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All upcoming programs

Programs 1 to 10 of 349
Friday, July 11, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET

Spend the morning behind the scenes with curators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, uncovering two of the museum’s collections that showcase the wonders of flora and fauna: the United States National Herbarium and the entomology collection. At the herbarium, explore how specimens are crucial in advancing research in taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. Then discover the importance of insect diversity and its impact on ecosystems.


Friday, July 11, 2025 - 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET

Historian Eleanor Barraclough digs into the day-to-day lives of the real Vikings—not the storied kings, raiders, and saga heroes but the ordinary people: the merchants, artisans, slaves, and storytellers who shaped the medieval Nordic world. Barraclough’s tools are artifacts such as a comb engraved with the earliest traces of a new writing system, a pagan shrine found deep beneath a lava field, and a note from an angry wife to a husband too long at the tavern.


Friday, July 11, 2025 - 7:00 p.m., to Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 9:00 a.m. ET
In-Person Sleepovers

In-person Program: Go on an interactive exploration of the Natural History Museum and participate in hands-on crafts projects and games. Then roll out your sleeping bag and dream away in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most famous museums! Geared for children ages 8 to 14 years old, accompanied by an adult.


Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET
Online Studio Arts Course

Experiment with painting styles such as Cubism, Suprematism, and Abstract Expressionism to learn practical applications of the concepts and techniques of Modernism. Move beyond the basics to discover and develop your unique visual language. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)


Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET
Online Studio Arts Course

Students learn several types of macramé knots and finishing techniques to create a pair of delicate yet durable earrings, plus how to translate the earrings pattern into longer pieces like bracelets or necklaces.


Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET
In-Person Studio Arts Course

Working primarily with wood and boxes as foundation materials, explore a range of options for creating dimensional art pieces that can be freestanding or wall-mounted.


Sunday, July 13, 2025 - 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET
In-Person Studio Arts Course

Students create sculptures in wood based on their own ideas, while learning to use basic tools. The course focuses on assembly techniques rather than carving.


Monday, July 14, 2025 - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET
In-Person Camp - Before/After

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.


Monday, July 14, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Campers explore the world of abstract art. Using various techniques campers explore colors, shapes, and textures in unique ways. Visits to the Hirshhorn and the National Gallery introduce campers to artists such Kandinsky, Pollack Gillam, and Alma Thomas. Throughout the week, campers create their own works of art inspired by random museum objects using various mediums for a colorful end of the week exhibit.


Monday, July 14, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

The future is in our hands! Through museum visits, campers gain a better understanding of our climate and our earth. Throughout the week, they consider ways to reduce consumption, conserve energy, reduce pollution, and inspire civic action as they conduct labs, design campaigns, and develop sustainable solutions.