Discovery Kids Summer Camps
Our talented camp instructors are devoted to enhancing learning and adventure through projects, experiments, art, music, dance, creative expression, game play, outside adventures, and numerous hands-on activities. We are striving to ensure each camper has a full and enriching experience while still remaining diligent with our safety and health protocols. Your child’s safety is our top priority.
Your child will be able to spend sunny days learning and playing in our award-winning Story Garden and taking hikes on the trails within Ross Park. If it does rain, they will have plenty of time to explore the region’s one and only children’s museum. Limited museum hours throughout the summer will ensure that campers will have the Museum all to themselves. What better place is there for your kids to spend their summer?
Camp Structure and Rates
Our camps are divided into four different age groups: Pre-k, Ages 5-6, Ages 7-8, and Ages 9-12.
Pre-k
Morning session only (9AM – 12PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Afternoon session only (1PM – 4PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Full Day (9AM – 4PM)
- $1,275 for members
- $1,400 for non-members
To register for full day, choose both morning and afternoon sessions.
Childcare subsidies through the Department of Social Services (DSS) will only be accepted for currently enrolled full time children. Please contact Kristy Wales at 607-773-8661 ext 209 for details.
For our youngest campers, we are offering Pre-k camps all summer.
These half-day or full day camps are open to 3 and 4 year olds and will help your child adjust to a school-like setting and prepare them for Pre-k or kindergarten in the fall.
Your child will learn new skills as they interact with their peers and adjust to classroom routines.
*To participate in this camp, your child must be toilet trained. You will also need to supply proof of immunizations and last medical physical to complete your registration.
Ages 5-6
Morning session only (9AM – 12PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Afternoon session only (1PM – 4PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Full Day (9AM – 4PM)
- $1,275 for members
- $1,400 for non-members
To register for full day, choose both morning and afternoon sessions.
Childcare subsidies through the Department of Social Services (DSS) will only be accepted for currently enrolled full time children. Please contact Kristy Wales at 607-773-8661 ext 209 for details.
We know some parents are looking for half-day options while others are looking for full. That’s why we offer parents the opportunity to choose what is best for your 5-6 year old campers.
Morning and afternoon camps will follow the same theme but include different activities.
Due to scheduling factors, an afternoon camp may have an opportunity for a special experience that a morning camp does not and vice versa.
Whether you sign up for the morning, the afternoon, or both, your child will have plenty to do!
Ages 7-8
Morning session only (9AM – 12PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Afternoon session only (1PM – 4PM)
- $90 for members per week
- $100 for non-members per week
Full Day (9AM – 4PM)
- $1,275 for members
- $1,400 for non-members
To register for full day, choose both morning and afternoon sessions.
Childcare subsidies through the Department of Social Services (DSS) will only be accepted for currently enrolled full time children. Please contact Kristy Wales at 607-773-8661 ext 209 for details.
We know some parents are looking for half-day options while others are looking for full. That’s why we offer parents the opportunity to choose what is best for your 7-8 year old campers.
Morning and afternoon camps will follow the same theme but include different activities.
Due to scheduling factors, an afternoon camp may have an opportunity for a special experience that a morning camp does not and vice versa.
Whether you sign up for the morning, the afternoon, or both, your child will have plenty to do!
Ages 9-12
- $1,275 for members
- $1,400 for non-members
Camps for our “big kids” are full-day because they are jam-packed with so many cool projects – your child won’t want to miss a minute.
Designed with numerous opportunities for child-directed fun, your child will be challenged with engaging projects that will develop over the course of the camp session.
Registration Fee and Required Deposit
A one-time registration fee ($20) covers the cost of this year’s camp t-shirt. A $50 deposit is required to hold your child’s spot in each camp. Your deposit will be fully refunded if The Discovery Center is unable to run camps during the week(s) your child is enrolled. You must pay for your camp in full two weeks before camp begins.
Extended Camp Options
We offer before-camp care (8AM – 9AM) and after-camp care (4PM – 5:30PM) for 5-12 year old campers. Each option can be purchased separately for $28 per week. Before-camp care and after-camp care require pre-registration. There will be no on-site registration at drop-off or pick-up.
Member Discount
In order to qualify for special member discounts, your family membership must be current at time of registration through August 2021. If your membership will expire before September, you must renew it before completing your camp registration in order to receive the member rate. When you renew your membership now, your new membership year is activated when your current membership expires. To purchase or renew a membership, click here or call 607-773-8661.
No refunds will be given for memberships purchased after camp registration is completed.
Membership benefits are not transferable, and membership discounts for camp cannot be used to register extended family members.
A Typical Day at Camp
Adventure and learning are waiting around every corner at the Discovery Center! Every morning, campers will gather in their classrooms and settle in with their instructors. From there they’ll take part in all kinds of engaging activities.
We’ll conduct hands-on experiments, create art, sing, and dress up! Each day includes playtime in our hands-on children’s museum, award-winning Story Garden, or the woods of Ross Park. Structured games like gaga ball, hide and seek, and tag keep kids moving. Everyone will be back in their classrooms for pickup with plenty of stories to tell!
Pre-k Camp Descriptions
Pre-k Camps run July 5 – August 26, 2022.
Movement and Music
Get your wiggles out at this high-energy camp! Students will play games inside the Museum and out in the Story Garden as they explore movement through music and group activities, making their own instrument, yoga, hula hooping, and so much more!
Silly Scientists
Calling all scientists! Grab a lab coat as we explore the world around us and embark on some hands-on experiences and experiments! WARNING: We may get messy!
Green Thumbs
Spend a week outdoors in the Story Garden getting to the roots of gardening through an exploration of plants, bugs, and all things growing! You will give this camp a green thumbs-up as you play games and do scientific investigations while learning about flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even some garden creepy crawlies!
Animal Kingdom
“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” Let’s take an adventure through the rainforest, under the vast oceans, and up the tallest mountains as we explore what makes our world so amazing.
Sports-a-palooza
Jump right in as we take part in sports played throughout the year. This camp will give us a look into sports as we jump, kick, spin, throw, and move throughout the different sports of the week!
Under the Sea
Did you know that there are mountains and volcanoes found in the ocean? The SS Discovery Submarine will take a deep-sea voyage to explore the hidden world in the sea! Who knows what creatures we will find?
Storybook Summer
Think, play, and create inspired by our favorite books! Throughout the week, explore fun stories through movement exercises, art projects, and active adventures in and around the Museum.
Whoosh, Zap, Shazam!
Is it a bus? Is it a plane? Or is it… Blossom the Bull? The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier puts its spin on the classic superheroes that we all know and love. Let’s embark together to find out what makes us super!
Ages 5-6 Camp Descriptions
Furry Friends
Calling all animal lovers! Adopt your own stuffed animal and learn how to take care of your new pet. We will make unique pet homes, craft collars, and make special pet treats for your new pal. Get plenty of playtime in our new Pet Vet exhibit too!
Mad Science Lab
Calling all scientists! Grab a lab coat and some safety goggles as we explore the world around us and embark on some hands-on experiences and experiments. WARNING: We may get messy!
Green Thumbs
Spend a week outdoors in the Story Garden getting to the roots of gardening through an exploration of plants, bugs, and all things growing! You will give this camp a green thumbs-up as you play games and do scientific investigations while learning about flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even some garden creepy crawlies!
Dinosaur Detectives
Calling all junior paleontologists! Join us as we travel back in time to the land of the dinosaurs where we will become dinosaur detectives. Will you be a predator or a prey animal? Learn all about different kinds of dinosaurs and use your paleontology skills to discover terrifying dinosaur teeth and fearsome footprints!
Now You’re Cooking
A lot of knowledge comes from spilled milk! We are going to mix it up this week with the basics of cooking, a splash of fun and games, and a bit of kitchen chemistry. Name that vegetable, pizza mathematics, and a mystery food photo challenge will surely spice things up.
Storybook Summer
Think, play, and create inspired by our favorite books! Throughout the week, explore fun stories through movement exercises, art projects, and active adventures in and around the Museum.
Whoosh, Zap, Shazam!
Is it a bus? Is it a plane? Or is it… Blossom the Bull? The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier puts its spin on the classic superheroes that we all know and love. Let’s embark together to find out what makes us super!
Splat Camp
Creativity will be in full swing as kids investigate gravitational and applied forces through creative play. Pendulum drawing, magnetic forces, and friction painting will be used to create individual and collaborative works of art.
Ages 7-8 Camp Descriptions
Camps for ages 7-8 run July 5 – August 26, 2022.
Destination Discovery
Join us for an amazing adventure as we explore the wonders of our world! Discover mountains, deserts, and oceans; follow the trail of early explorers, say hello in new languages, eat a variety of cultural foods, and learn to navigate by the stars! Our adventure-filled camp will unearth a new adventure every day!
Take the Jurassic Journey
Dinosaurs roamed the earth for over 150 million years and then mysteriously vanished. These reptiles varied from fierce killers to gentle plant-eaters. Learn about what they looked like, what they ate, and how their bones help us put the puzzle together as we attempt to solve the dinosaur mystery.
Astronaut Training Camp
Put your spacesuit on as we explore Earth’s atmosphere, our sun and moon, our solar system, and our vast universe. Through pretend play and hands-on activities, we will become space adventurers and scientists.
Natural Disasters
This camp explores volcanoes, earthquakes, sinkholes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and landslides. Campers will make volcanoes and learn about plate tectonics, extreme weather, and so much more!
Painting with Forces
Creativity will be in full swing as we investigate gravitational and applied forces through painting. Pendulum painting, painting with magnets, and friction painting with toy trucks will be used to create art all through an exploration of physics!
Kitchen Science
Do you love to play with your food? Do you enjoy gooey, slimy creations? Then this is the camp for you! Learn simple science and food chemistry facts as we experiment with acids and bases, test our five senses, eat “play dough” and homemade butter, and then blow up soda! Explore the laws of physics as we create our own fort from recycled food boxes and enjoy a picnic inside it.
Eco-explorers
Listening to nature, hiking the trails, and exploring the creek all lay ahead to help us understand the environment around us. The Discovery Center sits in a perfect area to help us discover all that the earth has to offer!
Sports-A-Palooza
Jump right in as we take part in team sports! We will work hard to show the power of teamwork to make some goals and score some points!
Ages 9-12 Camp Descriptions
Camps for ages 9-12 run July 5 – August 26, 2022.
Innovative Engineers
Imagine if your house could shrink down to the size of a ring! What if your dog had a collar that helped you understand him? Join us as we look into inventions that have already been created and embrace our own creative thoughts to come up with new ideas!
Survival Week
Could you survive on a deserted island? Learn basic survival skills and compete in a variety of challenges. This fun-filled week will be full of physical and mental challenges and outdoor adventures.
Cooking Camp
Peter Rabbit grew the vegetables and now it is our turn to think like a chef! We will take a tour of our garden and come up with recipes to embrace different vegetables, tastes, textures, and so much more. This is a hands-on experience for our campers to be in the driver’s seat as we cook together.
Blast to the Past
Travel to a new place and time each day as we explore some of America’s most famous figures throughout history. Learn what it takes to be a kid growing up during these times as we create cultural crafts, play games, and try foods from each different time period. Get ready for some good old-fashioned fun!
Box City USA
This camp will be a real walk around the block as you create the town of your dreams out of boxes. You and your box town neighbors will hold town meetings and decide on the city ordinances that meet the needs of all the box town residences. We’ll hold elections, name a town mayor, and design neighborhoods and business districts. Urban planning and community pride will be what makes this town the happiest place on the cardboard planet.
Earth Keepers Club
Science isn’t just about experiments that yield amazing results, it’s also about using knowledge to solve some of the world’s toughest problems. Explore environments, ecosystems, energy flow, and organisms – with a close-up look at global issues!
Painting with the Masters
Grab your smocks as we recreate some of the most captivating pieces of art of all time. We will be learning about different artists, styles, and mediums used throughout history. Joining us all week will be some of our local artists to put them to the test.
Food
Waitlist and Late Registration
Cancellation Policy
If The Discovery Center’s camps are open and running, we will be unable to issue refunds for any fees paid.
Questions?
For more information, email directorofed@thediscoverycenter.org or call (607) 773-8661 ext 209.
