Campuses:
From mammals to invertebrates, outer space and the environment, the Bell Museum's Science Discovery Day Camps engage children in science through authentic objects and unforgettable learning experiences. The week-long camps include hands-on, inquiry-based classroom and laboratory activities, as well as outdoor exploration and recreation.
The camps are led by the museum education staff and give campers the opportunity to meet University scientists, take field trips to University learning centers such as the Raptor Center, Insect Museum, research greenhouses and more. Campers also get to take part in recreational activities including swim trips to the world class University Aquatic Center.
You can also register:
By Phone: Call (612) 624-2345
By Mail: Complete the 2013 Science Discovery Camp Registration Form then return the form by mail to: Bell Museum Camp Registration c/o UM Tickets, University Park Plaza Suite 720, 2829 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
July 8-12, grades 4-6 completed
Explore the unseen world of invertebrates. Collect insects from underground, from the water and from the air to study their biology and the role they play in balancing our world.
July 22-26, grades K-1 completed; July 29-August 2, grades 2-3 completed
Create various forms of art from natural materials and discover patterns and colors of nature. Learn how people used art as a form of record keeping and storytelling and develop a play illustrating a scene from nature.
June 24-28, grades K-1 completed; July 15-19, grades K-1 completed
Explore a variety of baby animals from cubs to fawns and pollywogs. Learn why some baby animals need to be nurtured for months, while others are ready to run, jump or fly. Also discover how they survive in the wild.
July 22-26, grades 2-3 completed; July 29-August 2, grades K-1 completed
Take a rare opportunity to get up close to live owls and eagles from the Raptor Center. Explore in-depth the differences between predators and birds of prey, and dissect pellets to learn what owls eat.
August 5-9, grades 4-6 completed; August 19-23, grades 2-3 completed
Explore all of your favorite magical subjects such as transfiguration and how animals change in appearance, experiment with magnets and learn about levitation, discover animal mimicry and plants that eat meat, and practice your hand at different chemical reactions
June 10-14, grades 4-6 completed; July 29-August 2, grades 4-6 completed
Study properties of matter while designing and predicting physical and chemical reactions. Make liquid nitrogen ice cream, play with surface tension and launch pressurized air rockets.
June 10-14, grades K-1 completed; August 26-30, grades K-1 completed
Discover the fascinating adaptations that help nocturnal animals survive in a world without sunlight—including a keen sense of smell, superhero-like hearing, and night vision goggles.
August 19-23, grades K-1 completed
Get up close and personal with Madagascar hissing cockroaches, worms, grasshoppers, beetles, ants and other interesting invertebrates. Learn about their biology and the important role they play in the natural world.
June 10-14, grades 2-3 completed; June 24-28, grades 4-6 completed
Meet a real crime investigator and assist in solving a crime. Learn the fundamentals of identification and classification by using plant and animal evidence found at crime scenes to crack the case.
June 17-21 grades 4-6 completed; July 8-12, grades 2-3 completed
Dig deep to discover how soil is formed, what lives in it and why it is important to us. Explore Earth’s decomposers and learn how they help recycle nutrients back into the soil.
June 17-21, grades 2-3 completed; July 22-26, grades 4-6 completed
Discover the wonders of the night sky. Explore the solar system and galaxy, and see how our planet fits within the structure of the universe.
July 15-19, grades 4-6 completed; August 26-30, grades 4-6 completed
Solve engineering problems found in nature and observe how plants and animals respond to these obstacles, and discover how we use nature’s ingenuity in our designs.
August 12-16, grades 4-6 completed
Explore the life of a wildlife biologist by studying living flora and fauna, and their relationship to their environment. Learn to use field equipment and how to track animals.
June 17-21, grades K-1 completed
Using fossils and skulls, take a trip back in time and meet the animal ancestors that roamed the Earth 10,000 years ago such as the giant sloth, 300-pound beaver, saber tooth tiger and wooly mammoth.
June 24-28, grades 2-3 completed
Experiment with wind, water and solar power to discover creative forms of sustainable energy. Learn what environmental issues we face today and how we can all do our part to help the world.
August 5-9, grades K-1 completed; August 12-16, grades 2-3 completed
From pygmy shrews to blue whales, duck-billed platypus and the spiny anteater, find out what makes some mammals unique and what characteristics they share. Explore the Bell’s dioramas to find which mammals live in Minnesota, what type of habitat they live in and what they eat.
Reptiles and Amphibians
August 5-9, grades 2-3 completed; August 12-16, grades K-1 completed
Can you guess which animals climb glass, carry babies in their mouth or have antifreeze for blood? From salamanders to snakes, learn about the remarkable adaptations that are a part of their everyday lives.
August 19-23, grades 4-6 completed; August 26-30, grades 2-3 completed
Learn about fish biology and fish behavior through dissections, collections and observations, and discover how fish swim, why they form schools, and what they need to survive in the water.
July 8-12, grades K-1 completed; July 15-19, grades 2-3 completed
Take a trip to a restored wetland, meet people who study and manage wildlife in the city, and learn how to create natural habitats that will attract animals in your backyard.
Camp Hours and Other Details8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Drop-off: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Pick-up: 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Campers should bring their own bag lunches, as well as a morning and afternoon snack.
Extended care also is available for an extra half-hour before and after camp. The cost for extended care is $15 a week for the morning or afternoon or $30 for both. To request disability accommodations, call (612) 624-2345.
If your child has a medical condition for which s/he must carry emergency medication (e.g., asthma inhalers, EpiPen epinephrine injectors), a peanut allergy or other severe allergy, or has dietary restrictions, please inform registration staff as soon as possible so we can make the necessary accommodations.
In order to make the program experience a positive one for all, we have established a policy to manage behavior incidents that involve chronic disruption and/or safety. We reserve the right to remove students who do not adhere to our behavior policy.
| Cost per camp | Friends of the Bell * | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| 1 camp | $235 | $260 |
| 2 camps | $235 | $250 |
| 3+ camps | $235 | $240 |
* For as little as $45 you can become a Friend of the Bell Museum and receive discounted Summer Camp pricing—one of the many benefits of becoming a Friend!
Camps may be deductible on your 2012 taxes.
If you wish to withdraw from a camp after registering, you must do so at least two weeks prior to the first day of camp in order to receive a partial refund of the registration fee. $40 of the registration fee is considered a non-refundable deposit. No refunds will be given if a cancellation is made within the two-weeks before the first day of camp.
If for any reason the Bell Museum cancels your camp, you will receive a full refund of the registration fee or, if you prefer, the opportunity to transfer to another camp if space is available. Notification will be given two weeks prior to the start date in the event that your camp is canceled.
Did your child attend summer camp? Here are the Tax ID numbers you can use when filing taxes. Federal: 41-6007513 Minnesota: 8029894
University Youth & Community Programs offers active, summer learning opportunities for ages 5-15 on the Twin Cities Campus. It's been 25 years since the first 24 participants were hosted. Now with 200+ camps currently offered, the sky's the limit for discovery and adventure.
Specialty instruction in the categories of Kids' University, Minnesota Sport Schools, and Discovering 'U' combines 2.5 hours a day of instruction with recreational activities around campus, while the Gopher Adventure camps focus purely on fun, recreational experiences. Meeting weekly, Monday-Friday, all camps feature rock climbing, swimming, themes, art, campus exploration and more with well-trained and energetic staff. The engaging, hands on activities and low ratios create a safe and fun experience for all.
Registration is currently open! Choose camps week by week, from one week to all ten, to create a unique and healthy summer like no other. Camp details can be found online For additional information, email: drsyouth@umn.edu or call (612) 625-2242.