Bell Museum Winter Camps: STEM Safari (grades 1-2) and Snow Much Fun (grades 3-5)

Registration required (opened October 6 for members and October 8 for the public, though the page also still says registration is coming soon). Scholarship applications October 30-November 6, chosen by lottery. Accommodation questions: bellcamps@umn.edu.

About this adventure

The Bell Museum on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus runs two-day winter camps over winter break for children in grades 1-2 (STEM Safari) and grades 3-5 (Snow Much Fun). Each grade band has an Engineering and Astronomy camp on December 28-29 and a Science and Art camp on December 30-31. STEM Safari campers learn the steps of the design cycle and apply them to a paper cup tower and a tin foil barge, make their own moon rocks and model the solar system, then explore camouflage in art and in winter nature and make patterns with chromatography and tessellating art. Snow Much Fun campers observe and identify clouds and learn why the seasons happen, build snow forts and design a snowball launcher, then go on a winter bird walk with a bird feeder activity, observe track prints and create their own with print-making. Bell camps mix hands-on investigation with museum exhibits, games, creative projects and guided outdoor exploration. Camp runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with drop-off from 8:30 and pick-up until 4:30. Each two-day camp costs $170, or $155 for Bell members, and need-based scholarships are awarded by lottery.