Whether school’s out for a day or the whole summer, The Nest offers enriching camp experiences for curious kids ages 4–8. Each camp day is packed with discovery, creativity, and play!
Perfect for teacher workdays, holidays, and other single-day breaks!
Our School’s Out Camps offer a full day of hands-on exploration while school is closed. Activities may include STEM experiments, seasonal crafts, indoor play, and outdoor adventures when weather allows.
Age Range: 4-8
Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: The Nest
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Math magicians, get ready for a spellbinding adventure where math is the coolest magic trick around! You’ll discover the amazing world of fractions and uncover the secret of the Fibonacci sequence, a magical number pattern that makes flowers and pinecones look incredible!
Learn the basics of ‘unplugged’ coding and become inspired by investigative play with our roster of robots! At this one day camp, campers will delve into what robots are, how to use them, and the roles they play in our lives.
Let’s make a mess! Experiment with gooey, sticky, and oozing ingredients that are sure to put a smile on campers’ faces while they learn chemistry!
We’ll be brushing up on our detective skills for this spooky Halloween forensics camp! Children will investigate fingerprints, DNA, and more!
Let your camper's imagination soar as we learn about magical monsters and fantasy fliers. This one day camp will incorporate STEAM while the campers make their own creative creatures and learn about amazing animal abilities.
What’s that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s your very own creation! We’re celebrating National Aviation Month with a day full of aeronautics that will lead up to designing our very own flying machines!
Let’s get dirty and become Earth experts together at this 3 -day camp about Earth science. We will be investigating rocks and minerals, fossils and delving into the basics of weather.
Explore the many different ways animals can survive cold winters. Learn about the change of seasons, hibernation, migration, and more.
Ever wonder what’s out there when you look up at the sky? With Intergalactic Investigations, learn more about our place in space, and see what life among the stars may be like!
Your brain is busy all the time, keeping you healthy, alert, and creative! Explore the ‘gray matter’ inside your head by learning about optical illusions, using your five senses, and testing your reflexes.
Week-long camps filled with themed fun and hands-on learning!
Each week of Summer Camp at The Nest is centered around a new theme—from bugs and books to outer space and oceans. Campers will create, move, tinker, and explore together in a safe, joyful environment.
Age Range: 4-8 years old
Hours: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Location: The Nest
Unfortunately, no. Your child must be within the given age range by the first day of camp to register for the camp session. NCCM also requires that each child be bathroom independent.
Drop-Off: Caregivers arrive with their campers at The Nest, 1712 Willow Dr. Chapel Hill (next door to Binkley Preschool). Drop-off will take place in the Nest Outdoor Learning Garden or inside at the front desk (weather dependent) between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
Pick-Up: Caregivers return to the Nest Outdoor Learning Garden or front desk (weather dependent) to pick up their camper any time between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. No camper will be released until an authorized adult has shown valid ID and signed the camp check-out form with a staff member. During camp registration, there is space to list multiple individuals authorized for pick-up. Arriving after 4:00 PM may result in a late pick-up fee.
Yes. Children must be bathroom independent to attend this program. Being bathroom independent means a child is able to communicate the need to go to the bathroom and complete the entire process on their own. While staff supervise multiple group bathroom breaks during this program, they are not able to facilitate bathroom visits for children.
Your camper should bring 2 snacks and lunch that are both free of nuts and nut-products. Snacks and lunch will not be provided by NCCM.
Campers should be ready to move! They should wear something comfortable that can get messy. In the event of an accident, pack a change of clothes in a labeled backpack. Close-toed shoes are recommended. Campers are currently not required to wear masks.
We do not accept lunch delivery services (ie Uber Eats). If lunch is forgotten at drop off, we ask that the caregiver delivers the lunch to camp by 11am.
The registration form has a section regarding allergies and other health concerns. Please be aware that NCCM does not administer any medications with the exception of Epinephrine. If your child has an allergy that requires the use of an epipen, you will be asked to provide one.
If you would like to talk with our team about your child’s abilities and/or restrictions, please contact us at camp@ncchildrensmuseum.org
Please refer to our policy on cancellations due to illness. We require all children to stay home if they are feeling ill, including, but not limited to: fever, cough, chills, new loss of taste or smell, or shortness of breath. Please contact the camp team at camp@ncchildrensmuseum.org if your camper is feeling unwell and unable to attend camp.
Yes! The NCCM 2025 School's Out Camp Scholarship Application is available here.
Based on your application and the generosity of Kidzu’s Susan Ross Education Fund, your family may qualify for a scholarship camp registration. Please note: Due to the volume of applications, we are only able to provide 1 camp scholarship spot per camp, per family.
Spaces and funds are limited, so please submit this application as soon as possible. We will respond to all pending Scholarship Applications in the order they were submitted. Please expect us to reply within two weeks from the date of receipt.
Yes! There will be time allotted for free play in the exhibit areas at each camp.
You may fill out the following Google Forms to add yourself to our camp waitlist.
Please reach out to camp@kidzuchildrensmuseum.
There are no single day registrations available for summer camp. The registration is for the entire duration of the camp listed on the website.
Aftercare is not currently offered for Kidzu’s Camps.
Please contact NCCM's Camp Team at camp@kidzuchildrensmuseum.org if you have questions about the camp your little is enrolled in.
Nest members receive a 20% discount on camp registration!
To receive membership discounts, you must be logged into NCCM's online member portal at the time of registration. Member discounts will apply automatically and be reflected in your cart prior to submitting payment. If you don’t yet have an account, please create one here using the email and contact information associated with your membership. If you encounter any issues during registration, please email our Director of Operations at varney@ncchildrensmuseum.org