The Smithsonian Associates Hosts the 45th Year of Summer Camp at the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Associates offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination during Smithsonian Summer Camp, now in its 45th year. A wide variety of weeklong camps for children in kindergarten through ninth grade will be held Monday, June 23, through Friday, Aug. 15, at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center at 1100 Jefferson Dr. S.W.

During summer camp, kids explore, discover, create and go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian. Campers can blast into space, take center stage, create a masterpiece, invent a fantasy world, relive history or learn to shape the future of the planet. The rich and exciting world of the Smithsonian is theirs to discover. Camps are held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Activities before camp (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and after camp (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.) are also available.

New this year are summer camps for kindergarteners, conducted in partnership with teachers from the Smithsonian Early Education Center. The program is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of children ages 5 to 6, who are entering kindergarten or first grade in fall 2014.  Mornings include an outing to a Smithsonian museum or garden, followed by an afternoon of projects, a relaxing story time and a song session.

Prices for summer camps range from $347 to $433 for non-members and $300 to $375 for Smithsonian Associates members. Summer camp online registration begins Thursday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. Phone registration and in-person registration at The Smithsonian Associates box office located in Suite 3077 of the Ripley Center begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Donors to The Smithsonian Associates at the Contributor level ($300 or higher) are eligible for priority registration Tuesday, Feb. 11. All participants are encouraged to pre-register online. For more information, the public may visit http://smithsonianassociates.org/camp or call (202) 633-3030.

The Smithsonian Associates offers life-enriching, educational and cultural experiences inspired by the Smithsonian’s exhibitions, collections and research. Each year The Smithsonian Associates creates and presents more than 750 individual programs that deliver exceptional opportunities for learning and growth. Programs range from lectures on a multitude of topics to the performing arts for audiences of all ages, in the Washington, D.C., area and across the country.

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