Vacation Destination
Nature-based science fun with Fairbanks educators
Vacation Camps
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
All camps take place at the Fairbanks Museum. Limited extended day options are available until 3:00 PM.
- $175/child: members
- $225/child: non-members
- $10/child sibling discount
- $150/child extended day (until 3:00 PM)
Feb 24 – 28
Winter Wildlife (ages 4-6) FULL
Find out how animals survive icy cold and freezing temperatures! We’ll build snowy structures, weather permitting. We’ll also have fun exploring the museum to discover winter critters. We can’t wait to dive into story time, games, and crafts with your camper and share this wonderful learning experience together!
Winter Civilizations (ages 7-10)
Discover how different civilizations adapted to harsh winter conditions. We will explore how people around the world kept warm, hunted and stored food, and how they entertained themselves in the long winter months. What unique winter inventions can we thank each of these civilizations for? What winter stories did they create that we still tell today?
April 21 – 25
Full STEAM Ahead! (ages 4-5)
Explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math with Fairbanks Museum friends! This camp will bring out the explorers in all of us through hands-on activities, experiments, crafts, and games!
Monster Mythology (ages 9-12)
We’ve all heard stories of ghouls, demons, and monsters, but where did they all come from? What are some of the oldest monsters and who invented the myths about them? Campers will explore monster myths from around the world and their origins. We’ll look into the science behind why people at the time believed these monsters were real, and the cultural impact of these legends. Each camper will also have the opportunity to create a monster myth of their own.
Crazy Contraptions with Zach Umperovitch
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (ages 6-8)
1:00 – 4:00 PM (ages 9-12)
Zach Umperovitch, is back by popular demand! Zach is the leading authority on Rube Goldberg machines, working with everyday objects to build contraptions that accomplish a simple task in many steps, adding humor along the way. Campers will get to create their own multi-step machine, using fun and silly ways to rethink how to get things done!
Send a message to Karina Weiss to be placed on a waiting list for camps that are fully enrolled.
Summer Discovery Camps
week-long programs, June – Aug
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
All camps take place at the Fairbanks Museum. Limited extended day options are available until 3:00 PM.
- $175/child: members
- $225/child: non-members
- $10/child sibling discount
- $150/child extended day (until 3:00 PM)
Drones and Robots
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
Camps take place in the Fairbanks Museum’s STEM Lab.
- $300/child: members
- $350/child: non-members
- $20/child sibling discount
Franklin’s Guides
June – August
Ages 12-16
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is looking for engaged, mature students who are ready for the responsibilities of interacting with the public in a natural history museum setting. This program is designed to give students a chance to learn what it’s like to be a docent. If you enjoy science, history, animals, astronomy, and more, Franklin’s Guides is the right program for you.
Our Guides will spend time in the museum, planetarium, Build It Lab, and native butterfly house. They will greet visitors, interpret exhibits, educate, and assist with programs. June 24th to 28th will be an orientation week, where all guides will be trained on the different locations where they will be stationed throughout the summer.
Students are expected to commit to a Monday- Friday weekly schedule, with their days starting at 10AM and ending at 4PM. Upon completion of all 8 weeks, Franklin’s guides will receive a stipend of $300. We will conclude our summer fun with an overnight at the museum on August 17 to 18th.
Please email Karina Weiss to inquire about this program and request an application. Applications must be completed and submitted by Sunday, May 26th at 5:00 PM.