Summer Camps
Discover Your Child’s Summer Adventure
Camps at the Virginia Discovery Museum embody all that summer should be: exploration and fun! Whether your child is brand new to the camp experience or already knows the ropes, our week-long, half-day summer camps for children 4 and older provide opportunities for kids to gain confidence, make friends, and explore a range of STEAM-focused topics through creative and engaging hands-on experiences. Plus, campers enjoy a special play time in the galleries each morning before the Museum opens.
Camp Details | 2020 Camps | FAQs | Contact Us
Camp Schedule
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
(Child Packs a Lunch)
Ages
Children 4 & Up
Low Staff-to-Child Ratio
(1:5 Maximum)
2020 Summer Camps are 80% Filled
Note: Annual members must sign in to their Website User Account to receive their 15% discount. To create a user account and link it to your annual membership, please click here.
2020 Summer Camps
Diorama Construction - 3 SPOTS LEFT
June 8-12 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: May 31
Home sweet habitat! Campers will explore different habitats, select their favorite, and create a custom, take-home diorama showcasing the different vegetation, wildlife, and scenery their habitat contains.
+Additional $25 Materials Fee. Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Tech-Girls (Girls Ages 6+ Only)
June 15-19 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: June 7
Create an animation, build a video game, code a robot … the possibilities are endless! Campers will explore the building blocks of technology and bring them together in new and creative ways as we welcome guest instructors from Tech-Girls. Tech-Girls is responsible for Charlottesville’s popular Girls’ Geek Days, Yes We Tech!, and the Bio-Med Tech Girls program.
Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Full STEAM Ahead - CAMP FULL
June 22-26 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: June 14
All aboard! It’s full STEAM ahead as we journey through a mash-up week of hands-on exploration into Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Chess Mates (Ages 6+ Only) - CAMP FULL
June 29 – July 1 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: June 21
Love to play chess? Interested in learning this timeless game? Campers will exercise their mind muscles and build an understanding of chess while developing creativity, executive function, and math skills. Chess Mates is suitable for players of all skill levels and is led by guest coach Aaron Osborne, the current No. 1 Class C player in Virginia. Beginners will work on basic mechanics and gameplay, and more experienced players will work on skills development.
3-Day Camp: $135/Child. Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Human Body Systems
July 6-10 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: June 28
All aboard for a fantastic voyage through the human body! Campers will navigate the nervous system and explore the brain, cruise through the circulatory system and learn about the heart, and more as we discover how our bodies work.
Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Cooking Around the World - CAMP FULL
July 13-17 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: July 5
Bon appétit, little chefs! Campers will explore cooking techniques and cuisines from around the globe. The final day of camp will include incorporate a chopped-style cooking challenge and a taste test for parents and families.
+Additional $25 Materials Fee. Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Environmental Engineering - CAMP FULL
July 20-24 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: July 12
Think green! Campers will explore the different elements of nature and tackle them through hands-on problem-solving and engineering.
Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Invention Lab - CAMP FULL
July 27-31 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: July 19
Strap on those thinking caps! Campers will utilize their creativity and problem-solving skills as they complete invention challenges, prototype a new product, and present their creation to “investors”.
+Additional $25 Materials Fee. Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Animation Studio - 4 SPOTS LEFT
Aug. 3-7 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: July 26
Bring your story to life! Campers will explore the process of filmmaking as they develop their own character, scene, and story. Camp will wrap up with a showcase of campers’ final creations.
+Additional $25 Materials Fee. Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Junior Philanthropists - 3 SPOTS LEFT
Aug. 10-14 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Deadline: Aug. 2
Young leaders unite! Campers will collaborate on service projects for various local organizations as they develop and practice leadership skills and discover the importance of giving back to the community.
Pre-Registration Required. Space: 16 Campers.
Contact Us
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Visit Camps FAQs, or contact Director of Operations Lindsay Jones at (434) 977-1025 x102 or operationsdirector@vadm.org to learn more about Summer Camp scholarship opportunities, waitlists, and cancellations and refunds.