype photography, discover color combinations in printmaking, and even create creatures by studying animal skeletal structures. Drop off and pick up takes place at NHMU on Monday and Tuesday and at the Visual Arts Institute on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 8 | August 5 – 8 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $345.50 | Session is Full