Summer Day Camps

Home Education Summer Day Camps

Camps take place across Thanksgiving Point 

June-August 2021

On Sale Now!

 

See Age Groups below to Register.

SUMMER DAY CAMPS ARE HERE

Summer at Thanksgiving Point means there is no chance for the summertime blues! This year, watch your child transform through fun learning experiences as they blast to the past discovering dinosaurs, live in the moment creating unique art, and see the future experimenting with topics in STEM.  Children will connect with each other and the world around them while becoming more confident to reach for their stars as they gain valuable skills that will stay with them, even when summer is gone. 

During our summer camps there is something for every child in your household, and Thanksgiving Point welcomes all children, ages, and abilities. Preschoolers can come join the fun with classes on everything from dinosaurs to music while elementary-aged kids can participate in day or weeklong camps. There are even classes geared toward middle school and high school kids to surely stimulate and engage their minds during the summer. Don't forget - Thanksgiving Point Members get exclusive Summer Day Camp registration during our Members-only pre-sale from March 1st-7th, as well as a 10% discount all season long.

Class sizes are limited and popular classes fill up quickly, so don't delay. See our FAQs below for more questions and answers! 

 

Summer Day Camps and COVID-19

We understand that many families likely have concerns about Summer Day Camps and how they are affected by COVID-19. Some of our current strategies for preventing the spread of communicable disease and illness including COVID-19 include:

  • Building a camp culture that takes health and hygiene seriously and keeps the precautions on the front of the minds of campers and staff. 
  • Masks/face coverings are optional. View our full mask policy HERE. 
  • We will ask that campers with any illness please stay home, as well as participants who have been exposed to a person who is suspected to have contracted coronavirus.

 

New This Year - Signature Summer Camps!

Debuting in 2021, several camps have been specifically designed to give campers a fully immersive experience with unique behind the scenes experiences in Thanksgiving Point’s venues. Signature Summer Camps follow the same schedule structure as regular summer camps, and will include immersive classrooms and activities, and opportunities to continue the learning as a family once camp is over.  Learn more below under 'Signature Camps' or in respective age groups. 

 

 

Class Offerings

Thanksgiving Point is committed to creating a positive experience for all children. We have a professional inclusion support team who can provide varying levels of assistance to children, based on availability. Please call Rilee Scoresby, Summer Camp Coordinator at 801.768.4994 to learn more or to request support.

For children and youth of all ages who attend Thanksgiving Point Summer Camps. Offered daily, from 3:00-5:30pm. Professional staff in our Learning and Engagement department make connections from the camp day to the experiences in the Museum of Natural Curiosity. They will facilitate free play and exploration, games and activities, and learning through child-led inquiry.

After Camp Connections close 2 weeks prior to the selected date.

After Camp Connections
Daily, 3:00pm-5:30pm
$25 per day

 

REGISTER HERE

New this year, several camps have been specifically designed to give campers a fully immersive experience with unique behind the scenes experiences in Thanksgiving Point’s venues. Signature Summer Camps follow the same schedule structure as regular summer camps, and will include immersive classrooms and activities, and opportunities to continue the learning as a family once camp is over.  

Below are the Signature Camps we are offering this year. Find more details or register under their respective age range. 

 

K-1

  • Farm Explorers
  • Exploring Engineering
  • Exploring Entomology
  • Exploring Paleontology

2nd-3rd Grade

  • Jr. Farmer
  • Jr. Maker
  • Jr. Engineer
  • Thanksgiving Point Explorer
  • Jr. Paleontologist
  • Jr. Entomologist

4th-5th Grade

  • Entomologist Experience
  • Design Challenge
  • Paleontologist Experience
  • Farm to Table
  • Makerspace Experience

6th-7th Grade

  • Makerspace Madness
  • Mystery at the Biosphere

A fun adventure for youth with autism, ages 11-18 (or entering grades 6th-12th in the fall of 2021). The camp runs Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm each day. Autism Adventure Camp is $140. Children will grow and connect with other children as they explore in the Museum of Natural Curiosity. Participants must be verbal, must be able to use the restroom independently.

 

July 19-22

 

The adventure education process has a unique ability to develop increased social awareness and connection in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The seven stages of adventure are name games, deinhibitizers, communication, problem solving- trust, low ropes, and then high ropes elements. Children with ASD will be taken through these seven stages and be guided to expand their current social understanding and aptitude.

 

SINGLE DAY CAMPS

Preschool Single Day Camps are offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. Camps are geared toward ages 3-5 and run 9:30 am - 12 noon. Each session is $40. Participants must be able to use the bathroom independently.

 



Count the Beat
Make every drumbeat count with this instrumental camp! The little dancers in your life will love to boogie down to different rhythms and beats, make an instrument, and search for patterns in music.

August 2: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 3: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 4: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT

 

Farm Adventure 
Come on an adventure around Farm Country- the only thing you need bring are your 5 senses!

August 9: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 10: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 11: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT

 

Pirate Quest 
Time to put your pirate hat on and weigh anchor!

August 16: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 17: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 18: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT

Splash Into Discovery
Your child will experience more than just splashing as they use water as a tool to hone those fine motor skills and polish up on social interaction!

August 23: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 24: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT
August 25: 9:30 am - SOLD OUT

 

MULTI-DAY CAMPS

Preschool Multi-Day Camps are offered on Tuesday (Outdoor Adventures) or Thursdsay (Turkey Tots) mornings for 6 weeks. Camps are geared toward ages 3-5 and run 9:30 am - 12 noon. Each session is $180. Participants must be able to use the bathroom independently.

 

Turkey Tots

Turkey Tots is designed to promote early childhood development and healthy living habits through gardening and farming exploration. We believe that understanding where our food comes from plays a vital role in healthy living habits. In this 6-week summer program we will explore and wonder about the natural world through hands-on, play based learning as we dig, plant, and discover all about farming. 

 

May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24

 

Outdoor Adventures

In Outdoor Adventures, children will explore and discover the wonders of nature all around us. This 6-week summer program will help develop their love of nature and the outdoors through hands-on and play based exploration. We will discover plants, animals, habitats, and culminate with a fun ‘camping’ day complete with camp songs and s’mores. 

 

July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10

 

Kindergarten - 1st Grade Day Camps are for children entering kindergarten or 1st grade in the Fall of 2021 (or ages 5-6). 

 

Week-Long Camps

Kindergarten - 1st Grade Week Long Camps are four day camps that run Monday through Thursday. Choose from AM sessions (9:00am-12:00pm) or PM sessions (12:30pm-3:30pm). Participants may enroll in AM and PM sessions of the same week, staying from 9:00am-3:30pm each day, with complimentary in-between care by our professional staff. Regular sessions are $125. Signature Camps are $140. 

AM Sessions (9:00am-12:00pm)

 

LEGO Robotics
Beep. Boop. Combine a new knowledge of basic robotics and LEGO-building to create crazy, programmable bots from your imagination.

August 2-5, 9:00am - SOLD OUT

 

 

Space Adventure 
Blast off into a space adventure to make discoveries about gravity, stars, and astronauts!

July 26-29, 9:00am - SOLD OUT

 

Exploring Entomology - Signature Camp
Butterflies flutter, bees buzz, ants roam our undergrounds, and arachnids weave amazing webs. Come discover these amazing creatures and their capabilities in an immersive, hands-on experience!

August 2-5, 9:00am - SOLD OUT

 

PM Sessions (12:30pm-3:30pm)

 

 

Exploring Engineering - Signature Camp
Design, build, refine, repeat! Your little engineer will be encouraged to fail forward and problem solve in this hands-on engineering camp.

July 26-29, 12:30pm - SOLD OUT

 

Art in the Garden
Like peanut butter and jelly, needle and thread-nature and art go together. Come practice art skills in a beautiful garden setting!

August 2-5, 12:30pm - SOLD OUT

 

 

SINGLE DAY CAMPS

Kindergarten - 1st Grade Single Day Camps are one day camps that run Wednesdays and Fridays. Choose from AM sessions (9:00am-12:00pm) or PM sessions (12:30pm-3:30pm). Each session is $40.

 

 

Horsing Around
Gallop over to Farm Country to discover more about ponies as we brush, saddle, ride and learn all about our favorite four-legged friends.

July 28, 9:00am - SOLD OUT
July 28, 12:30pm - SOLD OUT
July 30, 9:00am - SOLD OUT
July 30, 12:30pm - SOLD OUT

 

Mini Music Composers
1,2,3,4. A,B,C,D,E,F,G. From counting to the alphabet, there are so many things that can be learned through music!

August 6, 9:00am
August 6, 12:30pm

2nd - 3rd Grade Day Camps are for children entering 2nd or 3rd grade in the Fall of 2021 (or ages 7-8). 

 

Week-Long Camps

2nd-3rd Grade Week Long Camps are four day camps that run Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Regular sessions are $175. Signature Camps are $190.

 

LEGO Creators 
Design, build, and code with Lego. Young engineers will love the challenge!

July 5-8 - SOLD OUT
July 26-29 - SOLD OUT

 

Jr. Paleontologist - Signature Camp 
Has your child ever wanted to be a paleontologist? Even if they haven't, there is lots of fun to be have while experiencing the life of a person who discovers dinosaurs.

July 26-29 - SOLD OUT

 

Jr. Entomologist - Signature Camp
Be an entomologist for the week! See if you have what it takes to care for some of the smallest, yet mightiest creatures on the planet.

August 2-5 - SOLD OUT

 

 

Single Day Camps

2nd-3rd Grade Single Day Camps are one day camps that run on Fridays, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $55.

 

Out of this World
Bring space close to home as you blast off into discovery about starts, planets, and the moon.

July 30 - SOLD OUT

 

Butterfly Bonanaza
Did you know both bonanzas and butterflies represent moments of good fortune? Come learn all about the wonders of butterfly and you may come to understand why they bring such luck!

August 6 - SOLD OUT

 

Friends at the Farm
Get a glimpse into a farmer’s life as you spend a day at farm country!

August 6 - SOLD OUT

 

 

4th - 5th Grade Day Camps are for children entering 4th or 5th grade in the Fall of 2021 (or ages 8-10). 

 

Week-Long Camps

4th - 5th Grade Week Long Camps are four day camps that run Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Regular sessions are $200. Signature Camps are $215.

 

Makerspace Experience - Signature Camp
Makerspace (noun): A place in which people with shared interests can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.

July 26-29 - SOLD OUT

 

Wizard Boot Camp (4th-5th Grade and 6th-7th Grade)
Join magician Jason Fun this summer and explore the world of magic and wizardry! Get sorted into a house team and begin your magical education with a variety of classes and activities all week long.

July 26-29 - SOLD OUT

 

Wonders of Utah
Uncover the dirt and see the many wonderful things Utah has to discover!

August 2-5

 

 

Single Day Camps

4th-5th Grade Single Day Camps are one day camps that run on Fridays, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $55.

 

Stories Bones Tell
Come discover dinosaurs by learning from what knows dinosaurs best, their own fossils!

July 30 - SOLD OUT

 

Water Works
Dive deep into our new Water Works exhibit and experience the wonders of Utah's water.

August 6 - SOLD OUT

6th - 7th Grade Day Camps are for children entering 6th or 7th grade in the Fall of 2021 (or ages 11-12). 

 

Week-Long Camps

6th - 7th Grade Week Long Camps are four day camps that run Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Regular sessions are $200. Signature Camps are $215.

 

 

Mystery at the Biosphere - Signature Camp
Mysterious things are happening in the Butterfly Biosphere! Can you help us get to the bottom of the mystery?

July 26-29

 

Wizard Boot Camp (4th-5th Grade and 6th-7th Grade)
Join magician Jason Fun this summer and explore the world of magic and wizardry! Get sorted into a house team and begin your magical education with a variety of classes and activities all week long.

July 26-29 - SOLD OUT

 

 

Single Day camps

6th-7th Grade Single Day Camps are one day camps that run on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $60.

 

 

Fuel the Future
Corn powered cars, poop power plants, and French fry fueled homes: these are technologies of today. Come explore and create the biofuel technologies of tomorrow!

July 30

 

Blow it Up!
From plants to plastics, from farms to pharmacies, experiment with chemistry as the foundation of most of our modern technologies.

August 4
August 6

 

 

8th - 12th Grade Day Camps are for children entering 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the Fall of 2021 (or ages 13-18). 

 

 

Single Day Camps

8th-12th Grade Single Day Camps are one day camps that run on Tuesdays, from 9:00am-12:00pm. Each session is $50.

 

Sticker Making and Graphic Design
Graphic design is everywhere-and now your designs are going to be stuck all over when you come to create your own sticker designs!

July 6

Join us for a great week of golf for kids of all skill levels, ages 6-15. Even beginners will have a blast. Campers will be able to learn and sharpen their skills with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of iron play, driving, chipping, putting, rules & etiquette. We will also be focusing on fitness, STEM of Golf, and core values learned through playing the game. Each camp will be hosted by Class A PGA Director Tele Wightman and his trained team. Don't hesitate, get them registered today because spots fill up fast!

Thanksgiving Point Golf Club
10:00am-12:00pm
$150 per session

June 7-10 - SOLD OUT
July 19-22 - SOLD OUT
August 9-12 - SOLD OUT

 

FAQs

You will receive a confirmation email a week before your camp is scheduled to begin specifying which of the locations to drop-off/pick-up your child

Preschool campers are dropped off and picked up directly at their designated venue as specified in confirmation emails. 

For any questions please email reservations@thanksgivingpoint.org or call 801-768-4971

 

  • Mask
  • Water bottle
  • Shoes to run in (flip-flops are not recommended)
  • Weather appropriate clothes to explore and play in.
  • Sunscreen – already applied!
  • Thanksgiving Point Institute does not issue refunds for Summer Day Camp registration.

  • Transfers are permitted up to 1 business day or 24 hours in advance with a $10.00 fee based on availability and any cost difference between camps.

  • Substitutions – a neighbor, cousin, sibling, etc. - are accepted up to first day of camp.

  • If a camp is cancelled by Thanksgiving Point Institute due to low enrollment, all fees will be refunded.

  • Online
  • Over the phone – (801) 768-4971
  • In person at the Museum of Ancient Life, 2nd floor, Design and Programming office

Camp curriculum and lesson plans are geared toward the grade your child will be entering into in the Fall of 2021. If you have an older and a younger child you would like to be in the same camp we do allow older children to attend camps one grade lower.

Registration closes two weeks prior to the beginning of camp.

Waitlist for 2021 Summer Camps are now closed. Registration will open for 2022 Summer Camps on March 1st, 2022 for Thanksgiving Point Members and on March 8th for the general public.

Camp sessions vary in price depending on grade, length of day, and days per week. Please check individual camp listings for price information.

 

  • Lunch is provided for all full-day camps and snacks are provided for all camps.
  • If your child has an allergy, please make sure your medical form is up to date and any allergies are clearly communicated to staff. Depending on the allergy and severity, it may be best to bring a lunch from home.

Our camps promote independent learning and socialization opportunities for your child. If you feel your child is unable to remain in camp without you, it may be best to wait a year before you send them to camp.

Depending on which camp you choose your child could be making and programming a Lego EV3 robot, painting with watercolors in the gardens, catching polliwogs and toads to make observations, collecting insects and plants to research, using software to design and 3D print jewelry, or feeding goats and sheep to learn about adaptations.

All of our campers come home with parent letters with additional resources – websites, books, experiments, and activities – to continue the fun all summer long!

Consider registering for a Signature Camp! As part of Signature Camps, each camper will receive vouchers to come do an activity in the venue their camp is in. With these vouchers, families can participate in an activity that is relevant to what they learned at camp to help the learning continue. 

Day Camp Image Gallery

Be in the know!

Enter your information to stay updated on all things Thanksgiving Point!

* Indicates required field