The Smithsonian Associates Presents Summer Camp at the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Associates offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination—and offer plenty of great fun—during Smithsonian Summer Camp. A wide variety of weeklong camps for children in kindergarten through ninth grade will be held Monday, June 22, through Friday, Aug. 21, 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. More than 90 camps are offered this year, with a camper-to-instructor ratio of 4:1. Camps are held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Before-camp (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and after-camp (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.) activities are also available.

New camps this year include “Musical Expressions,” where campers explore the world of music through the extensive collections at the National Museum of American History; a space camp, “Out of this World,” which allows campers to explore the solar system and learn what it is like to be an astronaut; and “Art Scientists” where campers investigate, experiment and discover how the worlds of art and science intersect and create a range of artifacts that function beautifully and delight aesthetically. Also, back by popular demand are summer camps for kindergartners. 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 are $450 for non-members and $385 for Smithsonian Associates members. Online and phone registration begins Thursday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. In-person registration at the Smithsonian Associates box office located in Suite 3077 of the Ripley Center begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. Donors to the Smithsonian Associates at the Contributor level ($300 or higher) are eligible for priority registration Tuesday, Feb. 10. 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—the largest museum-based education program in the world—produces vibrant educational and cultural programming inspired by the Smithsonian’s research, collections and exhibitions. Each year more than 750 individual programs are presented to spark creativity and excite learning in people of all ages in the Washington, D.C., area and across the country. The Smithsonian Associates, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2015, brings the Smithsonian to life through seminars, performances, lectures, studio arts classes and local and regional study tours, as well as many engaging programs for children, including performances and museum sleepovers.

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