All upcoming programs

Virginia holds a unique place in American history as the birthplace of eight presidents, the site of several of their residences, and home to a host of family links to the White House. Historian Gregg Clemmer leads a two-day tour of Virginia’s presidential past, exploring both well-known landmarks such as James Madison’s Montpelier and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and privately owned sites that reveal the deep connections between the state and the nation’s leaders.

Parents must bring campers to the assigned Before-Camp room in the Ripley Center to sign in daily. At 9 a.m., campers will be brought up to Drop-off and then to their camps.

Mammals and birds, insects and fish, amphibians and reptiles—oh my! Campers explore the many ways creatures of the animal kingdom are celebrated across the Smithsonian through art, scientific study, and conservation efforts. They create habitat dioramas, observe live animals, and explore animal patterns through art. After visiting various Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo, they conclude their adventures with a “wild” showcase for parents and friends.

Campers dive in and discover the wonders of the watery world as they visit Sant Ocean Hall at the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum. Along the way, they learn about fish, sharks, and sting rays; lobsters, oysters, and crabs; octopus, eels, and jellyfish; and sea mammals such as otters, whales, and dolphins. They discover the lore of famous ships, pirates, and sea captains who explored the world’s great oceans, and mythical characters such as Poseidon, mermaids, and the amazing hippocamp. Campers also build ocean dioramas, coral reef exhibits, and underwater volcanoes.

This week is all about artistic experimentation! Young artists mix, dip, splatter, roll, brush, dab, and spread paint over rough, smooth, wet, and dry surfaces with sponges, string, utensils, found objects, and brushes. Using visits to the Hirshhorn, American Art, Asian Art, and African Art museums as springboards, campers explore the creative world of color theory, patterns, and texture, and learn to make their own custom-color paints.

Suit up and strap in to experience a week as astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Campers encounter artifacts from historic missions during visits to the Air and Space Museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center, They read star charts, design and conduct experiments that have been (and could be) done aboard the space station, build miniature satellites, and create space-inspired artworks.

Campers discover the wide, wild, fabulous world of plants. They dig into the science behind the boundless greenhouse of plant life on planet Earth, from a 16-million-year-old tree to the amazingly resilient “resurrection plant.”  Visits to the Natural History Museum and the U.S. Botanic Garden help campers discover the benefits of individual plants, learn to identify them, and gain a better understanding of their life cycles. They plant and grow their own flora and create nature-inspired artwork for a fabulously green exhibit.

To increase its sustainability practices, the Smithsonian is making a huge effort to decrease its waste and recycle what it does produce. Along the same theme, campers discover artists that have used trash and made beautiful art as well as functional items: game pieces made into furniture; portraits made from old cassette tapes; metals, electronic pieces, and hard drives made into animals. Campers gain a better understanding of sustainability and are inspired to create their own pieces after visiting the Smithsonian’s American Art, American History, and Natural History museums.

Pack your bags and choose a date in history! Adventurous campers hop into a time machine and travel to a different past civilization each day. Virtual visits to view Egyptian mummies in the Natural History Museum and ancient Chinese artifacts in the Asian Art Museum immerse them in the arts, games, and history of civilizations around the world and across time. Where-and when-will you go next?

How do science and art come together to improve our lives? An artist’s influence can be found in all kinds of objects such as tools, furniture, cars, and tech devices. Campers investigate the collections at the Renwick Gallery, Hirshhorn, National Gallery of Art, and Cooper Hewitt to find inspiration to for STEAM-inspired challenges and creative projects. What kind of amazing and functional art will they create? Find out at Friday’s gallery opening.