High School Science Camps - Sternberg Museum of Natureal History

2022 High School Science Camps (Ages 14-18)

Registration Closes April 4th, 2022

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 TikTok, 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 2022.

The final 2022 application deadline is April 4th. 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 must be sent to use at SternbergCamps@FHSU.edu. We will upload it to your CampDoc profile once recieved.

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.

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 June 1st, 2020 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:
Cancellations 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 cancellations 30 to 10 days prior to the start of a camp, half of the total fee is refundable. For cancellations made 9 or fewer days prior to the start of the program, no amount of the fee is refundable. 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!

About Virtual High School Camps

All of our online camps include a box of materials mailed to students for use during that respective camp. Items are selected by instructors as part of the curriculum, and organized for use in guided and independent activities. This is in addition to online resources being used in each camp, and web-meetings for students with staff for lessons, activities, and discussions. Our synchrous activities are run through our custom virtual worlds in GatherTown. These virtual worlds include outdoor settings like rainforests and deserts, and our one-of-a-kind interactive open-world virtual museum.

Please keep in mind that we will have students from across time zones, so we are having to be flexible with daily start and end times to not force any student(s) to wake up overly early, or stay up too late.

Virtual Learning Environments:

Unless otherwise announced, synchronous activities in the virtual camps will all take place within GatherTown. Here is a link to our GatherTown virtual worlds user guide.

GatherTown currently requires a laptop or desktop computer running FireFox or Google Chrome browsers to use. Please make sure you have access to these computer resources before registering.

Camp Kits:

Each virtual camp participant will receive a box of materials that go with planned activities and projects in the camp! These materials are the student's to keep. These items include things like books, USB microscopes and handlenses, rock samples, pinned insect specimens, art/craft supplies, casts of animal skulls and skeletons, and other unique resources relevant to each respective camp topic. Kits are sent in the mail in advance of camp starting. Participants outside the US will be charged an additional fee to cover the increased cost of shipping. We will contact international participants about this on a case by case basis.

Approximate daily schedule:

Morning Activities

Pre-assigned narrated presentation from instructional staff, and/or YouTube video with question prompts related to upcoming topics and activities. (May not be every day.)

Live-chat presentation or discussion with instructional staff in GatherTown to review previous day, go over new content for that day, and preview the next day or two. These live lectures/presentations will typically only be 15-20 minutes at a time (though student questions and conversation will likely extend this timeframe), as we value engagement-based content exploration and student inquiry.

Go over projects and activities. Do progress checks on larger scale projects.

Projects and activities in GatherTown virtual worlds, where students can easily talk with each other and staff. GatherTown virtual worlds used will differ from camp to camp. Most will make use of the Sternberg Museum Online space, along with one or two virtual field areas.

Afternoon Activites

Second content presentation/discussion with instructional staff, with time included for questions and conversation from the students.

Individual or group project time in GatherTown, structured as described above for the morning.

Formal check-in via live-chat between students and staff to go over questions from the day, review, and present any additional content as determined needed by the instructional staff to make sure daily content progress goals are staying on track. (We also have contingencies for if students master the planned content quickly, so we can continue to challenge and engage the students with new skills and information.)

Evening Activities (optional)

Prompted Q&A sessions, where students bring questions to pose to staff about previously announced topics (applying to college, working with faculty, finding internships, specific science subjects related to the camp, etc).

Documentary/movie watch parties, with students and staff watching a program with opportunities to discuss what they are seeing and interpreting the “movie science”, or questions students may have about content in the documentary.

Optional social time in GatherTown, where students can spend time hanging out, playing games, or further exploring the virtual museum.

Students may not enroll in overlapping camps.

Questions? Contact us at SternbergCamps@FHSU.edu, or at 785-639-5249

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 specific dietary requirements so long as they are disclosed in advance in the student's CampDoc application.

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 usually include opportunities to do laundry

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 per week 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.

COVID19 Policies:

All staff are fully vaccinated for COVID19. All staff will be required to mask during time in public indoor spaces.

We kindly ask that all students mask during time in shared public indoor spaces. We ask this out of consideration for the health and safety of students, as well as staff who work multiple camps throughout the summer. While not technically required, we appreciate the thought consideration for our hard working instructional staff.

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.

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.

There are two pathways for participating in the in-person camps, in relation to COVID19 vaccination. One of the two approaches below will need to be followed for a student to successfuly apply to and participate in any of the in-person camps. All accepted participants will need to submit a negative COVID19 test result from within the 72 hours before their camp starts.

Applicants who have been fully vaccinated (including boosters as recommended by public health agencies) upload a photo or scan of their valid, up to date vaccination card to their CampDoc profile.

Applicant/parent(s) submit a detailed written plan for the applicant to quarantine for two weeks in the location where the camp being applied for starts. This includes hotel accomodations, plans for getting food, and plan for getting their COVID19 test in that city while minimizing contact with others. These written plans will be reviewed for adequacy before being accepted. Revisios/additions will be requested if detail is insufficient.

As with any other concerning medical issue, any student that shows symptoms during camp will be transported to the nearest medical facility for evaluation. In the case of our field camps, this can be quite arduous, which is one of many reasons why we are enacting strict applicant COVID19 precautionary requirements.

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.

Virtual Camps 2022

Dates: June 26 - July 8

In this two-week camp, participants will explore the ecology and wildlife of our modern tropical rainforests! Using our one-of-a-kind interactive rainforest virtual world in GatherTown, students will collect data to perform experiments, do statistical analyses, and solve puzzles about the biological processes of these ecosystems. Students can expect to learn about animal behavior, specialized adaptations, food webs, and climate change impacts on conservation. We will use a combination of short instructional presentations, camp-kit supply activities, learning games, and virtual "field work" to provide students a multifaceted experience with tropical wildlife biology! These activities will be supplemented with guest presentations from tropical biologists, and group discussions of current research articles.

Camp activity highlights:

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

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,852
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Camp materials kit + shipping (international shipping will include an additional fee)
- GatherTown world access
Fee does not cover:
- Personal technology needs

Dinosaur Science

Dates: July 10 - July 22

This camp is perfect for the dinosaur fanatic high schooler looking to build their critical thinking and research methods awareness. Students are challenged to engage with professional research literature and analytical methods as they explore the evolution, ecology, and biology of dinosaurs. Students will explore our virtual recreation of a Cretaceous dinosaur fossil site as they search for evidence to reconstruct this prehistoric habitat and the organisms that lived in it. This comprehensive virtual field area is richly detailed with fossils, geologic layers, and other raw data students will collect for mystery games and puzzles built into the camp curriculum.

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,852
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Camp materials kit + shipping (international shipping will include an additional fee)
- GatherTown world access
Fee does not cover:
- Personal technology needs

Museum Builder

Dates: July 24-August 5

Ever wanted to build your own natural history museum?? In this virtual camp, will learn about the ins and outs of museums from museum professionals as they create their own museum using the GatherTown online worlds platform. Using videogame-making software and digital resources, participants will create their own exhibits, collections spaces, and more! Once their museum is done, students can invite others in to give them a tour, letting the students become teachers in their own virtual space! This one-of-a-kind camp offers students a chance to engage with other museum-loving peers while getting an in-depth look at how museums are operated as an invaluable scientific and educational resource.

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,852
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Camp materials kit + shipping (international shipping will include an additional fee)
- GatherTown world access
Fee does not cover:
- Personal technology needs

Permian Paleontology

Dates: July 31-August 12

Before the dinosaurs ruled the Earth, the ancestors of crocodiles, snakes and lizards, and mammals spread and diversified across the single super-continent of Pangaea. Beyond the charismatic terrestrial vertebrates, students will also explore the giant insects and marine invertebrates that inform our understanding of this remarkable period in the history of life on our planet. Students will explore a massive virtual recreation of the Karoo Supergroup, one of the richest Permian fossil sites on the world. This virtual world is intricately detailed with fossils, geologic layers, and paleo-ecology indicators. Students will use their findings to solve science puzzles, make maps, and tackle advanced concepts in vertebrate paleontology.

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,852
Scholarships are available! For more information, please visit our Scholarships page.
Fee covers:
- Camp materials kit + shipping (international shipping will include an additional fee)
- GatherTown world access
Fee does not cover:
- Personal technology needs

In-Person Camps 2022

Field Paleontology: Kansas

Start date: June 26
End date: July 8

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

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.

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

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

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $2,407
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 mroe 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.

Field Herpetology

Start date: June 26
End date: July 8
Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

The central plains of the US includes some of the richest habitats for reptiles in the country. Over this two week program, students will explore herpetology in the field, in the lab at FHSU campus, and at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. This blended approach will give participants a diverse set of experiences with the study of reptiles and amphibians, including field studies, live animal care, and research collections. Students will get to work with a diverse set of professionals in the biological sciences as they explore the science of herpetology. Evening group discussion sessions will explore topics such as applying to college, starting a research project, and working with professors.

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Surveying for lizards, snakes, frogs, and salamanders
Visiting the Sternberg Museum zoology research collection
Lab work concerning anatomy and biology of reptiles and amphibians
Safe observation and handling practices for wild reptiles and amphibians

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $2,413
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 mroe 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.

Field Geology: Oregon

Start date: July 24
End date: August 5
Camp start location: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR USA
Camp end location: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR USA

Head out for a two week trek into Oregon and SW Washington as we explore the volcanic geology of the Pacific Northwest! Students will work with professional volcanologists (volcano scientists) out in areas of active ongoing research in Oregon and SW Washington. This will include in-depth exploration of volcanic geology, tools used to conduct research, and how data is collected in field settings! Students will learn how volcanic geoscience is investigated in lab facilities in the University of Oregon Earth Sciences Department, including interacting with graduate students and faculty. A variety of field areas will be visited over the two week program, exploring numerous eruptive sites from massive lava floods to the cores of ancient long-dead volcanoes. We’ll also be making stops at world-famous volcanoes Crater Lake and Mount St. Helens!

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Exploring volcanoes and (old, very cooled) lava flows
Visiting geology research labs at University of Oregon
Visits to the Oregon coast and Cascade mountains

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $3,257
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 mroe 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 Eugene 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 will need to make hotel arrangements and communicate them well in advance via their CampDoc document uploads. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.

Vertebrate Anatomy

Start date: July 10
End date: July 22
Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Head into the lab for two weeks of college-level vertebrate anatomy! Students will learn about body systems and how they interact and relate, with evolutionary context provided along the way. In addition to dissection tools and techniques, this camp will also cover topics of structure and function in vertebrate bodies, such as the various shapes and functions of forelimbs, or mechanical capabilities in hindlimbs. This camp is an excellent opportunity for students interested in vertebrate paleontology, evolutionary biology, veternary medicine, or human medical fields.

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Exploring mechanics of muscles and skeletons
Looking inside bones, teeth, and soft tissues to examine their structure
Investigating how anatomical forms relate to living functions
Examining how vertebrate anatomy has changed (or not changed) through evolutionary history

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $2,766
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 mroe 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.

Intro Fossil Preparation Methods (Session 1)

Start date: July 10
End date: July 15
Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

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.

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

education-outreach/science-camps/documents/camps-packing-list.pdf

Camp activity highlights:

Preparing fossils using magnification to locate important microstructures
Learning to use tools including picks, airscribes, and acid baths
Cleaning your own fish fossil in the Sternberg Museum prep lab
Afternoon fossil hunting trip to Cretaceous marine fossil site

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,195
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 mroe 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.

Intro Fossil Preparation Methods (Session 2)

Start date: July 17
End date: July 22
Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Preparing fossils using magnification to locate important microstructures
Learning to use tools including picks, airscribes, and acid baths
Cleaning your own fish fossil in the Sternberg Museum prep lab
Afternoon fossil hunting trip to Cretaceous marine fossil site

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $1,195
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 mroe 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.

California ZooQuarium Adventure

Start date: July 10
End date: July 22
Camp start location: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA USA
Camp end location: San Diego International Airport, San Diego, CA USA

We're thrilled to be offering this new travel program taking students to world-renowned zoos, aquariums, and science/nature centers in California! Students will work with professional biologists as they learn about zoo/aquaria conservation efforts, and how these facilities aid in research and preservation of species. The program will begin in San Francisco, then journey south to Monterey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In the second half of the camp, the group will spend a day at Catalina Island where they'll be able to see bison, falcons, and the incredible kelp forests that surround the island. The trip will finish with visits to the world renowned San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. This will be an incredible trip for any student who dedicated to learning more about wildlife conservation and wildlife biology!

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Behind the scenes exploration at zoos and aquaria being visited
- Will be dependent on respective institutional COVID protocols in place
Exploring Catalina Island research station
Meeting animal caretakers and scientists working at zoos and aquaria being visited
Visiting natural wildlspaces for birding and exploring other local wildlife

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $4,577
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 mroe 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 Airport, and drop them off at the San Diego 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 one day before camp starts or after it ends, respectively.
Students arriving early or departing late will need to make hotel arrangements and communicate them well in advance via their CampDoc document uploads. Staff can make sure participants have transportation to a local grocery store if needed.

Paleontology Illustration

Start date: July 24
End date: August 5
Camp start location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA
Camp end location: Sternberg Museum, Hays, KS USA

Through paleoart an artist can bring prehistoric life back from the dead. It is a discipline that combines an understanding of science, skill in the arts and the use of one's imagination. In this camp based at the Fort Hays State University campus, students will learn how to draw specimens accurately from life, to rebuild imperfect or incomplete fossils, and how to reconstruct an entire extinct animal's anatomy from its skeleton. Along the way, participants will get to explore multiple types of digital media, and traditional media such as pencil drawing, charcoal, paint, and sculpture. We will use a variety of creative projects and lessons to build on student’s current skills, reinforce essential basics, and hone more advanced approaches to recreating now-extinct organisms through art.

Click here for our suggested packing list and instructions.

Camp activity highlights:

Project-based immersion in drawing and painting
Learning how to make a scientific infographic
Introduction to creating physical wire and clay models
Reconstructing extinct creatures using modern organism examples

Cost per student:

Registration fee: $2,766
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 mroe 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.

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