Summer Camps at the Mystic Aquarium
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sat, 08/26/2017
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
What do young explorers, animal and nature lovers, and budding marine biologists have in common? They can all find a summer camp to suit their interests at Mystic Aquarium.
Offered June through August, our camps offer hands-on activities, up-close animal encounters, field trips and other fun and educational experiences for children ages 3 to 16. For younger children, the Aquarium offers day camps, while older kids have the opportunity to participate in overnight programs.
ANIMAL SPOTLIGHT: AT THE AQUARIUM AND ON THE COAST
Toddlers and Their Care Givers
Spend time with your little one and learn about aquatic animals and their habitats in our specially designed classroom. This program utilizes stories, activities, crafts and live animals to keep your child engaged and learning. We spend our last class on an adventure at Bluff Point State Park in Groton, CT exploring and looking for sea creatures in their natural habitat.
Schedule: Choose one of our two different sessions, or take them both.
Mondays, 1:00pm-2:00pm: June 19, 26 and July 10, 17
Seals and Sea Lions, Sea Jellies, Clownfish and Anemones
Wednesdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm: July 26 and August 2, 9, 16
Sea Stars and Urchins, Sea Turtles, Horseshoe Crabs
Cost per session: Members series package: $27 adult, $25 child; Non-members series package: $32 adult, $28 child
SEA STARS
Entering PreK-K
Sea Stars is our half-day, week-long camp experience specifically designed for children entering pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten. This camp is held in our early childhood classroom where our youngest campers can learn through hands-on experiences and animal encounters in a safe and inviting environment designed just for them. Campers will also enjoy interacting with their peers while playing outside in our Sea School Green, meeting fascinating Aquarium staff and enjoying fun projects. Sea Star campers will not leave the Aquarium grounds but spend the entire week exploring everything the Aquarium has to offer. Whether you sign up for just one session or the entire summer, your little one will be totally engaged in our themed activities planned throughout the summer. This summer’s session themes include STEM Extravaganza, All Sorts of Animals, Garden and Green Week, and Water World.
GARDEN AND GREEN WEEK
It’s everything GREEN, from frogs and pond life to reptiles and add gardening and composting. Discover how people, animals and the environment benefit from gardening and THINKING GREEN!
Dates: June 19-23, August 7-11
WATER WORLD
Yes, you guessed it! This week will include water play, a visit to our water lab and discovering all there is to know about water and our Ocean Planet.
Dates: June 26-30, July 24-28
ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS:
This week we will be learning about our incredible marine mammals and the awesome invertebrates that are found in our collection as well as learning about all their adaptations and characteristics.
Dates: July 10-14, July 31-August 4, August 21-25
July 17-21: STEM EXTRAVAGANZA
Join us for a fantastic week of exploration – from messy and smelly experiments to engineering challenges we will discover the power of science found in nature , preschooler style!
Dates: July 17-21, August 14-18
Schedule: Weeklong session
Monday – Friday 8:30am-11:30am June 19 – August 25
Please note: no camp held July 3 – 7
Cost per week: Members: $205; Non-members: $240
ANIMAL ANTICTS
Entering Grades 1-3
Do you have a camper who really enjoys learning about animals and their unique habitats? If so, we have a week-long, full-day camp designed just for your camper. Our experienced staff will guide campers through incredible experiences where they’ll learn about amphibians while exploring a marsh, shark conservation from the experts who care for them every day, and get up close to alligators, lizards and snakes as we learn about reptile adaptations. Through hands-on activities, games, crafts, behind-the-scenes visits and even field trips to Roger Williams Zoo and Bluff Point State Park, your camper will be kept engaged and active while exploring the wonderful world of Animal Antics!
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
June 19-23, July 17-21, August 21-25
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
OCEAN CONSPIRA-SEAS
Entering Grades 1-3
Pirates, Nessie and Red Tide, OH MY!! This full-day camp is packed with exploring unusual happenings in the water and examining the lives of the interesting people who made the ocean their home. Our experienced camp staff will guide your curious campers through engaging hands-on activities, games, crafts and behind-the-scenes visits. Plus, campers will enjoy a trip to Mystic Seaport to learn about life on the high seas and an exploration of Bluff Point State Park, all in search of the answers to our Ocean Conspira-seas.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 24-28, August 14-18
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
TOTALLY TURTLES
Entering Grades 1-3
Join us for this brand new turtle camp! Throughout the week, campers will explore different types of sea, land and freshwater turtles and their habitats. We’ll learn how they grow, find out what they eat and how we all can help protect these unique reptiles. Our Totally Turtle staff will lead campers on adventures through the Aquarium’s marsh looking for painted turtles, to Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center searching for snapping turtles and even canvasing Bluff Point State Park for wood and box turtles. Campers will also have the chance to go behind-the-scenes, meet with animal care staff, and participate in amazing activities as we explore the wonderful world of turtles!
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 10-14, August 7-11
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
ENDANGERED SPECIES CAMP
Entering Grades 1-3
New to Mystic Aquarium! This action packed, weeklong camp will engage your camper in learning about the many animals that are disappearing from our planet. Campers discover the difficulties facing species like African penguins, bats, and cheetahs and dive into hands-on activities that not only help understand the problems but could possibly develop a solution! These conservation minded campers will learn from the experts by meeting with Aquarium staff, going behind-the-scenes and enjoying field trips to Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center and Bluff Point State Park to explore our local threatened and endangered species. If your camper is looking for a fun summer experience where they’ll learn how to protect our ocean planet – then this is the camp for you!
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
June 26-30, July 31-August 4
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
MYSTIC RIVER ADVENTURE
Entering Grades 4-6
Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport are once again teaming together to offer your camper an unbelievable camp experience. While at Mystic Seaport in the morning, campers will learn how to sail independently using the Seaport’s JY sailboats. Then campers will board a bus and travel to the Mystic Aquarium for a fun filled afternoon to learn about the Long Island Sound, animals that live there, and other habitats. Campers must be able to swim as they will be sailing on small sailboats. Please register for this program through Mystic Aquarium. Camper drop off is at Mystic Seaport and pick up is at Mystic Aquarium. All campers take the SEAT bus with instructors to Mystic Aquarium. This year campers will start their day at the Seaport so extended day programming is available at the Aquarium after camp.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
June 26-30, July 17-21, August 7-11
Cost per week: Aquarium or Seaport Members: $375; Non-members: $425
ECO EXPLORERS
Entering Grades 4-6
Eco Explorers camp is a full-day, weeklong program where your camper will explore habitats including the desert, coral reefs, Long Island Sound and more. While investigating these habitats, campers will learn about the amazing plants and animals found there and some of the issues they are experiencing. Eco Explorers will experience engaging hands-on activities, games, crafts, behind-the-scenes visits and two field trips; Roger Williams Zoo and Bluff Point State Park. Our exploration minded staff will utilize our exhibits and meetings with our animal care staff to guide your camper through their Eco Exploration experience.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
June 19-23, July 10-14, August 21-25
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
SEA SCIENCE IN ACTION
Entering Grades 4-6
Science is at the heart of so many aspects of our lives and there isn’t a better facility to explore the many fields of science than at Mystic Aquarium! During this full-day, weeklong camp, your young scientist will explore water quality, nutrition, energy conservation and more, all while working with the staff that use science every day. Campers will experience engaging hands-on activities, games, crafts, behind-the-scenes visits and two field trips; Connecticut Science Center and Bluff Point State Park. Our experienced staff will utilize our exhibits as well as meetings with our researchers and animal care staff to guide your camper through their camp experience.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 31-August 4, August 14-18
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
MARINE ANIMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
Entering Grades 4-6
Mystic Aquarium and Project Oceanology are teaming up for the return of this very popular summer camp specially designed for budding marine biologists! Spend three days at Mystic Aquarium followed by two days at Project Oceanology, experienced instructors from both organizations will lead your campers on a journey of investigation to discover animal adaptations to various habitats, environmental changes, and how these changes are impacting animals and plants that call them home. This is the perfect program for campers who want to get their feet wet as they explore by land and sea and discover the marine animals and their habitats that are found locally and globally.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 24-28
Cost per week: Members: $420; Non-members: $450
EXTENDED DAY
Grades 1-6
Need help with hectic schedules? Let your child enjoy extended day activities including a variety of crafts, games and snacks, offered 4:00pm-5:00pm.
Schedule: Monday – Friday,
Extended day not available for July 5-7
Cost per week: Members: $75; Non-members: $85
JULY VACATION WEEK PROGRAMS
Entering Grades 1-6
The July 4th celebration was fantastic, but now the children have nothing to do. Why not send them to Mystic Aquarium for a day of fun, maybe even two or three! New for 2017 we are offering three independent days of activities for your child. Each day will explore the life of either a habitat or an animal. Children will enjoy engaging hands- on activities and meet experts in the field as they are guided on this adventure.
Entering Grades 1-3
July 5: A Day in the Life of a Shark
July 6: A Day in the Life of a Sea Lion and Seal
July 7: A Day in the Life of an Invertebrate Entering Grades 4-6
July 5: A Day in the Life of a Marine Mammal
July 6: A Day in the Life of the Coral Reef
July 7: A Day in the Life of a Marine Reptile
Schedule: Wednesday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 5-7
Daily Cost: Members: $70/day; Non-members: $80/day
AQUA CAMP
Entering Grades 7-10
Do you wonder what it would be like to work in an aquarium or in the field of marine biology? Get the fun, hands-on experience you crave by doing activities marine biologists conduct every day. Participants will tour behind-the-scenes, interact with Aquarium staff and, weather permitting, will enjoy some time on the water. As an added bonus, campers spend the night at the Aquarium sleeping among the indoor exhibits.
Schedule: Monday & Tuesday 8:30am-4:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am (overnight on 7/19, 8/2) – Thursday 8:30am
July 17-20, July 31-August 3
Cost per week: Members: $350; Non-members: $400
A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A MARINE BIOLOGIST
Entering Grades 7-10
Teens love marine biology and yearn to know what it’s like to be a scientist. Join the Mystic Aquarium and New England Science & Sailing (NESS) for this exciting program that allows for a unique experience of the best aspects of a career in marine biology. Participants will start their day at Mystic Aquarium with engaging hands-on programming and then will head to NESS to explore Little Narragansett Bay by kayak, snorkel, foot and boat where they will perform field research. This program is designed to give your teen a real taste of what it’s like to be a marine biologist. Morning drop-off is at Mystic Aquarium. All students take the SEAT bus with an instructor to NESS in Stonington. Afternoon pick-up is at NESS. Please register for this program through Mystic Aquarium.
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
August 7-11
Cost: Members: $475; Non-members: $500
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CAMP
Entering Grades 7-9
Looking for a summer program that offers your child an inside look at local and global marine conservation? Back for a second year, Mystic Aquarium and Project Oceanology have teamed up to create the perfect camp! Campers in this weeklong program will participate in research cruises and studies for three days with Project Oceanology to discover the life in and around our local Long Island Sound as well as spend two days at Mystic Aquarium exploring ecosystems around the world. Spending time on the water, participating in experiments, meeting with expert scientists, and even heading behind-the-scenes of the Aquarium’s exhibits will open the campers’ eyes to many marine conservation opportunities awaiting them today and in the future!
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
July 24-28
Cost: Members: $420; Non-members: $450
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.