2026 master Explorer Camps
Pop Star Academy (Ages 6 - 11)
June 8 - 12 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This camp is where aspiring performers and creators can come together to form their own pop music groups! Campers will explore different pop genres, design costumes and props, and collaborate in small groups to develop original performances. Whether they love being on stage or behind the scenes, there’s a role for everyone. The week culminates with each band creating a music video to share with family and friends.
Explore Maker City (Ages 8+)
June 8 - 12 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3D Printing, Sewing, Woodworking, and MORE! Whether you are a beginning maker or a maker who just needs to update your skills, this camp will familiarize you with all the computer software and equipment available in Maker City. What will you make?
Game Day Science (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
June 15 - 19 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Get ready to move, experiment, and create! Campers will discover the science and physics behind their favorite sports through hands-on (or feet-on!) experimentation. Each day focuses on a different sport and a key scientific principle—like exploring trajectory and force through soccer kicks. Campers will design and engineer their own handheld and tabletop games, craft game-day snacks, and capture picture-perfect sports snapshots along the way. It’s an action-packed week where science, creativity, and sports collide!
*Stay all day...Combine Game Day Science and Jedi Training. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Youtube Science (Ages 8+)
June 15 - 19 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Science and fun collide in this exciting camp inspired by YouTube’s most popular science creators, including former NASA engineer Mark Rober! Each day, campers will bring viral experiments and high-tech gadgets to life as they recreate hands-on projects from top YouTube science channels. Plus, they’ll take on the ultimate challenge, designing their own week-long STEM project or experiment, which will be filmed and posted on Explore More’s private YouTube channel, giving them a chance to share their discoveries like real science influencers!
*Stay all day...Combine YouTube Science and Jedi Training. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Jedi Training (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
June 15 - 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Are you ready to channel the Force and use it for good? Young Padawans will explore the real-world science behind the mythical galaxy of Star Wars as they train like true Jedi. Through challenges such as crafting lightsabers, building pod racers, and engineering model robots, campers will investigate concepts like energy, motion, and engineering design. Along the way, students will practice bravery, creativity, and quick thinking so that by the end of the week they are ready to be dubbed Jedi Masters.
*Stay all day...Combine Jedi Training with Game Day Science or YouTube Science. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Camp Millionaire (Ages 6 - 11)
June 22 - 26 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
So you want to be a millionaire? After a week of fun financial learning in this camp, you’ll be well on your way! Students will be immersed in the museum’s Mini-Economy where hands-on activities will teach them to apply for jobs, save money and run their own businesses! The week will culminate in a Market Day where friends and family can use “Museum Bucks” to shop at their camper’s storefront.
Wilderness Escape (ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
June 29 - July 3 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wilderness survival meets escape room in this action-packed adventure! Campers will learn essential outdoor skills like pitching a tent, packing a hiking pack, and tying basic knots to head on a backpacking adventure. They’ll create camp-worthy snacks and nature-inspired art, with every challenge helping them learn the skills needed to escape the wilderness. Once out, campers will flip the script and design their very own escape adventure to challenge others.
*Stay all day...Combine Wilderness Escape with Cooking Across America. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Rocket Lab: Blast Off! (ages 8+)
June 29 - July 3 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Get ready for high-flying fun in Rocket Lab camp! Young engineers will explore the forces of flight, learning how gravity, weight, and aerodynamics affect motion. Campers will design and build rockets using paper, recyclable materials, and model rocket kits, while practicing essential woodworking skills like sanding, measuring, and gluing. On the last day, campers will launch their creations and see them soar! The final class will meet at Mountain View Elementary—parents must drop off and pick up their child from this location.
*Stay all day...Combine Rocket Lab with Cooking Across America. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Cooking Across America (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
June 29 - July 3 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Join us on a cross country culinary adventure for young chefs! Each day, campers explore a different region of the USA, learning about its culture through food. We’ll try new flavors, practice kitchen skills, and discover regional favorites. From hearty classics to sweet treats, every dish tells a story. The week ends with a festive Independence Day celebration, full of patriotic cooking and fun.
*Stay all day...Combine Cooking Across America with Wilderness Escape or Rocket Lab. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Pokémon STEAM (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
July 6 -10 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
We invite the young Pokémon Trainers to dive into a week of learning through Pokémon adventures! Each day, they will discover the different areas of STEAM inside the Pokémon world. They’ll design some of their own character cards, learn to program a simple game on a computer and even build their own Pokémon habitats.
*Stay all day...Combine Pokémon and Build It Bash It. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Build It Bash It (Ages 6 - 11)
july 6 - 10 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Can you make a structure sturdy enough to withstand a marshmallow assault? Or, ever wanted to build something just for the fun of knocking it over? In this class you’ll do both! Some challenges will ask you to make something that will stand strong and tall against things like earthquakes. Other challenges will ask you to figure out how to safely destroy your creations! Either way it’s sure to be fun!
*Stay all day...Combine Pokémon and Build It Bash It. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Party planners (Ages 6 - 11
July 13 - 17 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Get ready to plan the party of the year! Our up and coming event planners will create the ultimate event, choosing a theme, building a guest list, designing invitations, and mapping out all the fun details—from food and music to decorations, entertainment, and a timeline that keeps the celebration flowing. On the final day, they’ll showcase their hard work by hosting the party they designed together. A joyful mix of creativity, collaboration, and imaginative planning!
Inventors’ Lab: Create, code, innovate! (ages 8+)
July 13 - 17 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Why do humans invent? In this hands-on camp, young innovators will explore the power of invention by identifying real-world problems and designing creative solutions. Campers will brainstorm challenges they want to solve, then dive into circuitry, coding, Arduinos, and motors to bring their ideas to life. Through experimentation and prototyping, they’ll develop working inventions that address everyday problems. Join us for a week of curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving—the future of innovation starts here!
Magic Tree House Adventures (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
july 20 - 24 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Step into the pages of the Magic Tree House and journey through time and space with Jack and Annie! This camp blends art, music, science, and imagination as campers explore thrilling destinations. They’ll travel back to meet Dinosaurs before Dark, head to the Arctic to visit Polar Bears Past Bedtime, explore the Australian Outback with Dingos at Dinnertime, dive underwater with Dolphins at Daybreak, and trek through India to meet Tigers at Twilight. Throughout the week, each camper will also design and build their very own model treehouse, bringing their adventures to life.
*Stay all day...Combine Magic Tree House and Making Masterpieces. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Making Masterpieces (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
july 20 - 24 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
We invite young creators to explore the styles of famous artists and discover their own artistic voice! Campers will dive into painting, sculpture, fiber art, and more, learning some techniques behind each medium. They’ll experiment with color, texture, and form to create unique artworks of their own, and by the end of the week, have a mini gallery of their original creations to share and celebrate!
*Stay all day...Combine Magic Tree House and Making Masterpieces. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Pop-Up Bake Shop (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
July 27 - 31 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us in our 3rd floor kitchen, because Explore More is opening a bakery! Well…at least for one week! Aspiring bakers/entrepreneurs will learn how to create yummy treats and explore what it takes to open and run a business. On Friday, students will host a bake sale to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank!
Cardboard Engineering (Ages 8+)
July 27 - 31 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Turn ordinary cardboard into extraordinary creations! Campers will learn simple ways to cut, fold, and connect cardboard to build everything from games to buildings and more. They’ll explore basic principles of structural engineering while using their imagination and new skills to shape their ideas into real creations. By the end of the week, flat pieces of cardboard will have been transformed into 3D masterpieces, showcasing creativity, problem-solving, and inventive thinking.
Creative Coding (Ages 8 +)
August 3 - 7 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Curious about how code works? This hands-on camp introduces campers to the logic behind coding using a variety of kid-friendly tools like LEGO EV3 robots, Spheros, and other interactive coding platforms. Campers will learn to think like programmers as they practice sequencing, problem-solving, and debugging through playful challenges and real-world tasks. Robots and devices become one of many ways students test their ideas and see their code in action, helping them build a strong foundation in computational thinking. No prior coding experience required—just curiosity and creativity!
*Stay all day...Combine Creative Coding with Animals + Anatomy. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Gizmos and Gadgets (Ages 6 - 11)
August 3 - 7 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Are you ready to embark on a journey of invention? This program is bursting with motors, wheels, lights- everything you need to unleash the maker within. We will inspire campers to build on their natural curiosity by teaching engineering concepts through hands-on-inventing, problem solving and creativity.
*Stay all day...Combine Gizmos + Gadgets with Animals + Anatomy. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Animals and Anatomy (Ages 6 - 11)
August 3 - 7 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
This is the perfect camp for kids who are fascinated by the animal world and eager to take a closer look at what makes creatures thrive. Through engaging activities, campers will discover animal classifications, adaptations, and unique characteristics. They’ll also explore different body systems, including the brain and nervous system, respiratory system, and circulatory system, uncovering how these systems work together to support life. Each day features an exciting hands-on dissection, giving campers a rare opportunity to observe anatomy up close.
*Stay all day...Combine Animals + Anatomy with Creative Coding or Gizmos + Gadgets. Pack a lunch and we'll provide supervised lunch and recreation.
Fort City (Ages 6 - 11) - Camp Is FUll, Join Wait List
August 10 - 14 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Kids will become the architects, leaders, and citizens of their very own town! Campers will explore Harrisonburg’s downtown and meet with real life city officials to learn what it takes to build a successful community. Then they will construct forts to represent buildings, hold elections and even have town meetings as they work together to build a city from the ground up!
WAIT LIST
Miss out on a camp of interest? Join the WAIT LIST and we’ll notify you if a space opens up!