Nature Museum Camps

Nature Museum Camps offers science projects, art projects, nature play, animal encounters, and interactive exploration. Campers explore the exhibits, spend time in outdoor play, and create using tools selected or built by them. Daily Parent Pages from camp directors share photos, a summary of the day’s accomplishments, and questions families can use for conversation.

• Ages: 4–9 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday camp sessions from 9am to 3pm, with each session running once over two weeks and optional aftercare from 3pm to 5pm
• Price: Nature's Neighbors (Ages 4-5) $900; Habitat Explorers (Ages 6-7) $900; City Critters (Ages 4-5) $900; Nature Detectives (Ages 6-7) $900; Growing Sprouts (Ages 4-5) $900; Neighborhood Naturalists (Ages 6-7) $900; City Scientists (Ages 8-9) $920; Family Plus members receive discounted prices of $835 for sessions priced at $900 and $855 for City Scientists with an exclusive discount code; aftercare $300

For over 167 years, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences has connected people of all ages to nature and science through immersive exhibits, fun family events, conservation research, and education programs. The Chicago Academy of Sciences was founded in 1857 and became Chicago’s first public museum in 1869, later opening the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in 1999. The museum is known for its Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, is one of the city’s most attended institutions, and reports providing more hands-on science instruction than any other museum in Chicago. The program acknowledges support from the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.

Last updated July 29, 2026.