Explorers Adventures Full Day Camp
Children Entering Grades 3 – 7
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Meets at the Knobloch Family Farmhouse
Campers will explore all aspects of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in this hands-on, exciting camp. From Heckscher Farm and our nature trails to streams and ponds, campers will be working with animals, planting in our garden, studying vernal pool amphibians, and more. Each session will consist of a mix of field studies, farm experiences, live animal interaction, arts and crafts, and nature exploration specially designed to get older campers excited about the outdoors.
Days will include special guests, behind the-scenes visits on Heckscher Farm, live animal handling, and cooking experiences! Camp staff includes full-time SM&NC Environmental Educators and experienced seasonal educators.
Each session is designed to be unique, providing fresh experiences each week for campers enrolled in multiple sessions. New themes will ensure exciting encounters for first year and seasoned campers alike. Please refer to individual session descriptions to see which weeks pique your camper’s interest. Each week is limited to 14 campers for a small group experience.
Online Registration opens:
Monday, February 10
Director's Circle, Family Premium & Plus Members
Thursday, February 13
Family Level Members
Opens online at 9:00 am
Camp Quick Links
Camp Refund Policy
Registration Information
Summer Camp FAQs
Camp Forms: Fillable Online
Allergy Forms: Download PDF
Physician Form: Download PDF
Camp Fees
Session 1
$368/Member Child
Capacity: 14 Campers
Session 2 – 6
$460/Member Child
Capacity: 14 Campers
Summer Camp Sessions
Is the session that you are interested in sold out? Join our waitlist! Email the name of your child and the session(s) you are interested in to summercamp@stamfordmuseum.org. We will contact you if and when an opening becomes available.
Session 1: Herpetology 101-FULL
June 30 – July 3 (4 day session)
Our popular week focusing on reptiles and amphibians is back! Discover how to identify our local reptiles and amphibians, including Connecticut’s native snakes. Work with our exotic reptiles and amphibians in our Heckscher WILD! and learn how to properly handle reptiles in the field. We’ll search the SM&NC grounds for reptile and amphibian species and hike to the Bartlett Arboretum to see what species we can find there.
Session 2: Forest Naturalists
July 7 – 11
If a tree falls in the forest, what will live inside it? Spend a week exploring the SM&NC trails to learn how scientists study and protect the forest environments of Connecticut and all around the world. We’ll discover who and what lives in the woods, from below the roots to the upper canopy, and even learn how to find out long-lost secrets from the trees themselves. Join us for a woodland adventure and come see the forest for the trees!
Session 3: The Great Invertebrate Date-FULL
July 14 – 18
Just the camp for anyone who loves the slimy, crawly, and many-legged! Come face to face with the smallest but most important members of the animal kingdom: invertebrates! Whether they’re soft and squishy or hidden in a hard shell, we’ll meet all kinds of bugs, worms, and everything in between. Learn how to sample wild invertebrates from around the SMNC woods, as well as care for our own living collection of millipedes, Madagascar hissing roaches, and tarantulas. No spine required for this camp!
Session 4: Fossils Rock!-LIMITED
July 21 –25
Travel through time as we explore the prehistory of Connecticut, from the formation of the earth to the glaciers of the Ice Age! Explore the geologic processes that shaped our ancient landscape, discover the plants and animals that used to call Connecticut home, and learn how scientists unearth evidence to understand extinct species by examining our own extensive SM&NC fossil collection. Leave no stone unturned as we discover how to unlock the secrets of the ancient past! We’ll take a field trip to the Bruce Museum to check out their amazing rock specimens too.
Session 5: Mechanical Masterminds-FULL
July 28 – August 1
Are you the type to take something apart just to put it back together? Do you feel the need to know how everything fits together? This camp is the perfect place to unleash your inner inventor! We’ll design gadgets, disassemble household mechanics, and explore how simple machines have been the backbone of technology for thousands of years. Join us for summer camp with all the bells and whistles!
Session 6: Chromatic Fanatics-FULL
August 4 – 8
Spend a week exploring colors of both biotic and abiotic features in the environment. Explore how some color adaptations are practical, like chlorophyll, how some are designed to blend in, and how some are meant to stand out. Create a unique masterpiece added to each day as we learn more and more about the colors that surround us, and how we can use them to express ourselves in art!
Questions?
If you have questions about summer camp content or procedures, please contact our Camp Director at summercamp@stamfordmuseum.org or 203.977.6568.
For questions about the registration process or if you are having difficulties with your account, please call our Visitor Services team at 203.977.6521.
Please ensure that you are registering your child for the correct age/grade camps. Registrations for children outside the camps listed age/grade of will be cancelled and refunded. If you have questions, please contact Summer Camp Director, Lisa Monachelli at lmonachelli@stamfordmuseum.org.