Summer Camp FAQs 2025

Explore It Camp is designed for children ages 5 to 7. Please note that children attending this camp must be at least age 5 on their first day of camp.

This camp is great for children who enjoy participating in a wide range of activities. There are times children will be working in large groups, small groups, and individually alongside peers. The camp day will include times of high energy and excitement as well as quieter, more relaxed activities.

The camp day is busy with many activities. Because of this, the day naturally has many transitions built into it. The camp staff works hard to support campers and make transitions as smooth as possible.

Please keep in mind that the Museum is situated next to several busy streets and a body of water. Because safety is the top priority of our camp, campers must be able to stay with the group at all times.

If you have specific questions about Explore It Summer Camp or want to talk more with us to see if our camp is right for your child, contact us!

Explore It Summer Camp welcomes campers with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations can be provided with the goal that the camper still engages in planned camp activities. Such accommodations can not pose safety risks to the camper or others.

The Explore It Summer Camp team highly encourages prospective camp families to discuss your child’s needs and accommodations in advance. If you have specific questions about Explore It Camp or want to talk more with us to see if our camp is right for your child, contact us!

The camp day runs from 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, for each of the six weeks between July 7 and August 15. Children can be dropped off as early as 8:30am for no additional fee. Extended care is available from 4-5pm for an additional fee (see below for details).

Each day will incorporate structured activity offerings, and campers will often be given a choice of activities. Campers might engineer their own “home” for a toy animal or dress up in a wild costume for a dance party on our Kidstage. Each day will include some time to explore Museum exhibits, as well as outdoor time visiting Martin’s Park adjacent to the Museum or playing outdoor games.

Each day we will build in opportunities for children that speak to their expressed interests and what makes them excited to attend our camp!

A full camp day runs from 9am to 4pm. Free early drop-off starts at 8:30am. Campers may stay for staff-supervised extended care from 4-5pm for an extra fee ($100 per week). Extended care needs to be arranged by 12pm on Friday the week before your child’s registered Camp week). Campers that are picked up later than 5pm are subject to a late-fee.

Yes! Each week will have a similar structure and some repeat activities, but most of the activities offered each week will differ, so campers can sign up for a maximum of three weeks (consecutively or not) and have a fun and different camp experience each time.

Both! We will incorporate outdoor time each day, making use of the amazing facilities at Martin’s Park next door to the Museum and having our own fun and games in our camp courtyard. Indoors, we’ll make use of the Museum classroom and exhibit spaces to make sure campers have access to all that Boston Children’s Museum has to offer.

Explore It Summer Camp does not offer any food service. Nut-free lunch and nut-free snacks will need to be brought by campers each day. We recommend packing two snacks per day. We also recommend that campers bring a reusable water bottle each day. Lunches and snacks should not require refrigeration nor to be heated.

The Museum is an Allergy Aware environment. As a public place with many thousands of visitors, the Museum cannot be allergen free–but staff and visitors can work together to create a respectful space for children and families with food allergies. If you register for Explore It Summer Camp, we will require you to share information about your child’s allergies and medications or precautions that our camp staff need to be aware of. Please reach out if you have questions about the Museum’s Allergy Aware Strategy.

You’re welcome to drop off lunch any time in the morning. Alternately, if you are unable to drop off the forgotten lunch, we will work with you to arrange for a lunch to be provided to your camper and will add on a $30 per day lunch fee to your cost for the week.

The base fee for Explore It Summer Camp is $750 per week.

Extended care is available from 4-5pm at an additional weekly rate of $100. Campers must be registered for weekly extended care by 12pm the Friday prior to their camp week.

A full refund will be issued if registration is canceled on or before May 1st, 2025. No refunds are given after May 1st.

Any materials needed to complete activities offered during the camp day will be provided by the Museum.

We do recommend children bring a change of clothes. Explore It Summer Camp will offer some extra messy activities because they are fun! Additionally, children should bring a sweatshirt or raincoat in case the weather is chilly or rainy. Closed-toed shoes are preferred. Please note that there may be times your camper will be very active throughout the day. Campers should wear shoes appropriate for running, jumping, and climbing. Campers should also bring sunscreen (labeled with their name, preferably sprayable), sunglasses, and/or a hat. Please write your child’s name on any belongings they’re bringing with them!

No. The Camp team does not want toys or devices from home to get broken, lost, or be a distraction from the fun of the camp day.

Yes! We will be playing games and offering activities designed to facilitate safe social interaction. There will also be free time when children can engage in conversations with their fellow campers and get to know each other.

The main staff working to create and facilitate Explore It Summer Camp are the Museum’s full-time education staff who, in many cases, have been here for years! We are child development and STEAM enthusiasts and educators…who also happen to be super into summer camp!

Other Boston Children’s Museum educators will lend expertise to specific activities and special offerings throughout the camp week, from science to art to creative expression!

Each week there will be up to 30 campers. Sometimes campers will be all together. Sometimes they will be in smaller, mixed-age groups. Our group sizes tend to vary based on the activity. Groups will maintain a ratio of maximum 5 campers to 1 counselor.

Parents/Guardians should not send sick or infectious children to camp. If your child is too sick to attend camp, please call or email our Camp Director to let us know.

All our camp counselors and staff are certified in CPR and First-Aid. If there is a sick camper, our staff is trained to handle minor illnesses. If a child becomes sick during their camp day, a parent/guardian will be notified and asked to pick up the child. If a parent/guardian is unreachable, we will notify the emergency contact to pick up the camper.

All health and medical information must be completed during the registration process. In addition, we require an up-to-date immunization record and a proof of annual physical within 12 months of the start of camp, signed by the camper’s general physician. These records must be submitted before the start of camp, or your camper may not participate in camp.

The Museum remains aware of COVID-19 safety procedures set forth by the state, Department of Education, and CDC. We have updated Camp safety procedures based on recommendations from the Boston Department of Public Health and other state guidelines for Summer 2025.

Upon registering, you will receive further information about health and safety practices, but if you have immediate questions or would like to learn more, please contact us!