Summer Camp
Summer Camp
This summer the National Building Museum is excited to offer two engaging and educational summer camps for rising 2nd through 5th graders! Each camp is one week long and will be offered throughout June, July, and August. Sign up for one camp or pair camps to create a two-week experience!
BRICK CITY: Ultimate Design Challenge
In this one-week LEGO® brick crash course, campers draw inspiration from National Building Museum exhibitions and the built world around them to design and construct imaginative projects. Perfect for kids who love dreaming up brick creations and bringing them to life, this camp challenges participants to use LEGO® bricks in creative and unexpected ways. Through hands-on challenges, campers will build boats and zip lines, design a dream playgrounds, and crack a secret LEGO® brick code. Along the way, they explore the fundamentals of engineering and design and discover just how much can be learned through LEGO® brick play.
Building One-oh-Fun
In this one-week introduction to the world of building, campers explore National Building Museum exhibitions and spaces to discover what it takes to design and construct the built environment. Through hands-on challenges, campers experiment with 3-D printing, try their hand at bridge building, and wrap up the week by constructing a mini-house using mini-bricks and mini-mortar. Perfect for kids who love to imagine, plan, tinker, and build, this camp introduces participants to the design process while showing just how fun and how creative building can be.
Early-bird registration for Family-level Museum members is OPEN. Members can click here to register now. General registration opens to the public on January 22, 2026.
Price: $500 non-member, $400 Family level members and higher, $100 aftercare per week.
Become a Family Member While Registering for Camp
Family-level members can register early for Summer Camp at reduced rates and receive complimentary admission to select family programs, access to birthday parties, Museum Shop discounts, free admission to Museum exhibitions and more. Click here to learn more.
Camp hours
- Monday– Friday, 9 am– 3 pm
- Early Drop off: 8:30–9 am (included in cost)
- Extended Care: 3– 5:30 pm (additional $100 per week)
Sample Schedule for Ultimate Design Challenge:
8:30 am- Welcome activity + free play
9 am- Morning Meeting + game
9:15 am- Introduce morning STEM project (ex. LEGO® brick Morse Code)
10:30 am- Snack time
10:50 am- Visit an exhibition
11:30 am- Eat lunch
12:00 pm- Recess (outside on lawn or on summer playground installation)
12:45 pm- Quiet time (independent reading or drawing)
1:15 pm – Introduce afternoon design project (ex. LEGO® brick Stamping)
2:30 pm- Clean up and discuss what was learned that day and what to expect tomorrow
3pm- Fun activities begin for Extended Care (ex. craft and building stations, board games, free play)
5:30 pm – Final pick-up time for Extended Care
Sample Schedule for Building One-oh-Fun:
8:30 am- Welcome activity + free play
9 am- Morning Meeting + game
9:15 am- Introduce building theme for the day (ex. Cities) and start morning activity (ex. Learn about city planners and plan a city together as a class)
10:30 am- Snack time
10:50 am- Visit an exhibition
11:30 am- Eat lunch
12:00 pm- Recess (outside on lawn or on summer playground installation)
12:45 pm- Quiet time (independent reading or drawing)
1:15 pm – Introduce afternoon project (ex. build city based on that morning’s plan!)
2:30 pm- Clean up and discuss what was learned that day and what to expect tomorrow
3 pm- Fun activities begin for Extended Care (ex. craft and building stations, board games, free play)
5:30 pm – Final pick-up time for Extended Care
Please note that camp activities may vary depending on age group and museum schedules.
| Rising 2nd and 3rd Grade Sessions | Rising 4th and 5th Grade Sessions |
|---|---|
| June 22-26 Brick City | June 22-26 Camp not offered |
| July 6-10: Building One-oh-Fun | July 6-10: Brick City |
| July 13-17: Brick City | July 13-17: Building One-oh-Fun |
| July 20 – 24: Building One-oh-Fun | July 20 – 24: Brick City |
| July 27-31: Brick City | July 27-31: Building One-oh-Fun |
| August 3-7: Building One-oh-Fun | August 3-7: Camp not offered |
| August 10-14 Brick City | August 10-14 Building One-oh-Fun |
| August 17-21 Building One-oh-Fun | August 17-21 Camp not offered |
Do I get a discount if I sign up for more than one week or register more than one child?
No, there are no discounts based on how many sessions you sign up for, but Family level members receive $100 off every session!
Should I do one camp before the other?
The camps can be done in either order, if you want a two-week experience! You can do the Brick City camp first or the Invention Lab camp first, whichever weeks fit your schedule best.
How many campers per program?
Each week-long session can have up to 20 campers enrolled.
What is the camper to counselor ratio?
Ten campers to two counselors (1:10).
Will there be outdoor time?
Most of the activities take place in the museum and its exhibitions. However, there will be some play time outside on our West Lawn, weather permitting.
Does my child get to bring LEGO® bricks home if they do the Brick City camp?
No, campers will make some crafts they can bring home but will primarily be using LEGO® bricks that must stay at the Museum. Instead, campers will get a notebook to record their creations including polaroid photos!
Does my child need any special knowledge or materials to participate?
All children must be able to read and write independently. Counselors will assist, but some group activities require students to read and write on their own. Nothing else is needed but curiosity and a good attitude!
Can I sign my child up for a program outside of his/her grade range?
We advise against this because our program content is specifically designed for the listed grade-range. We want our campers to have the best experience possible, and one way we do this is by pairing campers with their peers and instructors trained in working with their age group.
Do you have early-morning drop off?
Drop off for campers is between 8:30-9 am. Please do not arrive before 8:30 am as camp staff will not be available to greet you.
Can my child bring their own food? Do you provide lunch?
All campers should bring their own lunches that do not require refrigeration. We will provide a nut-free mid-morning snack as well as an afternoon snack for those staying for extended care.Personal snacks are not permitted unless there is a dietary restriction we cannot accommodate.
Do you take field trips?
This year’s camps will not be taking any off-site field trips. We will visit many of the Museum’s exhibitions as well as experience behind-the-scenes opportunities like our Collections storage.
What happens in Extended Care?
Since it is the end of the day, we try to have activities that are more relaxed. We set out game stations, building blocks, snack stations, and a reading area. Once a week we will watch a movie in the afternoon with popcorn. Campers can also work on projects. We might go outside or play games in the Museum’s Great Hall.
What is your policy on electronics?
No electronics of any kind are allowed at camp, including video game consoles, tablets, eReaders, and cell phones. If you wish to send your child to camp with a cell phone, please contact Museum staff to discuss an exception.
Can my child bring their own toys to camp?
No. Anything valuable or precious should be left at home. If your child would like to bring a building toy, a book, or a card game with them to camp, they may do so, however the item should remain in their backpacks during the day and only used during the lunch hour or in extended care.
Do you have scholarships?
Unfortunately, we do not have a scholarship program at this time.
When is payment due?
Full payment is required to register for camp.
What is your refund policy?
Refund requests must be submitted in writing by June 1. The National Building Museum considers refund requests that come after that time frame on a case-by-case basis. If you are unable to attend camp but are ineligible for a refund, we thank you for your donation to the Museum.
Can I use my Family Level Membership discount to register campers outside of my family?
No. While the Family Membership allows you to bring in non-family members as guests to the museum, this benefit unfortunately does not extend to Summer Camp. Your Family Membership provides $100 off on camp registration only for members in the main account holder’s immediate family. Only Family Level Members receive this discount.
Is it worth joining as a Family Member?
Yes! Besides saving on Summer Camp, you gain exclusive access to book a birthday party for your child, get free admission the Museum’s exhibitions, save on programs during the year including our popular Gingerbread Workshop, and receive a discount in the Museum Shop
Please review our camp policies and procedures in detail before registering for summer camp.
- “My child loved it and was excited to tell me about the activities of each day.”
- "My child was so excited to go and talked about how much he loved building”
- "They did something new everyday. My son learned about architecture in a very fun way.”
- "a perfect blend of education and fun."
- "My son rated it his favorite camp of the summer so far - enjoyed playing with legos!”
- "My son LOVED it. Said he wanted to go to camp until he was too old and then become a counselor.”