Summer Camps
Explore, Investigate, Discover, Invent
June 11–August 17, 2018 — This summer, campers investigated marine environments, learned what it takes to build a sustainable city, became dinosaur detectives, and made a few new friends along the way!
Summer Camp registration is currently closed. Thank you to all the campers, educators, and parents who helped make this summer so fun and so memorable.
Check back soon to see our full Winter Camps lineup!
Donate a Camp!
You can make it possible for a child in need to attend one of our science camps. Your donation—of any amount—will fund a child in our community whose family could not otherwise afford a camp. You can make an online donation, or can simply add a donation payment when registering for your programs online. If paying by e-check, please include a separate check marked “Scholarship Fund.”
Members Save Big on Summer Camp
Because Hall Members get a discount on summer and winter camps, why not become a Member when you sign up online for camp? View Members' savings.
Camp Prices and Extras
See a full list of prices, including Half-Day, Full-Day, Supervised Lunch, and Extended-Day options. View prices.
Registration Information
Learn more about cancellations, refunds, transfers, and our immunization requirements. View registration information.
Sign up for our eNewsletter for updates on camps and classes.
Animation Adventure
Do you want to create animated stories? Campers will learn the 12 Basic Principles of Animation as we work on fun and collaborative animation projects, using various techniques from low-tech flip books to iStopMotion and GIF creation. We’ll explore elements ranging from background design to character and story development. Learn everything you need to tell a story!
Grades 2–3
June 11–15
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 2–6
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 6–10
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Toy Builders
How do animals inspire us to design and build things that we can play with? Will your invention withstand the forces of nature? Use your imagination and recyclable materials to design, build, test, and modify your creations. Investigate gravity and motion through playful experiences. Discover how you can light up your toys or games using LED lights. Showcase what you built on the exhibit floor of the Lawrence Hall of Science!
Entering Kindergarten–Grade 1
June 11–15 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 2–6 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 30–August 3 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 13–17
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Bugs, Beetles, and Butterflies
Did you know that there are more than a million different kinds of insects? Explore insect friends—and enemies—in your garden and follow their life cycles from egg to adult. Their shapes, color patterns, behavior, and growth will amaze you. We’ll watch insects crawl, hop, fly, wiggle and scurry. Some of them might even tickle us!
Ages 4 and 5
June 18–22
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 9–13
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 23–27
9 a.m.–12 p.m. Not Available
1–4 p.m.
July 30–August 3
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m. Not Available
Nature Investigations
Would you like to take care of a ladybug, measure a snake, or learn about the critters in your yard? If so, this is the camp for you! We’ll discover new things about the natural world as we explore patterns, shapes, colors, and more. Each day features science investigations, fun games, stories, and creative arts. See what happens when animals come to camp!
Entering Kindergarten–Grade 1
June 11–15
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
June 25–29 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 2–6
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 16–20 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 6–10
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Stirring Up Science
Do you like investigating ingredients and mixing them together? We’ll use scientific thinking to help us make foamy foods and exciting mixtures, discover the wild action that happens when safe chemicals are mixed together, and experiment with exciting chemistry activities to see how chemistry actually happens every day in our lives. Join us for bubbly and fun experiments!
Entering Kindergarten–Grade 1
June 18–22 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 9–13 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 23–27 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 6–August 10
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Dinosaur Detectives
What were dinosaurs like? How do they compare to animals that are alive today? A hundred million years ago, dinosaurs wandered the Earth. We’ll investigate these ancient animals by digging for fossil bones and using toy models to make footprints in clay. We’ll explore their lives by acting out dinosaur stories and making dino-projects to take home. Join us in unlocking some prehistoric mysteries together!
Ages 4 and 5
June 11–15
9 a.m.–12 p.m. Not Available
1–4 p.m.
July 2–6
9 a.m.–12 p.m. Not Available
1–4 p.m.
July 9–13
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
July 16–20
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m. Not Available
July 23–27
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
August 13–17 FULL
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
Falling, Floating, and Flying
(formerly Physical Science for Curious Kids: Falling, Floating & Flying)
What makes things fall, float, and fly? We will investigate many exciting topics in physical science, including gravity, water, and wind, by making and flying paper kites and designing simple hydraulics systems. These hands-on experiments and activities foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical-thinking. Come explore the forces of Earth, water, and wind!
Ages 4 and 5
June 25–29
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 16–20
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
July 30–August 3 Not Available
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
August 6–10
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m. Not Available
Fizzy, Foamy
What ingredients can you use to make bubbles? What are the fizziest foods? We’ll investigate foamy foods and bubbling solutions, discover the wild fizzing action that happens when safe chemicals are mixed together, and experiment with exciting chemistry activities to see that chemistry actually happens everyday in our lives. Join us for bubbly, foamy fun!
Ages 4 and 5
June 11–15
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
June 25–29
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
July 2–6
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
August 13–17 FULL
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Pollywog Pond
Have you ever wondered how various animals live together in the same pond? We’ll discover the wonders of their wet world by observing, comparing, caring for, and even holding pond animals such as crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, turtles, and salamanders. Then we’ll put all these ideas together to make your own big book of life in the pond!
Ages 4 and 5
June 25–29
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 16–20
9 a.m.–12 p.m. Not Available
1–4 p.m.
August 6–10
9 a.m.–12 p.m. Not Available
1–4 p.m.
Toy Factory
What toy will you make? A light-up gadget? A spinning toy? A beeping robot? Explore your curiosity and creativity with inventions that light up, move, and make sounds. We’ll use various materials and our own imagination to discover a world of innovation. We will engage in the engineering design process to plan, construct, test, and share our inventions. Can’t wait to see what you make!
Ages 4 and 5
June 11–15 FULL
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
June 18–22
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
July 9–13
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 30–August 3
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
My Sky Tonight
How is Earth different from other planets? What makes day and night? What tools do we use to investigate space? We’ll build a rover to explore distant worlds, gear up for a “trip” to the Moon, and learn about patterns in the sky. We’ll also observe the sky with binoculars and participate in interactive shows at the Hall’s Planetarium. Discover the wonders of the day and the night sky!
Ages 4 and 5
June 18–22
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
July 2–6
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m. Not Available
July 23–27
9 a.m.–12 p.m. FULL
1–4 p.m.
August 6–10 FULL
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
August 13–17
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
1–4 p.m.
Robotics Playground with LEGO® Bricks
Do you want to build your own robot? Enter the world of robotics by working in collaborative design groups to imagine, create, and construct! Explore design concepts, gearing systems, sensors, and motors as we build robots. Learn to program our robots to respond and react to their environment with the EV3 coding language used in activities with LEGO® bricks. Come build with your imagination in our LEGO® brick Lab!
Entering Grades 2–3, Full Day
June 18–22 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 30–August 3 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 13–17 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Space Patterns
Have you ever looked up in the sky and wondered what you are looking at? We will explore the Solar System and the stars beyond as we take to the sky in visits to our Planetarium. We will creatively fill two-dimensional spaces as we explore the mathematics of symmetry, tangrams, and tessellations. The three-dimensional space around us is another medium for mathematical and artistic creation that we will fill with polyhedra and other shapes. Come join us on this wondrous journey where astronomy, art, and math come together!
Entering Grades 2–3, Full Day
July 16–20
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 23–27
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Our Ocean Planet
Have you ever wondered what it’s like in different parts of the ocean? At the deepest parts? In the coldest parts? What kind of life can survive in various parts of the ocean? We will become ocean explorers together to answer these questions. With plenty of hands-on investigations, we explore the ocean from top to bottom. We’ll take a close look at some of the animals that make the ocean their home, including some of the smallest to the largest animals that have ever lived, and we’ll discover special body parts and behaviors that help them to survive. Come find out how scientists and engineers are exploring this amazing place and hear the kinds of questions they’re trying to answer!
Entering Grades 2–3, Full Day
June 25–29 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 9–13 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Daytime Astronomy
Did you know that we can explore the stars and other astronomical objects even during daytime hours? We will visit the Hall’s Planetarium, as well as stand under the real sky. With telescopes, including ones that we will make ourselves, we’ll investigate the properties and motions of various objects visible in the daytime. We will learn about the Sun, the Moon, and even the planet Venus that may make an appearance. With these first-hand experiences of daytime astronomy, you will be ready to continue your own investigations of the night sky!
Entering Grades 4–5, Full Day
June 11–15
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 9–13
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 13–17 Not Available
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Design a City
Do you wonder what goes into planning and building a city? We’ll explore the exciting worlds of civil, structural, and mechanical engineering as we design a city from the ground up. Investigate the benefits of renewable energy as we harness the energy from the Sun and wind to power a city. Examine the ecological impacts of water engineering by testing the city’s ability to retain storm water, prevent flooding, and capture pollutants. From hydraulic-powered bridges to solar-powered stop lights, we’ll build a model, healthy city engineered for sustainability!
Entering Grades 4–5, Full Day
June 18–22
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 16–20
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 30–August 3 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
LEGO® Brick Tech
Do you want to build humanoid robots, roving vehicles, and mechanical beasties? You will learn how to program your ’droids to walk, talk, see, and react, with increasing complexity. You will use tools like Mindstorms EV3, the cutting-edge robotics kit from LEGO® bricks. Take your creativity to the next level with LEGO® brick technology!
Entering Grades 4–5, Full Day
July 2–6
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 6–10 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Maker Arts
Have you ever incorporated electronics into your artwork? Do you want to make your own art supplies? We’ll creatively combine chemistry, electricity, and artistry to discover new ways of making art. We will construct cool projects and textiles, using cabbage juice, motors, homemade paints, tie-dye, wires, shaving cream, thread that can carry electric current, and more. Come see how chemistry and technology can transform your artistic creations!
Entering Grades 4–5, Full Day
June 25–29 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 23–27
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
LEGO® Brick Robotics
(pricing = $605, $525 for Members)
Do you want to build a robot? We’ll use LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT, a cutting-edge robotics kit, to build humanoid robots, roving vehicles, and mechanical creatures of increasing complexity. Then we’ll program our droids to talk—and even see. We look forward to seeing what you build!
Entering Grades 6–8, Full Day
July 23–27
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 13–17
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Coding Nanosatellites
Are you interested in programming a real satellite to collect information about Earth? In this 2-week camp for entering 8th–10th graders (no prior coding experience required!), we will design and conduct scientific investigations in the laboratory and will program sensors on a nanosatellite in low-Earth orbit. We will write and edit code, using Scratch and Arduino coding languages, that controls Arduino-based sensors both in the laboratory and on board the satellite. We will also compare the data collected from polar-orbiting satellites to those that follow the orbit of the International Space Station. Final projects will be presented to a public audience on our museum floor. And, we’ll meet with professionals in related fields to explore possible STEM careers in science, technology, engineering, and math!
Additional scholarships will be available for this summer camp for families needing financial assistance, thanks to support from the National Science Foundation. This funding aids the development of computer science learning experiences that engage youth in their local communities and foster interest in computer science careers. To achieve these goals, all camp participants and their guardians will be required to provide their consent to participate in the research activities (surveys, observations, and interviews). Details of the study will be provided later.
Entering Grades 8–10
June 18–29 (two weeks, Monday–Friday)
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Decoding Life
(pricing = $605, $525 for Members)
How do DNA tests work? Why do children look similar to their parents? Why do they sometimes look different? Are you curious about the science of genetics and how it can be used to solve real-life mysteries? We will meet at the Lawrence Hall of Science for hands-on science, and we will explore the UC Berkeley campus and even visit an active research lab!
Entering Grades 6–8
July 9–13 FULL
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
July 16–20 FULL
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Bioprinting Technology
(pricing = $1,000, $850 for Members)
Do you want to learn how to use a 3D bioprinter to perform cool biology experiments? Are you interested in learning computer coding to solve scientific challenges and print biomaterials? If so, this camp is for you. You will learn how to control a bioprinter and will use it to perform antibiotic screening experiments. You will also use 3D tools to design and print a biomedical tissue replacement model then present your designs and results to your peers.
Entering Grades 9–12
July 30–August 3
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Marine Biology Research Camp
(pricing = $2,000, $1,800 for Members)
(Overnight residential camp at UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab; transportation from the Hall to Bodega Bay, meals, and dormitory-style housing are included in the price.)
Would you like to discover one of the most richly diverse marine environments in the world? We will develop investigation skills used in marine biology at the University of California Bodega Marine Lab, located at Bodega Bay on the Sonoma County coast, surrounded by rocky tide pools, mudflats, estuaries, coastal dunes, and sandy beaches. Facilities include research labs, classrooms, many large aquariums, a computer lab, and a library overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Activities include: visiting a different tidal area; observing and investigating marine organisms; maintaining a saltwater aquarium so we can design and conduct a project on marine organisms; identifying and preserving Pacific Coast seaweeds; and using sampling methods to document population changes of local and introduced marine species and their ecosystems. We’ll design and conduct investigations during the day and relax, make friends, and play on the beach in the evenings!
Entering Grades 9–12
June 16–21 (Saturday–Thursday) Waitlist Available
Overnight residential camp at Bodega Marine Laboratory
Early Drop-Off & Extended-Day Options
For your convenience, early Drop-Off and Extended-Day options are available for purchase. Campers will take part in fun, supervised before- and after-camp activities.
For Full and Half-Day Campers
7:30–9 a.m.
$75 per week
All Grades
Note: Sign up for Early Drop-Off will end on the Wednesday of the week before the camp begins.
4–5 p.m.
$75 per week
All Grades
5–6 p.m.
$75 per week
All Grades
Special Notes
- Campers are responsible for bringing their own snacks and beverages. Please do not bring peanuts and peanut products, out of consideration for the safety of campers with allergies.
- Campers may visit exhibits, play games, and participate in outdoor science explorations during Extended-Day.
- The Hall is unable to accept drop-in campers on a one-day-at-a-time basis in Extended-Day.
- We are unable to prorate any programs; prices for programs during July 4th Holiday week are already prorated.
Supervised Lunch Option
Supervised lunch hour extends your child’s camp day and enables you to combine a morning and an afternoon camp for a full-day experience. You provide the lunch, and we’ll provide the fun!
For Half-Day Campers, ages 4–5 only
12:00 noon–1:00 p.m.
$60 per week
Supervised Lunch option is available for each week that a camper is enrolled in at least one Half-Day camp that takes place at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Supervised Lunch is not available for off-site camps. All full-day camps include a supervised lunch period at no additional fee. See Special Notes below.
Special Notes
- Campers are responsible for bringing their own lunch, snacks, and beverages for Early Drop-Off, Supervised Lunch, and Extended-Day. Please do not bring peanuts and tree nut products, out of consideration for the safety of campers with allergies.
- Campers may visit exhibits, play games, and participate in outdoor science explorations during Supervised Lunch.
- The Hall is unable to accept drop-in campers on a one-day-at-a-time basis in Supervised Lunch.
- We are unable to prorate any programs; prices for programs during July 4th holiday week are already prorated.
Summer Camp 2018 Prices
Our 2018 Summer Camps have successfully concluded. Thanks for a great summer! Stay alert for 2019 Summer Camps offerings and prices.
Events Calendar
- Saturday Seminar Series 2018-19: Emerging and Converging on Equity, Sep 29
- Amgen Biotech Experience Fall PD, Oct 6-7
- Ten Minutes to Improving Science Achievement (FOSS, NSTA), Oct 11
- FOSS for All Students—Access and Equity (FOSS, NSTA), Oct 11
- Argumentation and Explanation in FOSS Grades (FOSS, NSTA), Oct 11
- Structure and Function in Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (FOSS, NSTA), Oct 11