summer camp at the discovery center binghamton

Discovery Kids Summer Camps

For over 20 years, The Discovery Center has provided children and families with one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences that are safe, fun, and educational. Our summer camp programs are licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and are designed to help encourage children to make friends and learn all about being the best they can be.

Your child will spend sunny days learning and playing in our award-winning Story Garden and taking hikes on the trails within Ross Park. They will also have plenty of time to explore the region’s one and only children’s museum. What better place is there for your kids to spend their summer?

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.

Young boy in Story Garden

Pre-k (Age 4)

Our full day camps are open to 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.

This camp will have a ratio of 1 adult to every 8 children with a total of 16 children total. 

*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.

During this week, Summer Camp will be closed on July 4.

Good Vibrations

Get ready to shake, rattle, and roll as we make beautiful music together. Students will play games inside and out as they explore movement through music and group activities, Making their own instrument, yoga, hula hooping, and so much more!

The Great Outdoors

Come explore the great outdoors! Your little ones will learn about their world through nature-inspired games, creative arts, songs, and experiments. And of course, plenty of time playing in our Story Garden and exploring Ross Park!

The World of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs have taken over the Discovery Center! We need to learn as much as we can about our new Jurassic neighbors. What do they look like? What do they eat? Are they friendly? We’ll spend the week making cretaceous creative arts, playing gigantic games, and excavating ferocious fossils!

Out of This World!

Your rocket is ready to launch into space as we explore the never-ending galaxies up above. Planets, stars, moons, and meteors await us on our exploration of space!

Pirates

Yoho, Yoho! The pirate’s adventures continue. Ahoy Mateys! Come aboard the SS Discovery and sail the seven seas if you dare! All hands on deck for a week of learning about Blackbeard and searching for his treasure.

Storybook Summer

This week will be inspired by beloved children’s books. Stories will come alive through art, active adventures, and group activities. 

Whoosh, Zap, Shazam

Calling all future superheroes! Make your own costume, Discover your superpowers, prepare power-filled nutritious snacks, and more!

Goodbye Summer

We’re celebrating the end of summer by bringing back all of our favorite games and activities. Ending our time together with a picnic. See you all next summer!

Ages 5-6

The Discovery Center Summer Camps binghamton

This camp will have a ratio of 1 adult to every 10 children with a total of 20 children total.

During this week, Summer Camp will be closed on July 4.

Storybook Summer

This week will be inspired by beloved children’s books. Stories will come alive through art, active adventures, and group activities.

Astronaut Adventure

T-Minus 5..4..3..2…1… It’s time to blast off and explore the vast galaxies above. Is there life on Mars? What lies beyond the Milky Way? Remember to pack your space suit for this space adventure!

Under The Big Top

Come one come all to the spectacular Discovery Center show! We have clowns, rides, snake charmers, and so much more. Take your spotlight after training to be a trapeze artist. You won’t believe your eyes!

Unplugged

Travel back in time to days before playing with iPads, tablets, and phones. Grab your friends for a game of kick the can, exploring the woods and stream, and other camp favorites! Explore all the awesome things you can do unplugged in this super fun throwback camp!

Artful Antics

Get your creative juices flowing with Tie Dye, glue, paint, watercolor, and so much more! All can be found as we embrace our inner artists during our artful antics week.

Play Cafe

Join fellow chefs in the kitchen and learn to make simple, tasty recipes together. Campers will learn their way around a kitchen and why it is important to be safe. Create your own apron and set up a restaurant for all to enjoy.

Tinkers Town

Put on your thinking cap and get ready to create during this week of tinkering! Each day the tinkerer’s idea box will be open to expose the new project of the day. How you choose to solve the problem is up to you!

Goodbye Summer

We’re celebrating the end of summer by bringing back all of our favorite games and activities. Ending our time together with a picnic. See you all next summer!

Ages 7-8

The Discovery Center Summer Camps

This camp will have a ratio of 1 adult to every 10 children with a total of 20 children total.

During this week, Summer Camp will be closed on July 4.

Tinkers Town

Put on your thinking cap and get ready to create during this week of tinkering! Each day the tinkerer’s idea box will be open to expose the new project of the day. How you choose to solve the problem is up to you!

 

Adventure Awaits

“Helloooo traveler….. your adventure awaits!” In this Dungeons and Dragons-inspired camp students will need fate on their side. Choose your character, roll the dice, and may the odds be in your favor!

On Friday July 19th we will be having a field trip to Highland Park! There will be opportunities to play on the playground, ride the carousel, swim, use the tennis courts, and have a wonderful outdoor adventure. Drop off will be at 9:00 am  and pick up will be at 4:00 at the park. We will NOT be meeting at The Discovery Center that day.

Unplugged

Travel back in time to days before playing with ipads, tablets, and phones. Grab your friends for a game of kick the can, exploring the woods and stream, and other camp favorites! Explore all the awesome things you can do unplugged in this super fun throwback camp

More Than Crayons

Art is more than just coloring with crayons. Be inspired, be creative, and be yourself! We will learn about different artists, styles, and mediums used throughout history. What will inspire you?

Born to Move

Let’s get your body in motion with this active camp. Learn about the human body, which muscles we need to exercise, and why it is important to be active. We will be power-walking our way through the week.

Final Frontier

Put your space suit 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. 

Bon Appetit

Put on your chef’s hat and stir up some fun in our DC cooking camp. Will you be an ace of cakes or an iron chef? Test out your skills and learn to make healthy food choices with a few sweet treats thrown in for fun!

Goodbye Summer

We’re celebrating the end of summer by bringing back all of our favorite games and activities. Ending our time together with a picnic. See you all next summer!

 

Ages 9-12

Summer Camp at The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier

This camp will have a ratio of 1 adult to every 10 children with a total of 20 children total.

During this week, Summer Camp will be closed on July 4.

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!

Science of Art

Think art and science are two separate things? Think again! We’re combining two of our favorite topics into one awesome camp. Learn how scientific discoveries have impacted the world of art and how art affects science. You’ll explore the science behind colors, use gravity to create a masterpiece, and turn science experiments into artwork to treasure.

On Friday July 19th we will be having a field trip to Highland Park! There will be opportunities to play on the playground, ride the carousel, swim, use the tennis courts, and have a wonderful outdoor adventure. Drop off will be at 9:00 am and pick up will be at 4:00 at the park. We will NOT be meeting at The Discovery Center that day. 

Born to Move

Let’s get your body in motion with this active camp. Learn about the human body, which muscles we need to exercise, and why it is important to be active. We will be power-walking our way through the week. 

Tinkers Town

Put on your thinking cap and get ready to create during this week of tinkering! Each day the tinkerer’s idea box will be open to expose the new project of the day. How you choose to solve the problem is up to you!

Locally Grown

Discover what it takes to make a garden grow! Create nature-inspired art, plant something new together, and learn to prepare delicious and nutritious dishes using produce from the garden.

Unplugged

Travel back in time to days before playing with ipads, tablets, and phones. Grab your friends for a game of kick the can, exploring the woods and stream, and other camp favorites! Explore all the awesome things you can do unplugged in this super fun throwback camp! 

Adventure Awaits

“Helloooo traveler….. your adventure awaits!” In this Dungeons and Dragons-inspired camp students will need fate on their side. Choose your character, roll the dice, and may the odds be in your favor!

Goodbye Summer

We’re celebrating the end of summer by bringing back all of our favorite games and activities. Ending our time together with a picnic. See you all next summer!

2024 Camp Structure

Our Discovery Kids Summer Camp will run from July 1 – August 23, 2024. Our full day camps are divided into four different age groups: Pre-k (Age 4), Ages 5-6, Ages 7-8, and Ages 9-12. To meet the needs of our community this summer, we are offering one 8-week session.

2024 Camp Rates

Ages 5-12 Camps: Full Day (9AM – 4PM) for 8 weeks

Member: $1,550
Not-Yet-Member: $1,750

Age 4 (Pre-k) Camp: Full Day (9AM – 4PM) for 8 weeks

Member: $1,650
Not-Yet-Member: $1,850

Childcare subsidies through the Department of Social Services (DSS) will only be accepted for currently enrolled full time children. Please contact Ciara Heatherman at 607-773-8661 ext 209 for details.

Extended Camp Options

We offer before-camp care (8-9AM) and after-camp care (4-5:30PM) for 5-12 year old campers. There is no before or after care available for our pre-k campers.
Members can purchase 8 weeks of before-camp care for $230 and after-camp care for $250.
Not-Yet-Members can purchase 8 weeks of before-camp care for $240 and after-camp care for $260.

Registration Fee

The registration fee is included in tuition this year and will cover classroom supplies and any special events and field trips.

Member Discount

In order to qualify for special member discounts, your family membership must be current at time of registration through August 2024. 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 designed to encourage children to be creative, engaged and active!

Each week is a new theme and a new set of things to learn about. We will play in our one of a kind hands-on children’s museum, award-winning Story Garden, or the woods of Ross Park. Children will participate in structured games, story time, an art enrichment curriculum and of course have plenty of chances to be active and keep moving. There will be new friends to make and social skills to develop each and every day!

Food

Campers need to bring a packed lunch and two snacks from home that do not need to be heated or refrigerated as well as a refillable water bottle each day. Depending on each day’s weather and activities, lunchtime may just turn into a picnic in the Story Garden! We ask that all families be considerate of food allergies. We will email parents ahead of time if there is an allergy in the camp that they should be aware of.

Waitlist and Late Registration

Many camps fill up early so we do maintain waitlists for camps if they reach capacity. Camp registration will close the Wednesday before each camp week begins. Occasionally, not all camps fill to capacity. In that case, camps of similar age groups may be combined with the themes of original camps incorporated to ensure that all campers have a great experience.

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.