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Pull out your sketchbook and pencil to take an artful break as you explore the Smithsonian while drawing objects from vast and fascinating collections. Option to register for this program as a 6-session series.
Loved by artists for their versatility, water-soluble colored pencils emulsify when water is added, making them a viable alternative to watercolor paints. Students learn about the many types of water-soluble colored pencils on the market and how to use them.
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.
Did you know there are more than 4,000 different kinds of mammals in the world—including such different animals as bats, pandas, buffalo, and dolphins? Campers investigate their world to discover these animals are great communicators, have highly developed senses, and can make unusual friends. In addition to games, crafts, and storytelling, visits to the National Zoo, and the Natural History, American Indian, and African Art museums inspire campers to create their own animal kingdom.
Abstract art opens up a boundless realm of creativity. From finger painting and blending watercolors campers explore colors, shapes, and textures in unique ways. Visits to the Hirshhorn, American Art Museum, 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 using various mediums for a colorful end of the week exhibit.
Campers discover fun ways to make our planet a bit greener—and better for all of us—as they learn about the ecological connections between the people and creatures that call it home. They explore many kinds of living organisms as they dig into gardening, explore ocean conservation efforts, conduct their own science experiments, and create eco-themed art. Visits to museums and gardens inspire campers to build an eco-friendly world.
Campers explore the lives and conservation of animals around the world as they explore habitats such as grasslands, rainforests, desert, and the poles and the animals that live there. The week includes hands-on activities, craft projects, science experiments, and a visit to the National Zoo. Campers create a natural habitat of their own for guests to view at the end of the week.
Campers spend a week discovering the amazing watery worlds hidden beneath the waves. They explore the creatures that live in the depths of the ocean and the diverse ecosystems through visits to the National Zoo and the Natural History Museum. Campers conduct experiments, create artworks, and play games designed to develop a new perspective on the 71% of the earth’s surface covered by water.
Know someone intrigued by the nasty, icky, and disgusting parts of nature? They can enjoy a week uncovering the science behind snot, the bacteria that live in our belly buttons, and gross creatures inside and outside our bodies. Bones and bodies at the Natural History Museum, insect-eating and poisonous plants at the U.S. Botanic Garden spark campers’ curiosity and inspire their experiments and creations. They share their own “Grossology” exhibit at the end of the week.
Our world is made of water. Campers take a deep look at this essential component of life on our planet, which is relied on biologically, environmentally, and symbolically. Visits to the Natural History Museum and Smithsonian art museums help campers understand how our local waterways impact and inspire water-themed artworks, erosion experiments, and conservation campaigns.
