Summer at Thanksgiving Point means there is no chance for the summertime blues! This year we have more summer camp classes and variety than ever before. Let your child explore space, try their hand at paleontology, program a Lego robot, explore insects, learn the science behind the food we eat, go on a dinosaur discovery, and so much more!
During our summer camps there really is something for every child in your household. Preschoolers can come and join in the fun with classes on everything from dinosaurs to music while elementary-aged kids can participate in day or weeklong camps. There are even classes geared toward middle school and high school kids to surely stimulate and engage their minds during the summer. Thanksgiving Point Members also get exclusive Summer Day Camp registration March 1-4, 2018 during our Members-only pre-sale!
Remember, class sizes are limited and popular classes fill up quickly, so don't delay. If the class you're looking for is sold out, please call (801) 768-4971. See you this summer!
Preschool Day Camps are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Morning camps are geared toward ages 3-4 and run 9:30 am-12 noon. Afternoon camps are geared for ages 4-5 and run 1- 3:30 pm. Each session is $25.
Dig in the dirt, smell the flowers, and observe animals as we look closer at our wonderful world around us.
Sing songs, play games, and create as we journey through an exploration of classic nursery rhymes!
Explore the world of robots through science, art, and Bee Bots as we delve into all things robots on a preschool level.
Investigate the world around us as we make observations using our five senses – touch, smell, taste, sight, and sound.
Investigate the world of crystals, rocks, and minerals as we explore how rocks are formed by measuring, weighing, observing, and making.
Arghh matey! Journey the seven seas as we search, discover, and imaginative play all things pirates.
Why does your shadow follow you around all day? Where does it go at night? Join us as we learn all about our shadows and use light to create designs and shapes.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel to the moon? Join us for a space adventure as we explore astronauts, stars, and the planets.
*Please remember that children must be potty trained to attend Preschool Day Camps.
Kindergarten-1st Grade Single Camps are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00pm, or Wednesdays from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Each session is $30. Two day sessions are $60.
Come with us as we learn how to measure ingredients, use kitchen tools, and create fun recipes in this fun “Lil’ Chefs” camp!
Learn about shape, pattern, and color as we travel around Thanksgiving Point taking pictures with real cameras!
Explore the world of robots through science, art, Bee Bots, and Lego as we delve into all things robots in this special two day camp.
The more you learn, the more places you'll go! Come celebrate Dr. Seuss while reading stories, experimenting with science, playing games, and more!
Spend the day as a paleontologist while we adventure throughout the Museum of Ancient Life to discover the secrets of our favorite dinosaurs.
Explore, mold, and manipulate a variety of uncommon materials and then combine them together to make your own designs and creations.
Arghhh, Matey! Journey the seven seas as we search, discover, and imagine all things pirate!
Discover all kinds of slimey, gooey, and gross things through hands-on experiments and investigations.
Kindergarten-1st Grade Week Camps are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-12:00pm, or 1:00pm-4:00pm. Each session is $125.
Time to discover the amazing world of gardens! Join us for a hands-on exploration of different plants, tools, and types of gardens that exist.
What would it be like to travel to the moon? Join us for a space adventure as we explore stars, planets, and constellations in an out of this world adventure!
Welcome all engineers and builders! Come engage in this fantastically fun summer camp as we build, design, and create to accomplish various challenges!
What wildlife wonders can you find in your very own backyard? Step into the world of Wasatch wildlife as we explore outdoor habitats and have up close encounters with our native animals in Utah.
What is art? Can art be found in nature? Come find out with us! We will also create our own master pieces through experimenting with different mediums.
Explore, mold and create your own projects! What can you make from simple materials? Join us as we build and discover what we can do with an idea.
2nd-3rd Grade Single Camps are Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $50. Two day camps are $100.
Step into the world of dinosaurs as we embark on a Jurassic journey! Join us as we explore what dinosaurs looked like and how they became the fossils that are seen in our very own museum today!
Can you imagine one billionth of a meter? That’s how small a nanometer is! Nanotechnology is all around. Come step into the Nano world with us through both science and art.
Come explore our beautiful gardens and develop skills to help you design beautiful gardens of your own. Learn which plants grow best in our climate, what care they need, and other tricks of the trade through hands-on gardening adventures.
Explore and discover the beauty of nature which surrounds us and learn how to use some of these natural resources to create your own masterful works of art.
Adventure is calling! Aid us on our quest of discovery as we learn to overcome obstacles and find our destiny.
Robots are used all over the world! Enter the universe of robots as we learn just how common robots are.
Gallop on over to Farm Country and explore how we care for our horses. Brush, ride, and learn all about our four-legged friends.
Did you know butterflies have scales? If not, you haven't looked close enough. Come investigate the many wonders and beauties of butterfly wing patterns and their life cycle.
How do circuits work? Experiment with batteries, snap circuits, LED lights, and more as we learn about the basics of electrical circuitry!
2nd-3rd Grade Week Camps are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $175.
Thanksgiving Point houses several different venues – have you been to them all? We will be exploring all our venues with hands-on activities in plant science at The Ashton Gardens, the way things work at The Museum of Natural Curiosity, animal adaptations at Farm Country, and paleontology at The Museum of Ancient Life.
Calling all makers! Are you ready for some tinkering around? Use real tools and engage in the design process to create and construct using common and uncommon materials.
What do chemistry and beauty have in common? Come find out as we create our own beauty line using natural products and organic chemistry
Experience a classic summer camp. Explore the outdoors, learn and play games, sing songs, and practice basic survival and camping skills.
Come join us for an adventure into the world of geography! Make discoveries as to what happened where. State Capitals – can you name them? Countries – can you find them? Join us for fun games and exciting discoveries.
In some of our favorite stories, the strangest things happen. But, can they happen in real life? Join us as we step into the world of fairytales and find out.
Have you ever wondered how a tall building doesn’t fall? Do you like to ask questions? Come learn about the exciting and challenging field of engineering as we explore, brainstorm, design, and build our way to understanding engineers.
4th-5th Grade Single Camps are Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $50. Two day sessions are $100.
Have you ever wondered what the inside of a watch looks like? What about the inside of electronics? We will explore gadgets and objects by opening them up and taking a closer look.
Insects are a part of our world whether we like it or not. Get ready to investigate the cute to the grotesque as we observe and collect insects from the gardens and discover what connects our world to theirs.
Anyone can be a magician! Come discover the secrets behind magic tricks such as card tricks, coin tricks and prop magic.
Use a variety of materials and props as you write, design, produce, and record your own stop motion animation video!
Become a Paleontologist for a day. Discover how Fossils form, how fossils are cast to be put in museums, then try your hand at finding your own fossils in our very own quarry.
Come explore how electricity works as we make and complete circuits. Have fun, learn, and build as you experiment with batteries, lightbulbs, and voltages to investigate the basics of electricity!
Investigate animals up close as we discover what helps them survive. Explore unique animal adaptations from past to present at Thanksgiving Point’s Museum of Ancient Life! What cool adaptations will you find?
Get ready to fly Drones! Become a drone flying expert as you fly through an obstacle course and explore all the ways drones are used in everyday jobs.
Explore and discover the beauty of nature which surrounds us and learn how to use some of these natural resources to create your own masterful works of art.
4th-5th Grade Week Camps are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $200.
Explore local architecture, environmental impact and get your hands dirty designing and building your own architectural works of art.
What do chemistry and beauty have in common? Come find out as we partner with the University of Utah’s School of Medicine to create our own beauty line using natural products and organic chemistry.
Let’s travel the world! Join us as we explore different cultures and experience their stories, food, art, and so much more!
Utah is full of geological masterpieces! Come investigate Utah’s geological past as we explore different rock formations around our state.
Do you love video games? Ever wonder how video games are made? Explore the history of the video game industry and design games using simple programming tools.
Participate in the ancient craft of cartography as we make maps out of a variety of materials, explore outdoor geo-challenges, and learn how modern mapping shapes our every day.
Does Bigfoot live in Utah? Is there gold hidden in the mountains? Let’s explore some of the myths and legends that are part of Utah’s culture. Discover the origins of these myths and use your detective skills to determine if there is any truth to the legends!
6th-7th Grade Single Camps are Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $60. Two day sessions are $125.
Could you survive on an isolated island? Come explore the Galapagos Islands as we learn how plants and animals adapted in this unique environment.
Step into the shoes of a paleontologist and become a fossil caretaker! Explore what they do, what tools are used, and how they explore our prehistoric world.
Discover how our clothes get their color! We will explore and learn different techniques for dying cloth from tie dye to silk printing.
Get ready to fly Drones! Become a drone flying expert as you fly through an obstacle course and explore all the ways drones are used in everyday jobs.
What makes things Fizz? Let’s explore what makes soda fizz as we make our own sodas and fizzy snacks.
Use a variety of materials and props as you write, design, produce, and record your own stop motion animation video!
Do you like to accessorize? Come join us as we make our own jewelry and bags to highlight your outfit.
Explore the smelly, the slimy, and the up-in-flames. Campers will investigate, concoct, and digest with chemistry, explore acids and bases, implosions, explosions and other things that are chemically cool and hot.
Chart your course as you learn how to seek and find using maps and modern technology. Use tools like compasses and GPS to navigate the world around you, try geocaching, and make your own maps!
6th-7th Grade Week Camps are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $225.
Have you ever wondered how a restaurant is run? “Lettuce” show you the ins and outs of running a restaurant, including culinary craft, business basics, and fancy feasting.
Be a Junior Naturalist in this partner camp between Thanksgiving Point and the Monte L Bean Life Sciences Museum. We will explore the nature surrounding us and participate in collecting, recording and sharing what we find.
Do you love video games? Ever wonder how video games are made? Explore the history of the video game industry and design games using simple programming tools.
Venture into the art of binding books as we curiously create a variety of handmade tomes with plenty of room to write worlds within the pages.
What can you build with a box? Come put your skills to the test as we design and build using only cardboard! Will your design survive the battle at the end of day?
Do you have what it takes to survive in the mountains? Join us for a wild adventure as we learn about the explorers of the western US! Learn survival skills such as tracking, shelter building, and cartography.
Do you want to be a director, actor, or screen writer? Then this camp is for you! In this camp we will discover what goes into making a movie by making one ourselves.
7th-12th Grade Week Camps are Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm. Each session is $150.
Before printers existed, artists found ways to create copies of art. Discover printmaking as we experiment with screen printing, block printing, and more to design and create your own masterpieces inspired by the world around you.
Get ready to have a “grape” time in the kitchen! “Lettuce” get together to learn cooking skills, create meals and recipes, and prep for cooking on your own! You “donut” want to miss out on this “a-maize-ing” summer camp!
Fashion can be about self-expression, cultural identity, or celebrating your generation. Design a unique look for you, spice up your own wardrobe, and learn a few simple tricks to set your style apart!
Explore a variety of career paths and opportunities for higher education. Learn how to pinpoint interests and research possible careers based on those interests. This class will include field trips to colleges and universities to learn more about opportunities in a variety of fields.
Let your imagination run wild as you build a Lego EV3 robot and program it to come to life. Put your new skills to the test and compete against your fellow campers during a practice scrimmage. Must have already attended Intermediate Lego WeDO. Geared to grades 6-8.
Beginner Lego WeDO and Intermediate Lego WeDO combined for a full day of robotics fun! Use your imagination to design and build Lego WeDO Robots and then animate them with basic computer programming. Geared to grades 2-4.
Use your imagination to design and build with the newest Lego WeDO Robotics 2.0 and then animate your creation with basic computer programming. Geared to grades 2-4.
Use your imagination to design and build even more with the newest Lego WeDO Robotics 2.0 and animate your creation with basic computer programming. Must have already attended Beginning Lego WeDO. Geared to grades 2-4.
Explore the world of robots through science, art, Bee Bots, and Lego as we delve into all things robots in this special two day camp. Geared to Kindergarten-1st Grade.
Registration closes one week prior to the beginning of camp.
If the class you want is sold out, please call (801) 768-4971 to be added to a waitlist.
Camp sessions vary in price depending on grade, length of day, and days per week. Please check individual camp listings for price information.
Transfers are permitted up to 1 business day or 24 hours in advance with a $10.00 fee based on availability and any cost difference between camps.
Substitutions – a neighbor, cousin, sibling, etc. - are accepted up to first day of camp.
If a camp is cancelled by Thanksgiving Point Institute due to low enrollment, all fees will be refunded.
There are two drop off locations for Summer Day Camps. You can find a map HERE
Camp curriculum and lesson plans are geared toward the grade your child will be entering into in the Fall of 2018. If you have an older and a younger child you would like to be in the same camp we do allow older children to attend camps one grade lower.
Our camps promote independent learning and socialization opportunities for your child. If you feel your child is unable to remain in camp without you, it may be best to wait a year before you send them to camp.
Depending on which camp you choose your child could be making and programming a Lego EV3 robot, painting with watercolors in the gardens, catching polliwogs and toads to make observations, collecting insects and plants to research, using software to design and 3D print jewelry, or feeding goats and sheep to learn about adaptations.
All of our campers come home with parent letters with additional resources – websites, books, experiments, and activities – to continue the fun all summer long!
Stay updated on all things Thanksgiving Point with email updates!
* Indicates required field