Hands on Museum - group of children that are visiting the Gray Fossil Site

Summer Camps

Register Today for 2024 Camps!

We have added a NEW camp this year, discover more below!

Hands On! Summer Camp

Children ages 6 to 12 can explore and discover the arts and sciences in our fun and engaging weeklong summer camps. Explore coding and robotics, tie-dye a Hands On! t-shirt, dig for fossils, make a plaster cast of a fossil specimen, and much more. Camp attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the museum and the 50+ STEM/STEAM exhibits including a Guinness record holding Tesla Coil show, climbing in a 3-story Paleontology tower, exploring our Pollinator Garden, playing with blocks big and small, and more! Each afternoon includes a “campers’ choice” option where camp attendees get to choose from an extensive list of extra STEM activities and experiments, especially fun for our repeat campers.

Times:

Drop-off: 9:00-9:15am
Pick-up: 4:30-4:45pm

Weeks:

Monday, June 10^th-Friday, June 14^th
Monday, June 24^th-Friday, June 28^th
Monday, July 8^th-Friday, July 12^th
Monday, July 22^nd-Friday, July 26^th

Cost:

HODC Members $250
Non-Members $275
All attendees MUST pre-register. We are unable to accommodate walk-ups.

Ages:

Campers MUST be 6 years old by June 1, 2024, and no older than 12 years old on July 30, 2024.

All About Camp:

Check-in & Out

Check-in and check-out will occur outside of the Pollinator Garden entrance gate, located beside the doors of the main building. Please ensure your child is ready to be dropped off with a camp leader.
Please bring a valid photo ID to pick up your camper(s) every day. For the safety of your camper(s), we are only able to release campers to individuals listed on the camp registration form.
Hands On! is unable to accommodate early drop-off or late pick-up. Failure to pick up by 4:45 pm will result in a $20 fee and may result in the camper(s) being dismissed from camp without refund.

What to Expect

Included in cost: All activity and experiment supplies, Hands On! t-shirt for tie dye, supervised play and exploration time in both indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces.
Campers need to bring a NUT-FREE lunch with a drink, and two (2) NUT FREE snacks with drinks daily. We do not have the capacity to refrigerate or microwave your child’s snacks or lunch.
Please be sure to apply sunscreen and insect repellant to your child BEFORE they arrive each day. We are unable to assist your camper(s) with application with sunscreen and repellent.
ALL campers should bring extra sunscreen (we recommend spray for easy self-application), insect repellent (highly recommend DEET), a hat, a refillable water bottle, extra clothes, and extra shoes daily.

The Fine Print

Payment in full is due when you register. You will receive a full refund if you cancel at least 14 days prior to the first day of camp. If a cancellation is made less than 2 weeks in advance, Hands On! will retain a $75 cancellation fee to cover purchased materials and administrative costs.
Campers MUST be 6 years old by June 1, 2024, and no older than 12 years old on July 30, 2024. Proof of age may be requested. All campers must be able to sit in a classroom setting for an extended period of time. If it becomes evident that staff has been purposefully misinformed of a child’s age, all fees paid will be forfeited and the camper dismissed.
Parents/guardians must sign each child in and out of camp each day. We are unable to accommodate early arrivals or late pickups. Failure to pick up by 4:45 pm will result in a $20 fee and may result in the camper(s) being dismissed from camp without refund.
To ensure a safe, effective, fun, and consistent experience, parents/guardians/siblings may not accompany their camper(s) during camp.
We reserve the right to dismiss a camper based on behavior issues, aggression, foul language, or failure to follow rules and all fees paid will be forfeited. Hands On! has a zero-tolerance policy in regards to aggression, foul language, or failure to follow rules. If any behavior issues arise, all fees will be forfeited and the camper dismissed.
Please keep toys, gear, books, technology, and all other personal belongings at home. Hands On! is not responsible for lost/stolen/damaged items.
All campers must be fully toilet trained. If it becomes evident that a camper is not fully toilet trained, they will be dismissed from camp and all fees paid will be forfeited.
Hands On! reserves the right to cancel any week of camp and will fully refund fees paid in the event a camp is canceled based on attendance/registration or unforeseen circumstances.
All fees paid will be forfeited in the event of any dismissal.

Trade Up! Summer Camp

Children ages 8 to 14 can explore and discover the tools and sciences of skilled trade sectors in our fun and engaging weeklong Trade Up! Summer Camps. Experience using a variety of hand and power tools to build custom constructions, draft blueprints for scale model designs, wire a functional electrical gadget, fix the plumbing on an actual utility sink, meet with professional trade sector representatives, and much more. Camp attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the museum and the 50+ STEM/STEAM exhibits including a Guinness record holding Tesla Coil show, climbing in a 3-story Paleontology tower, exploring our Pollinator Garden, constructing with building blocks big and small, and more! Each afternoon includes a “maker’s time” when camp attendees will collaborate to build a weeklong construction project that will be displayed at Hands On! Discovery Center!