Boonshoft Museum Offers Diverse STEM Summer Camps

Weekly themed camps let kids explore paleontology, astronomy, zoology, and more through hands-on activities.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spiral patterns, conceptually representing the interconnected subjects of paleontology, astronomy, zoology, and archaeology explored in the Boonshoft Museum's summer camp programs.The Boonshoft Museum's diverse summer camp offerings blend science, nature, and hands-on exploration to inspire the next generation of curious minds.Today in Dayton

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio is offering a variety of STEM-focused summer camp programs for kids ages 5-14. The camps, which run weekly from June through July, cover topics like paleontology, astronomy, zoology, and invention, and feature interactive experiments, live animal encounters, and hands-on projects that allow campers to actively explore these subjects.

Why it matters

The Boonshoft Museum's summer camps provide an engaging and educational alternative to traditional summer programs, blending science, nature, and play to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in young participants.

The details

Each week-long camp features a different theme, including Paleontology: Fossil Finders, Astronomy: Mission Control, Zoology: Paws and Claws, STEAM: Invention Convention, and Archaeology at SunWatch Village. Campers will have the opportunity to uncover ancient worlds, explore space and the universe, get up close with live animals, design and build inventions, and more through interactive experiments, projects, and guided activities led by the museum's expert educators.

  • The Boonshoft Museum's summer camps run weekly from June through July 2026.
  • Registration for the camps is now open on the museum's website.

The players

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

A science and nature museum located in Dayton, Ohio that offers year-round educational experiences and programming.

Kineta Sanford

The Director of Education at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, who oversees the development and implementation of the museum's summer camp programs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Kids aren't just sitting and listening, they're experimenting, building, and discovering. It's the kind of experience that makes memories long after the summer ends.”

— Kineta Sanford, Director of Education

What’s next

Families can visit the Boonshoft Museum's website to view the full camp schedules, age details, and registration information.

The takeaway

The Boonshoft Museum's diverse STEM-focused summer camps provide a unique and engaging learning experience for kids, allowing them to actively explore a wide range of scientific topics through hands-on activities and interactions with expert educators and live animals.