Summer Camps

Please complete registration by filling out the required registration forms and emergency information for each camper. These items will be sent out to participants in a separate email, linking to DMNS Camper Registration Forms in the CampDocs.com portal. Find our CampDoc Guide here.

Check out our updated Summer Camp Policies and Procedures for 2024 (Español).

Once you have purchased your camp(s), you will receive an email from CampDocs with an invitation to create a CampDoc account to them complete your CAMPER REGISTRATION FORMS. To complete your registration form, you will need information required of all State-Licensed child care programs. Each child you registered will need one form filled out, regardless of how many camps they will be attending. We encourage you to have your form completed at least one month before the camp start date to allow plenty of time for review and any necessary edits.   

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.  

If your child(ren) attend public schools in the state of Colorado, there is a good chance that we already have access to their updated immunization forms in the correct format.  We will not need immunizations from your camper(s).  If your campers are coming from out of state, or do not attend public schools, we will need this information before they can start camp.  You will be notified if we require you to submit your immunization records via your Camper Registration Form. 

Additionally, DMNS Camp staff are routinely trained in administering emergency medication relating to asthma and/or allergies; including inhalers, oral and/or topical allergy medications, and epinephrine for anaphylaxis. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact Camp Director staff to discuss all other medications that may accompany your child to camp. At least 3 weeks’ notice is required as some medications may call for additional trainings and/or medication administration delegation to meet a camper’s individual medical needs. Camp Director staff can be reached by phone at 303.370.6455.

Curriculum is designed for children entering into the grades listed for each camp. For instance, if we list a camp as a K-1 camp, it is intended for kids entering kindergarten or first grade. For full day camps, children must be at least 5 years of age on or before their first day of camp.

• A sack lunch, including a drink (Museum does not provide refrigeration) 
• Water bottle labeled with your child’s name (water bottles not labeled will be labeled with permanent marker by camp staff)
• Comfortable, closed-toe shoes (no sandals)
• Sunscreen (labeled with your child’s full name)
• Hat/sunglasses
• Sweatshirt or jacket
• Change of clothes
• Backpack or tote bag

Denver Museum of Nature & Science is not responsible for lost or stolen items and we request that personal items remain at home.

Along with a camp t-shirt, each day’s activities, and activity materials, children in full day camps will be given a snack each day. DMNS does it's best to provide dietary friendly snack options for campers that need it due to food allergies or preferences, however, you are still welcome to send an alternative snack with your child.

In the event that your child’s sunscreen is not readily available, DMNS will provide Rocky Mountain Sunscreen Sport SPF 30 if you gave permission on the Emergency Card.

This year, we will be doing Indoor Drop-Off and Pick-Up. Those dropping off will be asked to enter through the South Entrance (School Entrance). The doors will open beginning at 8:45 a.m. each morning. Guests will not be allowed to enter or walk through the main Museum before 9:00 a.m. 

Pick-Up and Drop-Off will be in the Morgridge Family Exploration Center. There will be a designated area for the dropping-off/picking-up adult, and a staff member will walk campers to/from their camp groups. 

For inclement weather instances, we may need to use an alternative indoor drop-off or pick-up location. Communication will be sent outlining changes and signage will be posted. 

To sign a camper out of camp, adults must present a valid photo ID when picking up any camper at any time.  

Drop-off will occur from 8:45–9 a.m for full day camps. If your child arrives after the scheduled drop-off time, please park and bring your child to the security desk, inside the staff and volunteer entrance near the flag pole on the north side of the Museum. A camp representative will be contacted to meet you to sign in and escort the child to the correct camp.

Pick-up runs every day from about 3:15 – 3:30 p.m.

If you are running late, please call 303.370.6455 to let us know you’re coming.

Full Day Summer Camps are offered from 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

The cost for members is $305/week and the cost for nonmembers is $335/week.

For the week of June 19 (June 17 – 21), the cost for members is $245 and the cost for nonmembers is $270.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science is not offering Early and Late care for summer camps.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80205. Directions to the museum can be found on our website at dmns.org.

Each group will be supervised at all times by trained adult educators. All educators have previous experience working with children. Throughout the week, your child may also work with Denver Museum of Nature & Science staff. 

At the beginning of the week, you will be provided with a schedule of camp activities. You can also view your camp group(s) schedule here. If you would like to know more about specific activities, please call the Children’s Programs line at 303.370.6455.

Camps may include a variety of animal dissections. Dissection are an elective activity - parent/guardians and campers may opt out at any time. 

During our Summer Camps, each group has at least 30 minutes planned to be outside. We follow Child Care Weather Watch guidelines when deciding to stay inside due to temperature, rain or other circumstances. Groups are encouraged to take advantage of nice weather and head out into City Park - this is camp, after all!

Please call 303.370.6455 or 303.370.6000 and the staff member who answers will be able to assist you and/or locate your child.

Camp staff and many Denver Museum of Nature & Science staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid and are able to deal with emergencies as they occur. Should your child need medical attention, we will follow the information provided on your Emergency Card and contact 911 if needed. Parents will be notified of any incident, regardless of its severity. If 911 is called, parents and emergency contacts will be contacted as quickly as possible.

Building Emergencies

Our staff is constantly monitoring the environment and will closely supervise children during the day of camp to ensure that all children can play, learn, and interact in a safe and fun manner. The DMNS security staff and all DMNS Science Camp staff are trained in and adhere to the DMNS emergency policies and procedures.  

In the event of emergency, we follow all evacuation (fire or power outage), call to shelter (tornado), and safe haven (active shooter) procedures as outlined in detail in the DMNS Emergency Procedures Manual. We will take extra steps to evacuate children with disabilities and special needs.  

Parents/Guardians are encouraged, if possible, to administer medication to their child outside of camp hours. If it is necessary for your child to receive prescription or over-the-counter medication during camp, your child’s physician must complete a Medication Authorization Form. Please note that any medication that needs to be dispenses can only be done on written order or by a prescription from a physician to the child’s parent or guardian, or to the camp, with knowledge and written consent of the parent or guardian. 

In order to distribute any prescription or over-the-counter medication to your child, Camp staff must have a Medication Authorization Form, an Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan and Medication Orders Form, Asthma Care Plan Form, and/or other necessary or required medical care plans/health orders a minimum of two weeks prior to the start of child’s camp session. DMNS Camp staff are routinely trained in administering emergency medication relating to asthma and/or allergies; including inhalers, oral and/or topical allergy medications, and epinephrine for anaphylaxis, as listed on the forms mentioned.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact Camp Director staff to discuss all other medications that may accompany your child to camp. At least 3 weeks’ notice is required as some medications may call for additional medical care plans/heath orders, as well as trainings and/or medication administration delegation to meet a camper’s individual medical needs. Camp Director staff can be reached by phone at 303.370.6455.

Upon review of any submitted medication information and/or forms, it may be necessary to meet with the parent to develop a Health Plan.

Medication must be kept in the original container and must match doctor authorized forms to be accepted. Prescription medicine containers must bear the original pharmacy label that shows the prescription number, name of medication, date filled, physician’s name, child’s name, and directions for dosage.  Children without approved medical forms or with medicines, epinephrine injectors, or inhalers that do not match authorization forms and doctor approvals, or who have expired medicines will not be allowed to attend camp until forms and medicines match and are approved by a camp director or nurse. 

If you have additional question around medications at camp, please call 303.370.6455.

All sales are final. The Museum has a “no refund” policy. Full refunds will be given only if the Museum cancels a camp.

Exceptions can be requested in the case of death in the family, severe illness or for required quarantine due to COVID-19.

Camps may be transferred by contacting Guest Services, 303.370.6000, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Please feel free to contact the camp director team at 303.370.6455 with any concerns about your child’s experience at Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Summer Camps. If you wish to file an official complaint, please contact the Colorado Department of Early Childhood; 710 S. Ash St., Denver, Colorado; 80246; 303.866.5958.

When registration for our summer camps opens to members, we will be using a registration queue. To prepare for these camps, all guest will experience a virtual queue to enter the web store. This queue allows us to better manage traffic flow and minimize the rush of everyone shopping at once. One thing the queue will not change is that camp registrations are still available first-come, first-served, and not guaranteed.

How the queue works:

1. The queue waiting room will open at 9:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m. you will be placed in a pre-queue waiting room.
2. When the sale begins, the queue will open and you will be randomly assigned a place in line for access to the web store, ticketing, and account login.
3. Once it is your turn, log into the webstore using your email and password. Camps will be found under the Summer Camps menu.  Select your camp spots and proceed to check out. Please note, Summer Camp is in high demand, and therefore registrations are first-come, first-served, and not guaranteed.

For a smoother shopping experience, we recommend…

• Confirm you can successfully Log In to your online Museum account and see member priced tickets prior to registration day.
• Don't have an account? Create one using your member number and last name. Call Guest Services at 303-370-6000 if you require assistance in getting your web store account set up.
• Make sure that your membership will be active through the summer start date of your camp(s).
• Have your camper(s)’ first and last name, date of birth, and the email of the parent/guardian responsible for Camper Registration Forms ready!
• While you are in the queue, your spot will be automatically and frequently refreshed, so please do not refresh, close, or leave the page. When it is your turn, you will gain access to the web store, ticketing, and account login.