FAQs

Summer Day Camps FAQs

Back to Summer Day Camps

What do children do in the camps?
What are the dates and times of the camps?
What do camps cost?
Are there scholarships available for camps?
How do I register and pay for camps?
What is the cancellation policy?
How many children are in a camp?
Can I register my child for camp even though my child is not quite 8 years old?
What does my child have to bring to camp?
Who teaches your camps?
Can I see the classroom where summer camps are held?
Can I stay with my child during the program?
Where do I drop off and pick up my child?
Do you offer early or after-care?
What happens if it rains?
How do you deal with allergies and other related medical issues?
What do you do in the case of illness or injury?
What happens if there are disciplinary issues?

What do children do in the camps?
Each camp explores a different science topic, so each program is structured in a format that best supports that particular topic. For example, Dinosaur Detectives focuses primarily on excavating and investigating fossils in a dig pit; Forensic Fun examines key forensic techniques and then applies them to a mock crime scene; and participants in Geology Explorations learn how to identify rocks and fossils, and then apply these skills at two different field sites.

What are the dates and times of the camps?
Each one-day camp runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A registration form with a schedule of this year's camps is available to download.

What do camps cost?
Each one-day camp costs $80. These programs are designed to be engaging, high-quality educational opportunities. They have been developed by informal science education professionals to create fast-paced, fun-filled, and content-rich science experiences.

Are there scholarships available for camps?
Scholarships are available for summer camps. Application forms are available for download and can be mailed or faxed back to us along with your registration form. If you would like a copy of the form mailed to you, please call (785) 864-4173.

How do I register and pay for camps?
Registration forms are available for download. Camp fees can be paid by credit card, check or cash. Payment by MasterCard or Visa is accepted by mail, phone, fax or in person at the museum. If you pay by check, you can register by mailing your check and registration form or by delivering them to the museum. Cash payments are also accepted in person at the museum.

KU Natural History Museum
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
Phone: (785) 864-4173
Fax: (785) 864-5335.

Please note that Museum Friends receive a 20 percent discount on camps.

What is the cancellation policy?
If we must cancel a camp, we will notify you two weeks before a program and you will receive a full refund. For primarily field-based (outdoor) camps, we schedule rain days. If you must cancel a registration, we require a minimum of two weeks' notice prior to the program date for a full refund. We charge a $20 administrative fee for any cancellations requested with less than two weeks' notice.

How many children are in a camp?
Camps have a maximum enrollment of 20 participants, except Dinosaur Detectives, which has a maximum of 12.

Can I register my child for camp even though my child is not quite 8 years old?
Our camps are designed for the specified age range. Since we cannot assess each child on an individual case-by-case basis, we limit the lower age range to a child within a few months of turning 8. Please contact Public Education at (785) 864-4173 if you would like to discuss the format and expectations for the different camps.

What does my child have to bring to camp?
Children should bring a bag lunch. We supply snacks and all necessary supplies. If your child is registered for a primarily field-based (outdoor) camp, you will receive a field trip information sheet with your confirmation letter that will have information about appropriate attire and footwear, and rain dates.

Who teaches your camps?
Our summer camps are developed and taught by museum education professionals with science backgrounds and years of experience teaching in informal learning environments. Assistants for the camps include undergraduate and graduate student employees at the museum. There is one instructor and one assistant in each camp, and a third adult accompanies any off-campus field trips.

Can I see the classroom where summer camps are held?
Yes. If you would like to visit the Public Education classroom, where camps are held, call (785) 864-4173. Please arrange to see the room on a date prior to the scheduled day for a camp.

Can I stay with my child during the program?
Our camps are designed as youth rather than family programs. We discourage parents from attending camps to limit distractions, encourage group interaction, and support effective instruction to ensure a high-quality learning experience. If it is medically necessary for a parent or other adult to be present during the program, please contact Public Education at (785) 864-4173 so we can discuss this need with you and the camp instructor to determine appropriate accommodations.

Where do I drop off and pick up my child?
Drop-off and pick-up is directly outside the museum's north entrance, where there is a 10-minute loading zone. Parking is available at meters in front of the student union or at the Mississippi Street parking garage. A staff member will be there to greet you and your child 15 minutes before the start of the program. The staff member will take attendance and collect any outstanding health and permission forms. If you will be late, please call Public Education at (785) 864-4173. Occasionally, our field-based (outdoor) camps run a little late due to traffic, so if you have a tight pick-up schedule, please let the instructor known on the day of the camp.

Do you offer early or after-care?
We do not offer early or after-care. Drop-off is always 10 a.m. and pick-up is at 3 p.m. at the north museum entrance. If you will be late, please call Public Education at (785) 864-4173. If someone other than the parent listed on the health and permission form will collect your child, please inform the instructor when you drop off your child. Occasionally, our field-based (outdoor) camps run a little late due to traffic, so if you have a tight pick-up schedule, please let the instructor known on the day of the camp.

What happens if it rains?
Aquatic Biology, Geocaching and Geology Explorations are primarily field-based (outdoor) camps. These camps will not be cancelled in the event of light rain, unless lightning or flooding makes the trip unsafe. You will receive details about scheduled rain dates and more information about these camps in the information sheet sent after you register.

How do you deal with allergies and other related medical issues?
It is important to let us know about any physical or behavioral issues before the beginning of the program--this should be included on the health and permission form you receive with your confirmation letter. Prior to the camp we can go over strategies for any issues with you and the instructor. Please let us know the details and severity of allergies; we can provide you with the ingredients in our snacks if needed.

What do you do in the case of illness or injury?
If a child becomes ill, the instructor will contact the Public Education office and a member of the staff will contact the parent or guardian. Staff members take a basic first aid kit (e.g. band-aids, antiseptic) on field trips. For serious injury or other conditions that require immediate medical attention, the instructor will call 911 and/or take your child to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and contact the participant's parent or guardian. Medical personnel will be provided with relevant information, such as allergies and physicians contact information, as provided on the health and permission form.

What happens if there are disciplinary issues?
We rarely experience serious disciplinary issues, and participants are kept thoroughly engaged with fun and challenging science activities. However, if a discipline issue arises we handle it on a case-by-case basis. At first a staff member will talk with the child to try and resolve the issue. If this does not resolve the issue, the instructor will contact the parent. As a last resort, the child will be removed from the camp and the parent will be asked to come and collect the child.