Camp 101

Camper Age Policy

• Camps are available for children who will be entering Kindergarten through 9th grade in fall 2025.
• The camper's grade must fall between the listed range in order to participate in the camp.
• Camps are not designed for children under five.
• High school students, ages 15 and above, may apply for a volunteer position as Youth Teaching Assistants.

Inclusion Policy

At Smithsonian Summer Camp we welcome children, families and staff of all cultures, religions, sexual orientation and gender identification, family constructs and abilities. We do not tolerate aggression, violence, or bullying against one another. We strive to create a fun and educational environment that is respectful, engaging, and safe for all of our children.

Please contact us prior to enrollment if a camper requires individualized medical, behavioral, or social support to ensure a successful experience at Smithsonian Summer Camp. In order to best serve each camper, we encourage you to list any physical, cognitive, medical, emotional, or learning needs or anything else you would like us to know in your registration materials.

Need to discuss any information or concerns?

Drop-off/Pick-up Locations and Procedures

Campers must have their own transportation to and from camp each day. Drop-off for all camps are supervised by Camp Staff each day outside the S. Dillon Ripley Center (unless inclement weather). Approved adults must sign in and out their campers each day.

• Camper drop-off is from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET each morning.
• Camper pick-up is at 4:30 p.m. ET each afternoon.

Review our drop-off/pick-up procedures carefully! This explains how Summer Camp staff will facilitate the arrival and departure of campers each day.

Self-release forms

Self-release forms for campers 13 years and older are available upon request from Camp Staff during Monday Morning Check-In only. The self-release form allows the camper to sign themselves in and out each day, and requires a parent signature and all parent contact information. The self-release form waives all responsibility and liability of the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Associates, and Smithsonian Summer Camp.

Campers under the age of 13 are not permitted to sign themselves in and out regardless of parent approval.

Cancellation Policy

View our cancellation policy

Expectation of Campers

All campers are expected to demonstrate Museum Manners while at camp and visiting the Smithsonian's museums. Museum Manners include acting with respect towards others, being careful of the exhibits, and following instructions from instructors and YTAs. Camps for children going into grades 1 through 3 will also employ the Smithsonian Stars System.

• View information on Smithsonian Stars
• View information on Smithsonian Museum Manners expectations PDF document
• View information on Smithsonian Camp Culture PDF document

Please review these expectations with your camper in the weeks leading up to their camp session. If you have any questions or need clarification about these guidelines, please email SummerCamp@si.edu.

What Campers Should Bring

1. Good shoes for walking (no flip-flops or shoes with wheels, please!)
2. Clothes appropriate for the weather, playing outside and doing crafts
3. Lunch, two additional snacks, and a drink
4. Water bottle (no glass bottles, please) - A refill station will be available

Other helpful tips:

• Put your camper's name on everything that comes to camp — Sometimes items get forgotten or lost and we want to make sure campers go home with everything they brought! Please check lost and found on Friday afternoons.
• Put sunscreen on your child before dropping them off at camp — If they require additional applications, they must bring their own bottle and be able to apply it themselves. Smithsonian Summer Camp does not provide or apply sunscreen.
• Electronic devices are not allowed to be used in the classrooms — They may be used during lunch and in Before- and After-Camp with the permission of the instructor or Camp staff.
• Review the Safety Letter carefully! — This letter covers the procedures followed by Summer Camp staff in the event an emergency should arise.

Monday Morning Check-In

On the Monday of your camper's first week with us this summer, parents and campers must check-in at the Camp Staff table. Here Camp Staff will welcome you to Smithsonian Summer Camp, double-check that we have received all required forms, and give you your camper's T-Shirt. This is also where you drop off your camper's medication, if they have any, and optionally complete a Self-Release form for your 13+ years old camper.

On the Monday of any of your camper's subsequent weeks with us, you can drop your camper off with their YTAs following our usual Drop-off procedures.

Lunch & Snacks

Lunch usually takes place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the National Mall across from the Ripley Center. When camps take all-day field trips, campers will eat at the location of their field trip. In case of inclement weather, lunch will take place inside the Ripley Center.

• Campers should bring their own lunch—we do not provide food for campers.
  Campers do not have access to vending machines, refrigerators, or microwaves, and campers are not permitted to purchase food from street vendors.
• All camps take a morning and/or afternoon snack break.
  Pack your camper two snacks, and ensure campers come to camp with a water bottle every day. Bottle refill stations are available.
• Important: Smithsonian Summer Camp is not a nut-free camp.
  Camp staff strive to accommodate allergies; however, we do not restrict any foods at camp, including nuts. List your campers allergies when registering, and our staff will ensure that your camper's instructor and YTAs are informed.

Medication/Allergies

Sick campers must stay home if they have symptoms such as fever, throwing up, and lice. If your camper is having symptoms the night before, please keep them at home the next day and notify camp staff.

• If your camper needs medication throughout the week, please give it to one of the Camp Staff at the check-in table on Monday morning.
• Camp Staff is not allowed to administer any medication; all medication must be self-administered (with the exception of epi-pens).
• Please make camp staff aware of any medical concerns you may have.
• Camp staff strive to accommodate allergies; however, we do not restrict any foods at camp, including nuts. List your campers allergies when registering, and our staff will ensure that your camper's instructor and YTAs are informed.
• Camp Staff is First Aid/CPR certified.

When do we call you?

There are times when it is necessary to call you or your alternate emergency contact. These include, but are not limited to:

• When a camper has a fever of at least 100.4 degrees.
• When a camper is too ill to continue with the activities.
• When a camper has lice.
• When a camper is being overly disruptive to the camp and campers.
• When a camper exhibits unsafe behaviors in the classroom or in the museums.
• When a camper is physically or verbally hurtful to instructors, staff, or fellow campers.
• When you are late picking up your camper from camp or from After-Camp activities.
• When a camper cannot adhere to Museum Manners or camp expectations after repeated verbal warnings and conversation with Camp Staff. View camper expectations

Field Trips

Camps take field trips almost every day to visit various museums, historic sites, monuments, and the National Zoo. Campers will either walk or take a bus to these locations. Older campers may also take the Metro.

• View Smithsonian's Visiting Tips for current safety policies in all its museums and facilities

Field Trip Costs

Trip costs are included in camp registration. If camp instructors have planned for a field trip outside of the DMV area, more detailed information will be given in the instructors' letter received in the Parent Pack.

Parent Pack

One week prior to your camp, a parent pack will be emailed to you at the email address provided at registration. This parent pack will include the following information and documents:

• View our Smithsonian Camp Culture information PDF document
• View our Smithsonian Camp Museum Manners PDF document
• Letter from the camp instructors outlining the camp details for the week.
• Pick-up card for each camper. This is required to be presented by anyone who picks up your camper each day.
• Loading/unloading parking pass for your car. Please note this is not guaranteed to prevent parking tickets.
• Information about the Smithsonian Stars System which describes Summer Camp's positive behavior management for camps serving children entering Kindergarten through grade 3.

Friday Show & Share

Families and friends are invited to attend the Friday Show & Share to view your child's art work, projects, or performance. These generally occur inside the camp classrooms and along the Ripley Center Concourse between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. You will receive more details from Camp Staff during the week of camp.

Summer Camp Office Location

The Smithsonian Summer Camp office is located in the S. Dillon Ripley Center Associates' office, Suite 3077. Camp Staff is composed of full time Associates staff and interns who are here to ensure that campers have safe, enjoyable and informative camp sessions. Staff is with campers throughout the day and oversee Before- and After-Camp as well as the lunch break. Our mission is to ensure a smooth operation and clear communication during camp. Please call us at 202-633-CAMP or email us at SummerCamp@si.edu with any questions or concerns.

Camp Instructors

Two experienced adult instructors lead each camp session and are assisted by at least two high school volunteers (Youth Teaching Assistants). A letter from your campers' instructors will be included in your Parent Pack.

View Instructor Bios

Camp Youth Teaching Assistants (YTAs)

High school students 15+ years of age are welcome to apply to be a YTA for Summer Camp. YTA responsibilities include assisting with the safety of the campers, with any camp needs, and with a smooth execution of the week at camp. YTAs earn service-learning hours that can often be applied towards school district service hour requirements.

YTA Boot Camp

High school students 14 years of age who wish to be YTAs in future summers are welcome and encouraged to register for the week-long YTA Boot Camp. The YTA Boot Camp is week-long intensive training program guided by Smithsonian instructors and the program manager to develop strong, experienced future classes of YTAs. Completion of the YTA Boot Camp grants applicants a priority for YTA selection the following summer. Registration for YTA Boot Camp functions the same as registration for any other Smithsonian Summer Camp session.

Apply to be a YTA