Museum Camps in Washington, DC

Spring break is approaching and parents are deciding on summer plans for area kids. The many museums in the District offer a variety of themed camps to consider.

Smithsonian Summer Camp for kids aged K-grade 8 runs from June 21 to August 13, 2010 and explores the museums on the National Mall.

Art & Architecture Camps
National Building Museum runs CREATE Summer Camp for children ages 8 to11. Two week sessions are July 12 to 23, July 26 to August 6 and August 9 to 20. Embark on projects related to architecture, design, or engineering.

Corcoran Gallery of Art runs Camp Creativity for ages 5 to13, plus Studio D for ages 14-16. Week long workshops allow kids to learn both traditional and non-traditional arts.

History Camps
There are a number of area camps that offers a “revolutionary” experience. Children experience life 200 years ago. These camps explore historic food, dance, music, art, games and clothing.

Dumbarton House holds a one week sessions for kids ages 9 to 12 from 9 a.m. to noon throughout the summer for its History Summer Camp.

DAR Museum holds Quilt Camp for kids ages 10 to 17 and one week sessions of Colonial Camp for children 8-12.

Tudor Place holds Georgetown Summer History Weeks. The programs run from 9 a.m. to noon for kids ages 3 to 5 and ages 6 to 8. The program for older kids ages 9 to 12 runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If American history is not your kid’s thing then consider the history and techniques of spying:
International Spy Museum runs “No Grownups Allowed!” from July 26 to 30, 2010 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Science Camps
National Zoo offers Summer Safari Day Camp for grades K-5 from June 21 to August 13, 2010. The zoo camp features hands-on zoo activities, craft projects, science experiments. The FONZ Nature Camp is for kids grades 5 to10. It runs from July 5 to August 14, 2010 and features one- or two-week sessions with an overnight at the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Rock Creek Park Horse Camp offers one week sessions for new and experienced riders ages 8 to 14 from June 14 to August 7 (9:00am--3:00pm). The Camp offers an extended day group lesson in equine studies which ends at 5:30pm.