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
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 3-5
Full Day Camps $175 MNHC Members/$220 Non-Members
2011 Summer Camp listings
Super Tracker – June 13 – 17
Learn how to identify animal tracks and signs, explore tools used by professionals for studying animals, and learn basic skills for exploration in the outdoors. We’ll practice our tracking skills in the field, create plaster tracks of our favorite Montana mammals, make our own tracking books, and test our own super tracker skills!
Kid vs. Wild! I – June 20 – 24 *FULL*
Do you think you have what it takes to make it in the wild? Spend the week learning some techniques for basic survival, including fire and shelter building, orienteering, mapping, first aid, Leave No Trace, bear awareness, and even how to predict the weather. We’ll also meet the search and rescue team! (Same program as Kid vs. Wild! II).
Rip Roarin’ Raptors – June 27 – July 1 *THREE SPACES LEFT*
Raptors are an amazing group of birds with adaptations specifically for capturing prey. We’ll study owls and osprey as well as eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and osprey to learn more about these adaptations, and where different raptors can be found. We’ll also study pellets to see what they eat, and use binoculars to observe them in the field.
Kid vs. Wild! II – July 5 – 8
(No camp on July 4.) Do you think you have what it takes to make it in the wild? Spend the week learning some techniques for basic survival, including fire and shelter building, orienteering, mapping, first aid, Leave No Trace, bear awareness, and even how to predict the weather. We’ll also meet the search and rescue team! (Same program as Kid vs. Wild! I).
Go Fish! – July 11 – 15
Explore local ponds and rivers from top to bottom. We’ll learn about stream ecology, fish in Montana, and practice our own casting technique! We’ll explore the food web and aquatic habitats, learn how to catch fish with spinning rods, and use waders and nets to reel in adventure!
Space Camp – July 18 -22
Join us as we launch a journey into the galaxy and beyond! We’ll learn about stars, constellations, planets, black holes, phases of the moon, properties of energy and light, and amazing space missions. We’ll also try building a comet using dry ice!
Wild Wetlands – July 25 – 29
Get your feet wet exploring local wetlands. We’ll use waders, nets, and hand lenses to observe aquatic insects, reptiles, amphibians, or fish we might find. We’ll learn to identify a few wetland birds and discover why wetlands are important places for plants, animals and people!
Big on Bugs – August 1 – 5
Who dominates the sky? Who patrols the forest floor? Insects make up the largest group of animals on earth! Learn about the basic structure of creepy crawlies that inhabit our region, their amazing adaptations, and what they need to survive by using insect nets, creating insectariums, and observing these six-legged creatures in their natural habitats.
Art and Nature Adventures – August 8 – 12
Inspiration often comes from the natural world, so what better way to celebrate our natural wonders than through art? Explore the plants and animals outside using different mediums including sketching, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and even some natural materials. We’ll dye shirts using berries we’ve picked, visit the Missoula Art Museum for a special program, and make rock jewelry, natural wind chimes, baskets, and mobiles. We’ll write poetry, paint canvas bags, and visit the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for some artistic inspiration! At the end of the week, we’ll host an art show to exhibit our creations!
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.
