Summer Science Day Camps
Registration for 2011 Summer Science Day Camps is now open! Space is limited, so register early. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is available by phone, by mail or in person. Registration is confirmed ONLY when a $50 non-refundable deposit (per camp, per child) is received. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm – 5 pm and Saturday from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Please note our registration policy; all camps are subject to minor changes without previous written notice. Scholarship forms available.
Day Camp Program Hours
Full Day Camps: Monday-Friday, 9 am – 4 pm
Before and after care is available free from 8 – 9 am and 4 – 5 pm.
Camps begin and end at MNHC, near McCormick Park, at 120 Hickory St. in Missoula. Camps include field trips to surrounding natural areas.
Click here for information on What to Bring and How to Prepare for Camp!
Cost
Full Day Camps: $175/members, $220/non-members
Hall Day Camps: $75/members, $120/non-members
Scholarships are available; please contact our office for details.
MNHC memberships can be purchased for $50 per family.
Ages
Camp themes and content are geared toward students in a specific grade range. This allows our instructors to plan activities that work best for students in those grades. Camps are designed for students entering grade levels noted in the fall of 2011.
Grades 1-3
Full Day Camps $175 MNHC Members/$220 Non-Members
Frogs, Snakes, and Fish, Oh My! June 13 – 17
Join us for a week of adventure and discovery as we dive into an exploration of amphibians and reptiles! We’ll learn about Montana’s frogs, snakes and turtles, use nets to collect and observe aquatic creatures, explore food chain connections and discover other fun facts about aquatic habitats.
Fishing for Fun I – June 13 – 17 *TWO SPACES LEFT*
Learn about stream ecology, fish in Montana, and how to catch the big one! We’ll visit local streams and ponds to explore the food web and aquatic habitats, learn how to fly fish, and use waders, nets and fishing poles to reel in adventure! Same program as Fishing for Fun II.
Magnificent Mammals – June 20 – 24 *THREE SPACES LEFT*
Montana’s magnificent mammals will amaze you as you explore different habitats from forests to prairies. Examine skins and skulls, read stories, play games, explore the habitats of your favorite critters, and take a trip up to the Bison Range to see some of Montana’s largest mammal!
Junior Survivor Camp I – June 27 – July 1 *FOUR SPACES LEFT*
Want to learn some useful outdoor skills? We’ll spend the week learning about shelter building, how to stay safe and not get lost, how to use a compass, basic map reading skills, and bear awareness. We will also investigate the unique adaptations animals have to survive in their habitats, and how some human inventions have mimicked these adaptations. Same program as Junior Survivor Camp II.
Insects Galore – July 5 – 8
(No camp on July 4.) Crawl behind an ant! Hop with a grasshopper! We’ll spend the week looking for incredible invertebrates, using nets, hand lenses, and microscopes to discover who they are, where they live, what they do, and how they add to the amazing diversity all around us.
Things with Wings – July 5 – 8
(No camp on July 4.) From ravens to raptors and hummingbirds to herons, we’ll investigate the bird world to learn about their beaks and feet, feathers and wings, nests and eggs, songs and food through exploration, stories, art, and by using binoculars to observe birds in the field.
Junior Survivor Camp II – July 11 – 15
Want to learn some useful outdoor skills? We’ll spend the week learning about shelter building, how to stay safe and not get lost, how to use a compass, basic map reading skills, bear awareness, and how to fireproof your home. We will also investigate the unique adaptations animals have to survive in their habitats, and how some human inventions have mimicked these adaptations. Same program as Junior Survivor Camp I.
Carnivore Camp – July 11 – 15
From birds to mammals, predators make their living on other creatures and prey have developed adaptations to stay alive! Explore predators and their prey, learn the food web, study skulls, pick through owl pellets, practice the art of camouflage, and discover all of the amazing adaptations that predators and prey have to survive.
Tracks and Scats: Who Pooped in the Woods? – July 18 – 22
Learn how to read the signs that animals and insects leave behind! We’ll learn to identify tracks and different animal homes, how to use clues left by animals to tell their stories. We’ll even create our own plaster animal track, tracking guides, and special camp t-shirts!
Crafty Critters – July 25 – 29
We’ll use crayons, paint, sculpture, and even elements from nature to create our own works of art! We’ll learn about different habitats from forests to grasslands and explore lots of different mediums like drawing, watercolor, and printmaking as we create nature-inspired work. We’ll host an art opening at the end of the week to show off our creations!
Naturally Spooky! – August 1 – 5
Want to spend a fun week learning about some different plants and animals found in Montana that most people try to avoid? We’ll learn all about the natural habitats of ‘creepy’ animals like bats, snakes, and stink bugs! We’ll figure out what they really eat, hear stories, and discover the real truth that makes them . . . not so scary!
Pondemonium! – August 1 – 5
Explore life in ponds and wetlands from waddling waterfowl to tiny tadpoles! We’ll spend the week investigating ponds and wetlands nearby and learning about the importance of wetlands and the animals that use them. We’ll even create an indoor pond in a fish tank as we build a laboratory for learning!
Goin’ Buggy – August 8 – 12
The world of invertebrates is full of amazing creatures. We’ll spend the week looking for insects and other invertebrates using nets, hand lenses, and microscopes to learn more about what makes them so unique. We’ll investigate insects that live on the land and in the water. We’ll make our own sweep nets, visit the PEAS farm, look for animals that eat insects like turtles and birds, and even spend some time learning about spiders and how they are different from insects! On Friday, we’ll walk to the Roxy and see a fun and educational movie all about . . . insects!
Fishing for Fun II – August 8 – 12
Learn about stream ecology, fish in Montana, and how to catch the big one! We’ll visit local streams and ponds to explore the food web and aquatic habitats, make our own tackle boxes, and use waders, nets, and fishing poles to reel in adventure! We’ll also visit the Arlee Fish Hatchery, have a raft building competition, learn to identify fish commonly found in the streams of Western Montana, learn about aquatic insects and their importance to fish, and make our own fishing poles and lures! Same program as Fishing for Fun I.
Program Registration Policy
2011 registration is confirmed ONLY when a $50 non-refundable deposit (per camp, per child) is received with an enclosed registration and emergency release form. Space will not be guaranteed without the $50 non-refundable deposit.
Full payment is expected two weeks prior to the start of the camp unless prior arrangements have been made.
Registration fee (minus $50 deposit) is refundable ONLY if a cancellation is made by 5:00 pm the Tuesday before the start of the camp. Withdrawals after this deadline forfeit the entire fee. Membership fees are non-refundable and must be paid at time of initial registration.
