Camps for Ages 3-5

DESTINATION DISCOVERY: Camps for ages 3-5

Camp starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. Camp check-in begins at 9 a.m. in the atrium.

Join our Early Childhood Educator on an adventure geared for the young learner. Museums provide a perfect opportunity for children and their families to spend time and learn together and for the children, the wonder of seeing the “real thing” in a museum setting helps them make connections between the things they see and already know to what they are learning every day.

Campers ages 3-5 will:
  • explore the museum
  • perform hands on activities
  • learn new things
  • have fun interacting with other children their age
Basics:
  • All camps are from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. on a single date
  • Camps are $35 per program date, $25 for members. Fee covers both child and adult. Parents/guardians are allowed, but not required, to join their child for these sessions. No unregistered children may attend class (this includes siblings).
  • Register by calling our admissions office at 414-278-2714.
 

» Download our Summer Camp Guide

Summer 2012 Camps

Week 1

Wednesday, June 27 - Wisconsin Woodland Animals
Trek along with us as we discover some of Wisconsin’s furriest and feathered friends. From beavers and badgers to geese and loons, we will use furs, feathers, bones and tracks to help us identify the special characteristics of our woodland residents. 

Thursday, June 28 - Powwow Celebration
The beauty of the Powwow exhibit stops MPM visitors in their tracks. Powwow participants are famous for their use of color and dance, which help make powwows very exciting events. We’ll learn all about native dance styles, costume regalia, music, crafts, and the importance of these impressive celebrations during this exciting camp.

Week 2

Wednesday, July 11 - Star Light, Star Bright – Our Solar System
This camp will include an age-appropriate show in our Planetarium through which we will explore our starry night sky to learn about planet size and order. Is Pluto still a planet? Hop aboard our rocket ship as we find out!

Thursday, July 12 - Art and the Animal
The 2012 summer exhibit at MPM is the theme for this camp. “Art and the Animal” is an art exhibit which includes painting and sculptures of subjects from the animal kingdom. We will use the exhibit to view techniques, and then try our hand and some animal art techniques of our own!

Week 3

Wednesday, July 18 - The Dino “Top 5”
Meet Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Diplodocus, Coelophysis, and Triceratops! From slow, plant-eating giants to fierce scavengers and hunters, dinosaurs dominated the land for more than 160 million years. We will take a look at the physical characteristics of dinosaurs and learn how these popular giants lived.

Thursday, July 19 - Festivals & Foods!
Would your favorite holiday be the same without your favorite foods? Different cultures around the world use special foods in their festivals. What sort of meanings do these special foods have?  Come along and explore different cultures and festivities through the foods we use to help us celebrate!

Week 4

Wednesday, July 25 - European Village
In this camp, we will step back in time to learn about the traditions and customs of European cultures and take a peek in all the windows of the European Village exhibit to discover things we may still use today. We will try some tasty treats and make some fun projects just like some of our first Milwaukee settlers.

Thursday, July 26 - Geology & Gems
What child doesn’t like collecting rocks? Join us as we take an up-close look at some of the Museum’s rare Geology collections. We will learn about what rocks can tell us, explore fossils and examine crystals, and each child will go home with their own rock collection!

Week 5

Wednesday, Aug 1 - Insects Alive!
How does a millipede defend itself in nature? Why are walking sticks so hard to find? How many body parts does a grasshopper have? These are all questions we will answer in our popular insect camp. We will learn about adaptations, defense, habitat and diet of creepy crawlies from around the globe.

Thursday, Aug. 2 - Streets of Old Milwaukee
Back by popular demand, the Streets of Old Milwaukee camp will take us on a stroll through cobblestone streets as we learn about daily life from long ago. We will look at the changes from the log cabin to Granny’s house and compare it to our homes today. We’ll even step inside the Past Time Theater for a showing of a silent movie!

Week 6

Wednesday, Aug. 8 - Butterflies
From egg to chrysalis, the metamorphosis of the butterfly is a wonderful cycle. Are butterfly wings waterproof? We will test our theories and find out! We will also take flight to the butterfly garden for a personal experience of these beautiful living creatures.

Thursday, Aug. 9 - Our Big Backyard
What is going on in our own back yards as animals are scurrying about? Who are the nocturnal critters we hear scratching and thumping in the night? Take a walk with us to learn about our bountiful Wisconsin environment. From trees to bees, we will learn some important facts about our own backyards.

Week 7

Wednesday, Aug. 15 - Rainforest
The four layers of the Rainforest are unique and important to the relationship of the plants and animals who reside there. How important is camouflage for survival? How does the toucan help plant more trees? Why does the howler monkey scream so loud? Let’s take a trip to Costa Rica’s rainforest and explore!

Thursday, Aug. 16 - Dinosaurs!
Our Third Planet exhibit hosts dinosaurs big and small. The job of the Paleontologist is an important one, and we will pretend to go on an expedition and search for clues about these fascinating creatures! Along the way we’ll meet the Stegosaurs, T-Rex, Dromeosaurs and a few others. What was life like over 65 million years ago? Let’s put on our hard hats, grab our tools and find out!