green background with the text 2026 summer camps

2nd-3rd Grade Camps

NHMU second and third grade camp sessions are for students who will enter either of these grades in the fall. Unless otherwise noted, sessions will run Monday-Thursday. Any exceptions are identified by an asterisk (*) on session listings. Each day-long camp session includes time for a morning and afternoon snack break and a mid-day lunch break.

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 for partner camp sessions.
  • School Schedule: Summer breaks 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 per summer.

Bug Lab

Calling all bug enthusiasts! We invite you to explore the fascinating world of insects and other small critters with hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration and observation, games, art projects, and science labs. We’ll count legs, examine body parts, interact with critters, investigate habitats, and uncover common misconceptions about insects, spiders, worms, and other interesting critters. 

This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Wednesday. No camp on Thursday or Friday. 

*Week 1 | June 8 – 10 (*M – W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $282 | SOLD OUT

*Week 10 | August 10 – 12 (*M – W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $282 | SOLD OUT

Nature Explorers

Partner Camp with Red Butte Garden

Join us for a week of nature explorations! Monday and Tuesday will be spent at Red Butte Garden, where campers will explore several ecosystems and habitats, becoming familiar with native plant species while examining food chains. Wednesday and Thursday will be at the Natural History Museum of Utah, investigating the animals and insects that call Utah home through excursions in the foothills around the Museum. We’ll also spend time learning to use the iNaturalist app as we become Citizen Scientists! 

Drop off and pick up will take place at RBG on M & T and at NHMU on W & Th. No camp on Friday.

Week 2 | June 15 – 18 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Scales to Trails

Partner Camp with Camp Kostopulos

Join us for a week of exploration! Monday and Tuesday will be spent at Camp K as campers explore the beautiful Utah foothills of Emigration Canyon! With exciting hands-on science experiments, creative crafts, and plenty of outdoor fun, campers will dive into nature, discover local plants and wildlife, and learn how they can help protect and preserve the environment—all while making unforgettable summer memories. At the Natural History Museum of Utah on Wednesday and Thursday, campers will delve into the science of paleontology, discovering how fossils are formed, where we find them, and meeting some of the people who prepare and study fossils at the Museum. 

Drop off and pick up will take place at Camp K on Monday and Tuesday and at NHMU on Wednesday and Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 3 | June 22 – 25 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Week 6 | July 13 – 16 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Rock & Roll, Museum-Style

Calling all rockhounds...have we got a great camp for you! Our week will be loaded with geologic investigations from volcanoes and earthquakes to the rock cycle, erosion, and tectonics. We’ll also spend some time diving into fossils and ancient ecosystems. We may even get the inside scoop on new dinosaur discoveries with tours of our Paleo Lab and collections areas. 

This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 4 | June 29 – July 2 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Week 9 | August 3 – 6 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Inside Out

Get ready to crack things open and see what’s really inside. In this camp, curiosity leads the way as campers explore what’s hidden beneath the surface of everyday objects, living things, and creative designs. Kids will take things apart, build models, test ideas, and dream up new inventions while learning how inside parts work together to do a job. Through science, engineering, art, and lots of hands-on play, campers will discover that even small changes on the inside can make a big difference on the outside. 

This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Thursday. No camp on Friday. 

Week 5 | July 6 – 9 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Week 8 | July 27 – 30 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Into the Depths

Partner Camp with Clark Planetarium

Otherworldly explorers unite! At the Planetarium on Monday and Tuesday, campers will explore why scientists believe some moons and planets may hide oceans beneath their surfaces and how astronauts train underwater to prepare for space. Through interactive demonstrations, storytelling, and hands-on activities, students will discover the connections between deep-ocean and space exploration. On Wednesday and Thursday at NHMU, campers will dive from sunlit surface waters into the dark deep sea, uncovering how animals survive extreme pressure, cold, and darkness. Through creative projects and hands-on investigations, campers will explore deep-sea life, remarkable adaptations, and the tools scientists use to study Earth’s most mysterious environments. 

Drop off and pick up will take place at Clark Planetarium on Monday and Tuesday and at NHMU on Wednesday & Thursday. No camp on Friday.

Week 5 | July 6 – 9 (M – Th) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $375 | SOLD OUT

Engineering Through Time

Let’s go on a journey through time, discovering ancient and modern engineering marvels. Campers will investigate, design, and build models of structures that have wowed architects and engineers for years. We’ll travel to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, China, and Rome to understand writing and record keeping as well as aqueducts, canals, and bridges. Lasting structures like the pyramids, the Parthenon, and Stone Hedge as well as baskets and textiles will also be on the docket. 

This camp takes place entirely at NHMU, Monday-Wednesday. No camp on Thursday and Friday. 

*Week 7 | July 20 – 22 (*M – W) | 8:30am – 4:30pm | $282 | SOLD OUT