Discover family-friendly fun and scientific activities during Florida Museum’s camps

July 1, 2025

Children look for spiders caught in a net at a previous Family Discovery Camp. ©Florida Museum/Jivana Wilhoit

Press release from the Florida Museum of Natural History

BY KAT TRAN

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Dig into science and exploration at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Family Discovery Camps! These interactive, family-friendly camps are perfect for children in grades K–6 and accompanying adults of all ages. Get ready for hands-on fun and unforgettable learning adventures.

An immersive experience for the entire family, the camps allow participants to explore Florida’s natural world alongside scientists from the Florida Museum and the University of Florida. While the museum’s exhibits building is closed, camps will meet at the entrance to the UF Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, located on the corner of Natural Area Drive.

“These camps offer families a chance to stay connected to learning, discovery and each other in an engaging way, and we love being a part of their summer traditions!” said Janelle Peña-Jiménez, Florida Museum public programs coordinator and Family Discovery Camps organizer.

This year’s camp themes are archaeology, trees, bees and mushrooms. Archaeologist and curator of the museum’s South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography collection Jen Green will lead the archaeology camp. Medelin Kant, a graduate student in the UF School of Natural Resources and Environment, will lead the trees camp. Kaitlin Deutsch, a post-doctoral researcher at UF’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, will lead the bees camp. Matt Smith, curator of the UF Fungal Collection, will lead the final camp about mushrooms and fungi.

Camp sessions last two hours and will take place on the following dates:

“Discover Archaeology,” July 12, 9-11 a.m.
“Discover Trees,” July 19, 9-11 a.m.
“Discover Bees,” July 26, 9-11 a.m.
“Discover Mushrooms,” Aug. 2, 9-11 a.m.

“Each topic offers something unique, and I think families are going to walk away not only having had a great time but also continuing the conversation about the natural world at home,” Peña-Jiménez said.

Pre-registration is required and closes the Thursday before each camp. Admission is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information or to register, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/kids/summer-camps.