About
High Desert Museum Summer Kids Camp offers weeklong themes such as Eye Spy, where campers explore the forest through hands-on activities and observations to discover animals living in trees and streams. Other sessions include I Lava Volcanoes, which focuses on dramatic landforms like rugged mountains, fiery volcanoes, and shifting landscapes, and Tiny Worlds, where campers explore tiny bugs, flowers, and other small wonders and capture their discoveries through science and art. Additional themes include Many Mini Mammals, which looks at the lives and adaptations of squirrels, skunks and porcupines through hands-on activities, games and creative projects, and High Flyers, which examines how animals such as birds, bats and spiders fly and the strategies they use to soar, swoop and drift.
• Ages: 6–11 years old
• Schedule: Camp hours are 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with a flexible dropoff window from 8:30 am – 9:00 am, and most camps are five-day camps with some four-day and three-day options.
• Price: 5-day camps: $350, $425 with extended care. 4-day camps: $280, $340 with extended care. 3-day camps: $210, $255 with extended care. Members receive a 10% discount on summer kids camps.
Camps are available on a first come, first served basis for incoming 1st, 2nd and 3rd–5th grades, and there are no options for children entering kindergarten. The camp follows Bend La Pine school requirements, which state that students who are six years old on or before September 1 may enroll in first grade. Payment is required at the time of registration to reserve a child’s spot, and refunds are not given for partial or unattended days. The Summer Camp Cancellation Policy includes tiered refunds depending on cancellation date and allows a 100% refund if the spot is transferred to someone of the same grade level after they register, and if the High Desert Museum cancels the program for any reason, participants receive a full refund. Extended care is offered from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm at an additional cost.
Through its exploration of the High Desert, the High Desert Museum states that it cultivates a world where people and the landscape thrive together and that it “wildly excites and responsibly teaches through innovative, interdisciplinary experiences, creating connection to and dialogue about the High Desert.” The High Desert Museum has been inspiring families since 1982. The Institute of Museum and Library Services named the High Desert Museum as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service for providing dynamic programming and services through community outreach and working to create programs that offer rich educational programming and expand museum access. The High Desert Museum was named one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, described as the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
The Museum’s leadership includes Executive Director Dana Whitelaw and Board Chair Sharon Gueck, along with Collections Chair Bobby Brunoe, Development Chair Ali Dietz, Finance Chair Jim Campbell, Governance Chair Josh Newton and Secretary Romy Mortensen. Museum Board members are listed as Dave Baiocchi, Katherine Bloomfield, Tucker Bounds, Carson Campbell, Kathryn Collins, J. Ned Dempsey, Bart Eberwein, Michael Fardella, Mary Faulkner, Nancy Fischer, Lisa Hale, Maria Hall, Andy Jordan, Connie Kearney, Cameron Kerr, John Lewis, Nelson Mathews, Julie Miller, Mimmo Rosati, Steve Shropshire, Susan Skalski, Justin Snyder, Phyllis Swindells, Terry Valeski, Christine Vernier, Jennifer Weddle, Leslie Weldon and Billy Williams, with Life Trustees Michael P. Hollern and Tom Triplett. The Museum includes a store and café and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
• Ages: 6–11 years old
• Schedule: Camp hours are 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with a flexible dropoff window from 8:30 am – 9:00 am, and most camps are five-day camps with some four-day and three-day options.
• Price: 5-day camps: $350, $425 with extended care. 4-day camps: $280, $340 with extended care. 3-day camps: $210, $255 with extended care. Members receive a 10% discount on summer kids camps.
Camps are available on a first come, first served basis for incoming 1st, 2nd and 3rd–5th grades, and there are no options for children entering kindergarten. The camp follows Bend La Pine school requirements, which state that students who are six years old on or before September 1 may enroll in first grade. Payment is required at the time of registration to reserve a child’s spot, and refunds are not given for partial or unattended days. The Summer Camp Cancellation Policy includes tiered refunds depending on cancellation date and allows a 100% refund if the spot is transferred to someone of the same grade level after they register, and if the High Desert Museum cancels the program for any reason, participants receive a full refund. Extended care is offered from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm at an additional cost.
Through its exploration of the High Desert, the High Desert Museum states that it cultivates a world where people and the landscape thrive together and that it “wildly excites and responsibly teaches through innovative, interdisciplinary experiences, creating connection to and dialogue about the High Desert.” The High Desert Museum has been inspiring families since 1982. The Institute of Museum and Library Services named the High Desert Museum as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service for providing dynamic programming and services through community outreach and working to create programs that offer rich educational programming and expand museum access. The High Desert Museum was named one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, described as the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
The Museum’s leadership includes Executive Director Dana Whitelaw and Board Chair Sharon Gueck, along with Collections Chair Bobby Brunoe, Development Chair Ali Dietz, Finance Chair Jim Campbell, Governance Chair Josh Newton and Secretary Romy Mortensen. Museum Board members are listed as Dave Baiocchi, Katherine Bloomfield, Tucker Bounds, Carson Campbell, Kathryn Collins, J. Ned Dempsey, Bart Eberwein, Michael Fardella, Mary Faulkner, Nancy Fischer, Lisa Hale, Maria Hall, Andy Jordan, Connie Kearney, Cameron Kerr, John Lewis, Nelson Mathews, Julie Miller, Mimmo Rosati, Steve Shropshire, Susan Skalski, Justin Snyder, Phyllis Swindells, Terry Valeski, Christine Vernier, Jennifer Weddle, Leslie Weldon and Billy Williams, with Life Trustees Michael P. Hollern and Tom Triplett. The Museum includes a store and café and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
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