Pre-K & K Camps
New! Pre-K & K Camps Bundle
Sign your camper up for seven weeks of camps! With this package, campers can attend all seven camp themes this summer, from Be the Builder to Splashes, Scales & Tails.
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
Be the Builder
The GRPM is budding with construction ready to inspire future engineers and construction workers. Put your skills to the test as you use safe tools to build amazing cardboard creations in our Junior construction site. Walk away with your own personalized hat and some new problem solving skills. Let’s build!
Dates:Â
- Friday, June 19, 9 a.m. to noon
- 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.
Bug Buddies: Exploring Insects
Buzz into adventure! Campers will dive into the world of bugs by exploring the Museum’s Habitats Exhibit, where explorers will discover where insects live and how they help our world. With hands-on activities, stories, crafts and lots of learning, your little one will have a “buzzing” good time discovering the amazing world of insects!
Dates:Â
- Monday, July 20, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, July 20, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 17, 9 a.m. to noon
- Friday, July 24, 9 a.m. to noon
Dream it, Build it, LEGO® Brick
Get ready to build, create, and explore as you dive into the world of colorful bricks and blocks, where imagination is the only limit. Work on creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork as you construct towers, vehicles, and imaginative structures. Have fun and let your imagination reach new heights!
Dates:Â
- Monday, June 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, June 26, 9 a.m. to noon
- Friday, August 7, 9 a.m. to noon
Fintastic Ocean Adventures
Splash into a fun day of ocean explorations as you learn about Finny the Whale and his friend found in the deep blue seas through hands on play, fun crafts, and exciting experiments. Learn about things that float and sink and create your own boat. You won’t want to miss a drop of this Ocean Adventure!
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.
- Friday, July 31, 9 a.m. to noon
Fun with Fossils
What are fossils? What do paleontologists do? How do we learn about dinosaurs? Learn the answers to these questions and so much more as you dig up fossils, explore the museum and create fun art projects inspired by our favorite prehistoric creatures. Get ready for a dino-mite day!
Dates:
- Friday, June 19, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 22, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 22, 1:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 10, 9 a.m. to noon
S is for Space
Get ready to blast off on a cosmic adventure! Discover the wonders of the solar system through hands-on play, cosmic crafts, and imaginative explorations. Create your own space rovers and rockets as your pretend to travel across the galaxy on exciting missions. Experiment, create and imagine what life is like beyond Earth in this fun playful introduction to science and the stars.
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.
- Friday, July 17, 9 a.m. to noon
New! Splashes, Scales, & Tails
Calling all social butterflies and eager beavers! If you love animals this camp is for you! Explore some of the many creatures that call West Michigan home. Explore West Michigan’s Habitat Exhibit, examine real specimens from our collection, and create fun art projects inspired by the animals you meet. Discover the wonders of the Grand River and the critters that call it home as you explore in this amazing animal adventure.
Dates:
- Friday, July 31, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, August 3, 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, August 3, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, August 7, 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.