Let your creativity expand beyond the canvas as you and your classmates design a secret hideaway through your imaginations. Work as a team to combine elements such as architecture, painting, sculpture, sound, and light to create a one-of-a-kind experience for all that enter. Explore the medium of installation art and learn how contemporary artists conceptualize, construct, and engineer artworks that take over entire rooms in the museum. Sneak into private spaces within our building and invent experiences inspired by the hidden and out-of-the-way artworks that you find.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Forts & Secret Hideaways.
A summer camp adventure 66 million years in the making! Piece together prehistoric evidence as you investigate how dinosaurs lived and why they died. Extract DNA from modern-day relatives of dinosaurs. Take a hike through the museum and nearby Schenley Park to compare today’s world to that of the dinosaurs. Build a full habitat, complete with life-size dinosaur murals, to transform your classroom into Jurassic Planet.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023.
Learn more about Jurassic Planet.
Explore the fascinating world of portraiture and learn how to capture the essence of our subjects. We'll start with the basics and draw the human face and figure. Then we'll delve into the unique personalities of animals and other subjects. With a splash of color, a touch of texture, and our own personal style, we'll bring these characters to life. Visit the galleries to discover the world of portraiture: from figurative works by Joan Brown to abstract masterpieces, we'll soak up all the inspiration we can to create a portrait.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Portraits.
Do you have what it takes to survive a disaster? Improve your survival skills as you learn about basic first aid, nutrition, and hydration. Investigate how disasters spread and find out what to do when technology breaks down. Learn the science behind our most amazing survival tool – our brains – with a real dissection on a sheep’s brain. Test your new skills on a trek to the forests of Powdermill Nature Reserve.
Day trip day to Powdermill Nature Reserve: museum pick-up at 6:30 p.m. Late afternoon snack provided. Cost of camp includes $50 activity fee.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023.
Learn more about Youth Museum Institute: Disaster Survivor.
Post-Camp is for children ages 6+.
You must have a camp registration for the same week to enroll.
Learn more about Post-Camp Week 3 (June 19-23).
Pre-Camp is for children ages 6+.
You must have a camp registration for the same week to enroll.
Learn more about Pre-Camp Week 4 (June 26-30).
Cat Woman, Spider Man, and Wolverine—amazing creatures are the inspiration for many larger-than-life superheroes! Animals and insects, both large and small, have adapted to develop incredible powers. Explore extreme abilities including super speed, super strength, and even invisibility. Learn about the most dangerous animals on the planet and what makes them so terrifying. Put your own abilities to the test in a series of friendly challenges that will build your own superhero skills!
Day trip to Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: museum pick-up at 3 p.m. Cost of camp includes $35 activity fee.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Animal Avengers.
Journey into the wonder of the natural world as an artist and explorer. Spend time in nature, sketch, draw, and travel through the museum galleries to discover how artists are inspired and fascinated by the world. Venture out to see sculptures installed around the museum, and visit Phipps Conservatory to collect textures, shapes, and colors in your sketchbook inspired by nature. Use your senses to paint, sketch, design, and transform your ideas into your own outdoor artwork.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Art Outside.
Imagine stepping into a laboratory of pure creativity where the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be amazed as you explore art stations brimming with excitement and wonder. Invent something new using diverse materials and basic engineering and explore the Art and Natural History museums to make new discoveries through close observation and art investigation.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about ArtLab.
Become a playwright, actor, and designer as you discover the ingredients of great performance. Work with your class to create a unique play concept, sets, costumes, and props all inspired by the art housed in our galleries. Immerse yourself in comedy and drama as you work towards the grand finale, a performance open to friends and family.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Center Stage.
Learn more about your favorite dinosaurs! Get an up-close look at real fossils in the exhibition Dinosaurs in Their Time. Find out where these big bones came from and learn all about prehistoric animals. Dig for replica bones like a real paleontologist, make fossil casts, and study authentic dinosaur specimens. Meet the creatures that roamed with the dinosaurs—early mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
This half-day camp keeps pace with active 4- and 5-year-olds and includes a mid-morning snack.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Dino Dig - Morning.
Become an eco-artist and let nature inspire your artistic creations! Explore patterns and colors when you see birds up close, take a dip in the stream, and navigate the forests. Create art that benefits wildlife and its habitats. Use objects found in nature to make your very own collage, boat, kaleidoscope, and more. Create your own paint with plants and minerals, weave nests like a bird, and fashion sustainable clothing. Nature is a living art gallery!
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Inspired by Nature.
Discover the similarities between fine and applied arts in this interdisciplinary camp. Dabble in graphic design as you learn how to combine color, pattern, and textures to create textiles and wall paper. Explore the decorative objects in the museum’s collection as inspiration for your own, and collaborate with fellow artists to execute floor plans and stage an interior.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Interior Design.
Enter the world of the dinosaurs as you dive into prehistoric ecosystems in the exhibition Dinosaurs in Their Time. Perform hands-on investigations with mud, rocks, minerals, and fossils. Compare the skulls and teeth of predators and prey, and learn how dinosaurs digested food. Study specimens and then predict colors and patterns of dinosaur skin. Watch your own dinosaur adaptations evolve as you make a “Me-a-saurus.”
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Land of the Giants.
Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get messy! Make mystery solutions that fizz, pop, and explode. Discover why objects glow in the dark and make fluorescent crystals. Explore the science behind the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Dive into mysteries of the mind and dissect a sheep’s brain. Learn forensic science techniques and use them to solve a museum mystery.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Mad Scientist.
Explore the varying effects of different paint mediums like acrylic and watercolor. Explore color mixing, layering and transparency as well as traditional and contemporary painting techniques. Learn all about tools and materials and discover how to use each to achieve your goals. Scour the galleries for examples of paintings that range from hyper-realistic to minimalistic and experiment with different styles to create unique artworks of your own design.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Painting Studio.
You’re invited to attend the most prestigious school for wizards in all of Pennsylvania! Transform yourself into a wand-wielding wizard and travel to a magical realm where dragons and other mythical creatures roam. Fly about the museum to discover hidden creatures, fellow magical beings, and archetypal bad guys. Conduct experiments to create colorful potions and conjure rhythmic spells and incantations. Complete your magical persona by constructing a magical wand, sculpting a companion animal, and designing enchanting costumes.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Wizard School.
Investigate healthy habitats and animal care for diverse species like bugs, lizards, and mammals. Learn about animal nutrition in the wild, and perform experiments to uncover the ingredients in dog food. Analyze the behavior of animals large and small on a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Compare animal anatomy by examining museum specimens. Try your hand at real and/or digital dissections of insects, fish, and mammals.
Day trip to Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: museum pick up at 3 p.m. Cost of camp includes $35 activity fee.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Youth Museum Institute: Vet Camp—Small Animals.
Learn more about your favorite dinosaurs! Get an up-close look at real fossils in the exhibition Dinosaurs in Their Time. Find out where these big bones came from and learn all about prehistoric animals. Dig for replica bones like a real paleontologist, make fossil casts, and study authentic dinosaur specimens. Meet the creatures that roamed with the dinosaurs—early mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
This half-day camp keeps pace with active 4- and 5-year-olds and includes a mid-session snack.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023.
Learn more about Dino Dig - Afternoon.
Post-Camp is for children ages 6+.
You must have a camp registration for the same week to enroll.
Learn more about Post-Camp Week 4 (June 26-30).