First through
Third Grade Camps
New! 1st-3rd Grade Camps Bundle
Sign your camper up for seven weeks of camps! With this package, campers can attend all seven camp themes this summer, from Engineering Curiosity to World of Bugs.
Select Monday mornings (9 a.m. to noon), Monday afternoons (1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.), or Friday mornings (9 a.m. to noon).
Price: $250, $200 for GRPM Members
That’s $30 in savings, or $45 in savings for members.
Single Day Camps
Engineering Curiosity
Calling all builders and makers! Flex your creativity and problem solving skills as you design your own creations and engineer solutions to problems. From recycled materials to fun toys, you will test and explore a variety of materials. You will be amazed at what you can create!
Dates:
- Friday, July 31, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, August 3, 9 a.m. to noonÂ
- Monday, August 3, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Flying High: Animal & Aviation Adventures
Soar into a day of adventure as you learn how animals like birds, bats, and insects take to the skies and discover the science behind flight. Create your own flying projects, and explore museum specimens and artifacts including the amazing Driggs Skylark. Get ready to take off on a day of soaring fun and discovery!
Dates:
- Monday, June 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
- Friday, August 7, 9 a.m. to noon
LEGO® Adventures
Use Lego bricks to test your creativity and problem-solving skills as you draw inspiration from the museum’s many exhibits. Create your own minifig to star in your creation and to take home as a memory of your camp! Join us to start building your next big idea!
Dates:
- Friday, June 19, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 22, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 22, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Make Some Noise
Explore some of the interesting instruments that are part of the Museum’s collection and learn about the science of sound. You will also get the chance to experience the museum’s largest instrument, The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ! You will also get the chance to create your own instrument. Get ready to make some noise!
Dates:
- Friday, July 17, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 20, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 20, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Underwater Mysteries
Dive into the wonders of the ocean in this fin-tastic camp. Learn about some fierce and adorable animals that call the ocean home. Chomp into some fun ocean crafts, learn about the science of the sea, and get up close to some museum specimens. Grab your snorkel and get ready to splash into a day of fun.
Dates:
- Friday, June 26, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 6, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 6, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
World of Bugs
Did you know some caterpillars are camouflaged as snakes or even bird poop? Learn all about the adaptations that help insects survive in their world. Enter the world of bugs as you learn the important role they play in our world and even the food you eat! Become a pollinator and complete fun science experiments and beautiful art projects inspired by the world of bugs!
Dates:
- Friday, July 10, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 13, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 13, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
New! Nature’s Studio
Explore the beauty and creativity that abounds in the natural world! Explore a variety of art techniques while exploring the Museum’s exhibits and specimens from the collection as well as be inspired by the beauty of the Grand River. You will be amazed at the patterns, colors, shapes and textures that are hidden all around you!
Dates:
- Friday, July 24, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 27, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 27, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Multi-Day Camps
New! Animal Super Squad
Get ready to discover amazing animal superpowers! Campers will explore the Museum’s exhibits and specimens and conduct experiments to learn how animals adapt and survive in incredible ways. You will then become your own superhero as you design your own hero and cape inspired by the incredible abilities of animals. Join us and discover your own animal superpowers!
Dates:
- July 28 – July 30, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- August 4 – August 6, 9 a.m. to noon
Builders & Makers
Get ready to innovate, build, and create as you explore the world of inventors, makers, and engineers. Put your skills to the test as you explore a variety of building materials and draw inspiration from exhibits. Enter our Junior construction site and use real (safe) tools to build your own cardboard construction creations. Let’s build your next big invention!
Dates:
- June 16 – June 18, 9 a.m. to noon
- August 4 – August 6, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fossil Hunters
Dig into the mysteries of the Earth! Fossils tell a story about our exciting geological past. Become junior paleontologists as you learn about, discover, and create fossils. In this camp, you will excavate cookie fossils, examine dinosaur poop, and investigate fossils from our museum collection. Let’s dig into a fun week!
Dates:
- June 23 – June 25, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- July 7 – July 9, 9 a.m. to noon
LEGO® Brick Adventures
Build, create, and explore as you draw inspiration from the Museum’s exhibits. Test your problem solving skills, and stretch your creativity as you design amazing creations. Each camper will also create their own minifig to take home and star in their designs. Through hands-on building challenges, teamwork, and imagination, campers will bring their ideas to life- one brick at a time!
Dates:
- June 16 – June 18, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- July 14 – July 16, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
New! Currents & Critters
Splash deeper into the world of the Grand River Habitat as you explore real museum specimens and meet our resident sturgeon. Explore the riverfront as you learn about the plants and animals that call this ecosystem home. Through hands-on exploration, art projects, and experiments, campers will uncover the wonders of the river and the amazing creatures that live there.
Dates:
- June 23 – June 25, 9 a.m. to noon
- July 7 – July 9, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Space: The Final Frontier (ALL SESSIONS SOLD OUT)
Learn about space like never before as you create models, conduct experiments, and enjoy a special visit to the Chaffee Planetarium. You will even learn how to identify stars in your backyard. Prepare to build your own spacecraft and create cool celestial inspired art projects. This week of camp will be a blast!
Dates:
- July 14 – July 16, 9 a.m. to noonÂ
- July 21 – July 23, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Time Travelers
Experience history like never before as you step back into 1890s Grand Rapids. Explore our Streets of Grand Rapids, interact with shop owners, go shopping for supplies, complete an AR mission, and create your own printmaking project. Compare the past to the present and learn how kids lived over 130 years ago!
Dates:
- July 21 – July 23, 9 a.m. to noon
- July 28 – July 30, 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.
