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 register the following ways:
Phone: Call (612) 624-9050 and our staff will assist you during museum hours.
Fax: Complete the '2012 Science Discovery Camp Registration Form' and the 'Emergency Data & Waiver Form.' Return both forms by fax to (612) 626-7440.
Mail: Complete the '2012 Science Discovery Camp Registration Form' and the 'Emergency Data & Waiver Form.' Return both forms by mail to: Bell Museum of Natural History, Attn: Camp Registration,
10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
August 20 – 24, 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 9 – 13, grades 2 – 3 completed
July 30 – August 3, grades K – 1 completed
Create interesting art from natural materials and discover patterns and colors in nature. Learn how people used art as a form of record keeping and storytelling, and develop a play illustrating a scene from nature.
June 18 – 22, grades K – 1 completed
August 20 – 24, 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 16 – 20, grades 2 – 3 completed
August 13 – 17, 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.
June 18 - 22, grades 4 - 6 completed
Modify properties of matter, and design and predict the reactions of some amazing and safe backyard experiments. Discover what makes the fizz in your soda pop, and why a firework goes KABOOM!
June 18 – 22, grades 2 – 3 completed
July 23 – 27, 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 27 – 31, 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.
July 16 – 20, grades 4 – 6 completed
August 13 – 17, grades 2 – 3 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.
August 13 – 17, 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.
June 25 – 29, grades 4 – 6 completed
July 30 – August 3, 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 27 – 31, 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 track animals.
July 9 – 13, grades K – 1 completed
July 23 – 27, grades 4 – 6 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.
August 6 – 10, grades 2 – 3 completed
Experiment with wind, water and solar power to discover creative forms of sustainable energy. Take a tour of a self-sufficient solar house and contribute energy-saving ideas.
June 25 – 29, grades 2 – 3 completed
August 6 – 10, grades K – 1 completed
Track mammals outdoors and through the use of the Bell’s dioramas to find out how and where mammals live, what they eat and what they do to survive. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Bell’s mammal collection that includes mountain lions and polar bears.
July 16 – 20, grades K – 1 completed
July 23 – 27, grades 2 – 3 completed
Can you guess which animal climbs glass, carries babies in their mouth or has antifreeze for blood? From salamanders to snakes, learn about the remarkable adaptations that are a part of their everyday lives.
July 9 – 13, grades 4 – 6 completed
August 27 – 31, grades 2 – 3 completed
From bat guano to blue cheese, discover the underside of life and find out why things rot, stink, and fall apart, and where they go after they have done their decomposing responsibility.
August 6 – 10, grades 4 – 6 completed
August 20 – 24, 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.
June 25 – 29, grades K – 1 completed
July 30 – August 3, 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.
* Eligible for Summer Academic Enrichment Program scholarship stipends to students in grades 4-6. Additional information from Minnesota Office of Higher Education
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) 624-9050.
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!
You can call in your registration info at (612) 624-9050; fax your registration form to (612) 626-7704 or mail it to Bell Museum Science Discovery Day Camps, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. If you'd prefer, you can deliver your registration in person to the museum's administrative offices in Room 300 Bell Museum, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Click here for the Science Camp Registration Form.
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.
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.