Camps and Classes

Creatures, matter, the Solar System, oh my! Come experience science learning in a unique, hands-on, and age-appropriate way at the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Little Explorers Workshops

Join us for our Little Explorers Workshops for kids ages 3–5. Your junior scientist will experiment, develop ideas, and work well with others as they learn and build new skills.

two young girls play inside of a cardboard box

Homeschool Classes

This is the place for kids to experiment, develop ideas, and work together as they learn and build new skills.

Registration Information

Review our registration policies for Winter Camps, Homeschool Classes & Little Explorers.

This year’s Winter Camp is all about games. Investigate many types of games, invent a new game of your own, explore the exhibit Well Played!, and engage in some of the Hall’s most popular activities. A day at the Hall is a great way to spend a winter day!

Summer Camps

Summer Camps offer a unique opportunity for your young scientist to explore, investigate, discover, and invent in a variety of science-related fields. Camps are open to children ages 4–18. Topics change each week and repeat throughout the summer, so you get to choose what works best for you.

Create a Weekday Class Series for Your Group

Schedule a special program for afterschool clubs, scout groups, or play groups. You can arrange workshops at custom times and dates on a wide range of topics for your group of 12–30 children. For more information on how to schedule a customized program for your group, call 510-642-5134, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Little Explorers Workshop

Making science toys

2019–2020 Sessions Now Available!

Little Explorers programs provide fun, hands-on opportunities to learn alongside your young scientist. Adults discover new techniques for supporting their child’s learning while engaging in STEM investigations that spark everyone’s curiosity.

$115 ($85 for Members)
New! $40 single sessions

*Price includes museum admission for adult and child
*Class will only be held if minimum enrollment is met; single sessions may only be purchased in person on the day of class, space permitting.

Fall 2019 Series: Fizzy, Foamy, Fun!

Three Saturdays: October 19, November 2, December 7
10:00–11:00 a.m.

Grab your goggles and get ready to explore! Spark your child’s curiosity with this chemistry-filled series that investigates fizzy, foamy, and slimy concoctions. Combine chemicals in different ways to explore, notice, and wonder!

Ages 3–5 with participating adult

Winter 2019 Series: Imagineering 101

Three Saturdays: January 4, February 1, March 7
10:00–11:00 a.m.

Calling all imagineers! Stretch your imagination and your engineering skills as you design, build, and test cool contraptions and sturdy structures. We invite you to try new ideas, learn from your mistakes, and share your discoveries while making new friends.

Ages 3–5 with participating adult

Spring 2020 Series—Nature’s Hidden Clues

Three Saturdays: April 4, May 2, June 6
10:00–11:00 a.m.

What can we learn from the patterns we find in nature? Whether you’re following a snake or a rabbit, the tracks they leave behind give us clues about their behavior and needs. Meet friendly live animals while exploring the question: Are animals’ needs similar to or different than ours?

*Programs are subject to cancellation if they do not meet minimum enrollment by one week before their start.

Registration Information

Review our registration policies for Little Explorers and other offerings for individuals.

We Want to Hear from You

We are interested in learning what you like about our classes and camps—and how we can serve you better. Please let us know what you think. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions!

TechShops

Making science toys

*Programs are subject to cancellation if they do not meet minimum enrollment by one week before the start of the program.

Robot Petting Zoo

Sundays, Nov. 12–Dec. 10 (Nov. 12 & 19 and Dec. 3 & 10) Cancelled
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Grades 6–8

Design, build, and code your own robot in this beginner-friendly hackathon! Participants will work together to create an event for Hall visitors. Learn coding, electronics, and physical prototyping by building an interactive robotic pet to delight and inspire other museum visitors. We want you to join our team of robot zookeepers!

$175 Member price
$195 non-Member price

Arcade Design Team

Sundays, Nov. 12–Dec. 10 (Nov. 12 & 19 and Dec. 3 & 10)
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Grades 4–5

Have you ever wanted to make your own video game? Participants will work together to create an interactive playground made from games they program, using MaKey and the beginner-friendly programming language called Scratch. While exploring computer science, participants will run, jump, and crawl through an interactive obstacle course and will practice programming and circuitry. See how you can turn everyday objects into a fun interactive playground!

$175 Member price
$195 non-Member price

Homeschool Classes

2019–2020 Homeschool Classes

This year, you can register for single session classes covering a variety of topics.

Homeschool Single Session Classes

Third Wednesday, once-monthly
2pm–3:30pm
$50 ($45 for Members) includes Exhibit Experience
Grades 3–5

October 16 | Dry Ice Investigations
“Why does it do that? What is it made of? What would happen if…?” Dry ice inspires students to create their own questions and investigations in this frosty, foggy, and bubbly workshop.

November 13 | Engineering Challenge: Hydraulics
Students will define problems and will then design and evaluate solutions in our Hydraulic Engineering Challenge. Students are introduced to engineering concepts and properties of fluids as they envision and piece together their own hydraulic contraptions.

December 18 | Squid Inside Story
How do squid swim? Catch prey? Eat? Even release ink to escape predators? These are just a few of the questions students will ask when they observe a day in the life of a squid. Through external exploration, observation, and dissection of a fresh squid, students will collect evidence to answer their own questions and come up with explanations for the functions of various structures they find on and in their squid.

January 15 | Engineering Challenge: Linkages
Students are introduced to engineering concepts as they explore the roles of force and motion in designing moving mechanisms. Using two-dimensional mechanical linkages, they create mechanisms with various inputs and outputs that move in distinct ways.

February 19 | Moons of the Solar System
In our Planetarium, students observe the changing Moon and find out what causes its phases, by acting out the motions of Earth and its Moon in the light of a simulated Sun. They monitor and record the behavior of Jupiter’s four moons, and take a tour of some of the dozens of moons in our Solar System.

March 18 | Engineering Challenge: Urban Water
Students will dive into the field of water engineering as they design and build their own sustainable city landscape, and then test their city’s ability to retain stormwater, prevent flooding, and capture pollutants while considering ecological impacts.

April 15 | Circuit Solutions
There’s a heat wave, and the cooling fans of Lawrence Elementary School aren’t working very well. Is there a better way to make them run to keep the school comfortable? Through exploration and investigations with circuits, students design a solution to wire the building more effectively to transfer energy from its source to fans throughout the school.

May 20 | Engineering Challenge: Wind Turbines
Students will engage in the practices of an engineer as they work to design a wind turbine that will generate the most electrical current. This experience focuses on students’ defining problems, designing and evaluating solutions, and then taking the time to review their designs (and maybe even to redesign) as they innovate.

Create a Class Series for Your Group

Schedule a program for your group of 12–30 children. You can choose from workshop titles from our current At The Hall Field Trips offerings. Learn more about our Programs for Schools and Community Groups. To schedule, call 510-642-5134, Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration Information

Review our registration policies for Homeschool Classes and other offerings for individuals.

Keep in Touch

We are interested to know what you think about our programs and how we can serve you better. Please tell us your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!

Registration Information

Winter Camp Policies

The following policies help us allocate resources and provide the best learning opportunities for campers and families. Thank you for your understanding.

Cancellations
Winter Camp days are nonrefundable. Please make sure to check your schedule carefully and choose your camp days accordingly. No refunds or credits will be issued after your purchase.

Transfers
We recognize that plans change. Camp transfer requests can be made to the Registration Office and will be accepted based on availability. Transfers are not guaranteed.

Camp Immunization Requirement
The state of California now requires that up-to-date immunization and tetanus records be submitted to Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley for each camp participant. Therefore, current immunization and tetanus documentation must be submitted for each registered child through CampDoc.com, at least four weeks before the child’s first day of camp. You will automatically receive an email from the system after you register. Refunds will not be issued to those who do not meet this requirement. See additional immunization details on the Winter Camp page.

Please add register@campdoc.com as a “safe sender” to avoid accidental delivery to junk and spam folders. Refunds will not be issued to those who do not meet this requirement.

Immunization Schedule

Vaccines for children Ages 4–6

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP):
4 doses before age 4. Dose #5 at 4–6 years of age

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella:
Dose #2 at 4–6 years of age

Varicella (Chicken Pox):
Dose #2 at 4–6 years of age

MMRV (alternative to separate MMR/Varicella dosing):
Dose #2 at 4–6 years of age

Hepatitis B:
Additional doses not needed if immunized with 3–4 doses appropriately spaced as an infant

Polio:
Dose #4 at age 4. Note: If dose #3 is given after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after dose #2, you may omit dose #4

Vaccines for children Ages 7–12

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP):
Age 11 or 12 is recommended age for single dose

Measles, Mumps, Rubella:
None unless they have not had two prior doses

Varicella (Chicken Pox):
None unless they have not had two prior doses

MMRV (alternative to separate MMR/Varicella dosing):
None unless they have not had two prior doses

Hepatitis B:
Additional doses not needed if immunized with 3–4 doses as an infant.
If not immunized as an infant, alternative dosing schedule for ages 11–15 is two doses of Recombivax 4–6 months apart

Polio:
Needed only if not immunized previously or if child has traveled to designated foreign destinations.

Homeschool Classes & Little Explorers Policies

Homeschool Policies
Homeschool Classes are nonrefundable, unless the Hall cancels the program. Please choose your program carefully.

Only the enrolled child can attend. Programs do not have the capacity to accommodate non-enrolled siblings, friends, or relatives.

Adult attendance may be requested on the day of the program.

Little Explorer Policies
Little Explorers workshops are nonrefundable, unless the Hall cancels the program. Please choose your program carefully.

Only the enrolled child can attend. Programs do not have the capacity to accommodate non-enrolled siblings, friends, or relatives.

One participating adult is required to attend.

Cancellations
Payments for these programs are nonrefundable, unless the Hall cancels the program.

Summer Camp Policies

You may also be interested in our Summer Camp policies.

For questions, please contact the Registration Office:
Phone: 510-642-5134
Email: lhsreg@berkeley.edu
Fax: 510-643-0994

Photo of the Lawrence Hall of Science and SF Bay from above

Public Science Center

Fall Hours
Tuesday–Sunday
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
View full hours →
1 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-5132 Map it →

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Summer Camp 2019Download PDF →

Events Calendar

Biotechnology Celebration, Nov 9
Ten Minutes to Improving Science Achievement (FOSS, NSTA), Nov 14
Making Sense of Phenomena with FOSS (FOSS, NSTA), Nov 14
Wave Properties and Information Technologies (FOSS, NSTA), Nov 14
Ten Minutes to Improving Science Achievement (FOSS, NSTA), Dec 12
Making Sense of Phenomena with FOSS (FOSS, NSTA), Dec 12

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