About
Summer Day Camps offers art camps, nature camps, science camps, and cooking camps. The program includes half and full-day camp options that take place in an interactive setting with 150 exhibits and outdoor play areas, including a half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center with nature-themed exhibits both indoors and outdoors.
• Ages: 3–13 years old
• Schedule: Summer Day Camps (June 22–Aug. 27); half and full-day camps
Founded in 1987, the program operates as part of an organization whose mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through fun, interactive, and engaging exhibits and learning experiences for children, families, and the community. Summer Day Camps includes half and full-day camps for ages 3–9 and a Counselor in Training program for ages 10–13. The broader organization offers camps and educational programs for kids and focuses on early STEAM learning and healthy lifestyles throughout its exhibits and education programs, and is known as a national leader and innovator in using the Maker Movement to engage children in early STEAM learning, including gardening and cooking.
The organization’s leadership team includes CEO Patty Belmonte, CFO Cindy Hageman, COO Brandon Staff, Assistant Director of Visitor Engagement Amanda Wilkening, Interim Director of Development Amy Ginsburg, Assistant Director of Exhibits & Facilities Ben Daly, Marketing & Communications Senior Manager Beth Garson, Development & Events Coordinator Bethany Jensen, Preschool Senior Manager & Curriculum Advisor Betsy DeBoer, Events & Development Manager Chandler Keeling, Development & Database Operations Manager Hannah Pinto, Afterschool Programs & Community Events Assistant Manager Heather Wood, Assistant Director of Daily Operations Jay Potter, Reservations Coordinator Kaitlin Bowers, Front Desk Manager Katie Joyner, Finance Manager Katlin Sullivan, Visitor Engagement Assistant Manager Madison Peters, Graphic Designer & Communications Project Manager Marissa Blandford, HR & Purchasing Senior Coordinator Meadow Howard, Assistant Director of Education Meaghan Anderson, Lead Preschool Teacher Natasha Ivanichek, and Lead Preschool Teacher Seaira Lee.
The organization partners with schools, social service agencies, Tribes, medical professionals, nonprofits, and regional artists and educators to enrich its programming. It has been voted Best Family-Fun Destination and Showcase Magazine's Best Family Fun Destination 2025, and has been voted “Best Family-Friendly Destination” in King5 TV’s Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington contest. It is regularly selected as Best Family Entertainment, Best Museum, and Best Kid’s Birthday Party Venue in the Best of South Sound awards by The Olympian newspaper and other media outlets, has received a Traveler’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor in 2020, and has been honored as a Bright Light Museum by the Noyce Foundation. One visitor described it in a social media post by saying, “What a magnificent place to bring the family! Science, imagination, nature, gardening, art—this place has it all!”
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 3–13 years old
• Schedule: Summer Day Camps (June 22–Aug. 27); half and full-day camps
Founded in 1987, the program operates as part of an organization whose mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through fun, interactive, and engaging exhibits and learning experiences for children, families, and the community. Summer Day Camps includes half and full-day camps for ages 3–9 and a Counselor in Training program for ages 10–13. The broader organization offers camps and educational programs for kids and focuses on early STEAM learning and healthy lifestyles throughout its exhibits and education programs, and is known as a national leader and innovator in using the Maker Movement to engage children in early STEAM learning, including gardening and cooking.
The organization’s leadership team includes CEO Patty Belmonte, CFO Cindy Hageman, COO Brandon Staff, Assistant Director of Visitor Engagement Amanda Wilkening, Interim Director of Development Amy Ginsburg, Assistant Director of Exhibits & Facilities Ben Daly, Marketing & Communications Senior Manager Beth Garson, Development & Events Coordinator Bethany Jensen, Preschool Senior Manager & Curriculum Advisor Betsy DeBoer, Events & Development Manager Chandler Keeling, Development & Database Operations Manager Hannah Pinto, Afterschool Programs & Community Events Assistant Manager Heather Wood, Assistant Director of Daily Operations Jay Potter, Reservations Coordinator Kaitlin Bowers, Front Desk Manager Katie Joyner, Finance Manager Katlin Sullivan, Visitor Engagement Assistant Manager Madison Peters, Graphic Designer & Communications Project Manager Marissa Blandford, HR & Purchasing Senior Coordinator Meadow Howard, Assistant Director of Education Meaghan Anderson, Lead Preschool Teacher Natasha Ivanichek, and Lead Preschool Teacher Seaira Lee.
The organization partners with schools, social service agencies, Tribes, medical professionals, nonprofits, and regional artists and educators to enrich its programming. It has been voted Best Family-Fun Destination and Showcase Magazine's Best Family Fun Destination 2025, and has been voted “Best Family-Friendly Destination” in King5 TV’s Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington contest. It is regularly selected as Best Family Entertainment, Best Museum, and Best Kid’s Birthday Party Venue in the Best of South Sound awards by The Olympian newspaper and other media outlets, has received a Traveler’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor in 2020, and has been honored as a Bright Light Museum by the Noyce Foundation. One visitor described it in a social media post by saying, “What a magnificent place to bring the family! Science, imagination, nature, gardening, art—this place has it all!”
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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