summer camps

Find out more about Summer Camps on our home page, including:

  • At-A-Glance (Español)
  • Policies and Procedures (Español)
  • Scholarship Flyer (Español)
  • Medication Forms
  • Registration open dates and links
  • Plus more 

Campers must be at least 5 years old on or before the first day of their registered camp, and entering Kindergarten or grade 1 in the fall following the summer of their attendance.

Fossil Finders

CAMP DESCRIPTION
Kindergarten & 1st grade

Travel back in time and learn how life has changed over billions of years. Visit Prehistoric Journey, study and “dig” for fossils, and compare rocks from different geologic times.

Viaja al pasado y aprende cómo la vida ha cambiado a lo largo de miles de millones de años. Visita “Prehistoric Journey”, estudia y "excava" fósiles, y compara rocas de diferentes tiempos geológicos. 

WEEK OVERVIEW
Daily schedule subject to change

Monday: FOSSILS/PALEONTOLOGY/GEOLOGY 

  • Question of the Day: Who studies fossils and what can fossils tell us?
  • Museum Exploration: Visit the Schlessmann Earth Sciences Lab window to see how fossils are taken care of.
  • STEAM Challenge/Exploration: Become a paleontologist and excavate fossils as a “Dino Detective.”

Tuesday: A WALK THROUGH TIME

  • Question of the Day: How do we put things in order of when they happened using fossils?
  • Museum Exploration: Take a walk-through time and the fossil record in Prehistoric Journey.
  • STEAM Challenge/Exploration: Organize a timeline by examining our own day and how time passes.

Wednesday: BEFORE DINOS

  • Question of the Day: There was an ocean here?! What fossils do we find that are older than dinosaurs?
  • Museum Exploration: See the different kinds of formations that rocks can take in Coors Gems and Minerals hall.
  • STEAM Challenge/Exploration: Discover how an ammonite becomes a fossil.
    **INFINITY THEATER

Thursday: DINO DAY

  • Question of the Day: How do we know there were different kinds of dinosaurs?
  • Museum Exploration: Birds of the Americas and Northern & Rare Birds diorama halls to find variations in similar animals.
  • STEAM Challenge/Exploration: Build our own paper plate-o-saurus.
    **GATES PLANETARIUM

Friday: AFTER DINOS

  • Question of the Day: What is the ice age, and how did animals survive it?
  • Museum Exploration: North American Wildlife and Bears & Sea Mammals diorama halls to see how animals can survive in extreme cold.
  • STEAM Challenge/Exploration: Excavate our own frozen ice age animal.
    **FRIDAY FUN

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

  • On their first day of camp, your camper will receive a camp t-shirt. We request that all campers wear their camp shirts and closed-toe shoes that are comfortable and good for walking each day. We recommend bringing a water bottle and require that our campers bring a sack lunch.
  • We will be playing in the park. Please be sure your camper is prepared to be walking, playing and exploring in the sunshine!
  • The camp day begins at 9:00 a.m. Outdoor check in will be held on the south side of the Museum and staff will be there to direct you. 
  • Indoor check out will begin at 3:15 p.m., in the Southeast Atrium in front of Gems and Minerals.
    • Please have your photo ID ready to keep the process moving quickly.
    • Please be sure to add everyone who may be picking up your camper in your child(ren)'s Trusted Contacts in CampDoc.
  • To ensure that your child has a great experience at camp and for their safety, any Camper Registration Forms not submitted for review or confirmed as “Approved” by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science two weeks prior to the upcoming registered camp date will have their camp registration for the purchased week forfeited without refund. The purchaser of the camp will be asked to provide the email of the individual responsible for the completion of any and all registration forms. 
    Log into CampDoc Here
  • Campers must be at least 5 years of age by the date of their camp week. 
  • Children registered for the DMNS Science Day Camps must be toilet trained and able to use the bathroom on their own. Museum staff will not diaper children. If children are unable to use the restroom on their own, they will be sent home and can return when they are able to do so on their own.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

If you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch, you may qualify for a scholarship that covers 50% or 100% of your camp fees. Call to learn more and to see if you qualify at 303.370.6000

Scholarship registrations: 
Scholarship spots are set aside ahead of time from general camp registration spots. Scholarships are limited and availability is not guaranteed.

Qualify for a scholarship? Call Guest Services at 303.370.6000, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For On Sale Dates, please check the Summer Camp Home Page.

*Please be aware that we can experience higher than normal wait times on our phone lines in regards to DMNS camps, and we ask that you are patient as we work to provide a great experience for all guests.

Scholarship spots are funded by generous Museum donors. Thank you, donors!

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