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 1-3, 2019 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!
We are please to offer a limited number of needs-based scholarships this year. More information and an application is available here.
Preschool Day Camps are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays. 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 1:00pm - 3:30 pm. Each session is $30. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
Arghhh Matey! Do you have what it takes to be a pirate? Learn to navigate the salty seas as we hunt for pirate treasure.
Some bugs have superpowers—like ants and dung beetles with super strength. Take a closer look at some super bug abilities in our new Butterfly Biosphere.
What does it take to fly? Stretch your wings and fly as we study all things flight. From airplanes to birds and bugs, we’ll learn the ABCs of flight school.
Is your little chef ready to experiment with some culinary skills? Cooking is for everyone! Learn the art of mixing, measuring, and combining ingredients to create tasty treats.
Roar out loud, stomp your feet, and swish your tail as we pretend to be dinosaurs. Spend the day as a paleontologist exploring fossils and discovering the wonders of ancient life.
Moo! Baa! Neigh! Spend a day at the farm getting to know some farm animal friends. Get up close and personal with some of your favorite farm animals as we learn all about life on the farm.
Learn the tricks of the trade as we venture back to the middle ages in a quest for knighthood. Step into the
role of a knight as we fight dragons, defend castles, construct catapults, and go on a daring adventure.
Listen to the sounds of math. Get the whole body involved while learning important math concepts such as patterns, shapes, counting, numbers, and measurement through the joys of music and movement.
Celebrate water and the many places it can be found! Explore the properties of water as it flows, drips, drops, splashes, gushes, and pours.
Art is everywhere! Paint, dance, create, and connect with nature through a hands- on, process-driven creative arts centered class focused on the beauty of nature.
Multi-Day Preschool Camps are held Thursdays, from 9:30 am - 12 noon. Turkey Tots runs from May 23 - June 27th and is $150. Outdoor Adventures runs from July 11 - August 15. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
Come enjoy summer at the farm during our six-week session of Turkey Tots! Children will not only enjoy the company of Banjo the Donkey and our other farm friends, but they will get their hands dirty in the Tot Garden while we plant and learn about the summer harvest.
Discover the natural world using all your senses as you dissect plants, identify animal tracks, and build your own campsite. This new six-week summer session gives children the opportunity to leap into nature as they explore the insects, plants, animals, and landscapes of our own backyard.
Kindergarten-1st Grade Single Day Camps are offered 9:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:00pm on Wednesdays or 9:00am - 12:00pm on Thursdays. Each session is $35. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
Gallop on over to the Farm Country and explore how we care for our horses. Brush, saddle, ride, and learn all about our favorite four-legged friends.
Arghhh, Matey! Journey across the seven seas as we search, discover, and imagine all things pirate!
Explore, mold, and manipulate a variety of materials, then combine them together to make your own designs and creations.
Learn about shape, pattern, and color as we travel around Thanksgiving Point’s Water Tower Campus taking picture with real cameras!
Explore the world of robots through science, art, and Bee Bots. From coding to mechanics, discover what robots are and how they are used.
Can insects be beautiful? Which insects are helpful? What do butterflies eat? Found out as we discover a world of insects all around us!
Are you a budding artist? Watch your artistic talents grow as you experience the art of nature. Create masterpieces amidst the beauty of the Ashton Gardens through a variety of creative arts methods.
Spend the day as a paleontologist while we adventure throughout the Museum of Ancient Life to discover the secrets of our favorite dinosaurs.
Kindergarten-1st Grade Week Long Camps are four-day camps that run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Choose from the morning session (9:00am-12:00pm) or the afternoon session (1:00pm-4:00pm). Each session is $125. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? Come explore the stars and planets with us as we learn how to be astronauts!
Do you like to ask questions and look for answers? Do you want to perform fun science experiments? Then this is the summer camp for you! Come with us to discover the exciting world of science!
How long is an anaconda? How slow is a sloth? Come imagine and play on a journey through the rainforest to find out more about these amazing animals.
Welcome all engineers and builders! Come engage in
this fantastically fun summer camp as we build, design, and create to solve challenges!
Explore the world of robots through science, art, Bee Bots, and Lego as we delve into all things robot in this special two day camp. Each session is $75.
Roar, stomp, and swish your tail like a dinosaur as we explore some of our favorite prehistoric exhibits. We will dig for fossils, learn about molding and casting, and discover what it’s like to be a paleontologist.
Express your creativity through painting, drawing, sculpting, and movement – this camp has it all!
Our friendly farm animals are waiting for you to make discoveries! Explore Farm Country with up close encounters as we observe the different ways our animals live and grow.
Do worms ever close
their eyes? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have 150 pairs of legs? What do Rhinoceros Katydid’s eat? Come discover creepy crawlies in a whole new way!
2nd-3rd Grade Single Day Camps are offered Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $55. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
How big is our solar system? How far is it from the Earth to the Sun? How did the planets get their names? Join us for a space adventure as we explore the stars, planets, and constellations.
Gallop over to Farm Country to discover more about how we care for our ponies as we brush, saddle, ride and learn all about our favorite four- legged friends.
Cooking is for everyone! Come explore what ingredients go into meals. Learn new skills while making delicious food that your entire family will enjoy!
There are more than 20,000 species of butterflies in the world. They come in all colors and designs and never cease to amaze! Join us we discover the many wonders of butterflies.
Why does the lightbulb turn on when we flip a switch? Come experiment with batteries, snap circuits, LED lights, and more as we learn the basics of electrical circuitry.
Do you want to be a fashion designer when you grow up? Design and bring your own fashion style to life. You will be runway ready in no time!
Grab your boat and join us we "travel" to the islands of the world for a tropical adventure! Learn how islands are made and discover some of the curious adaptations of island plants and wildlife.
2nd-3rd Grade Week Long Camps are four-day camps that run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $175.
Thanksgiving Point houses several different venues - have you been to them all? We’ll be exploring all of our venues with hands-on activities in plant science at the Ashton Gardens, engineering at the Museum of Natural Curiosity, animal adaptations at Farm Country, entomology at the Butterfly Biosphere, & paleontology at the Museum of Ancient Life.
Do you have what it takes to be a scientist? Come explore chemical reactions, conduct experiments, and solve problems with hands-on experiences as we experiment in the lab!
Calling all makers! Ready for some tinkering around? Come use real tools & engage in the engineering process to create & construct using common (& uncommon) materials.
Do you love insects? So do we! Come explore the life of an entomologist as we observe, collect, and explore the fascinating insect world.
Come practice the design process as we explore the world of games! We will learn practical skills such as engineering, measuring, tool use, game design & strategy. Family is invited to visit and play in our arcade on final day of camp.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an engineer? Come learn about the process of designing, building & testing all while inventing projects of your own.
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.
3..2..1..Take off! Join in the fun as we collaborate, design, make & fly a variety of projects related to flight!
Enjoy a classic summer camp experience as we explore the outdoors, learn & play games, sing songs, & make classic summer camp crafts with a modern twist.
What art do you see in your city? Come learn the role that public art plays in your community and then create your own public art that will be displayed in the gardens at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.
Come explore the Ashton Gardens and learn how beautiful gardens are designed! What plants grow best in Utah? How do you keep plants alive and thriving in a desert? Learn the tips and tricks of the trade as you design your own garden.
How big is our solar system? How far is it from the Earth to the Sun? How did the planets get their names? Join us for a space adventure as we explore the stars, planets, and constellations.
Can you help us travel the world, learn and make exciting discoveries? Yes? Come join us for a hands-on adventure into the world of geography & world cultures! Let’s travel the world! Join us as we explore different cultures & experience their stories, food, art, & so much more.
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!
4th-5th Grade Single Day Camps are offered Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $55. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
Anyone can be a magician! Come discover the secrets behind classic tricks with cards, coins, costumes, and props.
Come explore how electricity works as we make and compare circuits. Have fun, learn, and build as you experiment with batteries, lightbulbs, and voltages to investigate the basics of electricity!
Insects are part of our world whether we like it or not. Get ready to investigate the cute to grotesque as we observe and collect insects from the gardens and discover what connects our world to theirs.
Become a paleontologist for a day! Discover how fossils form, how they are cast to be put into museums, and try your hand at finding your own fossils in our very own quarry.
How do snakes smell? Do worms ever close their eyes? Why do some insects curl into balls? Come discover a world full of things that slither, roll, and crawl!
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.
Travel to the islands for a tropical adventure where you'll learn about the fascinating geology of volcanoes and the curious adaptations of wildlife and plants.
What do 8-bit video games, modern photography & Greek churches have in common? Come find out as we look closer at the little things that make up a whole. This camp will focus on pixel arts in different mediums from mosaics to photography. We can't wait to see what fun thing we will create.
4th-5th Grade Week Long Camps are four-day camps that run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $200. To join a wait list for sold-out sessions, please call (801) 768-4971.
What materials are used to make buildings? What happens to a skyscraper during an earthquake? Why do buildings in certain cities look similar to each other? Come explore the process of designing and building a structure as we create our own structures.
Do you know where your food comes from? How does it get to the grocery store? Come learn the ins and outs of food production along with new cooking skills!
3...2...1...Take o ! Join in the fun as we collaborate, design, make, and fly a variety of projects related to flight.
Be a junior naturalist in
this partner camp between Thanksgiving Point and The Monte L. Bean Life Sciences Museum. Join us as we explore nature around us and participate in collecting, recording, preparing, identifying, 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.
Greens, beans, queens, and fairy tale scenes. Come explore the many different plants that have a role in your favorite fairy tales! Everything from roses to garlic to you guessed it, beans, will be investigated. Come find out what it all means!
Let's travel the world! We will explore different cultures and experience their stories, food, art, and so much more!
Use a variety of materials and props as you write, design, produce, and record your very own stop motion animation videos.
Explore, discover, and observe the beauty of nature that surrounds us! Learn how to use natural resources to create your own amazing works of art.
Join us in this hands-on camp as we explore natural and synthetic fibers to make one of a kind wearable & fine art.
Utah is full of amazing things! Join as we explore Utah's geological past and future, myths and legends, and historical events.
6th-7th Grade Single Day camps are offered Fridays from 9:00am-3:00pm. Each session is $65
Would you eat slime? This camp will make you question everything you know about it? Investigate & explore the stuff that oozes: where it comes from, how it's made, & it's purpose! then we’ll see if you’re brave enough to eat it!
Explore the smelly, the slimy, and the up-in-flames. Campers will investigate conduct, and digest with chemistry, explore acids & bases, implosions, explosions, & other things that are chemically cool and hot.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's an... optical illusion? Come explore the many ways our own eyes and brains can be tricked and try out designing your own optical illusions.
Use a variety of materials & props as you write, design, produce, & record your own stop motion animation video!
What makes a good photo? Let's explore the different components to a photo as
we take pictures around Thanksgiving Point and analyze famous photos to find what techniques we can apply to our photography style.
Do you love creating characters? Is going on a quest a lifelong dream? Learn the ins-and-outs of strategic games as we create our own characters and campaigns.
Soda and Pop Rocks - what makes things Fizz? Let's explore what makes the fizzing sensation as we dive into the chemistry behind FIZZ and make our own drinks and fizzy snacks.
Discover how clothes get their color! We will explore & learn different techniques for dying cloth from tie-dye to silk printing.
What role does art play in your community? Come explore public art with us as we observe different types from sculptures to graffiti and then create our own to display in the gardens.
What can you build with a box? Put your skills to the test as we design and build using only cardboard! Will your design survive the battle at the end of the week?
What a great question! life on other planets, bigfoot, galaxies? join us as we venture into a fictional and non-fictional world where we explore and tackle this fun question.
Visit a whale underwater, ride roller coasters without leaving your seat and view worlds you've created in 3D space, whatever your adventure VR and AR can help you achieve it. Virtual and Augmented Reality are two technologies that are expanding the possibilities of entertainment, creating new games, experiences, and therapies. Come learn how to take 360 video, create virtual scenes and add Augmented Reality to the real world. Learn about different VR viewers and build your own.
Discover what goes into taking an amazing photo! Explore everything from how a camera works and basic rules of photography to editing and finishing with Photoshop.
Before printers existed, artists found ways to create copies of art. Discover the skill of printmaking as we experiment with screen printing, block printing, and more to design and create your own masterpieces inspired by the world around you.
Does being in the kitchen intimidate you? Come join us for a basic cooking skills class. We will learn how to use proper utensils and kitchen tools and cook fun, easy meals.
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 robot in this special two day camp.
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 and parade. Geared to grades 6-8.
Join us for a great week of golf for kids of all skill levels, ages 6-15. Campers will be able to learn and sharpen their skills with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of iron play, driving, chipping, putting, rules & etiquette. We will also be focusing on fitness, STEM of Golf, and core values learned through playing the game. Each camp will be hosted by Class A PGA Director Tele Wightman and his trained team. Don't hesitate, get them registered today because spots fill up fast!
New to Thanksgiving Point Summer Day Camps is the option for After Care! After Care is available starting at 3:00pm until 5:30 pm each day of Summer Day Camps and cost an additional $15 per child/day.
After care is not available for preschool age camps or morning sessions of Summer Day Camps which end at noon.
Camp curriculum and lesson plans are geared toward the grade your child will be entering into in the Fall of 2019. 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.
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
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!
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