The Olympic Games just got wild! Find out who goes for the gold across the animal kingdom. Is a flea or a kangaroo better at the high jump? Would the gorilla or the fennec fox take the prize in a 100-meter dash? How would your skills stack up? Celebrate the global games by exploring habitats from the African Savanna to the Arctic Circle. Play physical games and take on friendly design challenges to see how your skills stack up to those of the animal kingdom!
The last day to register for this camp is June 12, 2024.
Learn more about Animal Olympics.
Learn all about animals and their homes as you spot critters in the forest, search for bugs in the stream, catch amphibians in the pond, and observe birds at the wetlands of the Avian Research Center. Play games to mimic how animals breathe, move, eat, and avoid predators. Get your hands dirty by creating your own nest, burrow, pond, and hive. Campers will get to screen print their own t-shirts the commemorate their time at camp!
The last day to register for this camp is June 19, 2024.
Learn more about Go Wild.
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.
Crickets and beetles and flies…oh my! Scour the stream, grounds, and Nature Center to discover Powdermill’s creeping creatures. Construct a 5-star bug hotel while learning how to protect insect habitats. Have fun with mud as you make seed bombs and search for decomposers. Build your own bug, go on a scavenger hunt, and cheer for your favorite cockroach as they compete for the title of “World’s Fastest Roach.”
The last day to register for this camp is July 10, 2024.
Learn more about Secret Life of Bugs.
Get ready to see Pittsburgh like you have never seen it before! Trek across the city by foot and Pittsburgh Regional Transit to explore Frick Park and go indoor rock climbing at ASCEND. Navigate through Pittsburgh’s kaleidoscope of cultural traditions. Learn what you can do to make city life better for all of Pittsburgh’s inhabitants. Lace up your sneakers—this is an active camp with daily hiking and public transit excursions.
Activity fee: $50
Rock Climbing with ASCEND and daily local trips: museum pick up at 3 p.m.
The last day to register for this camp is July 24, 2024.
Learn more about Youth Museum Institute: Go Pittsburgh!.
Calling all five-year-olds who are ready for a full-day camp adventure!
Grab your magnifying glass and explore the tiny world of bugs! Learn how insects move, crawl, walk, and fly. Investigate how different critters make sounds and use microscopes to take a closer look at colorful butterfly wings. Act like a bug as you participate in a “Pitts-bug Marathon” to test the speed of different insects. Venture outside to investigate insect habitats around the museum, plus build your own insect model and bug house to take home.
Hi-Fives! camps are recommended for 5-year-olds who have finished a year of full-day kindergarten or full-day childcare.
This camp is a full-day experience set at the best pace for young learners. Fascinating science experiments and nature explorations are interspersed with snacks, rest time, and active play to keep your child engaged all day. Maximum class size is 15 students with a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio.
Please note: Pre-camp and post-camp care are not available for Hi-Fives! campers. Hi-Fives! campers must be picked up by 3:15 p.m.
The last day to register for this camp is July 31, 2024.
Learn more about HiFives!: Bug Bonanza.