4th & 5th Grade Sneak Peek

2025 Summer Camp Registration

Registration will open to our Copper Club Members on February 26, to our Museum Members at the Family level and above on March 4, and to the public on March 10—all at 9am. If you're unsure if your membership information is up to date, don't hesitate to reach out to our Museum Membership team!

Download the Complete Summer Camp Schedule

Download the 4th-5th Grade Summer Camp Overview

Fourth and Fifth Grade Summer Camp Sessions

NHMU fourth and fifth grade camp sessions are for students who will enter either of these grades in the fall of 2025. Most sessions are offered in a full-day, Monday-Thursday format with no camp on Friday. There are three special 3-day weeks (M-W). We'll have a morning and an afternoon snack break, along with a midday lunch break. Two substantial snacks, a non-refrigerated lunch, and a water bottle will need to be brought from home each day. Camp sessions of the same name are the exact same camp, just offered at a different time so please don’t register for both. And remember, Museum Members receive a discount! Become a Member today!

Important Details:

Food and Drink: Pack two substantial snacks, a non-refrigerated lunch, and a reusable water bottle daily.
Session Registration: Camps with the same title are identical; register for only one session of each camp.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Held at NHMU unless otherwise specified.
School Schedule: Summer break start and end dates vary by school district, so please check your school’s calendar before registering.

Registration Limit: Due to Utah childcare licensing exemptions for out-of-school programs, each camper may attend a maximum of five weeks of camp.

Fossil & Artifact Investigations

Become a time detective and learn how to decode the imprints left behind by our ancestors and the animals that once roamed the earth to unlock the mysteries of our shared past! In this camp we will explore the sciences of archaeology, paleoanthropology, and paleontology, to investigate the lives of humans, pre-humans and animals who lived long ago. From fossilized remains and evolutionary traces to ancient tools and pottery, you’ll uncover how these remnants help scientists piece together the behavior, environment, and evolution of lifeforms.

*Week 1 | June 9 – 11 (*M-W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $273.75

*Week 7 | July 21 – 23 (*M-W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $273.75

Expedition Wildlife

Partner Camp with Camp Kostopulos

Let’s explore! Monday and Tuesday at Camp K participants will explore the Utah foothills in Emigration Canyon, where the wonders of the wild come to life. Embark on an adventure around Camp K exploring local ecosystems of forests, ponds, and wildlife habitats. Campers will also enjoy nature-inspired art, hike through our beautiful trails, fishing, horseback riding, explore our challenge ropes course elements, cool off at our brand-new splash pad with interactive water features, and create music with our brand-new outdoor musical instruments. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent at the Museum, learning about Citizen Science and wildlife conservation. We’ll utilize iNaturalist, an app that serves a global community for nature observation and identification and get up close and personal with several of our education animals while also learning about problems and solutions to animal endangerment and protection. Drop off and pick up on Monday and Tuesday take place at Camp K. Wednesday and Thursday will be at NHMU. No camp on Friday.

Week 3 | June 23 – 26 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Week 6 | July 14 – 17 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Ancient Ecosystems

Journey back in time as we explore Earth's most extreme environments—from ice age events to vast deserts, ancient seaways, and tropical rainforests. Campers will discover how life adapted to these changing environments, from giant bugs with wingspans the size of birds, to animals with specialized fur and evolutionary shells that helped them survive. Through hands-on activities, exciting experiments, and visits to NHMU’s new Ice Age exhibit, we'll uncover the secrets of ancient ecosystems and how they shaped the world we live in today. Get ready for an adventure that spans millions of years—where you'll discover, explore, and evolve just like Earth’s ancient creatures!

Week 3 | June 23 – 26 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Week 8 | July 28 – 31 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Behind the Scenes

Join us to find out what it takes to run a world class Museum. As Utah’s state natural history museum, NHMU introduces the amazing variety of Utah’s geology, flora, and fauna—both ancient and modern. With over 5,000 artifacts on display, and many more behind the scenes, campers will experience a wide variety of hands-on exploration from touring collections, labs, and exhibits to learning from curators and staff. Campers will also have an opportunity to curate their own display of the “Museum of Me.”

Week 4 | June 30 – July 3 | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Dynamic Universe

Partner Camp with the Clark Planetarium

Explore the wonders of Earth and space in this exciting week-long adventure! While at Clark Planetarium on Monday and Tuesday, campers will discover spectroscopy and other techniques for studying our universe by participating in exciting art and science projects. At NHMU on Wednesday and Thursday, campers will investigate the forces that shape our planet, from weathering and the water cycle to soil science, rocks, and natural disasters. By the end of the week, campers will have a deeper understanding of the dynamic processes that connect Earth and our solar system. Drop off and pick up on Monday and Tuesday takes place at Clark Planetarium. Wednesday and Thursday will be at NHMU. No camp on Friday.

Week 5 | July 7 – 10 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Geology 101

Calling all rockhounds! Get ready for an unforgettable adventure as we dive into the dynamic world of Earth science. Throughout the week, campers will embark on an exciting journey to uncover the mysteries of our planet’s past and present. From understanding rocks and minerals to exploring the forces that shape our landscapes, this camp will ignite your curiosity about geology, fossils, and Earth’s ever-changing systems. Campers will explore topics like the age of Earth, volcanoes, geysers, and the wonders of luminescence. Campers will engage in hands-on activities, go on a field trips to the University Campus, and start a rock collection—don’t miss out on the chance to uncover the secrets of the Earth!

Week 6 | July 14 – 17 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Nature of Color

Partner Camp with Visual Art Institute

Join us as we explore the intersection of art and science. Monday and Tuesday will have campers at the Visual Arts Institute engaging in diverse art forms like sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and painting. Campers will make their own modeling clay, understand sculpting tools, experiment with cyanotype photography, discover color combinations in printmaking, and even create creatures by studying animal skeletal structures. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent at NHMU exploring color through the lens of biology, chemistry, and physics. From learning about eyesight and understanding camouflage to finding out what colors absorb more heat, and why the sky turns red at sunset and sunrise—these are just a few of the questions we’ll investigate. Drop off and pick up takes place at VIA on Monday and Tuesday and at the NHMU on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 9 | August 4 – 7 (M-Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $365

Architects & Engineers

Gear up to level up your engineering skills with exciting daily challenges and hands-on projects! Throughout this 3-day week, campers will tackle real-world problems by designing creative solutions using common household materials. They’ll dive into robotics with VEX IQ Robots, explore the wonders of electrical circuits, and build impressive LEGO creations while discovering essential engineering concepts. Whether you’re a first-time builder or an experienced innovator, this camp is the ultimate way to unleash your creativity, problem-solving skills, and engineering potential!

*Week 10 | August 11 – 13 (*M-W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $273.75