Registration Fees

Camps that are three hours or longer have a snack time. Please provide a nut-free snack for your child.

Summer camp registration tips:

• All registrants will need to set up a new account. Your old account will not work on the new platform.
• Once all the camps load, make sure you filter by age. This is located on the left side of the page.
• If using a credit card for payment, please check the box that says "Store this card for future use". This way we can add camps, lunch bunch or extended day without asking for your credit card information. This site is secure and only the credit card type along with the last four digits will be displayed if saved.
• Animal Care Camp for ages 10-12 is a popular camp. We recommend registering for this camp first and then checking out. Afterwards you can go back to sign up for other camps. If you have taken this camp in a previous summer, please allow others to sign up this summer.
• Registration is first come, first served. Camps traditionally fill quickly. *GSC members are able to register early and receive a discounted fee. Not a GSC member? Join today!
  *Note – If your membership expires prior to August 7, 2020, we require that you renew your membership. Membership can be renewed here.

Duke Energy Aquatic Ecosystems Camp

Rising 9th - 12th graders are invited to join us for a week of field-based study designed specifically for teens!

If you’re a rising 9th - 12th grade student interested in a career in ecology, biology, chemistry, or conservation, we’ve got the perfect opportunity for you! Grab your waders and gloves and join us for a week-long camp where we’ll study the animals and water chemistry that tell us about our ecosystems’ health!

We’ll get hands-on experience studying the chemical and biological makeup of our waterways through scientific water chemistry testing and a variety of sampling techniques to identify indicator species ranging from invertebrates to amphibians. We’ll apply the techniques we learn to a variety of habitats right here at the Greensboro Science Center and Country Park and chat with experienced researchers, zookeepers, and aquarists to learn how they use water science for their jobs. Not only will participants gain knowledge of science and research techniques they can use in their science careers, but data collected will also contribute to a long-term study of ecosystem health at the GSC!

Fieldwork can be hot and rigorous, and expect to be outside every morning. To participate, students must submit a completed application. The week’s fee is $100, and scholarships are available.

August 3 - 6, 9am - 2pm

Science Exploration Camps: Ages 4 - 5

How to Train your Dinosaur

What would it be like to have a dinosaur as a pet? What would you feed your dinosaur and where would it live? Would a Pteranodon or Spinosaurus be better at playing catch? Let’s explore the world of dinosaurs and learn what it would take to have these giants as pets.

June 8-12; 9am – 12pm
August 3-7; 9am – 12pm

Science Sampler

Don’t have a favorite area of science yet? We’ll mix things up, make things move and meet a variety of animal guests. From the earth beneath your feet to the stars in the sky, we’ll explore a different area of science each day.

June 15-19; 9am – 12pm
July 20-24; 9am – 12pm

Animal Tales

Explore animal facts while reading animal fiction. We’ll take some of our favorite children’s books and use our imagination for crafts and games while learning about real animals. Hungry caterpillars, tortoises and hares and gruff billy goats are part of a week that brings stories to life.

June 22-26; 9am – 12pm
July 27-31; 9am –12pm

Mix it Up

Join our science kitchen crew as we whip up creations from ice cream to super slime. We’ll investigate hot and cold, action and reaction, and see why certain ingredients make baked treats rise. Dress for a mess during this week of hands-on fun!

July 6-10; 9am –12pm
July 13-17; 9am – 12pm

Science Exploration Camps: Ages 6 - 7

Pollinator Parade

What’s all the buzz about pollinators? We’ll learn about bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators while practicing safe ways to watch them work. We’ll chat with a local beekeeper, taste some local honey and tour GSC’s new Cole Family Butterfly Conservation Center.

June 8-12; 9am – 12pm
August 3-7; 9am – 12pm

Wicked Reactions

Crash! Boom! Bang! The scientific method is anything but boring. From dazzling chemical reactions like a carbon dioxide sandwich to physical reactions like ooblek and liquid nitrogen, this camp will be sure to get the right reaction out of you!

June 15-19; 9am – 12pm
July 20-24; 9am –12pm

Toy Stories

Spin tops, swing pendulums and fly Frisbees while discovering the science behind everyday toys. Experiment with gyroscopes, yo-yos, racetracks and magnets. From wheels to whirligigs, you’ll investigate how toys teach.

June 15-19; 1pm - 3pm
July 20-24; 1pm - 3pm

Aquatic Adventures

Explore the wet and wonderful world of the GSC. From collecting aquatic insects in Country Park to getting an up-close look at sharks in our aquarium, you’ll learn about all sorts of fresh-and saltwater animals and habitats. Dress for a mess.

June 22-26; 9am – 12pm
July 13-17; 9am – 12pm

Dino Detective

Have you got the dinosaur itch? Let’s scratch around for real fossils and unearth clues from the past. Investigate the dino’s disappearance, make some fantastic fossils to take home and meet some dinosaur relatives.

June 22-26; 1pm – 3pm
July 13-17; 1pm – 3pm

Stars and Stripes

Join us for our holiday camp as we explore different areas of science. We’ll mix things up, make things move and meet a variety of animal guests. From the earth beneath your feet to the stars in the sky, we’ll explore a different area of science each day. We’ll also take in an OmniSphere Theater show and meet Indiana Bones. Lunch supervision is included. Bring a bag lunch, drink and snack each day.

June 29-July 2 (4 days); 9am – 3pm

Superhero Science

Superheroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, nationalities and races. They even come from outer space. But nearly all superhero powers were inspired by scientific principles, and many superheroes are also scientists. We’ll have fun with experiments and animal inspirations for heroes like Spiderman, Batman and Superman, all without breaking the law (of gravity!).

July 6-10; 9am – 12pm
July 27-31; 9am – 12pm

Kung Fu Critters

Put your best paw forward as we learn about animals and martial arts. We’ll meet some relatives of the “furious five” and explore the science behind martial arts. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for this action-packed camp. This camp will be full of “panda-monium!”

July 6-10; 1pm - 3pm
July 27-31; 1pm - 3pm

Science Exploration Camps: Ages 8 - 9

Amazing Animals

Scales and slime, feathers and fur – learn about all kinds of animals this week! From animal visitors to trips in our zoo and the habitats around us, you’ll combine natural history with arts and crafts to bring home memories of your animal week.

June 8-12; 9am – 12pm
August 3-7; 9am – 12pm

Classic Jurassic

Travel back in time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Just how big, small, old, colorful, smelly and/or hungry were dinosaurs? Search for real fossils, uncover fun dinosaur facts and meet today’s dino relatives.

June 15-19; 9am – 12pm
July 20-24; 9am –12pm

Bug Out!

Get down in the dirt with your favorite creepy crawlies. We’ll learn about amazing insect adaptations, create a beautiful bug sculpture, participate in a citizen science project and meet a few insects that call the GSC home.

June 15-19-; 1pm – 3pm
July 20-24; 1pm – 3pm

Mammal Mania

From bats to cats and shrews to whales, mammals are marvelous and diverse! Let’s compare characteristics, behaviors and adaptations of mammals in North Carolina and from around the world. At the end of the week we’ll meet our tiger keeper along with Sumatran tiger brothers, Rocky and Jaggar, for a behind-the-scenes keeper chat.

June 22-26; 9am – 12pm
July 27-31; 9am –12pm

Science SmARTS

What do scientists and artists have in common? How do scientists use art? How do artists use science? Investigate the science behind pigments, paper, and plaster. Make your own marvelous masterpieces from outrageous experiments. Prepare to use your creativity, get a little messy, and do some science! And don't forget, you can't be smart without art!

June 22-26; 1pm – 3pm
July 27-31; 1pm – 3pm

High Flyin’ 4th

Celebrate the holiday this week with science highlights. From prehistoric days to starry nights, animal adventures to electrifying events, sample all science areas as we explore the Greensboro Science Center. During the week we’ll also take in an OmniSphere Theater show and meet Indiana Bones. Lunch supervision is included. Bring a bag lunch, drink and snack each day.

June 29-July 2 (4 days); 9am – 3pm

The Chamber of Science

Is it magic or science? Let’s catch the train to the GSC wizard academy to investigate chemical potions, play with the physics of flight and craft a wand. We’ll also challenge our taste buds to see if the green jelly beans are magically lime or lawn flavored. Wizard hats and capes are welcome!

July 6-10; 9am – 12pm

Slam Dunk Physics

Let’s get ready for the summer Olympics by exploring the science behind some of the sports. How do basketball players appear to defy gravity as they do a slam dunk, and what is the best way to swing a tennis racket? A good understanding of the physics taking place can be to your advantage. Wear your sneakers as you enjoy a week of sports and physics.

July 6-10; 1pm – 3pm
July 13-17; 1pm – 3pm

Rowdy Reptiles

From constrictors to crocodiles, we’ll take an in-depth look at what makes reptiles rock. Meet snakes, lizards, tortoises and turtles to find out why reptiles rule! The camp will also join the ecoEXPLORE program where kids can become citizen scientists.

July 13-17; 9am –12pm

Science Exploration Camps: Ages 10 - 12

Budding Botanist

Go green as we discover how plants play an important role in the natural world. We’ll spend time outside exploring native plants and digging in the dirt. Inside, we’ll use microscopes to check out plant cells and pond water samples, and dabble in some plant-related chemistry and math. The week will end with a visit to our new butterfly exhibit to observe butterflies interacting with plants. You’ll be seeing green after this camp!

June 8-12; 9am – 12am
August 3-7; 9am – 12pm

Animal Encounters

Spend the week hanging out with a wild crowd! We’ll look at a different group of animals each day – invertebrates, fish, amphibians/reptiles, birds and mammals – and learn more about them through observation, encounters, and fieldwork.

June 15-19; 9am – 12pm
July 20-24; 9am – 12pm

Crash Course

Experience the thrill of rocketry and the excitement of flight. Experiment with ramps and design your own monster truck. Build, launch and crash fascinating moving machines. Test your creations for agility, speed and strength.

June 15-19; 1pm - 3 pm
July 13-17; 1pm - 3pm

Crazy Chemist

Chew bubble gum, pop popcorn and perform candy chromatography – all in the name of science. You’ll learn about compounds that change how things work and run scientific tests on common household items to find “the best.” You’ll also come up with ultimate recipes for fizzy, oozing and odiferous improvements!

June 22-26; 9am – 12pm
July 13-17; 9am – 12 pm

Secret Agent

Learn how spies use science to send messages, stay sneaky and solve problems. Discover the tools and tricks that go into being a secret agent. Gather all your spy knowledge to figure out “whodunit”!

June 22-26; 1pm - 3pm
July 20-24; 1pm - 3pm

Red, White and Blue

Can’t pick your favorite science topic? This is the camp for you! Be a chemist for a day, have fun with physics and enjoy awesome astronomy! We’ll take some time exploring nature in nearby Country Park. You will go behind-¬the-¬scenes of the GSC to learn about animal care as you sample and experiment with a variety of science topics. Lunch supervision is included. Bring a bag lunch, drink and snack each day.

June 29-July 2 (4 days); 9am – 3pm

Animal Care Camp

Join us for a variety of experiences for the true animal lover. Find out how we care for our animals. We’ll lend a hand in the zoo and aquarium each day, learn about the care of all kinds of animals, and meet animal professionals as they share their experiences with us. Dress for outdoor work; closed-toe shoes are a must. Lunch supervision is included; bring a bag lunch, drink and snack each day. If you have taken this popular camp in a previous summer, please allow others to sign up this summer.

July 6-10; 9am – 3pm
July 27-31; 9am – 3pm

Age 5: Beginner Builders

Animals of the World

Our campers will be packing their bags for a trip around the world to discover unique animals and their habitats. They will use bricks to explore the habitats and take walks to the zoo to study more about animals. The campers will end the week with their own camp zoo.

June 15-19; 1pm - 3pm
July 27-31; 1pm - 3pm

All Aboard the Dino Express

The Greensboro Science Center Dino Team needs your help! There’s a “Tyrannosaurus rex” loose at the museum! Learn how to build a vehicle and a trap to catch this mighty dinosaur. Students will build models and explore the world of dinosaurs as they learn about simple machines and carry out scientific investigations using DUPLO® and regular LEGO® bricks.

June 22-26; 1pm - 3 pm
July 13-17; 1pm - 3 pm

STEAM Patrol

Our Beginner Builders will be on patrol in search of fun new things to learn and explore. They will be building, drawing, learning about robots, and doing some fun beginner coding activities.

July 6-10; 1pm - 3 pm
July 20-24; 1pm - 3pm

Ages 6-7: Rookie Engineers

T-Rex Time

Let’s learn about the prehistoric world through brick building and simple machines. Campers will build dinosaurs, talk with our own Indiana Bones, visit the Prehistoric Passages gallery and tour the zoo.

June 8-12; 9am - 12pm
June 29-July 2 (4 days); 9am - 3pm
July 27-31; 9am - 12 pm

Let the Games Begin

Campers will learn about the summer Olympics with fun activities. Using the LEGO® Education WeDo 1.0 and 2.0, an icon-based introduction to robotics that uses motors and sensors, they will build and program fun robotic figures, make crafts, and go outside for some fun games. Classes have both directed assignments and free-building time.

June 15-19; 9am - 12pm
July 20-24; 9am - 12pm

1,2,3 Code

Rookie Engineers will explore the language of code with fun activities. They will code an art project, an interactive story, a fun game. There will be breaks from the classroom to explore the GSC.

June 22-26; 9am - 12pm
July 13-17; 9am - 12pm

Space Mission

Investigate the machines an astronaut needs in space, from rovers to space shuttles to cool instruments. Campers will design and build these and more using the LEGO® Education WeDo 1.0 and 2.0.

July 6-10; 9am - 12pm
July 13-17; 1pm - 4pm

Architecture 1

Our Rookie Engineers will finish the summer learning about architecture. They will design and build a building or room that will include interior elements that tell a story about the mini-figures that use it.

August 3-7; 9am - 12pm

Ages 8-9: Intermediate Engineers

Engineering Challenge

Let’s start the summer with some fun brick challenges each day. We’ll have gears, pulleys, and motors to help campers solve the challenges. We will even have time for a zoo visit or two and an OmniSphere Theater show.

June 8-12; 9am - 12pm
July 20-24; 1pm - 4pm

Dinosaur Discovery

Our campers will build robotic dinosaurs that walk or flap their wings using simple machines. They will also build dinosaur fossils with an exciting new brick set!

June 15-19; 9am - 12pm
June 22-26; 1pm - 4pm
July 13-17; 9am - 12pm

World Class Robots

Intermediate Engineers will build autonomous robots using LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime as they learn programming and take on a set of themed missions with their teammates. Campers will learn about FIRST® core values and work on teamwork and cooperation. They will also have opportunities to explore the GSC. If your student will be 10 years old by Sept. 1, 2020 this will count as the prerequisite for applying to one of the FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) teams at the GSC.

June 22-26; 9am - 12pm
July 20-24; 9am - 12pm

Blast-off to Space

Campers will learn about space through lessons in the basics of circuits, coding and experiments. We will make things spin and light up as well as create a Mars rover video game. Campers will also take a break from working to enjoy some outdoor adventures.

July 6-10; 9am - 12pm
July 27-31; 9am - 12pm

Architecture 2

Our Intermediate Engineers will finish the summer learning about architecture. They will design and build a building or room that will include interior elements that tell a story about the mini-figures that use it.

August 3-7; 9am - 12pm

Ages 10-12: Rookie Robotics

Take Flight

Rookie Robotics will build and program a fully autonomous robot using the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set. Campers are encouraged to continue developing their programming skills using sensors. The challenge depth is different for this older group than for our younger Rookies. This camp is a prerequisite for being able to apply to a GSC FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) team in the fall. See our website for more information about joining an FLL team. Please choose one session per child; there are no prerequisites for this camp.

June 15-19; 1pm - 4pm
(4 days) June 29-July 2; 9am - 3pm
July 6-10; 1pm - 4pm
July 13-17; 1pm – 4pm

Cool Gears

Did you ever want to know how you can use gears to flap wings or move legs? Then this is the camp for the rookie robotics engineer in you. Each day will be a different build challenge with a basic lesson that we’ll incorporating into a unique build.

June 15-19; 1pm - 4pm
July 6-10; 1pm - 4pm
July 27-31; 1pm - 4pm

Rookie Code

Campers will learn the basics of coding with fun activities using SCRATCH™ such as making a video game or programming a robot to move. We will also work with circuits to make things light up. We’ll also take a break from the computers to enjoy some outdoor adventures and meet some animals.

June 22-26; 1pm - 4pm
July 20-24; 1pm - 4pm

Add-Ons

Lunch Bunch

Lunch supervision is available to Summer Science Camp participants and can be added to any morning camp. It is necessary to add lunch if your child has both a morning and an afternoon camp. Please be sure that your child brings a nut-free bag lunch that does not need to be refrigerated. Children must keep up with their own lunches, so be sure to label your child’s container. Cold beverages are available from the lunchroom vending machines. Lunch Bunch is supervised by GSC staff. Children will be taken to their afternoon sessions or readied for pickup at the car line afterwards. Register for Lunch Bunch as an option with morning camps. Lunch Bunch is offered the first and last weeks of camp.

Lunch Bunch is included for the 9am - 3 pm camps.

Extended Day

Extended Day sessions are a relaxing way to end a day of exciting science adventure. We’ll have a supervised room and provide museum/zoo explorations, games, books, and our favorite science movies during this unstructured period. Extended Days are offered as a service to meet your family’s busy schedules. Pick up your child any time before 4:30 p.m. Register for Extended Day as an option with afternoon camps. Extended Day is not offered the first nor last week of camps.