Enjoy Summer Camps at the Museum! Camps create lasting friendships and memories through hands-on, minds-on activities and exploration. Unearth fossils, learn about different cultures and meet fascinating members of the animal world.
Camps are designed for students enrolled in grades 1-4 for the 2019-2020 school year. Nature Photography is for grades 5-6. Lep Camp is for grades 5-8. Students should dress for outdoor activities and full-day students should bring a sack lunch.
Pre-registration is required. Registration for members begins March 1 and open registration begins March 15. Registration for each week closes the Thursday before.
Drop-off
• 8-8:30 a.m. for morning and full-day sessions
• 12:30-1 p.m. for afternoon session Pickup
• noon-12:30 p.m. for morning sessions
• 4:30-5 p.m. for afternoon and full-day sessions
Registration
Registration for members begins March 1 and open registration begins March 15. Registration for each camp CLOSES the Thursday prior to the start of that camp.
For a member discount on camp fees and to be eligible for early registration, membership must be at the Household level or higher and current for this membership year. Please contact the membership coordinator at 352-273-2047 for more information.
Camps are filled in the order registration forms are received. You will be notified if your first choice(s) are not available. Waiting lists are available. Confirmation letters are emailed two weeks from receipt of registration.
A refund (minus a $25 administrative fee per child, per class) will be issued if written cancellation is received no less than 10 working days prior to the beginning of a class. Refunds will not be given for weather-related cancellations.
ONLY PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS MAY PROVIDE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WEBSITES
The Florida Museum is home to one of the world’s largest Lepidoptera collections! Investigate butterfly and moth life cycles, their role as pollinators and how they see the world around them while learning the importance of collections.
Take an imaginative journey across the desert to learn how native peoples, animals and plants survive extreme heat and cold.
June 17–21
This camp is now full for first- and second-graders. A waitlist is available. Reach for the stars! Discover planets, stars and other celestial bodies while learning about the science of astronomy and the technology used to explore the universe.
This camp is now full for first- and second-graders. A waitlist is available. Rainforests have a greater diversity of life than any other land habitat in the world. Explore stories about rain forests and the plants, people and animals that call them home. Discover their importance and how they affect people worldwide.
This camp is now full. A waitlist is available. Photography is a wonderful way to see nature in a new light. Campers in grades 5-6 learn basic photography skills to take amazing photos. (Please note: Students provide their own digital cameras.)
June 24–28
Over millions of years, water and wind can shape stone into vast caverns. Crawl into the belly of the earth to uncover cave secrets and strange animals that live in the dark.
From bats to cats and shrews to whales, mammals are marvelous and diverse! Compare characteristics, behaviors and adaptations of mammals native to Florida and from around the world.
July 8–12
How do seeds know which way is up? Why do some plants grow in trees, but not on the ground? Did you know some leaves are purple, yellow or even black? Find your green thumb in this dirt-raising adventure!
Why does your cat do that? Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Uncover why animals act the way they do and how their behavior helps them survive.
July 15-19
Crocodiles and alligators have ruled the “Gator Nation” for millions of years. Meet these creatures up-close along with snakes, lizards and turtles to find out why reptiles rule! Become a fan and cheer them into the future!
Discover life that roamed the earth long ago! Explore ancient Florida and learn about being a paleontologist.
July 22–26
Want to be an investigator? From a kitchen accident to a crime scene, learn how to gather and preserve clues, and find out how science helps solve mysteries.
This camp is now full. A waitlist is available. Ready to go outside and get dirty? Lep Camp is an opportunity for adventurous campers in grades 5-8 to experience field collection, specimen preparation and the conservation of butterfly and moth species. Join scientists from the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity for this hands-on science adventure.
Dive into another world with a virtual undersea tour. From clownfish and eels to sea stars and anemones, explore the ocean’s deepest secrets and discover mysteries of coral reefs.
July 29–Aug. 2
Who were the first Floridians? How did they live and thrive in this environment? Explore the history of the Seminole and Miccosukee who live in South Florida today.
Can you compete with Leonardo Da Vinci as an engineer? Want to design, create, imagine and invent? Delve into engineering basics and learn how it is used in daily life. Experiment with egg drops, flying machines, roller coaster design and material testing.
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NEW! The Florida Museum has partnered with Holbrook Travel to offer a Costa Rica Family Rainforest Camp for families with children ages 5-17. Find out more below or visit holbrook.travel/fmnhcamp-cr19
Help a deserving child in our community attend a Museum program. The Florida Museum offers scholarships for children in need. These scholarships are funded by donations from Members, volunteers and Museum friends like you! To make a donation and enrich the life of a child in our community, contact Kara Schwartz, kschwartz@flmnh.ufl.edu or 352-273-2047. Learn more about supporting worthwhile programs at the Florida Museum.
Disclaimer: The Florida Museum of Natural History does not consider itself to be nor hold itself out as a dependent care center for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code.