High School Science Camps - Sternberg Museum of Natureal History

2024 camp registration opens January 5th!

About Us

Sternberg Science Camps are based at the FHSU Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Kansas. We are a non-profit organization pursuing equitable access to exceptional earth and life science education programs for kids and teens. All of our program fees go to program execution, paying our staff, and funding our scholarship program. We use small groups to boost sense of community and increase per-student attention from staff. Our instructors are experts in their fields, with experience and training in education as well as research, field work, and other scientific career paths. Our alumni can be found across the country, pursuing careers in academic research, resource management, science education, industry, and the arts. Many of them even come back to work for us as counselors, teaching assistants, and even instructors.

Curious to learn more? Read on! You can also check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, all @SternbergCamps!

You can contact us directly at SternbergCamps@fhsu.edu, or at 785-639-5249.

Core Philosophies

The Sternberg Museum Science Camp programs are built around a core philosophy of student development and advancement. We train our students with dedicated lessons and by example, giving them new tools and knowledge to use as they pursue their goals. To paraphrase many of our past students, it will be the most challenging, amazingly fun thing you’ve done!

Supportive Peer Community
Our staff goes above and beyond to foster safe, supportive, inclusive learning communities built to help our students have fun while they learn and grow. We believe in the importance of building a trusting, fun atmosphere to help our students pursue earth and life science topics and content to their full potential.

Active Hands-on Learning
Our staff implement engaging learning games and problem-solving challenges, guiding our students as they learn to consider and connect their knowledge in a comprehensive fashion. We use active teaching methods to help students learn how to skillfully use the knowledge they acquire in lessons and discussions. Our learning activities, be they in the lab, classroom, field, or in a virtual world, focus on student collaboration and developing critical thinking, all while keeping things fun and interactive.

Fun
We are program built for science geeks, by science geeks. We love spending time in the field or in the lab, and want to make sure our students see that while science can be hard work, it’s also a ton of fun. Networking and peer-group-building are also immensely important for us, as such connections are crucial for any aspiring future professional. We strive to keep the work of field, lab, and classroom science balanced with a healthy dose of laughter!

Skill-Building
Having a core set of useful skills can be incredibly valuable for students looking to advance their opportunities in the natural sciences. By introducing and developing these essential skills, we train our students to be prepared for egaging in science beyond the classroom. Skill-centered lessons will look different from age group to age group and camp to camp. Please see the camp descriptions for more details.

Empowerment
Using active learning techniques, we guide our students to think about science beyond raw facts and figures. In our field-based camps, our students are taught to safely and responsibly carry out our field tasks in a variety of favorable and adverse conditions. In doing this, students discover their own strengths and capabilities. In our virtual camps, we exchange field tasks for games, puzzles, and team challenge projects. In each type of program, students are uniquely trained to take on future academic and interpersonal activities.

“This camp experience provided many “firsts” for me. I had never camped in a tent before; I had never been away from family for that length of time; and I learned that given a significant purpose, I had endurance beyond my belief. It was definitely the highlight of my year.” – Alex Landwehr, Sternberg Camps alumni

Advanced Academics
We introduce our students to foundational concepts in earth and life sciences to start out our programs. From the Law of Superposition to the population basis for evolution by natural selection, students are set up to learn content quickly as we build understanding through observations and focused discussions. Our staff are broadly trained in the topics of their respective camps, and are excited to engage with student questions. We use research-backed teaching strategies to make advanced content engaging, accessible, and fun!

How to apply

Student applicants must be ages 14 to 18 as of June 2024.

The final 2024 application deadline is April 8th, 2024. We will not review an applicant’s packet for admission until it is 100% complete.

Complete online application.

To do this, you will need to set up an account with CampDoc. You can do this by clicking the “Apply Today” link at the top of this page. Once this is done, you’ll be able to log back in to your account as you complete the application process.

If you already have an account with CampDoc, simply log in. Your personal information should all be saved from your last application.

The waiver can be found in the online application.

The financial aid application can be found in the online application.

2 page (5-7 paragraph) letter of interest from the student applicant.

You can find suggestions for writing your letter of interest here.

This must be submitted through the CampDoc application system.

Letter of recommendation from the non-family member for the student applicant.

This can be sent to us at SternbergCamps@FHSU.edu. We will upload it to your CampDoc profile once recieved. You can also upload it your profile yourself, using the document upload portion of the Health Profile. Either approach is fine, so long as the letter is uploaded on time.

You can find instructions for recommendation letter-writers here.

Most* returning students in good standing** do not need to submit a recommendation letter.

*Students must have participated within the previous two summers. Students returning after after two or more summers will need to submit a recommendation letter.

Standing is determined by staff. A student not in good standing will be expressly notified by the Camps Director.

Click here to learn more about our scholarship program.

The 2024 application review deadlines are:

February 5th

March 4th

April 8th

After each of these dates, we will review the 100% completed applications for admission. Notifications will go out to those applicants within a week of each respective deadline. We may accept late applications on a case by case basis, as some camps have their enrollment locked after that deadline. If you are applying after April 2nd, please contact us at the email below before starting your application.

Cancellation Policy

A 10% deposit is paid at the time of registration. Students who are accepted into the camp must then have the remainder of the registration fee paid by the May 1st, 2023 payment deadline.

Q: What if my student is not accepted into the camp they applied for? Do you refund tuition?
A: 100% of paid tuition is refunded to any students not accepted to a camp they applied for. This includes the initial deposit paid at the time of initial application.

Q: What is your cancellation and refund policy?
A:
Refund Policy:
Withdrawals must be submitted via email. Deposit fees for camp(s) applications are fully refundable until the applicant is officially accepted for admission. Prior to admission, the deposit is fully refundable in the case of cancellation submitted in writing. Denial of application acceptance will result in a full refund of the deposit payment for each camp the applicant was not accepted to. Following application acceptance, the deposit is no longer fully refundable, and each camp registration is held to a minimum 10-percent cancellation fee. For withdrawals after May 1st, half of the total fee is refundable. For withdrawals made after June 1st, no amount of the fee is refundable. We recommend you look into the insurance plan offered through CampDoc to safeguard against any last-second need to withdrawal due to unforeseen circumstances.

Registration fees are non-transferable between applicants or to accepted participants. Funds provided Sternberg Science Camps in the form of any financial scholarship to the participant will be withheld in any case where a scholarship awardee or their parent(s)/guardian(s) cancels an accepted application.

Cancellation Policy:
In the event of a camp being cancelled, either due to insufficient enrollment, or other unforeseeable impairments, the Sternberg Science Camps will provide a refund of all tuition and/or deposit fees paid up to the point of cancellation. Any scholarship funds awarded to the applicant to aid in attendance will be retained by the Sternberg Science Camps program. We are unable to reimburse the cost of any travel expenses paid to transport successful applicants to and/or from their camp(s). We strongly recommend attendees insure their travel to and from their respective camp(s) being attended.

For answers to more possible questions, see our Frequently Asked Questions page!

COVID Mitigation Policy

Since returning to in-person programs in 2021, our programs have had a perfect record of 0 in-camp COVID19 cases. We attribute this to our stringent mitigation protocols as well as the diligence of our campers and their families. Please contact Camps Director David Levering at DALevering@FHSU.edu if you have questions about the Camps COVID19 mitigation policies outlined below. We strongly recommend you full review these policies and protocols before proceeding with your application.

All staff are fully vaccinated for COVID19.

Camp groups will follow all public health protocol requirements of the respective states camps are taking place in, and requirements of locations visited.

Example: If a state does not have a masking mandate, but a museum visited in that state does, then all students and staff will have to mask while visiting that museum.

Example: If a public indoor space visited is in a state with no masking mandate, and no location-specific masking requirement, students will not be required to mask in that space, though they will not be discouraged from doing so.

Staff will have masks on hand to provide to students as needed and/or desired.

Field-based camps will not require masking during outdoor portions. Masking may be required on a case by case basis when visiting various indoor locations over the course of any given camp.

In spaces where masking is not explicitly required, students will not be required to wear masks. However, students who wish to wear a mask will be encouraged to take such steps to make them as comfortable as possible with their in-person camp experience. Harassment of students for choosing to/not to mask in spaces where it optional will not be tolerated by staff.

A camper getting pulled from a camp will be very un-fun for everyone involved, and potentially expensive for anyone infected at camp due to quarantine protocols and travel plan changes. We are also not able to give refunds due to cancellations happening right before camp due to illness (or other factors). To absolutely minimize the possibility of a COVID19 infection in a camp group, we ask that all students take the following steps before camp.

Two weeks before your camp begins, start taking extra caution in potentially exposure to COVID19 infection. This especially includes spending time unmasked in crowded indoor spaces. If you must spend time in such high-risk spaces, we ask you strongly consider wearing a well-fitting N95 respirator mask.

Exercise your best judgement in even attending smaller indoor functions or crowded outdoor functions. COVID19 is extremely transmissable, and missing camp plus not being able to get a refund because you get COVID right before camp would really awful.

All students will be required to submit a photo of a day/time-marked negative COVID19 rapid home test the day before traveling to their camp starting location. This submission will be done via a Google form, which we will provide to all participants prior to their camp start date.

All students will be required to complete a COVID19 rapid test upon arriving at the drop-off location for their camp. Staff will have rapid tests marked with the date and the student's name ready to hand out. Bringing your own test will not be permissable in place of this test. We consider this a very small inconvenience to maximize our chances for a camp free of major madical disruptions.

Any students who test positive on the arrival rapid test will not be allowed to continue with their participation, nor will they be able to get a refund for the program. Once again we strongly recommend taking strong precautionary measures in the weeks prior to camp and during travel. We also strongly recommend families looking into insurance policies to protect against the financial impacts of illness interfering with their child's ability to participate in camp at any stage.

COVID19 vaccination is not required to participate in the our programs. However, we strongly recommend students who are vaccinated upload a readable photo/scan of their COVID19 vaccination card to their CampDoc profile in the medical information section. Those not vaccinated will have a space to directly indicate this in the CampDoc profile. We collect this information to allow our on-site staff to make well-informed student management, care, and situation-response decisions and/or communicate said information to physicians if the need arises. This is true for all of the medical information we collect, and will not be shared outside Sternberg Science Camps staff teams and relevant medical professionals as needed.

Each in-person camp has 6+ COVID rapid tests on-hand in their materials kit. Staff are aware of their locations, and protocols on using them. If a student is showing sstereotypical signs of COVID infection, they will be asked to complete a rapid test so staff can make informed health and safety decisions for the student and broader camp group.

In a situation with a positive test in the group, we will begin requiring masking and distancing protocols until we can test the entire group and confidently ascertain that everyone is COVID19 negative. Other mitigation steps may be taken depending on the situation of the camp group and whether they are camping, in dorms, and so forth.

As with any other concerning medical issue, a COVID19-positive student (based on a positive rapid test result) will be transported to the nearest medical facility for evaluation. All positive COVID rapid tests will result in that individual being removed from the group to the nearest medical facility if needed, and/or to a hotel or other isolated space to quarantine. In each case, parents will be contacted about the situation and kept up to date on developments.

Students pulled for COVID19 infection will not be able to rejoin the group, as the standard wait time for no longer being infectious outlasts any sensible timeframe for returning. We strongly recommend exploring insurance plans offered via CampDoc or other travel insurance plans to cover unexpected expenses of having a student pulled from camp over COVID or other health issues. We expect parents/guardians to be expeditious in working with our staff to get the student secured so the staff who transported them to the hotel/hospital can rejoin the main group. This is mostly borne of safety concerns as we need full staff presence to properly and safely execute any of our in-person programs.

In the case of our field camps, pulling a student from the field can be quite arduous, which is one of many reasons why we are enacting strict applicant COVID19 precautionary requirements.

About In-Person High School Camps

Our in-person high school camps include camping trips, university lab-based programs, and blended travel programs. All are over-night camps, lasting from one to two weeks.

All in-person camps include the following:

Meals and snacks, typically from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day. We keep a substanital food budget, and are capable of working around most specific dietary requirements so long as they are disclosed in advance in the student's CampDoc application. This being said, hyper-specific needs may create challenges we cannot meet, especially in field settings. These should be discussed with the Camps Director prior to applying.

Staff supervision includes at minimum a lead instructor and teaching assistant. For our field-based camps we include a staff member with an active Wilderness First Responder Certification. WFR Certification training is done through the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Transportation and accomodations during the camp. This includes pickups and dropoffs at the designated airport for the camp. We cannot do airport pickups or dropoffs anywhere other than the one designated for each respective camp.

Materials and equipment for all camp activities. This varies from camp to camp. For details, please see individual camp descriptions. If you have further questions, contact us at SternbergCamps@FHSU.edu.

Photography of activities by staff. Students are of course welcome to take photos as well. We typically post photos to the Camps' accounts on Instagram and Facebook whenever on-site staff are able to provide some from the field. Larger uploads of photos and videos by staff take place after the camp has concluded. (Sometimes staff are in areas with poor signal strength and are unable to transmit photos. We ask for patience with the frequency we post updates.)

Camping Trips**

Our field camps include extensive tent camping on a range of camp site types, including state/federal campgrounds, private campgrounds, and research stations. We will also make use of university dorms and hotels/AirBnBs when called for.

As these programs typically take place in the middle of summer, conditions are often hot and sunny. some programs will include time in cooler conditions including caves, mountains, or areas where temperatures decrease noteably at night. Students should be well prepared for a range of temperature and weather conditions.

Tents and sleeping pads are provided for students, with usually 2-3 students in an appropriately sized tent. We ask that participants not bring their own tents as they may not be appropriate for conditions in the camp, or sized properly for the campsites we reserve. Camp pads are typically thick foam or inflatable. Participants are welcome to bring their own sleeping pad if they desire. Participants must provide their own sleeping bags, pillows, and other such personal items.

Camping trips usually include 2-3 indoor days between weeks out in the field. These days will include opportunities to do laundry. While we always make sure laundry facilities are avialable at the midway point, sometimes the logistics of the camp make the indoor component untenable.

As we are camping, access to electrical outlets is limited. We strongly recommend students bring a portable power bank for their phone, and exercise good judgement in battery use. Chargers in the vehicles are reserved for staff to keep devices fully charged, as well as recharging cameras and other devices.

While we do not do any heavy backpacking, the field camps are typically at least moderately physically demanding. Staff put a great deal of time, care, and effort into training students to mentally and physically adapt to the necessities of fieldwork. We know such activities can be quite challenging, and our central goal is helping students be succesful.

University Lab-Based Programs

These camps primarily use university dormitory and dining hall facillities, with exceptions for in-program excursions where they may make use of a hotel or AirBnB as needed.

Most activities are indoor in climate-controlled facilites. Participants should be prepared for occasional field trips that may include outdoor settings.

Students will typically have at least one opportunity during two-week camps to do laundry.

Students should expect to have a roommate during their time in the dormitories. If a student is attending with a friend, we can arrange they be paired together if requested in advance.

Blended Travel Programs

These camps may include a combination of hotels/AirBnBs, field stations, university dorms, and camping. Conditions and facilites can vary widely. Participants should refer to information in the Camping and Lab-Based sections above for information about components of the Blended Travel Programs

Approach to meals is adapted to the accomodations being used. Restaraunts are not typically used outside of closing dinners on the last night.

Staff

Our camps staff are professional scientists and science educators, graduate students, undergraduates, and select program alumni. We value a wide range of professional skills and career paths, in order to provide a broad set of skills training and perspective to our students. All of our staff are deeply passionate about science outreach and education in addition to their professional specializations.

Each field-based program includes at least one staff member with a Wilderness First Responder certification, ensuring quick, decisive action when dealing with any kind of injury or health concern in the field.

Contact Us

For questions about the Sternberg Science Camps programs, contact us at SternbergCamps@fhsu.edu or 785-639-5249.

Camping-based Programs

Field Paleontology: Kansas

Start date: June 23, 2024
End date: July 5, 2024

Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Instructors: David Levering (Sternberg Camps Director), (TBD) and four teaching assistants

Description: In Field Paleontology: Kansas, students will get to investigate the paleontology and ecology of the ancient ecosystems out in the field, prospecting for and digging up fossils. Participants can expect to encounter a wide variety of fossil vertebrates and invertebrates during their fieldwork. Students will learn how to find and collect fossil material using the same tools and techniques as professional paleontologists. This will include learning to take field notes, set up a campsite, use GPS units, map and compass skills, and proper methods of fossil collection and transport to preserve as much information as possible. Collected fossils will return to the Sternberg Museum to be added to the research and education collections. Evening group discussion sessions will explore topics such as applying to college, starting a research project, and working with professors. This is our longest standing camp, with successful alumni flourishing in college earth and life science programs across the country.

This camp is predominantly tent-camping and campgrounds with running water and showers. During the middle weekend the group will spend three nights in the FHSU dorms where they will be able to do laundry.

Camp activity highlights:

Fossil hunting and excavating
Camping skills
Skeletal anatomy lab activities at Fort Hays State University Biology Department
Visiting the Sternberg Museum research collections

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $3,383
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $3,562
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear including clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Hays Airport. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Students are allowed to arrive and depart a maximum of two days before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late are welcome to use the Fort Hays State University dorms here in Hays. They will likely not have access to dining hall facilities, as those only open for larger groups. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Field Volcanology: Colorado

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Start date: July 7, 2024
End date: July 19, 2024

Camp start location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Camp end location: Denver, Colorado, USA

Instructor: Gui Aksit (University of Oregon, Doctoral Candidate) and two teaching assistants

Description: Volcanologist Gui Aksit is joining us again in 2024, this time to lead a trip to her doctoral research field area in central Colorado. Participants will visit exceptional geological study sites in Del Norte, Gunnison, and Colorado Springs, learning about geological processes and research methods. Projects will include opportunities for students to learn abot and practice mapping rock formations, assessing landscape changes through time with stratigraphy (rock layers), and learning how to take research-quality field notes. Soon-to-be-Dr. Aksit will also be leading the students on excursions to Rio Grande Rift and Sand Dunes at Alamosa, and the ancient volcanic lake that makes up what is now Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. This will be the perfect camp for a young earth scientist looking to up their skills and knowledge of volcanology and geology before college!

This camp is predominantly tent-camping and campgrounds with running water and showers. During the middle weekend the group will spend three nights in an AirBnB where they will be able to do laundry.

Camp activity highlights:

Exploring volcanoes and (old, very cooled) lava flows
Visit to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Molten ash (ignimbrite) deposit exploration
College-level field geology projects focused on skill-building

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $4,149
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $4,367
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Denver International Airport on the listed arrival day. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Staff will be in Denver the day before camp starts, but we cannot guarantee they will be conveniently available to do pick-ups for any students who arrive on July 6th. If your child must arrive early, please communicate with us well in advance so we can do our best to help with your logistics.
For students on departing flights leaving after 5pm local time on July 19th, staff cannot guarantee availability to drop them off at the airport. If it is looking like your child will need to depart after this time, please communicate with us so we can help wherever we can with your return-home logistics.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

North Carolina Coastal Paleontology

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Start date: July 21, 2024
End date: August 2, 2024

Camp start location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Camp end location: Raleigh, NC, USA

Instructor: (TBD)

Description: This camp will start in Raleigh, North Carolina with visits to local stops likethe North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Duke Lemur Center before heading east to the coast! The beaches of North Carolina are world famous for incredible marine fossils including megalodon teeth, as well as fossils of whales, dolphins, seals, and other vertebrates. Students will also have to opportunity to collect and examine modern sea shells, which are prolific along parts of the North Carolina coast. Rounding out our natural history adventure, we'll spend time exploring modern-day wildlife, drawing parallels between modern day biology and ecology with what we learn about the fossil record.

This camp is mostly tent-camping and campgrounds with running water and showers. The group will also spend 4-5 nights using AirBnBs, where they will be able to do laundry.

Camp Activity Highlights

Local university, museum and research center visits
Coastal fossil hunting
Coastal geoscience exploration
Marine wildlife biology

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $4,959
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $5,220
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals/snacks
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Access/admission fees for museums, aquariums, state parks, etc
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp start/end location
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Raleigh Airport on the listed arrival day. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Staff will be in Raleigh the day before camp starts, but we cannot guarantee they will be conveniently available to do pick-ups for any students who arrive on July 20th. If your child must arrive a day early, please communicate with us well in advance so we can do our best to help with your logistics.
For students on departing flights leaving after 5pm local time on August 2nd, staff cannot guarantee availability to drop them off at the airport. If it is looking like your child will need to depart after this time, please communicate with us so we can help wherever we can with your return-home logistics.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

(WAITLIST) Field Paleontology: Utah

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Start date: July 21, 2024
End date: August 2, 2024

Camp start location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
Camp end location: Salt Lake City, UT USA

Instructor: Alexandra Bonham (National Park Service) and two TAs

Description: Join instructor and National Park Service Paleontologist Alexandra Bonham for a two-week adventure in Utah exploring the fossils, geology, and modern biology of its amazing landscape. Lindsay worked for us in 2022 as a teaching assistant on Field Paleontology: Kansas while completing her Masters at University of Georgia. Since then she has worked as an NPS paleontologist in the Southwest United States, primarily in Utah.

Students and staff will convene in Salt Lake City to begin their trek to dinosaur field sites, amazing canyons and rock arches, and even a stop at Dinosaur National Monument. While out on hikes, students will also get a taste of modern desert biology and ecology. This is our second year running this camp, which was phenomenally designed and piloted at maximum enrollment by instructors Maggie and Marjie in 2023. Were immensely excited to be returning it in 2024 with Alexandra at the helm, giving more students the chance to experience the incredible natural history of Utah!

This is a fully tent-camping program, using a mix of primitive sites as well as sites with showers. Students will have an opportunity to do laundry in town midway through camp.

Camp activity highlights:

Visiting spectacular geological monuments at Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
Working with professional paleontologists at established research field sites.
Visiting Dinosaur National Monument, and meeting NPS paleontologists
Exploring desert wildlife including reptiles, nocturnal mammals, and birds.

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $4,007
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $4,217
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Salt Lake City Airport on the listed arrival day. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Staff will be in Salt Lake City the day before camp starts, but we cannot guarantee they will be conveniently available to do pick-ups for any students who arrive on July 20th. If your child must arrive a day early, please communicate with us well in advance so we can do our best to help with your logistics.
For students on departing flights leaving after 5pm local time on August 2nd, staff cannot guarantee availability to drop them off at the airport. If it is looking like your child will need to depart after this time, please communicate with us so we can help wherever we can with your return-home logistics.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Lab/Classroom-based Programs

Paleontology Academy: Kansas

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Start date: June 9, 2024
End date: June 21, 2024

Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Instructors: Emily Bogner, Ben Matzen

Description: This is an indoor lab, classroom and museum-based program focused on topics in academic paleontology. Students will get hands-on experience with projects and activities designed to build both knowledge and specialized skills. The camp is divided into two units each focused on different subjects, while maintaining common themes between the units. Each unit is led by a different expert lead instructor, while the team of teaching assistants remains the same through both weeks. In 2023 this camp was split into Marine Vertebrate Evolution and Dinosaur Physics. We will be including new topic themes for 2024 with similar level of focus on exciting, engaging topics within the wide field of paleontology.

Week 1: Instructor Emily Bogner

Session topics:
- Carnivore evolution and functional anatomy
- Phylogenetics
- Macroevolution
- Diet
- Locomotion
- Niche ecology

Week 2: Instructor Ben Matzen

Session topics:
- Mass extinctions
- Phylogenetics
- Dinosaur evolution
- Critical research and evaluating sources
- Comparative anatomy
- Diversification of major Mesozoic vertebrates

This is a dorms-based camp, with students and staff staying in the Fort Hays State University dormitories and eating in the FHSU dining hall as a group.

Camp Activity Highlights

Using Biology and Geology lab spaces on the Fort Hays State University Campus
Working in the research collections at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Project-based active learning focused on building skills and concept awareness for research
Meeting the paleontologists and graduate students at the Sternberg Museum

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $3,579
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $3,768
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Hays Airport. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Students are allowed to arrive and depart a maximum of two days before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late are welcome to use the Fort Hays State University dorms here in Hays. They will likely not have access to dining hall facilities, as those only open for larger groups. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Biomedical Academy: Kansas

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Start date: June 23, 2024
End date: July 5, 2024

Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Instructors: Dr. Ceri Weber, (TBD), and two teaching assistants

Description: This is a lab, classroom, and museum-based indoor program focused on biomedical-related topics in microbiology, genetics and evolutionary biology. Students will get hands-on experience with projects and activities designed to build both knowledge and specialized skills. This camp is divided into two one-week units each focused on different subjects, while maintaining common themes between the units. Each unit is led by a different expert lead instructor with advanced graduate-level research training. The team of teaching assistants remains the same through both weeks of the camp.

Unit 1: Dr. Ceri Weber (post-doctoral fellow at UC San Diego) will lead a one-week exploration of embryology and developmental evolutionary biology, drawing from her ongoing postdoc research. Ceri's research also involves use of natural history museum research collections, and will provide students with a more realistic, organic experience with the multifaceted nature of scientific research.

Unit 2 topic announcements will be made once the instructor is brought onboard. We are targetting doctoral students and university faculty with experience with evolutionary development, genetic evolution, anatomy and physiology, and cell biology.

This is a dorms-based camp, with students and staff staying in the Fort Hays State University dormitories and eating in the FHSU dining hall as a group.

Camp Activity Highlights

Using Biology lab spaces on the Fort Hays State University Campus
Working in the research collections at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Project-based learning focused on building skills and concept awareness for research
Integration of biomendical topics and lab techniques with addressing informative modern research questions

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $3,579
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $3,768
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Hays Airport. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Students are allowed to arrive and depart a maximum of two days before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late are welcome to use the Fort Hays State University dorms here in Hays. They will likely not have access to dining hall facilities, as those only open for larger groups. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

(WAITLIST) Introduction to Fossil Preparation Methods

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Start date: June 30, 2024
End date: July 5, 2023

Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Instructor: (TBD)

Description: Students will be introduced to a wide variety of professional tools and methods used to clean and stabilize fossils in the Sternberg Museum’s fossil preparation lab facility. Emphasis is placed on practicing the cleaning, reassembly, and protection techniques for fossil material. Removing the rock surrounding fossil material, using combinations of small dental tools, airscribes, and pin tools is just the start. Preparators must also be experts with various glues and adhesives for reconstructing and reinforcing the fossils. All the work done in the fossil prep lab is extremely important to the science and work done on any collected fossil specimen.

This is a dorms-based camp, with students and staff staying in the Fort Hays State University dormitories and eating in the FHSU dining hall as a group.

Camp activity highlights:

Preparing fossils using magnification to locate important microstructures
Learning to use tools including picks, airscribes, and mold/cast systems
Cleaning your own fish fossil in the Sternberg Museum prep lab
Visiting the Sternberg Museum paleontology research collections

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $1,536
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $1,617
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Hays Airport. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Students are allowed to arrive and depart a maximum of two days before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late are welcome to use the Fort Hays State University dorms here in Hays. They will likely not have access to dining hall facilities, as those only open for larger groups. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

(WAITLIST) Advanced Fossil Preparation Methods

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Start date: July 7, 2024
End date: July 19, 2024

Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Instructor: (TBD)

Description: Students will be introduced to a wide variety of professional tools and methods used to clean and stabilize fossils in the Sternberg Museum’s new fossil prep lab facility. Emphasis is placed on practicing the cleaning, reassembly, and protection techniques for fossil material. Removing the rock surrounding fossil material, using combinations of small dental tools, airscribes, and pin tools is just the start. Preparators must also be experts with various glues and adhesives for reconstructing and reinforcing the fossils. All the work done in the fossil prep lab is extremely important to the science and work done on any collected fossil specimen.

To participate, applicants must either:

Have completed the full Introduction to Fossil Preparation Methods camp in a previous summer, or
Complete the 2024 session of Introduction to Fossil Preparation Methods camp that immediately precedes this program.

As we use specialized prep techniques on our specimens at the Sternberg, it is important that students have prior specialized training offered in intro prep before participating in this camp.

This is a dorms-based camp, with students and staff staying in the Fort Hays State University dormitories and eating in the FHSU dining hall as a group.

Camp activity highlights:

Large-jacket projects including specimens collected by Field Paleontology: Kansas camp groups
Advanced practice and training with cleaning and stabilizing large vertebrate fossils
Creation of specimen stability-cradles to safely store specimens in research collections cabinets
Day-trip to fossil field site where we have successfully collected marine vertebrate fossils

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $3,072
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $3,234
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp location
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Hays Airport. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures.
Students are allowed to arrive and depart a maximum of two days before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late are welcome to use the Fort Hays State University dorms here in Hays. They will likely not have access to dining hall facilities, as those only open for larger groups. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Blended Programs

Paleontology Academy: California

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Start date: July 7, 2024
End date: July 19, 2024

Camp start location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Camp end location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Instructor: Emily Bogner (UC Berkeley Doctoral Candidate) and two teaching assistants

Description: UC Berkeley paleontology PhD student Emily Bogner will be leading this incredible journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles visiting universities, natural history museums, and field sites. Students will also get to meet local paleontologists who work in a wide variety of sub-specializations in the field. This includes meeting and working with research collaborators Emily knows that work at various institutions along the program's route. Students will get the work within the operations of translating fossils found in the field to caring for specimens in museums, and creating knew knowledge through scientific research. This will be a spectacular opportunity for students to meet and network with a wide range of professionals.

This is a non-camping program. The group will be staying in AirBnBs together through the trip. Students will all participate in meal preparation, cleaning the units before departure, and contributing to grocery shopping planning+shopping.

Camp Activity Highlights

Comprehensive group learning projects spanning museums and field sites visited
Visits to world-class California museums and universities
- UC Berkeley + UCMP, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, San Bernadino MNH, Alf Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Western Science Center, and more!
Visits to incredible field areas to examine local geology, wildlife, and fossils
Meeting area professional paleontologists working across various careers in paleontology

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $6,106
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $6,427
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals/snacks
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Access/admission fees for museums, aquariums, state parks, etc
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp start/end location
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the San Francisco, CA airport on July 7th. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures, which must be scheduled for the Los Angeles Airport on July 19th. The group will be arriving in LA for other activities prior to July 19th, and will be ready for airport drop-offs first thing that morning.
Students must join the group at the starting location on the start date. Staff will not be available the day before to help with potential early arrival situations.
Staff cannot stay with students who stay overnight at the departure airport before catching their flight home. Staff will most likely have their own flight back home to catch. Staff will be able to help get students situated for their departure before they themselves head out.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Paleontology Academy: Tennessee

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Start date: July 21, 2024
End date: August 2, 2024

Camp start location: Charlotte, NC, USA
Camp end location: Charlotte, NC, USA
*Note: Gray, Tennessee is in the northeastern region of the state. Charlotte, NC is the closest large airport. We will be driving from there at the beginning of camp, and returning to Charlotte at the end for departures.

Instructors: Dr. Blaine Schubert (ETSU), Dr. Joshua Samuels (ETSU), and three teaching assistants

Description: This camp is being offered in colaboration with the paleontologists at the Gray Fossil Site, run by Eastern Tennessee State University. Students will experience a blend of fossil excavation work with Gray Fossil Site workers and classroom/lab activities to process their finds for incorporation into the museum collections.

The Gray Fossil Site is world-famous for prehistoric tapirs, red pandas, alligators, elephants, saber-toothed cats and camels. It was found in the year 2000 and has been a focus of intense research and fossil excavation ever since. We're immensely excited to be able to offer this program in collaboration with the paleontologists at the Gray Fossil Site Museum!

This is a dorms-based camp, with students and staff staying in the Eastern Tennessee State University dormitories and eating in the ETSU dining hall as a group.

Camp Activity Highlights

Guided fossil excavation and site-mapping in the Gray Fossil Site fossil quarry
Working with professional paleontologists in the fossil quarry and Gray Fossil Site Museum
Microscope-pciking vertebrate micro-fossils
Skeletal anatomy lessons to help ID fossil bones being excavated
Special presentations on topics tied to the Gray Fossil Site research.

Cost per student:

Early registration fee (deadline March 4th) : $3,221
Regular registration fee (March 5th - April 8th): $3,391
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Meals/snacks
- Accomodations
- Transportation during camp
- Group equipment
- Access/admission fees for museums, aquariums, state parks, etc
- Materials for activities
Fee does not cover:
- Transportation to and from camp start/end location
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal gear inluding clothing and toiletries (see the packing list linked above for more details)
- Accomodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
- Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Travel notes:

Staff will be available to pick participants up from the Charlotte, NC airport on July 21st. We cannot pick up students from airports other than the one designated for the camp. The same applies for departures, which must be scheduled for 10am or later on August 2nd.
Students must join the group at the starting location on the start date. Staff will not be available the day before to help with potential early arrival situations.
Staff cannot stay with students who stay overnight at the departure airport before catching their flight home. Staff will most likely have their own flight back home to catch. Staff will be able to help get students situated for their departure before they themselves head out.
It is the responsibility of parents and students to make sure all parties have a clear understanding of student flights to and from the starting airport, and communicating that information in writing to staff.

Expedition: Costa Rica

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Start date: December 23, 2024
End date: January 3rd, 2025
Cost per student: $8,440.00
Instructors: Marjie Cone and Maggie Wolf

Program Description:
Join longtime Camps instructors Marjie and Maggie on a journey to the natural history wonderland that is Costa Rica. This program will blend components of life and earth science as students explore volcanoes, wildlife sanctuaries, and learn from persons living and working in these spaces. Our guide company, Promotour, specializes in ecotourism operations highlighting exactly the kinds of amazing sights and experiences we value at Sternberg Science Camps, and we are immensely excited to get this return to international programs up and running.

This is a non-camping program. The group will be staying in hotels/lodges together through the trip. Students will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner once in Costa Rica, except for Day 1 (landing in Costa Rica) where just dinner is provided and Day 10 (departing from Costa Rica) where just breakfast is provided. Meals during travel to group departure airports are the responsibility of the students. Students will need to bring their own cash/card to cover meals outside of the above which are paid for by the program fee.

Camp Activity Highlights

An even mix of immersive visits to biological and geological sites
Visits to research stations and ecological restoration sites
Irazu Volcano and research institution
Reforestation program participation
Sloth Sanctuary
Lake Arenal kayak tour
Rio Negro Hot Springs and Mud Baths
Visits to National Parks, Cloud Forest Reserves, and Biological Research Stations (and more!)
Trip led by expert guides and group projects and discussions led by Maggie and Marjie

Fee covers:

Guided expedition
Food during the program
Accommodations
Transportation during camp (includes international flights to and from Costa Rica)
Group equipment
Access/admission fees for museums, aquariums, state parks, etc
Materials for activities

Fee does not cover:

Transportation to and from camp start/end location
Personal travel insurance
Personal gear including clothing and toiletries (we will be providing a packing list to students)
Accommodations before the camp begins and after the camp ends
Food before the camp begins and after the camp ends

Logistics:

Students and staff will be meeting at a single airport during a dedicated arrival day.
We plan to put the group up in a hotel at the airport that first night, and then depart to Costa Rica the next day. We will let participants know which airport this will be in the coming months.
As of now the airport will most likely be Dallas, Atlanta, or JFK International in New York. We are working with the tour company Promotour to get this pinned down, and it will mostly depend on the final count of students that sign up.
Whichever airport is used for the departure flight to Costa Rica will very likely also be the airport we use for our return flight back to the US. Our instructors will be at one of the airport hotels the night of their return, and we are happy to coordinate students staying at the same hotel. However, the cost of the hotel room as well as reservation on the return are not covered by us.
Students accepted into the program must have a valid passport prior to departing for the program. We will require each student to submit a photocoppy of the ID portion of their passport for us to keep on file in case they lose their passport during the program.

Special notes:

While we aren't barring scholarship requests for this camp, we will be strongly prioritizing our limited scholarship funds for students applying to our summer domestic programs. We apologize for any difficulties or frustration this may cause.
CDC information on vaccinations for travel to Costa Rica: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/costa-rica#vaccines-and-medicines
CDC information on leishmaniasis parasites: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/leishmaniasis/gen_info/faqs.html
Students will need to provide a photocopy of their passport in advance of the trip. This is not required just to apply, but is mandatory for all accepted participants.
Visas and currency exchange will not be needed for this program.

2024 camp registration opens January 5th!

Camping-based Programs

Field Paleontology: Kansas

Field Volcanology: Colorado

North Carolina Coastal Paleontology

(WAITLIST) Field Paleontology: Utah

Lab/Classroom-based Programs

Paleontology Academy: Kansas

Biomedical Academy: Kansas

(WAITLIST) Introduction to Fossil Preparation Methods

(WAITLIST) Advanced Fossil Preparation Methods

Blended Programs

Paleontology Academy: California

Paleontology Academy: Tennessee

Expedition: Costa Rica

Sternberg Fossil Collection

Kansas Chalks

Fossils of the Cretaceous Seaway

Mosasaur Tooth

Fossil Preparation Lab

Comparative anatomy lab

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