Summer camps at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium provide children entering K–8th grade with engaging, interactive programs during the summer months. Participants must bring a sack lunch and reusable water bottle for full day camps. Campers are divided by grade level.
Schedule:
Elementary School Camps: 9 AM - 4 PM
Middle School Camp is for those entering 6th-8th grades. It is a 2-day camp and includes an overnight at the River Museum. Arrive at 9 AM on July 1 and leave at 4 PM on July 2.
Cost:
Elementary School Camps: Members: $120 | Non-members: $150
Middle School Camp: Members: $150 | Non-members: $180
For Members
Members receive a discount on camp pricing. To ensure your discount is received, you must create a username and password, using the same email address that is on your membership account. To log in or register your account, select your purchase. After you're directed to a new page, you'll have the option to select "Sign-In" or "Register" in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Scholarships
A limited number of Summer Camp Scholarships are available to those who are in need of assistance. If you have any questions or would like information, please contact our education team at the email below.
For questions on summer camps, please contact our education team at learning@rivermuseum.org.
Full refunds or transfers will be granted up to two weeks prior to each camp.
June 16-20th: KinderKamp- Junior Paleontologists (entering Kindergarten)
Grab your sun hats, magnifying glasses, and brushes, and step into the shoes of a Junior Paleontologist for the day! Join us as we embark on an exciting adventure to unearth the secrets of polar dinosaurs. As Junior Paleontologists, you'll learn what it takes to dig into the past, conduct your very own dinosaur digs, and explore the fascinating Ice Dinosaurs exhibit—and so much more!
July 1st-2nd: Middle School- Ice Dinosaurs Discovery (6th-8th grades, includes overnight)
Travel back to the icy world of the Late Cretaceous and uncover the secrets of dinosaurs that once roamed the Arctic Circle! In this thrilling camp, we'll explore how these ancient creatures adapted to survive extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and long winters. During the camp, we’ll visit the Ice Dinosaurs exhibit, engage in hands-on paleontological activities, and take home your own "fossils" from this Arctic adventure!
June 24th-June 26th: Ice Dinosaurs Discovery (1st-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade)
Travel back to the icy world of the Late Cretaceous and uncover the secrets of dinosaurs that once roamed the Arctic Circle! In this thrilling camp, we'll explore how these ancient creatures adapted to survive extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and long winters. During the camp, we’ll visit the Ice Dinosaurs exhibit, engage in hands-on paleontological activities, and take home your own "fossils" from this Arctic adventure!
Register Here- 1&2
July 8th-July 10th: Roots, Shoots, Flowers, and Fruits (1st-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade)
Do you have a green thumb? Join us for an exciting camp experience as we dive into the fascinating world of plants! From learning how roots grow to discovering how plants blossom and bear fruit, we’ll explore what makes a plant thrive. Throughout the camp, we’ll plant our own seeds, watch them grow over the course of three days, and even have the chance to taste the fruits of some plants!
July 15th-July 17th: Raiders of the Lost Artifacts (1st-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade)
Set in a mysterious museum filled with ancient relics, hidden treasures, and forgotten stories, this immersive camp invites young explorers to join a thrilling scavenger hunt for lost artifacts. Campers will work in teams to solve puzzles, decode clues, and discover hidden chambers, all while learning about history and archaeology. The camp concludes with an exciting quest to find a secret treasure hidden deep within the museum’s vaults.
July 22nd-July 24th: River Rats (1st-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade)
Slip on your mud boots and join us for a hands-on adventure in river science! Roll up your sleeves and explore our wetland area as we collect water samples, search for frogs, and uncover tiny aquatic insects with magnifying glasses. Together, we'll use our findings to help protect and preserve the environment!
July 29th-July 31st: Ice Age Giants: Dinosaurs of the Frozen Past (1st-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade)
Join us at this chilling camp where we journey through time exploring four distinct periods of Earth's past. From the coldest corners of the Triassic to the frosty tundra’s of the Late Cretaceous, we'll uncover how different groups of ice-adapted dinosaurs survived harsh climates and developed extraordinary traits to thrive in the face of extreme cold. Do you have what it takes to step into the claws of these frozen giants and face the challenges they endured?