Enrollment Dates
Discovery Circle – January 20
Supporting – January 27
Family & Family Access – February 3
General Public – February 10
3 year old camps
Becoming an Artist
Ages: 3 year-old
Dates: June 8-12, *Jun 15-18
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Price: $465
Aftercare: 1 – 4PM, $460
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19. Tuition is pro-rated to $375. Aftercare is prorated to $370.
Campers will discover their inner artist as they paint, draw, sculpt, and collage creations of their imagination! Explore lines, texture, shape, and color while discovering the wonders of clay, paint, paper, glue, and beyond!
Great for doodlers, builders, and crafters who love to bring their ideas to life!
Becoming a Scientist
Ages: 3 year-old
Dates: Jun. 22-26, *Jun.29-Jul. 2
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Price: $465
Aftercare: 1 – 4PM, $460
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on July 3. Tuition is pro-rated to $375. Aftercare is prorated to $370.
Campers will unleash their curiosity in the laboratory of life! Concoct mixtures, dissect and inspect plants, craft herbal formulas and discover the dance of light and shadow. Little ones will experiment with tools like beakers, magnifying glasses, and light tables as they learn with new and old friends!
Ideal for the kid who is always asking “why?”
Becoming an Engineer
Ages: 3 year-old
Dates: July 6- 10, July 13-17
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Price: $465
Aftercare: 1 – 4PM, $460
Learning to Think, Make, Try with our littlest learners! Campers will bring their imagination to life in the Think, Make, Try studio as they draw blueprints, create prototypes, make hypotheses, test it out, try again: learning the process of bringing dreams to life.
Great for the kid who loves building, problem-solving, and turning big ideas into real-life creations!
Becoming a Naturalist
Ages: 3 year-old
Dates: July 20-24, July 27-31
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Price: $465
Aftercare: 1 – 4PM, $460
Welcome wild ones! Campers become young explorers, venturing through rainforests, tundra, oceans and deserts to learn what makes the earth’s ecosystems (including the Bay Area’s) so wildly wonderful. Becoming a Naturalist is an epic blend of science, creativity, and hands-on exploration!
Wonderful for the kid who loves to forage and observe the changing seasons!
Becoming an Entertainer
Ages: 3 year-old
Dates: Aug 3-7, Aug 10-14
Time: 9AM – 1PM
Price: $465
Aftercare: 1 – 4PM, $460
A gentle first step onto the stage for younger campers as they create props, try puppet storytelling, and explore music through movement. With wearable bells and scenes to set, every child gets a chance to shine.
Perfect for the child who loves pretend play, songs, and putting on a performance for family.
4 year old camps
Brushes and Beats
Ages: 4 year-old
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, Jun. 22-26, *Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, Aug. 17-21
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Get creative and groove! Campers will dive into vibrant art projects, lively music-making, and hands-on activities that let them move, express themselves, and let their creativity shine.
Perfect for the kid with big ideas and boundless creativity!
It’s A Bug’s Life
Ages: 4 year-old
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, Jun. 22-26, July 6- 10, July 13-17, July 27-31, Aug. 3-7, Aug. 10-14
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Creep, crawl, and explore! Young entomologists will discover how insects grow, change, and thrive as they head outdoors for nature hikes and close-up investigations. Packed with hands-on discovery, creativity, and fresh air fun.
Perfect for the kid who’s always spotting tiny creatures!
Superheroes!
Ages: 4 year-old
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, *Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 6- 10, July 20-24, July 27-31, Aug. 3-7, Aug. 10-14
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Suit up for adventure! Campers will explore what it means to be a hero through teamwork, imaginative play, and power-packed challenges that spark courage and creativity.
Perfect for the kid ready to unleash their super skills!
5 – 6 year old camps
Kaboom!
Ages: 5 – 6 year-olds
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, Jun. 22-26, *Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 6- 10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, Aug. 3-7, Aug. 10-14
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Mix, fizz, and experiment! Campers will pour, stir, and create eye-popping chemical reactions as they uncover the magic hiding in everyday science.
Perfect for the kid who loves a good “wow—did you see that?!” moment
Recipe for Discovery
Ages: 5 – 6 year-olds
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, Jun. 22-26, *Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 6- 10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, Aug. 3-7, Aug. 10-14
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Welcome to the Cook’s Kitchen! Each day, campers will explore culinary flavors and skills like measuring, mixing, and molecular gastronomy. Recipe for Discovery offers a tasty adventure in cooking and kitchen science. Campers will also learn about the importance of fresh ingredients and basic food prep techniques, empowering them to commence their cooking careers.
Perfect for the kid who loves helping in the kitchen or experimenting with food!
Eco-Explorers
Ages: 5 – 6 year-olds
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, *Jun. 15-18, Jun. 22-26, *Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 6- 10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, Aug. 3-7, Aug. 10-14, Aug. 17-21
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $640
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $515. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Nature, Unleashed! Campers will dive into a new ecosystem each day, exploring how animals, plants, and people all connect in our amazing world through hands-on adventures indoors and out.
Perfect for the kid who’s happiest with a magnifying glass in hand.
7 – 8 year old camps
Stop Motion Studios
Ages: 7 – 8 year-olds
Available Dates: Jun. 8-12, Jun. 22-26, July 6- 10, July 20-24, Aug. 3-7, Aug.17-21
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $725
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
Ready, set, clay! Campers will dive into the magical world of claymation as they sculpt characters, build stories, and animate their very own short films using kid-friendly tools and stop-motion techniques. Our scenic campus becomes a real-life backdrop fueling stories, and creative inspiration and plenty of outside play!
Perfect for the kid who loves bringing their stories to life!
Junior Coders
Ages: 7 – 8 year-olds
Available Dates: Jun. 15-18, Jun.29-Jul. 2, July 13-17, July 27-31, Aug. 10-14
Time: 9AM – 3PM
Price: $725
Aftercare: 3 – 4PM, $130
*Note: This a 4 day camp week. There is no camp on June 19th and July 3rd. Tuition is pro-rated to $580. Aftercare is prorated to $105.
Design, code and bring to life! Campers will learn the basics of programming as they build robots, create simple games, and engineer moving masterpieces through hands-on exploration. Plus, plenty of outdoor play and exploration on our stunning campus keeps creativity flowing all day long.
Perfect for the builder, creator, and future coder!
FAQ
What are Discovery Camps?
Discovery Camps are available for children ages 3 through 8 and offer the best of the museum! Our educators provide a well-rounded STEAM experience and campers will get to participate in a variety of art, science, nature and engineering projects in each camp experience.
- Discovery Camp 3-year-old offerings are available during Spring Break and Summer.
- School Year Break Camps are only offered for children ages 4 through 7.
How do I register for Discovery Camps?
- Once registration is open, you can register and purchase camps online through the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s website.
- From the camps webpage, click on the “Enroll your Camper” button.
- If you haven’t already, you will need to create a Campsite account to enroll in camps.
- Once you create an account, you will be able to select camps and checkout online.
What are the requirements for campers to attend?
- Be fully toilet trained and able to use the restroom and change their clothes independently.
- Have experience separating from caregivers in a drop-off setting, such as school or daycare.
- Have reached the age requirement of the desired camp prior to the camp start date.
What does a typical 4–8-year-old camp day look like?
- 9:00 Drop off/Check-In
- 9:15-9:30 Opening Circle Time
- 9:30-10:15 Themed activities/museum exploration/hike
- 10:15-10:45 Snack
- 10:45-11:25 Themed activities/museum exploration/hike
- 11:30-12:30 Lunch
- 12:40-1:40 Themed activities/museum exploration/hike
- 1:40-2:00 Snack
- 2:00-2:35 Themed activities/museum exploration/hike
- 2:35-2:45 Cleanup and Pack Up
- 2:45-3:00 Pick Up
What does a typical 3-year-old camp day look like?
- 9:00 Drop off/Check-In
- 9:15-11:00 Storytime/rotating activity stations/snack
- 11:00-12:15 Outdoor activities/hike
- 12:15-12:50 Lunch
- 1:00-1:15 Pick Up
If campers are enrolled in aftercare: - 1:00-2:20 Naptime (Campers are not required to nap, but are encouraged to rest)
- 2:30-3:45 Rotating activity stations/museum exploration/snack
- 3:45-4:00 Pick Up
Do you provide snacks or lunch?
Meals and snacks from the museum’s on-site cafe, Bean Sprouts, are provided at an additional cost for our weeklong camps. You can add meals for up to one week before your camp, either when you enroll or by emailing us at camps@badm.org. If you choose not to add meals from Bean Sprouts, please send your camper with lunch and two snacks each day.”
How will I learn about what my child is doing?
At the end of each day, a summary of the day’s activities will be sent out via email. It will include a few questions to ask your camper and a hint about what to expect for tomorrow, if applicable.
Do you offer scholarships for camps?
At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, we strive to make camp available to all. We offer a limited amount of scholarships for each session of camp. You can apply for a scholarship here. Please allow 2 weeks for our staff to process your application. Scholarship applications will open in January for Summer 2026 camps.
What is your refund policy?
- Cancellations for Discovery Camps more than one month prior to a session’s start date are refunded, minus a cancellation fee of $100 per session cancelled.
- Cancellations within one month of a session’s start date will not receive a refund of any amount.
- Transfers between sessions or themes incur a $25 administrative fee per change.
- The museum reserves the right to cancel camps due to insufficient enrollment. If a camp is cancelled, transfers will be offered, or refunds will be issued with no additional fees.
What if I don’t see a camp scheduled for my child’s school break?
See options to Build a Camp session here.
What is your bathroom policy for campers?
- Our 3-year-old camp program is designed for campers who are toilet-trained. At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, toilet-trained means campers are non-diapered and capable of changing their own clothes without assistance.
- Campers must do their own wiping.
- Our Camp Staff will support in the case of bathroom accidents and stand outside to coach young campers through the process but will not be permitted to be inside the restroom stall with campers during bathroom breaks.
Questions?
Have questions about Discovery Camps? Email us at camps@badm.org.