Summer Camps

The Fleet runs weekly, half-day summer camps in 2013 from June 24 to August 23. The majority of our camps are geared for kids in Grades 1–2 and Grades 3–4, but we also offer camps for Pre-K and Grades 5–8 on selected weeks. The camps are designed to be fun, educational and hands-on and to incorporate the Fleet’s exhibit galleries. Camps are described below and are listed by grade level.

To further enhance the summer camp experience and as a convenience to you, many Balboa Park institutions—including the Fleet—coordinate their half-day summer camps so kids can spend a full day in the park. Staff members at participating institutions escort children from one camp to another during a supervised lunch hour. This means that a child can be dropped off at a morning camp at the Fleet and picked up from an afternoon camp at a different venue. Parking is limited during summer months so please plan accordingly.

Register Now for Summer Camps!

To register, call (619) 238-1233 ext. 806 or purchase online:

Register

*Call to ask about our sibling and multi-camp discounts!

Pre-Kindergarten

Kid City: Spaced Out!

June 24–28, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.
Blast off on an exploration of our solar system and beyond. Discover what it is like to be an astronaut while investigating planets, moons and stars. Don't worry -- we'll be sure to get you back in time for lunch.

 Kid City: Construction Crew

August 19–23, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.
Grab your hard hat and join us for a camp devoted to the science of construction. Experiment with a variety of building materials and techniques while exploring balance, gravity and geometry.

Grades 1-2

Chemistry in the Kitchen

June 24–28, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
August 5–9, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
See regular household items in a new and exciting way! Working with many materials found in an average home, we will interactively demonstrate many of the amazing science possibilities of our everyday lives.

 Energy Explorers

July 1–5, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Light up your day and get noisy! Delve into the world of light, sound, motion and more. Learn about the many forms of energy while harnessing wind power, investigating solar panels, designing musical instruments and creating chemical reactions. (No class on July 4.)

 Secondhand Science

July 1–5, 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
What can you do with all of those leftover bottles and containers? … Science experiments of course! Explore awesome activities you can do to reduce, reuse and recycle. Scientifically challenging and environmentally friendly, too! Ask about Union Bank scholarships for this camp. (No class on July 4.)

 Superhero Science

July 8–12, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Faster than a speeding comet, more powerful than a locomotive, it's Superhero Science! Join us for a behind-the-mask look into the powers of your favorite superheroes, and the science behind them. For added fun, come dressed as your favorite superhero character.

 Wizards Workshop

July 15–19, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Use science to simulate the magic of your favorite sorcerers from books and movies. We’ll mix up chemical concoctions and perform super science spells that are sure to amaze your friends and family. You won’t believe your eyes!

 Body Basics

July 15–19, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
How strong are bones? What causes hiccups? Discover the answers to these questions and many more while exploring the human body inside and out. Use microscopes, models and more to discover what makes your body tick!

 Gross and Gooey Science

July 22–26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Ewww! What’s that? Explore the science of everything slimy, gooey and gross. Find out why snails leave trails, why owls regurgitate their lunch and why mucus is so useful. Make your own gooey concoctions to take home.

 Art-ology

July 22–26, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Creativity and scientific thinking go hand-in-hand with this imaginative class. Explore the properties of materials, use energy from the sun to create a masterpiece and discover what happens when you mix artistic ingredients.

 Super Solar System

July 29–August 2, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Can you skate on the rings of Saturn? Was there ever life on Mars? Unlock the secrets of our solar system in this cosmic class. Learn why the seasons change on Earth and why the sun is so important to our everyday lives. Wrap up the week with a Micronauts mission aboard the International Space Station in our Nierman Challenger Learning Center.

 Young Tinkerers

August 12–16, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Have you ever wondered how a toaster toasts or what a computer looks like on the inside? Get ready to disassemble and tinker with household objects in this hands-on class. Tools provided—just bring your imagination!

 Weird & Wacky Science

August 12–16, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Mad scientists wanted! Many everyday phenomena that we take for granted can be explained by science. Hypothesize, experiment and discover the answers to mysteries through scientific inquiry.

 Toy Lab

August 19–23, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Tired of the same old games? Discover the science behind your favorite toys and build gadgets based on exhibits in the Fleet galleries. Create play dough, design toys that make noise, harness wind power and make other amazing creations to take home.

Grades 3-4

Green Engineering

July 1–5, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
What does it mean to be green? Find out how to help make our planet a better place to live in this eco-friendly class. Learn about sustainable energy, recycling and water conservation. Become a “greengineer” by designing and racing a solar-powered vehicle. (No class on July 4.)
Ask about Union Bank scholarships for this camp.

 Shocking Forces

July 1–5, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
In this electrifying class, you will create homemade circuits, harness the power of the sun in a solar-powered car and combine magnetism and electricity to make a working motor. You’ll be shocked by how much you learn! (No class on July 4.)

 Young Engineers

July 8–12, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Design, construct and test your engineering masterpieces. Use the planks in our “Block Busters!” exhibition to design the tallest tower or build the longest bridge. Return to the classroom to build castles, boats and buildings out of unexpected materials.

 Medieval Inventions

July 8–12, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Attention all noble Ladies, Lords and Knights: Head to the roundtable as we master the science of medieval engineering. Join us on our quest as we explore Middle Age inventions and discoveries! From archery to armor and trebuchets to telescopes, find out what the Renaissance was all about!

 eCamp

July 15–19, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Calling all technology enthusiasts! Design and test robots, create your own inventions and test a variety of games and electronics.

 Spy Camp

July 22–26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Calling all secret agents! Create mysterious messages to conceal your identity and discover and create tools that make James Bond so sneaky. Come join us on this Mission Impossible!

 Ahoy! Arrrr! Pirate Camp!

July 29–August 2, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Ahoy matey! It takes more than plundering and pillaging to be a pirate. Discover how to design a catapult, create a compass, build a boat and other critical pirate skills. Eye patches welcome!

 Magic for Muggles

August 5–9, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
The “School of Wizardry” is in session! Unleash your imagination and creativity while investigating the science behind potions, astronomy, magical creatures and more. Wands, cauldrons and enchanted ingredients are included.

 Space Camp

August 12–16, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Blast off with this exciting exploration of the skills needed for a successful space mission. Top off the week with a simulated mission in the Nierman Challenger Learning Center.

 Save the Planet

August 12–16, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Did you know there are many things that kids can do to save planet Earth? Save water, care for plants, keep garbage out of landfills and explore our natural environment in this hands-on camp.

 Cool Chemistry

August 19–23, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
This camp has cool chemical tricks for any student’s repertoire! Marveling at dry ice, examining acids and bases and characterizing chemical reactions make this class a fun, messy favorite!

Grades 5-6

Chemistry With a Bang!

July 22–26, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Explore the basics of chemistry through loud, colorful and shocking activities. Create chemical compounds, analyze acids and bases, make things glow and whip up a few “explosive” reactions.

 Astronaut Camp

August 5–9, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Have you ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut? Now you can come closer to making your dream a reality. Learn what space flight is like, create and launch your own rockets, experience the teamwork required for a successful flight and put your new knowledge to the test in two different simulated space missions to the Moon AND Mars!

 EcoTech

August 5–9, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
The future is green! Use technology to explore the latest trends in environmental science, from alternate energy to conservation and design techniques.

 Steampunk & SciFi (Grades 5–8)

July 8–12, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Steam into an alternate world and learn what the past and future can teach you about science and technology—fact or fiction.

 Women Scientists in Action (Grades 5–8)

July 29–August 2, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Each day we’ll explore a new science field. You’ll interact with local women scientists, participate in incredible hands-on experiments and investigate careers in science and engineering.

Grades 7-8

Steampunk & SciFi (Grades 5–8)

July 8–12, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Steam into an alternate world and learn what the past and future can teach you about science and technology—fact or fiction.

 Biotech Bootcamp

July 15–19, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Use equipment from the world-famous Salk Institute in an investigation of bioscience. Throughout the week, you’ll have a chance to explore various biotechnology techniques, including DNA extractions, electrophoresis, bacterial transformations and polymerase chain reactions.
Please note: an additional materials fee is required for this class.

 Women Scientists in Action (Grades 5–8)

July 29–August 2, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Each day we’ll explore a new science field. You’ll interact with local women scientists, participate in incredible hands-on experiments and investigate careers in science and engineering.

 Robotics Garage

July 29–August 2, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Can you design a machine to do your homework? Well, maybe not, but in this challenging class you will work in teams using LEGO Mindstorms™ to construct and program competition-style robots to perform complex tasks. Test your robotics skills with exciting contests throughout the week.
Please note: an additional materials fee is required for this class.