Register for 2023 Summer Camp Sessions
Member registration begins Wed., March 1, 2023 at 9 a.m.
Non-member registration begins Fri., March 3, 2023 at 9 a.m.
Grades K-1
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-6
Grades 7-8
May 22 – 26
No grades K-1 camp offered this week.
June 5 – 9
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
June 12 – 16
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
June 19 – 23
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
June 26 – 30
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
July 10 – 14
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
July 17 – 21
No grades K-1 camp offered this week.
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
July 24 – 28
No grades K-1 camp offered this week.
No grades 7-8 camp offered this week.
Camps for Grades K-1
Discovering STEAM
Dates: June 5 – 9
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: K – 1
Combining the best of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) to make a week of fun! Campers will experiment with a wide variety of STEAM concepts, from chemistry and chromatography, to creative expression through art. Campers will also be introduced to games that build basic math skills.
Construction and Physics
Dates: June 12 – 16
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: K – 1
Design and build your own toys, games and play scapes using a variety of surprising materials. Test flying machines, and build shelters while exploring engineering and physics. Campers will design and construct egg-safe structures for the favorite “Egg Drop Challenge.” Campers will use creativity and collaboration to develop spatial reasoning and early math skills.
Things that Fly
Dates: June 19 – 23
Locations:
- Mon: WonderLab
- Tues – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: K – 1
Come and discover what birds, bats, bubbles, bugs, and space shuttles all have in common. Explore their similarities, what makes each one unique, and experiment with many types of flight. Campers will observe different types of winged creatures, experiment with the physics of flight, and build and launch rockets.
Storybook Science #1
Dates: June 26 – 30
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: K – 1
Science and play come together in the return of this popular Science Sampler camp. Storybooks serve as the starting point for hands-on exploration. Campers will explore a new topic each day, including Colorful Chemistry, Awesome Agriculture, Spectacular Space, Neat Nature, and more. Independent reading and writing skills are not required for this camp, just imagination and curiosity.
Storybook Science #2
Dates: July 10 – 14
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: K – 1
Science and play come together in the return of this popular Science Sampler camp. Storybooks serve as the starting point to hands-on exploration. Campers will explore a new topic each day, including music and sound, plants and pollinators, wild animals, incredible insects, and more! Independent reading and writing skills are not required for this camp, just imagination and curiosity. NOTE: Storybook Science #1 is not a prerequisite to attend Storybook Science #2
Camps for Grades 2-3
Planting a Seed
Dates: May 22 – 26
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Grades: 2 – 3
Plan, plant, and maintain your own small plot of vegetables, herbs, and flowers at Hilltop Gardens. Learn about preparing meals from fresh-grown food. Enjoy gardening, nutrient-dense food experiences, physical activity, and outdoor fun. The garden plot you establish during camp will be available for you to continue working in and harvesting from throughout the summer.
Kids and Kids
Dates: May 22 – 26
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 2 – 3
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
A camp for kids to play with kids–kid goats! Campers will tend to the farm’s Nigerian Dwarf goats and chickens. Taste and critique a variety of local cheeses and meet the farm’s cheese and soap maker. See where the cheese is made and learn why goat’s milk is an important ingredient in soap. There will be daily hikes with goats and even Goat Yoga! Campers will dig into farm and garden ecology, animal care, and develop a connection to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts.
A World of Bugs
Dates: June 5 – 9
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 2 – 3
Explore the world of bugs. Campers will use dramatic and dynamic play, outdoor exploration and observation to study arthropods and our dependence on them. Campers will use scientific tools to safely and ethically identify, catch, observe and release arthropods. These skills will then be used to learn about Indiana native species and their importance to the Temperate Hardwood Forests of Monroe County.
Wings and Things
Dates: June 12 – 16
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 2 – 3
Explore the connections between birds, bats, planes, balloons, and spaceships! As the week progresses, campers will explore the species that fly and then continue to humans taking to the sky. Campers will find the similarities, what makes each one unique, and experiment with many types and physics of flight.
Exploring STEAM
Dates: June 19 – 23
Locations:
- Mon: WonderLab
- Tues – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 2 – 3
Combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for a week of fun! From hair raising science, to pendulum art, graphing and simple machines. Campers will experiment with a wide variety of STEAM concepts to practice the scientific method, and invoke the scientist in them all.
Inventions
Dates: June 26 – 30
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 2 – 3
Be an inventor! Bring your curiosity, creativity, and ingenuity to explore scientific concepts through hands-on play. Learn about inventors and inventions from Henry Ford and the car, to Grace Hopper and computer coding. Campers will have an opportunity to be inventive and resourceful developing their own creations from varied supply materials.
Playing with Potions
Dates: July 10 – 14
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 2 – 3
You say potion, we say solution; it’s not magic, it’s Science! Investigate different solutions that have special scientific properties to ascertain pH, density, and more. Explore properties of common fluids like milk and water. Campers will discover how we see colors, non-Newtonian substances, and luminescence.
Kids and Kids
Dates: July 17 – 21
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 2 – 3
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
A camp for kids to play with kids–kid goats! Campers will tend to the farm’s Nigerian Dwarf goats and chickens. Taste and critique a variety of local cheeses and meet the farm’s cheese and soap maker. See where the cheese is made and learn why goat’s milk is an important ingredient in soap. There will be daily hikes with goats and even Goat Yoga! Campers will dig into farm and garden ecology, animal care, and develop a connection to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts.
Habitats and Homes
Dates: July 24 – 28
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Grades: 2 – 3
Take a closer look at local wildlife, and discover habitats in our community. Campers will construct habitats that provide food, water, and protection for insects, mammals or birds. Explore ways to help sustain natural habitats for plants, animals and insects. Campers will learn about the action steps to take in order to live more gently alongside nature.
Camps for Grades 4-6 and 4-8
From Feathers to Flight
Dates: May 22 – 26
Location: Kent Farm Research Station
Grades: 4 – 8
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
A week of intensive, hands-on bird study, co-hosted by biologists from the Environmental Resilience Institute and the Midwest Center for Birds and Biodiversity. Campers will catch wild birds in mist nets, record data points on each, and release them back into nature. Demonstrations and activities will aid in campers’ understanding of bird ecology, anatomy, migration, flight, and identification. Camp will take place rain or shine, so bring appropriate gear.
An Introduction to Climate Engineering
Dates: June 5 – 9
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Find out how Climate Change affects pollinators like bees and butterflies. Campers will learn to identify trees and learn how scientists study trees to document how the climate is changing. Learn about rock identification and mash some geodes to examine what is hidden inside. Campers will conduct an experiment on cloud albedo effect, brainstorm ideas on how they can help Mother Earth and build models showcasing their thoughts.
Full-on STEAM
Dates: June 12 – 16
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for a week of fun! Campers will experiment with a wide variety of STEAM concepts to practice the scientific method, and invoke their inner scientist. Exploration will consist of hair raising science, pendulum art, graphing and simple machines. Campers will design and construct their own egg-safe structures for the favorite “Egg Drop Challenge.” This camp includes a field trip to see a television studio in action at WTIU.
Puzzles, Patterns, and Projects
Dates: June 19 – 23
Locations:
- Mon: WonderLab
- Tues – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Discover the world of puzzles and patterns. Try logic puzzles, brainteasers, and jigsaw puzzles. Explore the natural world to discover patterns all around us. Finally campers will work on hands-on projects to connect the worlds of nature, art, and patterns.
Animal MD
Dates: June 19 – 23
Locations:
- Mon: WonderLab
- Tues – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Observe live animals, explore the outdoors and use real scientific tools to investigate the Animal Kingdom. Campers will learn what it takes to keep us animals healthy. Dissections are a part of this camp, however, campers may choose between virtual or physical dissection. End the week with a field trip to a research lab to examine real case studies of animals’ and their medical histories so campers can hypothetically diagnose and treat the “patients.”
Creative Building and the Scientific Method
Dates: June 26 – 30
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Get your build on! Use creativity and imagination to design and build toys, and games using a variety of surprising materials. While building and testing different structures and machines campers will explore the scientific method. Campers will create optical illusions, experiment with water and colorful chemical reactions, and play skills building games focused on estimation, probability, and math.
Goats and Gardens
Dates: June 26 – 30
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 4 – 6
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
Get ready for a total goats experience! Hike with goats! Goat Yoga! Experience in-depth farm and garden ecology and the art of animal care. Connect to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts that emphasize teamwork and community. Campers will tend to the farm’s Nigerian Dwarf goats and chickens, taste and critique a variety of local cheeses. See where the farm’s cheese is made and learn why goat’s milk is an important ingredient in soap.
Exploring Flight
Dates: July 10 – 14
Locations:
- Mon – Thurs: University Elementary School
- Fri: IU School of Education
Grades: 4 – 6
Find out what it takes to make something fly! Explore how the natural world takes flight, like bugs and bats. See how humans have learned from the species around them to develop aviation. Finally, escape from Earth’s gravity to learn about spaceships and rocketry!
Habitats and Homes
Dates: July 10 – 14
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Grades: 4 – 6
Explore the secret lives and homes of local wildlife, and discover hidden habitats in our community. Use creativity and biology to design and build a habitat that provides food, water, and protection for insects, mammals or birds. Explore ways to help sustain natural habitats for plants, animals and insects. Become a leader in living more gently alongside nature.
Power of Plants
Dates: July 17 – 21
Location: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
Grades: 4 – 6
Become a Plant Protector. Discover the importance of trees in town, how ferns reproduce, and explore the medicinal properties of common garden flowers. Campers will uncover the wonder of foraging, and learn to identify invasive species and get creative in the beautiful outdoors.
From Feathers to Flight
Dates: July 17 – 21
Location: Kent Farm Research Station
Grades: 4 – 8
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
A week of intensive, hands-on bird study, co-hosted by biologists from the Environmental Resilience Institute and the Midwest Center for Birds and Biodiversity. Campers will catch wild birds in mist nets, record data points on each, and release them back into nature. Demonstrations and activities will aid in campers’ understanding of bird ecology, anatomy, migration, flight, and identification. Camp will take place rain or shine, so bring appropriate gear.
Goats and Gardens
Dates: July 24 – 28
Location: Goat Conspiracy Farm
Grades: 4 – 6
Free transportation via Bloomington Rural Transit is available for this location. You will have the option to select the transportation option once you have registered.
Get ready for a total goats experience! Hike with goats! Goat Yoga! Experience in-depth farm and garden ecology and the art of animal care. Connect to the origin of food through play, chores, and wilderness crafts that emphasize teamwork and community. Campers will tend to the farm’s Nigerian Dwarf goats and chickens, taste and critique a variety of local cheeses. See where the farm’s cheese is made and learn why goat’s milk is an important ingredient in soap.
