Camps
Nature Museum Camps immerse children into the wonderful world of nature and science!
Campers develop their critical thinking and social skills by spending fun-filled days inside and outside the museum. They participate in interactive exploration including science and art projects, nature play, animal encounters, and so much more. We encourage campers to take the lead and we provide them with space to explore the nature of Chicago at their own pace with tools selected (or built!) by them.
Keep reading to learn more about these unique offerings for kids ages 4 to 14!
Please note: Beginning with Summer 2026 Camp registration, discounted rates for Summer Camp and Winter Camp will be offered exclusively to Family Plus members. We encourage current members who would like to continue receiving camp discounts to consider upgrading to a Family Plus membership.
Day Off & Winter Camps
Explore nature and science on your days off school! Nature Museum Day Off and Winter Camps give children the opportunity to join us for outdoor and indoor fun. Campers will observe the natural world around them, grow their comfort with scientific skills, and explore the outside world around them, all while having a blast!
Camp families can keep the camp fun going with a little help from our daily emails. Unique to the Nature Museum, these Daily Parent Pages are written by the camp directors and include photos, a summary of the day's accomplishments, and questions to spark meaningful conversation with your camper.
Camp sessions are held from 9am to 3pm.
2025-2026 Day Off and Winter Camps registration opens mid-September! Keep reading for details.
September 26, 2025
Ages: 6-8
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
How does a snake shed its skin? What can they eat with just two teeth? Let's answer these questions and more about our serpentine neighbors here at camp!
For this session, campers ages 6 to 8 will learn and explore together as one group.
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
October 13, 2025
Ages: 4-12
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
Do all insects have six legs? How can mosquitoes actually help us? We'll ask these questions and many more at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
- Ages 9 to 12
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
November 11, 2025
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
Why do leaves change their colors? How do trees talk to each other under the ground? Let's find out together here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
December 29 - December 31, 2025
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $285/members*; $315/non-members
How do animals find food under the snow? What happens when a hibernating critter has to go to the bathroom? Come look with us as we explore these questions and more here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
January 2, 2026
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
What is the difference between snow and hail? How do creatures in nature turn winter winds to their advantage? We'll figure those things out and more here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
January 5, 2026
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
How can animals see under the earth? What is living just below our feet? We'll figure that out and more here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
February 16 - February 17, 2026
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $190/members*; $210/non-members
How far can a plant spread its seeds? What makes one flower different from another? We can ask these are more here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
March 17 - March 18, 2026
Ages: 4-12
Pricing: $190/members*; $210/non-members
How can a butterfly help out a bluejay? What does a turtle have to do with a grizzly bear? We'll look at all the ways animals are interconnected here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
- Ages 9 to 12
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
June 5, 2026
Ages: 4-8
Pricing: $95/members*; $105/non-members
How does a heron catch its food? What tells a squirrel where to hide its nuts? We'll delve into these questions and more here at camp!
For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age:
- Ages 4 & 5
- Ages 6 to 8
Questions? Reach out to us at camps@naturemuseum.org.
*Discounted member pricing is exclusive to Nature Museum Family & Family Plus Members.
“You have taught my kids how to be kids again.”
Meet Our Camp Team
Each camp session is supervised by our full-time camp directors. Our staff is always excited to play along, get dirty, and guide campers to make discoveries while they explore the world around them. Each camp has a strictly-enforced counselor to camper ratio, ensuring that all campers have the guidance they need to have a fun, educational, and safe summer camp experience. Camp directors and counselors have experience working with children of all ages and they’re trained to help give specialized guidance for campers with specific needs, such as sensory processing disorders.
Garrett Douglas is a full-time, year-round educator at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. He was a full-time summer camp kid since age 7 and has been working in and out of the woods his whole life. After seven years teaching in classrooms across various Chicago schools, he found his way to the museum in the summer of 2024. He brings with him a wild curiosity for the natural world, a well-trained sense of patience, and a smattering of puppetry skills. If you see him, you might also see his friend Poda the Snail, so make sure to say hi to both!
During Summer Camp, high school and college-level counselors lead activities and supervise the campers in every session throughout the day. The camp team participates in extensive educational training focusing on ecology and natural science topics, best practice education strategies, and outdoor education approaches to best foster camper engagement and learning. Together, the camp directors and counselors develop activities and curricula specially tailored for each camp and session.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum reserves the right to cancel this program at any time for any reason.
A non-refundable 10% administrative processing fee is included in camp tuition. Cancellations, made for non-medical reasons, must be received more than 60 days before the start of the camp session to receive full refund less this processing fee.
Cancellations, made for non-medical reasons, received 15 to 60 days before the start of the camp session will receive a 50% refund. Non-medical cancellations within two weeks of the first day of camp will not receive a refund.
To cancel your registration, you must email camps@naturemuseum.org.
The CampDoc.com site is secure, encrypted, and password protected. Only Nature Museum camp staff will have access to camper health information.
To read more about their security policies, click here: https://www.docnetwork.org/security/.
Experience nature and science up close with a trip to the Nature Museum.