2024 master Explorer Camps

Camp millionaire (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
June 10 - 14 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

So you want to be a millionaire? After a week of fun-filled financial learning in this camp, you will be well on your way! As a young entrepreneur, you’ll be immersed in the museum’s Mini-Economy where you will use hands-on activities to apply for jobs, save money and run your own business! The week will culminate in a Market Day, where friends and family can use “Museum Bucks” to shop at your store front. This camp is a partnership with YES (Your Economic Success)!

Explore Maker City (Ages 8+) - Camp is Full; join wait list
June 10 - 14 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

3D Printing, Sewing, Woodworking! Whether you are new to Maker City or a more experienced maker who just wants to sharpen your skills, this camp will provide a deep dive into all the computer software and equipment available in Maker City. The possibilities are endless. What will you make?

*Stay all day...Combine Explore Maker City and Elements of Art. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

ELEMENTS OF ART (Ages 8+) - Camp is full; join wait list
June 10 - 14 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Explore the building blocks of art and, with technical guidance, learn how to use them confidently in your own artwork. From drawing and painting to 3D sculpture and still life, your new skills will help you bring your creative ideas to life. Guest artists will join us throughout the week to share how they use the elements of art in their own art making practice.

*Stay all day...Combine Explore Maker City and Elements of Art. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Machine Makers (Ages 8+) - Camp is full; join wait list
June 17 - 21 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Have you ever wanted to invent or build a new machine? If so, this is the class for you! Learn how different simple machines work and then use this knowledge to build a solution to a different challenge each day. The final day, you’ll use everything you’ve learned to create your own Rube Goldberg machine!

All Day Steam camp (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
June 17 - 21 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

If you have a kid who loves to try a little bit of everything the museum has to offer, this is the perfect camp! We’ll cook, tackle engineering challenges, do science experiments, create art, and play, play, play! Some days will even include field trips to other places downtown. Students should bring a water bottle, peanut free snacks, and a lunch from home.

Art adventures (ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join Wait List
June 24 - 28 | 9:00 am - 12:00 PM

Jump into a week of art adventures! From well-known artists like Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol to the unknown ancient makers of textiles and ceramics, you’ll explore the world of art and be inspired to create amazing masterpieces of your own!

*Stay all day...Combine Art Adventures and Taste of Culture. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Taste of Culture (ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
June 24 - 28 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Grab a passport and prepare to become a world traveler. Students in this class will chop, measure, mix, and cook dishes inspired by countries from around the globe. In addition to trying new and interesting foods, we’ll also learn about the customs, language and history that make each culture unique! *This class will include recipes that include wheat, dairy, and eggs.

*Stay all day...Combine Art Adventures and Taste of Culture. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

youtube science (Ages 8+) - Camp is Full; join wait list
July 8 - 12 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Science and fun collide in this camp inspired by some of YouTube’s most popular scientists, like former NASA Engineer, Mark Rober! Each day, we will recreate different experiments and gadgets from YouTube science channels. You will also be challenged to create your own week-long STEM project or experiment which will be filmed and uploaded to Explore More’s private YouTube Channel!

Pop Up Bake Shop (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join Wait List
July 8 - 12 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Join us in our 3rd floor kitchen, because Explore More is opening a bakery! Well…at least for one week! Aspiring bakers/entrepreneurs will learn how to create yummy treats and explore what it takes to open and run a business. On Friday, students will host a bake sale to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank!

Game on! (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
july 15 - 19 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Go beyond the basics and discover how to use your magnificent mathematical abilities in this camp full of fun and games!  Sharpen your logic skills to solve puzzles! Be inspired by geometric designs to create amazing art! Explore games of chance and learn how probability comes into play! Then, apply all these skills and more at the end of the week to solve an Escape Room! 

*Stay all day...Combine Game On! and Pokémon STEAM. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Pokémon steam (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join Wait List
July 15 - 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

We invite young Pokémon Trainers to dive into a week of learning through Pokémon adventures! Each day, you will discover the different areas of STEAM inside the Pokémon world. Design some of your own character cards and even build your own Pokémon habitats.

*Stay all day...Combine Game On! and Pokémon STEAM. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Camp Explore More! (ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join Wait List
July 22 - 26 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

You asked for more time to PLAY, and we listened! This camp has a little bit of everything the museum has to offer. We will cook, work on STEM projects, make art and play lots of fun games! We will provide plenty of extra time to pursue a variety of your own unique interests plus opportunities to explore and play with friends. It’s going to be so much fun that you might not even notice all the learning that’s taking place!

Camp Hero (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
july 29 - August 2 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Explore the literary universe of author Rick Riordan, as we delve into the mythological worlds that inspired his books! We’ll learn about Percy’s journey into Greek and Roman mythology, the Kane sibling’s discoveries of Ancient Egyptian magic, and Magnus Chase’s adventures into Valhalla. Get ready to train for your adventures, learn about all of these cultures, and make Percy’s favorite food!

*Stay all day...Combine Camp Hero and Culinary Kids. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Culinary Kids (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
july 29 - August 2 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Want to be the next top chef? Join us for this immersive cooking adventure where you’ll learn kitchen basics while creating delicious, nutritious meals, snacks, and baked goods that you can recreate at home! Note: This class will use recipes that may include wheat, dairy and eggs.

*Stay all day...Combine Camp Hero and Culinary Kids. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

magic tree house adventures (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
july 29 - August 2 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Join Jack and Annie on a series of adventures through time and space. Inspired by the Magic Tree House book series, you will use art, music, science, and more as we visit Dinosaurs Before Dark, explore Twisters on Tuesday, spend an Afternoon in the Amazon, learn about Midnight on the Moon and pretend to be Knights at Dawn. You will also spend the week designing and constructing a model of your own tree house!

*Stay all day...Combine Camp Hero and Magic Tree House Adventures. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Stop Motion Animation (Ages 8+) - Camp is full; join Wait List
August 5 - 9 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Calling all movie directors! You’ll work in teams to create stop motion movies using characters created from clay, Legos, and other materials. Develop your story, create backgrounds and scenery, and then film your production using a camera and animation software. At the end of the week, movies will be uploaded to the web so you can share with friends and family.

*Stay all day...Combine Stop Motion and Lego Adventures. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

Lego Adventures (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
August 5 - 9 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

What kind of vehicle would you need to explore the arctic? How could you keep the animals away during a rainforest journey? You will figure out the answers to these questions and more as you build and program a variety of Lego creations using Lego Spike Essentials. Learn basic engineering principles and computer programming as you go on a different adventure each day!

*Stay all day...Combine Stop Motion and Lego Adventures. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.

lego robotics (Ages 8+) - camp is full; join wait list
August 12 - 16 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Using Lego Mindstorm EV3 software, older Lego enthusiasts will experience the latest in Lego Robotics! Through hands-on engaging activities, you will learn valuable problem-solving methods, teamwork, basic coding, engineering concepts, and computer skills as you build and program the robots.

I Spy CSI (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp is full; join wait list
August 12 - 16| 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Go undercover, crack codes, collect clues! As an investigator, you will engineer spy gadgets, learn the art of disguise, and use real science to unravel all kinds of mysteries. You’ll also learn real world techniques that CSI investigators use to solve crimes every day.

WAIT LIST

Miss out on a camp of interest? Join the WAIT LIST and we’ll notify you if a space opens up!