Mummy Mania

June 8-12  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 15

Ages 4-8: Travel back in time to the land of pyramids, hieroglyphics, pharaohs, and mummies! Explore the wonders of Ancient Egypt through hands-on crafts, games, and activities as we bring history to life.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: June 1 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Never Board

June 15-19  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 16

Ages 4-8: Step into a life-sized world of classic and modern board games where you become the players! Test your imagination, tackle team challenges, and explore strategy-based puzzles as we invent, build, and play our own original board games from start to finish. Note: VDM will be closed to the public June 19 for Juneteenth, but camp will still take place.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: June 8 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Where the Wild Things Are

June 22-26  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 16

Ages 4-8: Join us on an imaginative safari where creativity runs wild and adventure waits around every corner! Explore storytelling, art, and playful challenges that build confidence and curiosity.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: June 15 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Time Machine

July 6-11  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 14

Ages 4-8: It's a time warp! Jump from era to era exploring music, games, styles, and stories from different decades as we explore history and how times change through period-inspired hands-on activities and creative challenges.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: June 29 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Build-a-Palooza

July 13-17  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 16

Ages 4-8: Calling aspiring engineers: Bring your big ideas to life! Gear up for designing, building, and problem-solving using all kinds of creative materials as we explore engineering basics and construct towers, bridges, and more through innovation and teamwork.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: July 6 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Magical Mix-Up

July 20-24  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 16

Ages 4-8: Enter an enchanting world of wonder where illusion, mystery, and a little hocus pocus take center stage! Explore optical illusions, learn tricks, and dive into spellbinding activities inspired by wizards and mystical magic.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: July 13 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Biomes Bonanza

July 27-31  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 13

Ages 6-10: Pack your bags for a wild adventure around the world! Travel through incredible biomes like the rainforest, desert, tundra, and more as we discover how plants and animals survive in each unique environment and create our own terrariums to take home.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: July 20 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Galactic Voyage

Aug. 3-7  |  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  |  Spots Left: 16

Ages 4-8: Blast off on an out-of-this-world expedition! Soar across the galaxy exploring planets, stars, and cosmic environments as we learn what makes space so mysterious and amazing through astronomic experiments, cosmic collaboration, and stellar fun.

Register Online

Camp: $325/Child. Annual Members: 10% Off. Scholarships: Apply.
Register By: July 27 at 5:00 p.m. Capacity: 16 Kids.

Camp Participants

• Campers with any of these symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting the Museum.
• All parents/guardians must Check-In at the front desk before dropping off campers at the Museum.
• Nut-free lunches and labeled water bottles must be packed and placed in the designated bin in the Museum’s coat room.
• No food, gum, or drinks are allowed in the Museum galleries, except water bottles.

Check-In & Check-Out

• 9:00-9:30 a.m.: Arrival & Check-In
  • Takes place in the Museum’s front lobby area.
  • Campers enjoy supervised play in the Museum’s front gallery until all campers arrive. The Museum is closed for general admission visits during this time.
• 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Camp Activities & Gallery Playtime Breaks
  • Camp activities will take place in the Creation Station camp room and will be interspersed with playtime in the Museum galleries.
  • Creation Station will be closed to general admission visitors, but the Museum galleries will be open to the public.
• 12:00-12:45 p.m.: Lunch Time
  • Campers must pack a nut-free lunch and labeled water bottle.
• 12:45-1:00 p.m.: Pick-Up & Check-Out
  • Parents/Guardians must check out with the VDM staff member in the Literacy Lounge, where they can gather a camper’s backpack, lunchbox, water bottle and take-home materials. Campers will be walked to the Literacy Loung by another staff member or volunteer.
  • Campers and their families may stay and play in the Museum galleries as long as they wish following the camp day.

Germ Concerns

Will VDM be open for general admission during camps?

Yes, VDM will be open for general admission visits during camps, but the Creation Station camp room will only be open to campers.

Who else will be in the camp room during camps?

At least one VDM staff member and between two and three volunteers will be present during camps.

How often is the Museum cleaned?

The Museum is cleaned daily, and a crew will be on site after the Museum closes to clean and sanitize.

Registration & Waitlists

What is required to be eligible for camps?

Children must be at least 4 years old and fully independent in the bathroom.

What if the camp I want to participate in has filled?

Camps have a maximum capacity of 16 children. If you have an interest in a camp that is full, please submit a waitlist request through our online Summer Camp Waitlist form. In the event of a cancellation, those on the waitlist will be contacted in the order their requests were received.

Financial Assistance

Does VDM offer financial assistance for camps?

In accordance with the Museum’s mission, VDM does offer a limited number of scholarships for all of its programs, including camps. Contact Director of Operations Lindsay Jones at operationsdirector@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x102 for information about applying for a scholarship, or submit a Summer Camp Scholarship Application online.

Annual Members

How do I apply my 10% annual member discount?

To apply this discount to camp registrations made online, you must have an active annual membership and will need to create a Website User Account and link it to your membership record by following these instructions. If you have already created a Website User Account, click the registration link for the camp you wish to register for and sign in using the link at the top of the registration page. If you need help applying your 10% discount when using our online registration forms, please contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at matt@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x103.

How do I set up my Website User Account?

You can follow the instructions here or contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at matt@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x103.

Did I successfully link my Website User Account and membership?

Contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at matt@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x103, and we’ll make sure everything is all set.

Cancellations & Refunds

What is VDM’s cancellation and refund policy for camps?

A minimum of 6 campers is required for a camp to run. If a camp is canceled by the Museum due to insufficient enrollment or other extenuating circumstances, the registration fee will be refunded to all registrants.

Individual cancellations must be made at least 2 weeks before the corresponding camp to be eligible for a refund. If an individual cancellation causes the camp roster to fall below the required minimum, the refund will be contingent upon the vacancy being filled. If an individual cancellation is made within two weeks of the camp, the registration fee will be forfeited. No refunds will be issued after a camp begins.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Where can I park to drop off and pick up my child?

The Market Street Garage (550 E Market Street) or Water Street Garage (200 E Water Street) provide the first hour of parking for free, then charge $1 per half hour (or portion thereof) before capping at $12 maximum. Both locations use pay-by-plate technology through the Metropolis App, which requires visitors to create an account with their name, phone number or email address, license plate number, and a form of contactless payment. Museum guests receive an additional hour of free parking – for a total of two hours – when they scan the validation QR code at the Museum. The Museum is also located next to the Downtown Transit Station, and Charlottesville Area Transit offers a Free Trolley that stops at the station as it travels through Downtown and the University of Virginia. Click to learn more about parking downtown or more about public bus routes and fares.

Click the icon in the upper left corner for map legend and details.

Does VDM provide food or should I pack lunches for my child?

Due to food allergy concerns, the Museum does not provide any food or snacks itself during camps, but camps do include breaks for lunch. Camp participants are asked to pack nut-free lunches and labeled water bottles each day to help us maintain a nut-free environment for our friends with food allergies.

Does camp include gallery playtime?

Yes, camps do include playtime in the Museum galleries, both in the morning before VDM opens to the public and interspersed among activities throughout the camp day. Additionally, campers and their families may stay and play in the Museum galleries as long as they wish following the camp day, but parents/guardians must first check-out their child with the VDM staff member in the Literacy Lounge.