Discover the amazing creatures living in and around your home! Explore nearby Schenley Park to look for insects, amphibians, and reptiles. Hunt for insects in leaf litter, go on a mammal scavenger hunt, and make beautiful music as part of a bird symphony. Conduct plant pigment experiments and dissect fruits and vegetables. Uncover micro mysteries using magnifiers and a video microscope.
The last day to register for this camp is June 5, 2024.
Learn more about Backyard Biology.
Search for salamanders, set up insect traps, and “fish” for microplankton on biology expeditions. Soar to new heights as you study seed dispersal. Find animals in different ecosystems on hikes through nearby Schenley Park. Investigate woodlands and streams farther afield on an extended day field trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve, the museum’s environmental research center.
Activity fee: $50
Day trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve: museum pick up at 6:30 p.m. Late afternoon snack provided.
The last day to register for this camp is June 12, 2024.
Learn more about Eco Adventure.
Blaze a trail, lead a hike, and handle live insects. Learn how to manage, conserve, and restore local habitats. Investigate wildlife in Schenley Park and venture to Frick Park by way of Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Build essential skills in emergency preparedness and hazard prevention that you can use to protect hikers and habitats. Delve into the science of forest fires, severe weather, orienteering, and more on a day trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve.
Activity fee: $50
Day trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve: museum pick-up at 6:30 p.m. Late afternoon snack provided.
The last day to register for this camp is June 12,2024.
Learn more about Youth Museum Institute: Nature Rangers.
Could you outrun a mighty T. rex? Could you stand up straight if you had a giraffe’s neck? Find out as you explore skeletal structure and locomotion in animals. Test your ideas about movement and balance, and calculate the size and speed of an animal from its footprint alone. Play physical games and take on friendly challenges to see how your skills stack up to those of the animal kingdom!
The last day to register for this camp is June 19, 2024.
Learn more about Eco Athletes.
Get ready to trek into the field! Collect plant, animal, and water samples from the forest, stream, and pond. Put your findings under the microscope, and practice identification with a scientific tool called a dichotomous key. Learn how to protect your local watershed through hands-on experiments. Discover the unique adaptations of birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals by observing living animals in nature and examining furs and skulls from museum collections.
The last day to register for this camp is July 3, 2024.
Learn more about Beginner Biologists.
Just because something is small doesn’t mean that it isn’t strong! Explore the world of critters and creatures that have mighty strength in a tiny body. Discover small animals that can survive in extremely cold temperatures, breathe through their skin, and even resist snake venom. Investigate the power of plants that starts with a tiny but mighty seed. Meet some of the museum’s small and strong animal ambassadors, plus discover tiny efforts that have big conservation impacts.
The last day to register for this camp is July 3, 2024.
Learn more about Tiny but Mighty.
What would it take to build a self-sustaining colony on Mars? Find out as you investigate life in extreme environments. Explore adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive severe droughts, unprecedented floods, deep freezes, and intense heat. Through hands-on design challenges, learn how engineers use biomimicry to create sustainable innovations.
The last day to register for this camp is July 3, 2024.
Learn more about Youth Museum Institute: Life in the Extremes.
Discover an enchanted world inside the museum and make natural connections to some of your favorite stories. Let it all go as you experiment with ice, and go under the sea to learn about the differences between fresh and salt water. Experience no worries as you learn how animals survive in their ecosystems, plus explore ways you can help make the world a better place.
The last day to register for this camp is July 10, 2024.
Learn more about Enchanted Exploration.
Discover the conservation science that happens every day at Powdermill! Hike to the Avian Research Center and create designs to protect birds from colliding with windows. Explore Powdermill Run, an exceptional-value stream, and build a model watershed. Learn easy ways to conserve water and recycle to make a big impact on the planet. Screen-print an endangered animal t-shirt as you learn about species of concern in a diverse range of habitats.
The last day to register for this camp is July 17, 2024.
Learn more about Eco Rangers.
Uncover woodland wonders as you turn over stones, explore aquatic ecosystems, and look for life under leaves and logs. Conduct a digestion experiment, and use the power of the sun to make a tasty snack. Investigate diverse biomes throughout the museum. Build a bug condo and design a cozy compost bin for worms. Use your new nature knowledge to create your own nature game.
The last day to register for this camp is July 31, 2024.
Learn more about Go Nature Go.