Smithsonian Summer Camp
S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004
About
Smithsonian Summer Camp offers games, hands-on projects, crafts, tours, and conversations with experts. Weeklong in-person and online day camps use Smithsonian-centric themes such as the natural world, space, art, design, history, world cultures, and more.
• Ages: 5–16 years old
• Schedule: Weeklong in-person and online day camps from June 22 – August 14, 2026
Smithsonian Summer Camp offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination and engages campers with Smithsonian museums, their exhibits, and their themes. A diverse, creative, and experienced team of instructors designs age-appropriate content, and camps are guided by scientists, researchers, museum curators, writers, and visual and performing artists. Smithsonian Summer Camp is part of Smithsonian Associates.
Smithsonian Summer Camp has been recognized as #1 Summer Camp—Best of DC by Washington Post readers, Best Camp—Best Camps of Northern Virginia by NOVA Magazine, and one of “4 Summer Camps That Turn DC into One Big Playground” by Washingtonian.
Parent and participant feedback includes: “Smithsonian Summer Camp was an enormously positive experience for me.” —Matthew Jensen, Cinematographer, Game of Thrones and Wonder Woman. Other parents report that it is the best camp their kids attend and that their children love seeing the museums and hearing from the people who make it all happen. Parents also describe instructors as engaging, knowledgeable, and fun, and note that teachers present challenging information with very well organized activities. One parent shares that their child, who had not previously completed art projects, spent two weeks planning, creating, coloring, and completing projects daily.
Last updated June 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–16 years old
• Schedule: Weeklong in-person and online day camps from June 22 – August 14, 2026
Smithsonian Summer Camp offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination and engages campers with Smithsonian museums, their exhibits, and their themes. A diverse, creative, and experienced team of instructors designs age-appropriate content, and camps are guided by scientists, researchers, museum curators, writers, and visual and performing artists. Smithsonian Summer Camp is part of Smithsonian Associates.
Smithsonian Summer Camp has been recognized as #1 Summer Camp—Best of DC by Washington Post readers, Best Camp—Best Camps of Northern Virginia by NOVA Magazine, and one of “4 Summer Camps That Turn DC into One Big Playground” by Washingtonian.
Parent and participant feedback includes: “Smithsonian Summer Camp was an enormously positive experience for me.” —Matthew Jensen, Cinematographer, Game of Thrones and Wonder Woman. Other parents report that it is the best camp their kids attend and that their children love seeing the museums and hearing from the people who make it all happen. Parents also describe instructors as engaging, knowledgeable, and fun, and note that teachers present challenging information with very well organized activities. One parent shares that their child, who had not previously completed art projects, spent two weeks planning, creating, coloring, and completing projects daily.
Last updated June 14, 2026.
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