Animal Mysteries

Want to be a zoologist? Sharpen your observation skills by exploring the Museum’s collections of bones, feathers, and fur! We’ll uncover animal mysteries throughout the Museum—visiting exhibitions like Coast to Cactus in Southern California and Amazement in the Basement. We’ll investigate some of our favorite animals, make crafts, and uncover a new mystery animal each day. 

Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425| Non-members $450 

Insect Investigators

Did you know that all bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs? In this camp, become a junior entomologist for the week and investigate a wide variety of bugs through outdoor garden walks and close encounters of the crawly kind. We will visit our exhibitions, Fossil Mysteries and Coast to Cactus in Southern California, and learn about insects of our region—both past and present. Come and join us as we learn about these mighty micro monsters!

Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425| Non-members $450 

Ocean Commotion

Get ready to submerge yourself in the crazy commotion of the underwater world. Slip on your imaginary wetsuit to investigate various sea life, kelp forests, and tiny ocean critters living off San Diego’s coast. Join us as we sing sea shanties, make fishy art, and dive into the depths of our oceans. It is sure to be a whale of a time! 

Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425| Non-members $450 

Paleo Palooza

Join the expedition to our prehistoric past. Take a journey with us to explore the mystery of fossils and practice fieldwork just like real paleontologists. We’ll jump right in with hands-on activities and exploration of the Park to unearth the truth about some of our favorite animals, from dinosaurs to whales. We will visit the Museum’s exhibitions Fossil Mysteries, Coast to Cactus in Southern California, and Amazement in the Basement.Perhaps we’ll run into a real paleontologist! Come prepared for the paleo party!

Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425 | Non-members $450 

Backyard Wilderness

San Diego is an amazing place. We can journey from our rich coastline to the mountains and from forests to the rugged desert wilderness—all in one day! Come explore the plants and animals (both past and present) in our backyard and learn why San Diego is considered the most diverse county in the lower 48 states. Through hands-on exploration at the Museum and throughout Balboa Park, test your tracking skills, look for creative inspiration in nature, and experience how the Kumeyaay People take care of nature in this region.

Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425| Non-members $450 

Paleo Palooza

Join the expedition to our prehistoric past. Take a journey with us to explore the mystery of fossils and practice fieldwork just like real paleontologists. We’ll jump right in with hands-on activities and exploration of the Park to unearth the truth about some of our favorite animals, from dinosaurs to whales. We will visit the Museum’s exhibitions Fossil Mysteries, Coast to Cactus in Southern California, and Amazement in the Basement.Perhaps we’ll run into a real paleontologist! Come prepared for the paleo party!

Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7 | 9 AM–3 PM
Members $425 | Non-members $450 

Paleo FBI

Do you “dig” paleontology? Ever wonder how fossils are formed and found? Then, join the Fossil Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In this camp, we’ll learn and work like real scientists. We’ll travel back to the age of dinosaurs as we unlock fossil mysteries and look at local discoveries uncovered by the Museum’s own paleontology department. We’ll conduct hands-on experiments, make art projects, and take regular trips to the exhibitions within the Museum and walk through Balboa Park.

Guardians of the Globe

Are you interested in protecting, saving, and defending the plants and animals that share our planet? We want you to join the Guardians of the Globe as we investigate and discover solutions to the human impacts that are affecting our world. We’ll conduct experiments, solve challenges, and draw inspiration from the best teacher of all—nature! 

Explore Balboa Park

How lucky are we to live in a city that is home to Balboa Park? Come explore the Park’s gardens, learn its unique history, and discover its natural beauty each day. We’ll visit other museums and take an extra special look at The Nat, the oldest scientific institution in Southern California. We’ll hike, create art projects, and uncover the hidden secrets of the Park. Let’s put on our walking shoes and celebrate all things Balboa Park!

I’m an Ologist 

Ever wonder what it would be like to be a scientist at The Nat? Spend the week in the shoes of a paleontologist, entomologist, herpetologist, ornithologist, and botanist! Each day, we’ll discover a new natural science, conduct experiments, create crafts, and spend time in our natural world. Who knew natural science could be so fun? 

Rock On! 

Discover the splendor and science found right under your feet! San Diego is one of the most famous gem-producing regions in the world, but where do these minerals come from, and how are they formed? We will answer these questions and more as we explore the dynamic forces that are continually changing Earth. We’ll make art projects, perform experiments, and visit Museum exhibitions like Hidden Gems. Rock on!

Cold Blooded Critters

Slither your way into an unforgettable week of reptile and amphibian exploration. Dispel common “tall tales” about these fascinating cold-blooded creatures with a visit to the Museum’s Living Lab and its herpetological collection—where there are over 73,000 fluid-preserved specimens! Investigate the diversity of these critters as we track them on hikes throughout Balboa Park.  

Deep Sea Adventure

Dive into a week of ocean discovery. Explore the deep blue and the fascinating creatures, both big and small, found beneath the waves. We’ll spend lots of time in the Museum investigating animals ranging from plankton to the great blue whale. We’ll also delve into marine conservation and how we can protect our great Pacific Ocean. Spend an engaging week conducting experiments, playing games, and making ocean-inspired art.

Bug Hunter

Step into the role of an entomology explorer as we investigate the world of insects and other crawling creatures. We will learn about a wide variety of bugs through outdoor garden investigations, general classification, artistic renderings, and close encounters of the bug kind. We’ll venture into the Museum’s exhibitions, take exploratory hikes in the park, and uncover how these tiny organisms shape ecosystems—from the distant past to today. Get ready for a week of discovery as we zoom in on some of nature’s most fascinating small-scale wonders. 

Nature Challenge

Nature meets technology in this interactive exploration of Balboa Park. Peek behind the scenes at our research collections to learn how our scientists study and help save a variety of species. Step into the role of a scientist as you collect plant and animal observations during expeditions around the Park. At the end of the week, we’ll share our findings, giving friends and family a chance to see what we have discovered.

Digital Storytelling

We’re mixing technology with science and storytelling in this middle school camp experience. Learn how digital devices like smartphones and tablets change how people interact with nature. We’ll use iPads to learn the basics of digital storytelling. Then, you and your fellow campers will dig into the Museum’s collections and the beautiful surroundings of Balboa Park to create stories about how you experience the natural world. The week will end with a film festival of your stories, giving your invited guests a chance to see your masterpiece!