This year, the Dallas and Fort Worth area is coming alive with its most captivating summer activities and events, inviting kids to partake in a fun-filled summer!
From unique summer camps for all interests to family-friendly activities, the city has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on these great experiences – get out and make the most of summer!
Escape the heat with a visit to the museum where both kids and adults will love this exhibit in which they will discover the movie-making — and science — behind some of Pixar’s most treasured films!
Presented by NexPoint, this interactive exhibition showcases the STEM concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who help bring Pixar’s award-winning films to the big screen.
Location:
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
DATES:
Until September 4.
Kids will enjoy weeklong summer camps that feature educational tours, games, creative projects, investigations, and more.
Kids will get to choose between Aviation, Space, STEM, or attend all three!
Location:
Frontiers of Flight Museum
DATES:
Monday- Friday 9 AM- 3 PM | June- August
SPARK! Creativity Camps promise a fun-filled creative adventure each week.
Your kids will play games, spend time on the iconic Climb, Crawl, and Slide Sculpture and have fun making new friends while working together on collaborative projects and independently on their masterpieces!
Location:
SPARK!
DATES:
Cartoon Character Creations – Intro to Drawing (June 5 – June 9) | Van Gogh’s Apprentice – Intro to Painting (June 12 – June 16) | Clay Creations – Ceramics (June 19 – June 23) | Photography (June 26 – June 30) | ANIME/MANGA – Comic creations (July 3 – July 5-7) | Toontastic – Animation (July 10 – July 14) | Film Making – Stop Motion (July 17 – July 21) | Center Stage – Theater (July 24 – July 28)
Kids who like to build and invent new things and help to solve problems will love this camp!
The project activities introduce engineering design processes, science/math topics, as well as the general practices and skills, that are used in electrical, mechanical, civil & environmental, and computer science fields of engineering. Kids will be designing and developing prototypes to solve real-world problems that will increase the environmental sustainability of gardens.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: June 12-16 | Grades 4-6: June 5-9 | 9 AM- 3 PM
During Keeper Camp, campers ages 10-15 experience a behind-the-scenes, hands-on adventure with the Heard’s education and exhibit animals.
Kids will learn about the different animals and what it takes to properly care for them.
Location:
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
DATES:
9:30 AM- 2:30 PM | Keeper Camp 1: June 5-9 & July 17-21 | Keeper Camp 2: July 24-28
Gear up for a summer of adventure and fun with eight different science-themed camps to choose from.
Camps are divided into age groups and there are many interesting themes for each week!
Location:
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
DATES:
Week 1: Crack the Case | June 5-9 | Grades K-4 | Week 2: Tinker Tools and Tech | June 12-16 | Grades K-4 | Week 3: Jurassic Journey | June 20-23 | Grades K-4 | Week 4: Culinary Chemistry | June 26-30 | Grades K-6 | Week 5: Cosmic Curiosities | July 10-14 | Grades K-4 | Week 6: Mad About Science | July 17-21 | Grades K-4 | Week 7: Stories and STEM | July 24-28 | Grades K-6 | Week 8: Summer of Science | July 31-August 4 | Grades K-4
Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in the country and it lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle.
You can explore the canyon by foot, car, horse, or bike! There are plenty of Group Sites to rent and all sites offer picnic tables and plenty of space for kids to play and run around! Guests will enjoy a unique outdoor day!
Location:
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, State Highway Park Road 5, Canyon, TX, USA
Prides, packs, herds, and flocks!
Campers will explore the different “teams” that animals have formed to help them survive in the wild.
Location:
Caldwell Zoo
DATES:
JUNE 5th – 9th | JUNE 12th – 16th | JUNE 19th – 23rd
During the whole month of May and June, kids can visit Crayola Experience for a “Martian Mission”!
They will venture through outer space and enjoy awesome and unique activities!
Location:
Crayola Experience Plano
DATES:
May and June. 10 AM- 5 PM
Kids will learn how our food gets from the farm to the plate and every step in between!
This delicious summer camp is all about exploring how food gets from the farm to the plate and all the processes in between. Campers will learn how to make foods such as butter and jams using farm-fresh ingredients, connect with the Dallas Arboretum Horticulture team to explore the Incredible Edible gardens, participate in chef demos, and harvest fresh vegetables to create their unique recipes.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grade 1-3: June 5-9 | Grades 4-6: June 12-16
The camp features a balance of hands-on experiments, activities, and crafts mixed in with age-appropriate breaks, playtime, and STEAM-themed games.
Summer Camps will be divided by age groups and there will be different themes each week!
Location:
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
DATES:
9 AM- 4 PM. Starts on June 5-
This camp will use the Magic Planet, a digital interactive globe, to explore the unique characteristics of the planets, their moons, and other objects seen in our night sky.
Kids will also spend time outdoors exploring the fascinating characteristics of the Earth!
Location:
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
DATES:
June 5-9 | 9:30 AM- 12 PM
Students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 will discover something new at the Dallas Zoo during each of these camp experiences!
All camps include guided tours of the Zoo, animal encounters, and animal-themed activities in a small group led by a Zoo educator.
Location:
Dallas Zoo
DATES:
June 5 – August 4. 9 AM– 3 PM
This program is just for children 0–24 months old and their caregivers.
Families will get to join the Museum in the galleries for songs and story time, followed by playtime and an opportunity to mingle with other parents and caregivers!
Location:
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
DATES:
June 12, 10 AM- 11 AM
During this awesome summer camp, campers ages 4 to 10 will hike throughout the Zoo before opening, cool off at Safari Splash, feed giraffes and learn at live animal presentations.
Plus, they’ll have all the fun of traditional summer camp with arts & crafts, outdoor games, a field day, and friendly competitions to see which team has the best cheer!
Location:
Fort Worth Zoo
DATES:
June 5- August 11, 9 AM- 4 PM
Kids who are curious about the different creatures in nature will dig into Creature Feature to take a deeper dive into the different environments in the garden and discover the creatures that live there.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: June 26-30 | Grades 4-6: June 19-23 | 9 AM- 3 PM
From the ocean to the savannah, there are many unusual habitats at Cameron Park Zoo.
During this camp, kids will explore the Zoo and learn about these different places that animals call home. Campers will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and talk with keepers about how they maintain these habitats.
Location:
Cameron Park Zoo
DATES:
Half-Day and Full-Day options. June.
Every day is an exploration of Cameron Park Zoo and the animals that call the Zoo their home.
Students will learn about animals through books, games, animal encounters, and art activities. There will be a minimum of two classes for each session.
Location:
Cameron Park Zoo
DATES:
Half-Day and Full-Day options. June.
Kids will delve into the wonders of nature on a 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more.
Location:
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
DATES:
9:30 AM- Noon | Wednesday, July 5 – Amazing Amphibians | Thursday, July 6 – Fossil Finds | Friday, July 7 – Bird Basics
Children will explore the universe with a mobile planetarium visit and take a planetary voyage in the OmniGlobe theater.
Campers will explore the planets and stars, discover galaxies, learn about astronauts and NASA missions, and even code their rover to investigate Mars. It is time to go Beyond Planet Earth!
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: June 19-23 | Grades 4-6: June 26-30 | 9 AM- 3 PM
Families will create colorful jellyfish using markers, tulle, ribbon, glue sticks, and coffee filters.
Make one in your favorite color and embellish it with decorative accessories to make it shimmer and shake!
Location:
SPARK!
DATES:
June 10, 10 AM- 3 PM
Kids will design and make rainbow weave airplanes. They will also learn how rainbows come to life!
Location:
American Airlines Center
DATES:
June 10, 1 PM- 3 PM
During these summer camps, kids ages 4-12 will spend most of the day outside learning and having a blast! Camps are divided into age groups, dates, and themes.
Location:
Texas Discovery Gardens
DATES:
9:30 AM- 3:30 PM | Monday-Friday| June 12- July 21
Heard Summer Camps feature opportunities for children from north Texas and beyond to delve into the wonders of nature on a 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animal ambassadors, investigate nature-themed topics, and more.
Location:
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
DATES:
9:30 AM- 2:30 PM | Camp Tadpole: June 12 – 16 & June 19 – 23 | Camp Chickadee: June 26 – June 30 & July 10 – July 14
Children ages 3 and up, head to Play Street Museum Allen for a morning full of play and learning!
The Creature Teacher is coming to Play Street and bringing some of their favorite creatures! They are planning on bringing a kangaroo, snakes, and a mix of other mammals and reptiles!
Location:
Play Street Museum Allen
DATES:
June 17, 9 AM- 10:30 AM
Did you know there are over 100 people that work at the Caldwell Zoo?
There’s a very large workload with over 3,000 animals and 80 acres to take care of! Campers will get to know the different departments and learn how they all work together to keep the Caldwell Zoo moving forward!
Location:
Caldwell Zoo
DATES:
JUNE 26th – 30th | JULY 10th – 14th| JULY 17th – 21st
Grab your radio and phone a friend!
Children will have the chance to enjoy donuts with an Allen Police Officer! Officer Graves will read kids a story, take photos, show them his car, and answer all their questions!
Location:
Play Street Museum Allen
DATES:
July 1, 9 AM- 10:30 AM
3…2…1 Blastoff!!
Kids ages 7 and up and their families will get to create some explosive rockets powered by YOU. Straw rockets are fun and easy to make, how far will your rocket go?
Location:
SPARK!
DATES:
July 8, 10 AM- 3 PM
Camp activities at Cameron Park Zoo educate and excite children about animals and the natural world.
All campers will explore the zoo grounds, meet zookeepers, play games, participate in hands-on activities, and go behind the scenes of Cameron Park Zoo!
Location:
Cameron Park Zoo
DATES:
Starts on July 10.
Campers will investigate different growing methods such as planting seeds and propagating plants, explore various plant life cycles, design their backyard garden, get expert planting and growing tips from horticulture specialists, and create inspired-by-nature garden crafts to make their garden space inviting and unique.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: July 10-14 | Grades 4-6: July 17-21
Why are some animals prickly, while others are smooth?
What shapes are best for animals that swim through the water? How fast do animals grow, and why do they grow at different rates? Campers will explore the animal world to answer these questions and more.
Location:
Cameron Park Zoo
DATES:
9 AM- 4 PM | Starts on July 10.
Could you survive the cold of the Arctic? What about the dry Saharan Desert?
Campers will explore the extreme environments of our planet and the animals that call these places home!
Location:
Caldwell Zoo
DATES:
JULY 24th – 28th | July 31st – AUGUST 5th | AUGUST 7th – 11th
Families with kids ages 7 and up will get to create some cool designs on paper with bubbles with a bit of color magic! This family day will blow your mind with creativity!
Location:
SPARK!
DATES:
August 12, 10 AM- 3 PM
Campers will work as paleontologists as they investigate fossils of various plants and animals, learn how fossils are formed, and create their fossil replicas.
Connect with industry expert paleontologists from around Texas and learn about the stories that these fossils tell. Kids will discover connections to the past, such as flight in birds and the age of reptiles.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: July 17-21 | Grades 4-6: July 10-14 | 9 AM- 3 PM
Campers will explore Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributors exhibit, learn about significant contributions, and engage in hands-on activities related to each of the contributors.
Come invent like Ben Franklin, explore aviation like Amelia Earhart, or discover math and science connections like Albert Einstein.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: July 31 – August 4 | Grades 4-6: July 24-28
In this camp, young artists will discover the many beautiful connections between art and nature and let the garden inspire them.
Campers will learn the basics of art, connect with local artists, create original nature-inspired art pieces and host their own art shows for their family and friends.
Location:
Dallas Arboretum
DATES:
Grades 1-3: July 24-28 | Grades 4-6: July 31 – August 4 | 9 AM- 3 PM
Leapfrog, catch a frog, don’t let it get away.
Origami jumping frogs love to play, visit SPARK! and practice the Japanese art of paper folding these quick little frogs.
Location:
SPARK!
DATES:
September 9, 10 AM- 3 PM
