Youth Summer Camps 2026
Outdoor Discovery Day Camps:
Join us for nature adventures in summer 2026.
Our camp age groups are as follows:
- Pre-K – Kindergarten*
- 1st – 2nd Grade
- 3rd – 5th Grade
*4 and up: Must be 4 years of age BEFORE May 8th. Must be able to use the restroom independently and without accidents.Â
The Montana Natural History Center will offer 11 weeks of camp this summer. Five of our themed weeks will run twice, while one special themed week will be offered as a one-time experience.
Camps run from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Before and aftercare is available for free for those who need it (no extra charge, no additional registration) from 8:30-9:30 a.m. & 3:30-5:30 p.m.
See camp descriptions and registration information below.
Outdoor Discovery Day Camps run all summer long between June 8th – August 21st.
Group size is limited to 13 campers and 2 counselors.
Our summer camps participate in a wide range of nature-based activities. Your child can expect to be outside every day. We take time to explore natural areas from the perspective of a naturalist: a scientist, artist, and writer. Kids can expect to learn a lot while having fun!
Depending on your preferred camp, field trips include:
Traveler’s Rest
Butterfly House
Beavertail Pond
Milltown Park
Council Grove
Greenough Park
Jocko River Trout Hatchery and MORE!
Cost: $385 for members, $405 for non-members per camp.
MNHC Middle School Camps:
We are running two camps for middle school students this summer!
Naturalist In Training: July 6-10 (co-ed)
Get ready for a week of exploring, discovering, and becoming a Naturalist in Training! Participants will dive into hands-on field investigations, learn how to identify plants and animals, explore the outdoors, and practice real scientific observation skills. Modeled after the Master Naturalist Program at MNHC, this experience introduces participants to the skills and mindset of real naturalists. Along the way, they’ll work as a team, take on leadership roles, and solve real-world challenges while building a deeper connection to Montana’s amazing ecosystems through fun, immersive, and unforgettable experiences.
Highlights include:
- Sharpen observation skills while learning to identify various tracks, bird calls, insects, and native plants
- Explore what it truly means to be a naturalist
- Build knowledge of the natural world through hands-on learning
- Design and lead their own mini project at the end of the week to showcase what they’ve learned
STEEM (Science, Technology, Environment, Engineering, Math): August 3-7 (girls/nonbinary)
Participants will dive into citizen science through hands-on experiments, data collection, and creative projects. This program encourages curiosity, teamwork, and critical thinking as they investigate real-world scientific questions and explore how Montana’s natural and human-made systems work.
Highlights include:
- Investigate river health by identifying macroinvertebrates
- Search the Clark Fork for invasive mussels
- Discover native plant species and learn how to care for them
- Explore the natural world alongside citizen science professionals
- Participate in a hands-on week of discovery, data collection, and outdoor adventure
Middle Schools Camps run 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $345 for members, $365 for non-members per camp. Â
Our Outdoor Discovery Day Camps are now American Camp Association Accredited!
As camp professionals, we understand that your biggest concern is for the safety of your child. We also know you have goals for your child’s development related to the powerful lessons the camp experience provides in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living. We share those same goals, which is why we have taken the added step of becoming an accredited camp through the American Camp Association (ACA).
ACA accreditation serves as an assurance to families that our camp cares enough to submit to a transparent, thorough review of our entire operation. Our goal is to provide parents with as much information about our camp, to reassure you about your camp choice. Our voluntary participation in the professional development and accreditation process of the American Camp Association demonstrates our commitment to providing you and your child with the best possible camp experience.
Summer 2026 Dates and Themes - Click on the bar to expand
Nature Detectives
DATES: June 8-12 & July 20-24
Step into a week of discovery as campers become Nature Detectives, uncovering the hidden stories of the outdoors. Through explorations, hands-on investigations, and creative activities, young adventurers will build their curiosity, deepen their understanding of local ecosystems, and connect with the natural world in meaningful ways.
Water Wonders
DATES: June 15 – 19 & July 27 – 31
Make a splash in Water Wonders, a week dedicated to the science and wonder of all things aquatic! Campers will explore rivers, ponds, and wetlands as they experiment, investigate water habitats, and discover the creatures and forces that shape them. Perfect for curious kids who love to get their feet wet.
Ancient Adventures
DATES: June 22 – 26 & August 3 – 7
Travel back in time to uncover Montana’s prehistoric past! Campers will dig into the era of Ice Age mammals, enormous glaciers, and dramatic floods. Through outdoor activities and hands-on exploration, they’ll reveal the ancient forces and creatures that once shaped our landscape.
Solar Safari
DATES: June 29 – July 3 & August 10 – 14
Blast off for a cosmic journey on the Solar Safari! Campers will investigate the power of the sun, explore planets and stars, and learn the cultural stories behind the constellations. With experiments, crafts, games, and sky-watching, this week brings space science down to Earth in a playful, imaginative way.
Bugs, Birds, & Beasts
DATES: July 6 – 10 & August 17 – 21
From insects to raptors to mammals on the move, this camp dives into the incredible diversity of Montana’s wildlife. Campers will track animals, explore habitats, listen for birds, and discover how different species survive in the wild. Outdoor adventures, games, and nature crafting make it a lively week of close-up wildlife encounters.
11th Week Special: Montana Mythbusters
DATES: July 13 – 17
Do bears really love honey? Can plants move on their own? Can birds really predict storms? Are these tall tales or true facts? Campers will put common nature myths to the test as they experiment, explore, and investigate the strange and surprising claims found in the natural world. From weather lore to animal behavior, this camp blends curiosity, creativity, and science to find out what’s real, and what’s just a good story.
Click on the links below to read more about the 2026 summer camp season!
Apply for a 2026 Summer Camp Scholarship
The 2026 scholarship window has closed.
Scholarship Timeline
MNHC 2026 Scholarship Schedule
January 5th: Scholarship applications open up.
February 5th: Scholarship application window closes.
January 16th: Early scholarship beneficiaries will be informed of their scholarship.
January 19th @ 9 AM: Early registration for scholarship beneficiaries opens. During this week, scholarship families have the ability to register for camps before registration is open to the general public.
February 2nd @ 9 AM: Registration opens to members. Scholarship families can still register, and each camp will reserve limited spaces for scholarship beneficiaries for another week.
February 9th @ 9 AM: Registration opens to the general public. Scholarship beneficiaries can still register, but scholarship spots will no longer be reserved, and there is a chance your preferred camp might be filled.
**We will be offering a camp t-shirt with registration, if you would like to purchase one for $25.00.
Registration Information
Quick tips for an easier registration:
Navigate to the “Summer Camp Dates & Descriptions” tab above to plan your camp schedule.
Some camp themes are repeated; we don’t recommend signing up for two sessions of the same camp theme.
Renew your membership! MNHC members receive a discount on each camp. Click here to become a member today!
MNHC members also receive early access camp registration. Registration for members open February 2nd at 9:00 a.m. Registration for general public opens February 9th.
Full payment will be due upon registration.
Give us a call if you have any questions or need help setting up your account: 406.327.0405.
More details about 2026 Summer Camps:
Our registration system requires you to create an account for your family and you’ll need to add each child individually. Add each of the campers you plan to register to your account in advance so you will be ready to sign them up on registration day. You may also want to set up your payment method to speed up the registration process. You will use the same link on our website to register for camps at 9:00 AM on February 9th.
Camps can fill quickly on registration day. If you don’t get a spot in the camp you want, you should add yourself to our online waitlist. We highly recommend adding yourself to the waitlist if the camp you want is full. Camp spots often open up.
Camp Notes
Parents are saying great things about MNHC summer camps!
“She came home happy every single day and enjoyed being outside. She enjoyed learning about insects and their environments and got very excited about the “Save the bees” project.”
“[My child]Â had lots of information at the end of the day and was excited to tell me what she learned. She was also tired, so I know she was busy and engaged.”
“This is our first one but I’m going to try and book as many as I can for next summer- she had such an amazing time, and was itching to go to camp every day”
“He had such a good time, and we loved seeing and hearing about what he was up to. Definitely our favorite of the camps he’s done this summer.”
“Both kids had a wonderful time. The staff was friendly and kind, the flexibility with before and after care is so nice. Field trips are the best!”
“He always has fun adventuring and playing games and doing crafts. The staff is so terrific and engaging with the kids, and make him feel safe and comfortable.”
Field Trips and Activities:Â Our summer camps participate in a wide range of nature-based activities. Your child can expect to be outside every day. We take time to explore natural areas from the perspective of a naturalist: a scientist, artist, and writer. Each camp will also include games and time for play in the outdoors, which research shows is important for children. Kids can expect to learn a lot while having fun!
All summer camp groups will take field trips using our activity buses. Preschool camps can expect to stay in town for field trips but 1st-5th grade camps may travel as far as the National Bison Range, Seeley Lake, or Rock Creek. All buses are equipped with safety belts, and staff are trained, have passed required certification tests, and are evaluated for safe driving. One of our buses has a lift to accommodate wheelchair users. Specific field trip and activity information will be provided for you on your first day of camp but you may contact us with questions.
A parent or guardian will be asked to sign a release form and provide emergency contact information before camp starts. Participants are responsible for following camp safety rules and procedures.
Refunds:Â Program fee is refundable ONLY if a cancellation is made 30 days before the start of camp, minus a non-refundable administrative fee of 25% the program fee per camp. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. Membership fees are non-refundable.
Montana Natural History Center trips are permitted on the Lolo National Forest (Clause VII.B).
Montana Natural History Center is an equal opportunity service provider.
MEET THE SEASONAL NATURALISTS
Kayla Heinze (she/her)
Seasonal Naturalist
Inspired by the bald eagles of her childhood home in Minnesota, the maple trees of her grandmother’s Wisconsin farm, the salmon of her grandfather’s cabin in Alaska, and countless other creatures, Kayla works in environmental education to reciprocate the gifts of nature and share her awe for our ecological communities. Having studied philosophy, biology, and journalism at Occidental College in California, she is interested in helping people of diverse ages and backgrounds better understand their relationships with the landscapes they live, work, and play on. Following college, Kayla moved to Missoula to work at the conservation nonprofit Vital Ground, assisting with their outreach efforts across the region. She has gotten to know this incredible place through running, backcountry skiing, fly fishing, and foraging. When reluctantly trapped indoors she writes poetry, cooks, and occasionally attends hot yoga.
Abby Main (she/her)
Seasonal Naturalist
Raised in Western Washington, Abby is a lover of rivers, books, roasted vegetables, and walking slowly in the forest. Growing up in and around the Cascades and Salish Sea, she witnessed the agency, awe, and curiosity that living closely with place allows. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Whitman College, where she also studied Creative Writing. During those years she began working in outdoor education, first in the oak chapparal of Northern California and then in Grand Teton National Park with Teton Science Schools. She delights in examining the ways we relate to one another and the more-than-human world and is thrilled to build community at MNHC.
Pam Murcia (she/her)
Seasonal Naturalist
Pam grew up immersed in the oak forests of Eastern Iowa where she grew her love for being a steward of the environment. She moved to Missoula in 2022 to pursue a B.S. in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management and Environmental Science and Sustainability focusing on resource conservation from the University of Montana. She spent the last three summers in Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks studying visitor behavior to better understand human interactions with outdoor spaces. With newly found passions in the overlap of social and natural sciences, Pam is excited to educate the next generation on the importance of environmental stewardship. Aside from her passion for the outdoors, Pam is an avid baseball and college basketball fan and loves playing guitar.
Emily Pence (she/her)
Seasonal Naturalist
Emily grew up in Southern Ohio, spending much of her childhood exploring the woods of Appalachia Ohio. After visiting Glacier National Park in 2014 she knew she wanted to spend her days advocating for public lands and those who recreate on them. After graduating high school in 2018, Emily moved to Northern Wisconsin and obtained a B.S in Outdoor Education from Northland College in December 2023, knowing she wanted to not only continue advocating for land and the people recreating on it but to continue to foster a sense of place and belonging through an outdoor education standpoint. After spending her whole life in the midwest she is beyond ready and excited to be making the move to Missoula!
Elisa Spencer (she/her)
Seasonal Naturalist
Elisa’s hometown is Louisville, Kentucky, but she moved to Montana for the Wildlife Biology program at the University of Montana from Silver Spring, Maryland. Recently, she was listed on the President’s and Dean’s list, and she is most proud of the work she has achieved as a Learning Assistant in the Introduction to General Chemistry course. Elisa grew up in nature and knew she wanted to work with wildlife as a professional career at a very young age. She was a teen volunteer at the Louisville Zoo, and a decade later she became a seasonal zookeeper where she worked with marine mammals (grizzly bears, polar bears, seals and sea lions, and a red panda!). She still spends her free time in nature but when she is inside, she loves to read books and keep cozy next to her black cat, Appa!
Priya Subberwal (they/them)
Seasonal Naturalist
Originally from the high alpine Rockies in Colorado, Priya is a lifelong nature nerd who grew up sniffing ponderosa bark and watching mountain creeks gurgle. After moving out to Montana in 2022 to get their Masters in Environmental Studies, Priya has spent the last few years farming, teaching, and organizing local community art nights and nature walks. With a background in writing, the arts, and science communication, Priya loves building connections between humans and their ecologies. They have a passion for place-based learning, a deep love of slimy things, and a wily dog who’s always roaming around in the woods with them.