Camp 101

Everything you need to know about in-person Smithsonian Summer Camps

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2024 Camp Information Sessions

Want an opportunity to see the space in which camp comes to life? Want to ask questions in person? Join us for post-registration camp information sessions for parents of both new and returning campers.

Session Dates

Session 1: May 8, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. ET
Session 2: May 8, 2024 - 6:00 p.m. ET

How do I register?

Send us an email to reserve a space and please indicate which session you would prefer to attend.

Camp Dates and Times

Camp sessions are one week in duration and are offered between June 17 and August 16, 2024.
There will be no camp on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, or Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Camp sessions are held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Before-Camp and After-Camp options are available.
Every Friday, family and friends are invited to a Show and Share presentation, generally scheduled between 4 and 4:30 p.m.

Camp Location

Smithsonian Summer Camps are held in the S. Dillon Ripley Center at 1100 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560.

In-Person Camp Prices

Price per camper for all weeks except the weeks of June 17-21 and July 1-5

Member

Non-Member

One-week camps

$425

$495

Before-Camp

$75

After-Camp

$90

Before/After Combo

$150

Price per camper for the weeks of June 17-21 and July 1-5 (4 days of camp each)

Camp prices for the weeks of June 17-21 and July 1-5 have been discounted to reflect the Juneteenth and Independence Day federal holidays.

Member

Non-Member

One-week camps

$340

$396

Before-Camp

$60

After-Camp

$72

Before/After Combo

$120

Join or renew your membership

Before- and After-Camp

Before- and After-Camp sessions are available daily, Monday to Friday. Parents must bring campers to the assigned Before-Camp room in the Ripley Center to sign in daily. Parents must sign out their campers from the After-Camp room daily. Light, separately wrapped snacks are offered during both sessions. Before-Camp, After-Camp, and combo prices can be found in the Camp Prices section.

Before-Camp: 8 to 9 a.m. daily. At 9 a.m., campers will be brought up to Drop-off and then to their camps.
After-Camp: 4:30 to 6 p.m. daily.
Registration: Pre-registration for one-week sessions required. No drop-ins permitted and space is limited.

Inside Each Camp Room

Size: 16-20 kids
Instructors: 2 adult educators/professionals, plus 2 Youth Teaching Assistants in each camp.
Grade range: Grade requirements for each camp are set by instructors, who plan camp content around the developmental, academic, and physical considerations of children in a specific age range.

Camps may have children from two grades in one camp room for our youngest campers (e.g. Kindergarten and 1st graders) and up to three grades in one camp room for our oldest campers (e.g. children going into 5th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade all in one camp). The grade range for each camp is listed with the camp title.

Camp T-Shirt

A Smithsonian Summer Camp T-shirt is included in the registration fee. Campers can sport their shirts proudly and stand out from the crowd on their field trips around the National Mall. Campers receive one shirt at check-in on their first day of camp, regardless of the number of sessions or weeks enrolled. Available sizes range from Youth S to Adult XXL. Be sure to include the correct T-shirt size when you register your camper. Campers will only be given the recorded size.

Camp Policies

Camper Age Policy

Camps are available for children who will be entering Kindergarten through 9th grade in the upcoming fall.
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?

Send us an email at summercamp@si.edu

Drop-off/Pick-up Locations and Procedures

Campers must have their own transportation to and from camp each day. Drop-off and pick-up 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.

Review our drop-off/pick-up procedures

Self-release forms

Self-release forms are available upon request from Camp Staff at Monday Morning Check-In only. The forms require a parent signature and all parent contact information. Campers under the age of 13 are not permitted to have self-release forms regardless of parent approval. The self-release form waives all responsibility and liability of Smithsonian Institution and Summer Camp, and campers will be able to sign themselves in and out of camp each day.

Cancellation Policy

View our Summer Camp Cancellation Polity

Preparing for a Day at Camp

Expectation of Campers

We expect all campers 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.

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

Campers should come to camp with the following items:

Good shoes for walking (no flip-flops or shoes with wheels, please!)
Clothes appropriate for the weather, playing outside and doing crafts
Lunch, two additional snacks, and a drink
Water bottle (no glass bottles, please) - A refill station will be available
Hand sanitizer, if a certain brand is preferred

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 a YTA or 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

View our Drop-off and Pick-up procedures

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.

Please Note: Expect the line at the Monday Morning Check-In table to be long during the first week of Smithsonian Summer Camp. On Mondays of subsequent weeks, the Check-In line may be shorter, but this is not guaranteed. We appreciate your patience and ask that you maintain social distance while in line.

Please make time and accommodate your schedule for this Monday Check-In process.

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.
Many camps take a morning and/or afternoon snack break, so please pack extra snacks.
Please also ensure campers come to camp with a water bottle every day. Bottle refill stations are available.
Please note that Smithsonian Summer Camp is not a nut-free camp.
Camp Staff does their best to accommodate allergies, but we do not restrict any foods from camp. Please be sure to list any allergies in your registration materials. Staff will make sure your camper’s instructor and YTAs are informed.

Medication/Allergies

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.
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.
Please note that Smithsonian Summer Camp is NOT a nut-free camp. Camp Staff does their best to accommodate allergies, but we do not restrict any foods from camp. Please be sure to list any allergies in your registration materials. Staff will make sure 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 exhibits any signs related to COVID-19 or registers a temperature.
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 a camper cannot adhere to Museum Manners or camp expectations after repeated verbal warnings and conversation with Camp Staff.
When you are late picking up your camper from camp or from After-Camp activities.

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 Smithsonian bus to these locations. Older campers may also take the metro. Please see the Smithsonian’s Visiting Tips webpage for the Institution’s 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.

If it gets too hot during the day (Code Orange/Red) or if there is other inclement weather, campers stay inside for lunch and may not take the planned museum trips. Camp Staff reserves the right to postpone or cancel any field trips due to extreme heat or excessive weather.

Other Information

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:

Download our Camp Culture reminders.
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 stop parking tickets.
Smithsonian Stars System for camps serving children entering Kindergarten through grade 3, which describes Summer Camp's positive behavior management.

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.

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 to register for the week-long YTA Boot Camp. This is a week-long intensive training program guided by Smithsonian instructors and the program manager to develop strong, experienced future classes of YTAs. Completion of the Boot Camp offers 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