Multi Day Camps
New! Curiosity Keepers
Step behind the scenes as you discover how a museum really works. Meet Museum staff, handle real artifacts and specimens, and learn how exhibits come to life. Throughout the week, you will create your own cabinet of curiosities featuring a mini collection of specimens and artifacts that you have curated!
Dates:
- June 16 – June 18, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
New! Detectives Academy
Step into the shoes of a real detective at Detective Academy, where science meets mystery! You will crack codes, dust for fingerprints, analyze animal clues, and even extract DNA from strawberries. Explore the museum, conduct hands-on science experiments, and sharpen your observation and deduction skills as you work with your team.. By the end of camp, you’ll be a certified Junior Detective, ready to solve any mystery that comes your way!
Dates:
- June 23 – June 25, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- August 4 – August 6, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Digging Deep: Fossils, Rocks, & Gemstones
Uncover the treasures beneath your feet as you learn about the fascinating worlds of geology and paleontology. The camp will be packed with unique experiences from examine unique specimen from the museum’s collection, conduct interesting experiments, and create art inspired by gemstones. Use what you learn to identify your own rocks and minerals to take home. Campers will also get the chance to meet experts and learn about the Museum’s geology collection. This camp rocks!
Dates:
- Â June 16 – June 18, 9 a.m. to noon
Exploring Space
Prepare for a mission to a new, unexplored planet as you create landing gear, engineer tools, and test for life. You will learn about the planets, constellations, and space exploration. You will also get the chance to visit the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. Blast off into a great week of learning
Dates:
- Â July 14 – July 16, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Incredible Innovators
Put your engineering and creativity to the test as you complete a variety of challenges. Test your skills in our vintage arcade and create your own pizza box pinball machine. Along the way, you’ll learn how circuits work, experiment with robotics, and use found materials to invent solutions to real world problems. If you enjoy tinkering and trying new things, this camp is for you!
Dates:
- Â July 7 – July 9, 9 a.m. to noon
LEGO® Masters
Get ready to build, invent, and explore! Learn engineering principles, put your problem-solving skills to the test, and complete hands-on LEGO challenges inspired by the museum’s exhibits. You will also design and create their very own minifigure to take home, bringing your creations to life. Through teamwork, creativity, and exploration, campers will discover how imagination and engineering go hand in hand.
Dates:
- Â June 23 – June 25, 9 a.m. to noon
- July 21 – July 23, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nature’s Palette
Nature and art come together for an amazing week of exploration and creation. Explore art techniques as you create masterpieces inspired by the Museum’s Natural Science collection and nature surrounding the Museum. You will be amazed at the incredible patterns, textures, and colors you will find in the world around you.
Dates:
- Â July 7 – July 9, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Navigator Quest
Embark on a journey of exploration and imagination. You will discover the art and science of mapping as you explore the Museum, dig into our AR sandbox to learn about topographical maps, and explore artifacts. Apply the skills you have built as you create a map of your own mystical land! Join us to chart your own adventure!
Dates:
- Â July 28 – July 30, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Predator Prey- A Collaboration with the Van Andel Institute for Education
Prowl the wild world of predators and prey! l traverse both land and sea to discover how animals in different ecosystems compete in the ultimate battle for survival. Investigate the unique adaptations of predators and the clever strategies of prey by observing real-life animals, from sharks to reptiles. Through exciting engineering challenges, design and create tools or models that mimic nature’s survival techniques. Witness the balance of nature in action and discover how life thrives on our extraordinary planet!
*Please note: This camp is hosted for two days at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and two days at the Van Andel Educational Institute
Dates:
- Â July 27 – July 30, 9 a.m. to noon
New! Rapids Rangers
Embark on a journey of exploration and imagination. You will discover the art and science of mapping as you explore the Museum, dig into our AR sandbox to learn about topographical maps, and explore artifacts. Apply the skills you have built as you create a map of your own mystical land! Join us to chart your own adventure!
Dates:
- Â July 21 – July 23, 9 a.m. to noon
New! Era Explorers
Step into the past and discover what life was like in 1890s Grand Rapids! Tour the museum’s Streets of Grand Rapids exhibit, visit the print shop, pharmacy, and department store, and uncover surprising stories from long ago. Get hands-on with history as you try LEGO printmaking, craft old-fashioned creations, send messages in Morse code, and compare daily life then and now. You’ll even examine real artifacts to piece together clues about the era. If you love creating, discovering, and time-traveling adventures, this camp is for you!
Dates:
- July 14 – July 16, 9 a.m. to noon
- August 4 – August 6, 9 a.m. to noon
Family Handbook.
Every summer, the Museum offers camps for preschool through high school students. Some camps are offered each year while others are specific to the exhibits in the Museum. Some of our popular themes include: fossils, slime, LEGO®, watersheds, and space. We offer one day camps on Mondays and Fridays and three day camps from Tuesday to Thursday. We host AM (9am-12pm) sessions as well as PM (1:30-4:30) sessions. Our goal is to open up the Museum as a learning lab to inspire curiosity.
The GRPM may cancel camp with insufficient enrollment or for any emergency reason; registrants will be notified by a camp director via email and given a full refund. There are no refunds after the start of class. Campers are not enrolled until complete payment is received. The GRPM will not prorate or offer make-up days for student absences. If campers need to cancel their registration, the Museum will provide a full refund if it is two weeks or more before the start of the Camp session. The Museum will offer a 50% refund on cancellations one week prior to a scheduled Camp date. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than one week prior to the Camp’s start date.
Check in will take place on the first floor at the table set up by
the A is for Auto exhibit. This table will open 15 minutes prior to
the start of the camp session. Morning sessions start at 9am and
afternoon session begins at 1:30. Campers will check in, receive
a camp shirt, and be instructed where their classroom is by
museum staff. If another adult will be picking up your camper
from camp, inform the camp instructor so that they can make
note of the change. Doors to the camp classrooms will open 15
minutes prior to the start of camp. This ensures camp instructors
have adequate time to prepare for the best camp experience
possible.
The GRPM’s parking ramp is located behind the Holiday Inn and across the street from the Blue Bridge. The parking ramp offers a 30 minute drop off and pick up window. This will offer adequate time to drop off or pick up your camper without having to pay for parking.
Campers should bring a water bottle and a peanut-free snack for snack time. Campers are also encouraged to wear comfortable shoes to walk around the museum and participate in possible outdoor activities. Please encourage your camper to leave electronics, toys, valuables, money, and trading cards at home for safe keeping. The GRPM is not responsible for any lost items. Items that are left at camp will be brought to the security office where they can be picked up. Items left beyond the summer camp season will be donated to local charities.
Campers are required to be able to use the bathroom independently. We are not authorized to assist campers with toileting needs. If your child has health concerns or requires additional support in this area, a parent or another adult is encouraged to stay with the camper.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is committed to providing a safe and fun learning environment for all of our campers. If a camper’s behavior is disruptive or unsafe to the Camp Curious program or experience of other campers, the following steps will be taken. Disruptive and unsafe behavior include but are not limited to: bullying, inappropriate language or actions, and destruction of Museum property.
- The camp instructor will pull aside the camper to talk about the disruptive behavior and remind them of camp expectations.
- If the behavior continues, the instructor will contact a camp director. The director will pull the camper aside to discuss what has been going on in camp. The parent/guardian will also be called and informed of their campers choices and the negative impact it is having on the camp.
If the unsafe or disruptive behavior persists, the camper will be removed from the camp by the camp director and the parent/guardian will be asked to come pick up the camper.
Prior to removal from camp, staff will make every effort to
provide an opportunity for the child to be successful in the
program. If a camper’s behavior posses an immediate danger
to themselves, other campers, or staff; the camper will be
sent home immediately. Examples of dangerous behavior
include: Hitting, kicking, biting, running away from the
group, or using objects as a weapon. If a camper is removed
from camp for behavior reasons, no refund will be issued.
First aid kits are located in each classroom and throughout the museum. If a minor accident or injury occurs such as a bump or scrape, the parent/guardian will be notified at the time of pick up. If the accident or Injury is serious (head injury, excessive bleeding, broken limb. etc) the parent/guardian will be notified immediately and museum security will run an accident report. In the event that a camper needs to go to the hospital via ambulance, a staff member will accompany the child to the hospital until the parent/guardian arrives.
Camp Curious staff is not allowed to administer medication. If your camper requires an epi-pen or inhaler, make sure that your camper brings the required medication in their camp bag and inform the instructor.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is not a nut free building. We encourage campers to bring nut free snack and we will inform families at drop off if food is being used during camp for learning activities. If your child has an allergy, please communicate that with the instructor on the first day of camp.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is committed to making all guests feel welcome.
