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

2026 Summer Camps

Hands On! S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp

Children ages 5 to 13 can explore and discover the arts and sciences in our fun and engaging weeklong S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp. Each day will focus on the exciting and educational exploration of one the letters in S.T.E.A.M.-Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Camp attendees will also have the opportunity to tie dye a Hands On! tee shirt as well as explore the museum and the 30+ exhibits including a Guinness Record holding Tesla Coil show, climbing in a 3-story Paleontology tower, and exploring our Pollinator Garden! Space is VERY limited to ensure safety, register early to secure a spot.

Times:

Drop-off: 9:00am
Pick-up: 4:45pm
- Hands On! is unable to accommodate early drop-off or late pick-up outside of the designated regular camp times. We open drop-off promptly at 9:00am, and no earlier. We recommend arriving between 4:30 and 4:45pm for pick up. Failure to pick up by 4:45 pm will result in a $25 fee per instance, and must be paid prior to reentry to camp the following day. Failure to pick up may result in the camper(s) being dismissed from camp without a refund.

Weeks:

• Monday, June 15th – Friday, June 19th
• Monday, July 13th – Friday, July 17th

Cost:

HODC Members $225
Non-Members $250

Ages:

Campers MUST be 5 years old by June 1, 2026, and no older than 13 years old on July 31, 2026.

*** See General Camp Information at the bottom of this page for additional details, requirements, and policies related to Hands On! S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp. ***

Paleontology Summer Camp

Only at Paleo Camp can children ages 6-13 visit an active fossil dig site and have the opportunity to dig daily to search for the next great fossil find at Gray Fossil Site. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the fossil site, preparatory lab, and collections room, and discover your inner scientist. Additional activities include deeper exploration of geosciences, life sciences, and general sciences. Camp attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the museum and experience a private showing of HODC’s Guinness World Record-setting Tesla Coil Show and tie dye a Hands On! Discovery Center t-shirt. Space is VERY limited to ensure safety, so register early to secure a spot.

Times:

Drop-off: 9:00am
Pick-up: 4:45pm
Late pick-up is available between 4:30 and 5:30pm.
- Hands On! is unable to accommodate early drop-off or late pick-up outside of the designated regular camp times. We open drop-off promptly at 9:00am, and no earlier. We recommend arriving between 4:30 and 4:45pm for pick up. Failure to pick up by 4:45 pm will result in a $25 fee per instance, and must be paid prior to reentry to camp the following day. Failure to pick up may result in the camper(s) being dismissed from camp without a refund.

Weeks:

Monday, June 1^st-Friday, June 5^th, 2026
Monday, June 29^th-Friday, July 3^rd, 2026
Monday, July 27^th-Friday, July 31^st , 2026

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, 2026, and no older than 13 years old on July 31,2026.

*** See General Camp Information for additional details, requirements, and policies related to Paleontology Summer Camp. ***

General Camp Information

Registration

All attendees MUST pre-register a minimum of two weeks in advance and payment is due in full at time of registration. We are unable to accommodate walk-ups.

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 outside of the designated regular camp times. We open drop-off promptly at 9:00am, and no earlier. We recommend arriving between 4:30 and 4:45pm for pick up. Failure to pick up by 4:45 pm will result in a $25 fee per instance, and must be paid prior to reentry to camp the following day. Failure to pick up may result in the camper(s) being dismissed from camp without a refund.

What to Expect

Included in cost: All materials and supplies for activities and experiments, play time in the museum, a Hands On! tee shirt that can be tie dyed.

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.

Parents/Legal guardians must submit a completed Release and Liability Form before their camper is allowed to participate in any of the programs or activities associated with Trade Up! Summer Camp.

Campers MUST be the designated minimum age of the camp old by June 1, 2025, and no older than the designated maximum age on July 30, 2025. 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 in person and in the building.

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.

General Health

If your child is exhibiting signs of ANY illness, please keep them at home. Campers who develop signs of illness while at camp will be sent home. Hands On! has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any individual exhibiting symptoms of a potentially spreadable illness.
Symptoms include (but are not limited to): fever, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, coughing, excessive congestion or runny nose, sore throat, unexplained rash, or excessively watery eyes (not related to allergies).
Campers may return 48 hours after their symptoms are resolved.
Prorated refunds will apply if a camper has to miss due to illness or the camper may reschedule for a different week of camp at no additional cost, subject to availability.