Design your own character and immerse yourself in this Choose Your Own Adventure style experience. Travel back to the dawn of time, and see if you have what it takes to escape extinction. Work with museum experts to deepen your understanding of the driving forces behind extinction events in Earth’s past, then work with your time-traveling crew to take on challenges that will test your knowledge, reasoning skills, and teamwork.
The last day to register for this camp is June 5, 2024.
Learn more about Escape the Extinction.
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.
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.
In a galaxy far, far away… is life really that different? Compare the plants, animals, and biomes of the Star Wars universe with those of our own world. Discover what makes a tauntaun so well-suited to its habitat, and design your own out-of-this-world creature. Investigate the science of Cloud City and examine real life crystals to determine which ones would give a lightsaber your favorite hue. Don your Jedi gear—it’s time to discover the science behind the fantasy!
The last day to register for this camp is July 31, 2024.
Learn more about Star Warriors.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and more—they’ve all changed life on our planet over and over again. Discover how people and ecosystems have responded to extreme events throughout geologic time. Construct model lava flows, asteroid impacts, and volcanoes. Build a model city and put it to the test with a mega-quake-tsunami challenge.
The last day to register for this camp is August 14, 2024.
Learn more about Extreme Events.