Summer Camp

Camp Explorations is a hands-on, interactive, science-focused summer camp program. Each session includes daily experiments, hands-on activities, related games, journaling and plenty of fun! There are nine different sessions covering topics such as Archaeology, Paleontology, Astronomy, Forensic Science, Zoology and much more! 

• All sessions are Monday–Friday, except the week of June 29–July 2 which is Monday–Thursday (no camp Friday, July 3).
• Lunch is supervised for those in all-day sessions. 
• After Camp Care is available following all afternoon Camp Explorations sessions.

Camp Explorations Kick-Off Days

For campers entering Y5s-5th grade for the ‘26-’27 school year.

Adventure Sessions & Little Explorer Sessions (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) - $85 per day

After Camp Care (4:00-6:00 p.m.) - $20 per day

June 10, 11 and 12:  Choose one day, two days or all three!

Kick off summer with these one-day sessions. We’ll sample popular camp activities like visiting the Planetarium, seeing the dinosaurs, and much more!

Adventure AM & PM Sessions

For campers entering 1st-5th grade for the ‘26-’27 school year.

AM Sessions (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) - $225 per AM session (6/29-7/2 is $180)

PM Sessions (1:00-4:00 p.m.) - $215 per PM session (6/29-7/2 is $170)

After Camp Care (4:00-6:00 p.m.) - $100 per week (6/29-7/2 is $80)

Please note: Discovering Dinosaurs and Solar System Safari will run the same activities in two sessions (June 15–June 19 and July 20-July 24). Detective Academy and Inventor's Workshop will also run the same activities in two sessions (July 13–July 17 and August 10- August 14). We encourage full-day campers to register for one of the two sessions, not both, to avoid repeating activities.

Adventure AM Sessions

June 15–June 19: Discovering Dinosaurs*

Go back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the world! Campers will get to explore the museum’s collection and discover the dinosaurs from Allosaurus to Velociraptor. Dig for your own fossil, learn what happened to the dinosaurs, and discover how you can still see dinosaurs today.

June 22–June 26: Fun with Physics 

Have some fun with physics! Learn about energy, circuits, force, and motion. Design and build a roller coaster, make sculpture circuits, learn about the properties of oobleck, and explore the science of sound.

June 29–July 2 (no camp on Friday, July 3): Natural Science Spectacular 

The natural sciences are all about the world around us—and beyond! We’ll explore natural science topics, including zoology, ecology, and astronomy, in the museum’s exhibits, the Planetarium, and Nichols Arboretum.

July 6–July 10: Astronauts in Training

Calling all astronauts! Explore planets, build rovers, and launch “rockets” in an out-of-this-world adventure. Test your astronaut skills with our mental and physical challenges and visit the Planetarium.

July 13–July 17: Detective Academy*

Can you crack the case? Learn some of the skills detectives use every day to solve mysteries. Decode messages, interview suspects, examine fingerprints, and more!

July 20–July 24: Solar System Safari*

Explore the planets and stars in our solar system, and discover the rest of our incredible Universe. Soar through the night sky in the Planetarium, discover a new planet, and launch your own “rockets.” Don’t miss this out-of-this world adventure!

July 27–July 31: Animal Superheroes

Uncover the secrets behind these animal “heroes.” Learn about the masters of disguise, the champions of speed and agility, and other super skills that make animals real-life superheroes. Discover their amazing adaptations like super-sight, super-strength, and super-intelligence. 

August 3–August 7: Detective Academy*

Can you crack the case? Learn some of the skills detectives use every day to solve mysteries. Decode messages, interview suspects, examine fingerprints, and more!

August 10–August 14: Best of Camp Explorations 

This week celebrates the best activities from Camp Explorations, bringing favorites from previous weeks and years. Campers will visit the dinosaurs, launch rockets, visit the Planetarium, and explore the Nichols Arboretum on campus.

*Discovering Dinosaurs and Solar System Safari will repeat their activities in the June 15–June 19 session (Discovering Dinosaurs AM; Solar System PM) and the July 20-July 24 session (Solar System AM; Discovering Dinosaurs PM). Detective Academy and Inventor's Workshop will repeat their activities in the July 13–July 17  and August 10- August 14 sessions (Detective Academy AM; Inventor's Workshop PM).

Adventure PM Sessions

June 15–June 19: Solar System Safari*

Explore the planets and stars in our solar system, and discover the rest of our incredible Universe. Soar through the night sky in the Planetarium, discover a new planet, and launch your own “rockets.” Don’t miss this out-of-this world adventure!

June 22–June 26: Outdoor Explorers 

Get outside and explore the spaces around you! Learn how to build shelters, tie knots, purify water, and track animals. Make your own compass and practice using it as you explore the university campus.

June 29–July 2 (no camp on Friday, July 3): Try It! Science 

Try a sampler of different science topics including chemistry, physics, and engineering. Activities are not repeated from other sessions, so campers enrolled in other weeks will have a great time, too!

July 6–July 10: Digging Up the Past

Unearth different eras from the past, from dinosaurs to lost civilizations, fossils to ancient Greece and Rome, and more!

July 13–July 17: Inventor’s Workshop*

Do you like to create, design, experiment, and build? This camp is for you! Solve engineering challenges with hands-on projects and bring your creations to life in this innovative camp. Do your best to build the most exciting roller coaster and the safest crash test car.

July 20–July 24: Discovering Dinosaurs*

Go back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the world! Campers will get to explore the museum’s collection and discover the dinosaurs from Allosaurus to Velociraptor. Dig for your own fossil, learn what happened to the dinosaurs, and discover how you can still see dinosaurs today.

July 27–July 31: I Dig Archaeology

Uncover clues from the past by examining ancient artifacts, using the techniques and tools of real archaeologists. Dig into the ancient civilizations of Ancient Greece, Rome, and right here in Michigan.

August 3–August 7: Inventor’s Workshop*

Do you like to create, design, experiment, and build? This camp is for you! Solve engineering challenges with hands-on projects and bring your creations to life in this innovative camp. Do your best to build the most exciting roller coaster and the safest crash test car.

August 10–August 14: “Ology” Camp

Come explore the worlds of geology (rocks and minerals), paleontology (ancient life), biology (living organisms), entomology (insects), and more. Each day, we will tackle a new “ology” with real specimens, exploring exhibits and the University of Michigan campus.

*Discovering Dinosaurs and Solar System Safari will repeat their activities in the June 15–June 19 session (Discovering Dinosaurs AM; Solar System PM) and the July 20–July 24 session (Solar System AM; Discovering Dinosaurs PM). Detective Academy and Inventor's Workshop will repeat their activities in the July 13–July 17 and August 10–August 14 sessions (Detective Academy AM; Inventor's Workshop PM).

Little Explorers AM & PM Sessions

For campers entering Y5s or Kindergarten for the ‘26-’27 school year (ages 4-5).

AM Sessions (8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) - $200 per AM session (6/29-7/2 is $160)

PM Sessions (1:00-4:00 p.m.) - $190 per PM session (6/29-7/2 is $150)

After Camp Care (4:00–6:00 p.m.) - $100 per week (6/29-7/2 is $80)

Please note: Dinosaur Explorers and Space Explorers will run the same activities in two sessions (June 15–June 19 and July 20-July 24). We encourage full-day campers to register for one of the two sessions, not both, to avoid repeating activities!

Little Explorers AM Sessions

June 15–June 19: Dinosaur Explorers* 

Calling all dinosaur lovers! Learn how to spot a dinosaur, dig for dinosaur bones, and be a paleontologist.

June 22–June 26: Ocean Explorers

Dive into ocean life to learn about fish, whales, and other sea creatures. Learn about prehistoric ocean animals, including some that lived in Michigan 400 million years ago!

June 29–July 2 (no camp on Friday, July 3): Nature Explorers

Explore the world around you by looking at leaves, trees, rocks, and animals found in nature around the museum and in your own backyard!  We will use binoculars and magnifying glasses to help us look more closely.

July 13–July 17: Water Explorers

Splash and play with water-based games, and learn about the water cycle and different animals that call water their home.

July 20–July 24: Space Explorers* 

Blast off into space as we explore the night sky and planets! Become an astronaut as you complete training and learn about life in space.

July 27–July 31: Animal Explorers 

Get ready to learn all about animals! Campers will learn about all kinds of animals that have fur, scales, and feathers.

* Space Explorers and Dinosaur Explorers will repeat their activities in the June 15–June 19 session (Dinosaur AM; Space PM) and the July 20-July 24 session (Space AM; Dinosaur PM).

Little Explorers PM Sessions

June 15–June 19: Space Explorers*

Blast off into space as we explore the night sky and planets! Become an astronaut as you complete training and learn about life in space.

June 22–June 26: Bug Explorers 

Discover the world of bugs as you crawl, fly, and wiggle through this camp. Campers will learn about the life cycles of bugs and explore the museum and museum specimens.

June 29–July 2 (no camp on Friday, July 3): Color Explorers 

Explore the world of color through nature and different animals. From rainbows to color scavenger hunts, campers will discover the magic of color!

July 13–July 17: Science Explorers 

Do you want to be a paleontologist?...A biologist?... An astronaut? This fun-filled camp is for you! Each day we will explore new science topics.

July 20–July 24: Dinosaur Explorers* 

Calling all dinosaur lovers! Learn how to spot a dinosaur, dig for dinosaur bones, and be a paleontologist

July 27–July 31: Ice Age Explorers

Travel back in time to the Ice Age! Campers will learn about Ice Age animals, including woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant sloths.

* Space Explorers and Dinosaur Explorers will repeat their activities in the June 15–June 19 session (Dinosaur AM; Space PM) and the July 20-July 24 session (Space AM; Dinosaur PM).

Middle School STEM Sessions

For campers entering 6th-8th grade for the ‘26-’27 school year.

Middle School STEM Sessions (9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) - $450 per week

Before Camp Care (8:00–9:00 a.m.) - $25 per week

After Camp Care (4:00–6:00 p.m.) - $100 per week

June 22–June 26: Microbiology Camp

Discover a world invisible to the human eye and uncover the mystery of life around you. Learn about microbes, both harmful and beneficial. Build your own microscope, do a DNA extraction, and design your own experiment to see what you can discover hiding right in front of you.

July 6–July 10: “Ology” Camp 

Dig deeper into the world of “ologies” at this camp. Explore the different fields of geology (rocks and minerals), paleontology, zoology, archaeology and more. Each day, we will tackle a new “ology” with real specimens, meeting with researchers and exploring museum exhibits as well as the University of Michigan campus.

July 20–July 24: STEMventures

Solve real-world problems through creative projects, experiments, and team-based challenges. Campers will explore topics like robotics, environmental science, and more, using cutting-edge tools and technology to build, create, and innovate.

August 3–August 7: Exploring the Cosmos 

Explore the wonders of the universe at this camp and learn about planets, stars, and black holes. Build a water rocket to launch, stargaze in our Planetarium, and view the sun through special telescopes.