Frequently Asked Questions for 2026 Camps
Updated: December 2025
We recommend all current and potential camper families to read our Summer Camp Caretaker Handbook as a resource for camp policies, expectations, and general program information. For quick and specific topic questions, we’ve highlighted some of our frequently asked questions below:
Camp Program 2026
Camp Curiosity (Chapel Hill)
Registration
Health and Safety
Pick up and Drop off
What type of activities will my camper participate in?
Our camp days are filled with a variety of hands-on activities based around each camp’s theme and age group. These activities are designed to be fun and exciting while developing scientific and critical thinking skills.
Most camps will involve a range of activities – group and independent work, indoor and outdoor activities, as well as museum exploration.
We design our curricula to include both structured activities and unstructured free-play, taking advantage of indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate different learning styles and energy levels.
The week before camp (typically the preceding Tuesday), you will receive an email with your camp name, location, and other information about the week. You will also receive updates through email throughout the camp week with prompts to ask your children about their day.
How many campers and staff are in a group?
For our Prek – K groups our camps will be capped at 14 campers per group. For all other age groups, our camps are capped at 18 campers.
Each group has two adult staff and usually a high school volunteer assistant.
Who are your camp educators and counselors?
Our Summer Camp staff are all over 18 years old and come from a variety of backgrounds from academia to formal and informal education. We select our camp staff based on their experience in childcare settings, educational background, and alignment with our Camp Mission. Many of our camp staff are full-time teachers during the year.
Both our camp educators and camp counselors undergo training ahead of each summer camp season on topics including positive behavior management techniques, child safety, community building, and scientific and critical thinking.
What should and shouldn’t my camper bring to camp?
Please label all items!
Campers should be dressed in weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes for indoor and outdoor exploration. Camp is held rain or shine, and every camp will be outside for some portion of the day.
Apply sunscreen and insect repellent at home before coming to camp. Our staff can re-apply aerosol sunscreen and insect repellent if you choose to send a labeled product with your camper’s name. Our staff cannot apply rub-on sun or insect repellent.
We request that you leave any valuable items such as toys, electronics, and collectables at home, as the Museum is not responsible for any personal items lost, stolen, or damaged in its programs.
Campers should bring:
1 labeled, reusable water bottle
1 peanut-free snack (2 if registered for PM Care)
1 peanut-free lunch (if not pre-purchasing through your registration)
1 full change of clothes
For PreK-K Campers, it’s optional to bring a comfort item (i.e. blanket) to be used during daily rest time.
What is included in a boxed lunch (Museum Camp location only)?
Museum boxed lunches must be pre-registered and purchased through Ultracamp.
All options are subject to change based on product availability, but will always be peanut-free.
We are happy to work with you to adjust our menu to accommodate for food allergies/intolerances; please reach out to summercamp@lifeandscience.org to discuss at least a week prior to your camper’s session.
We are unable to add additional lunches to your camper’s registration after the Tuesday prior to your camp week. This weekly deadline ensures our lunch provider has time to put in an accurate supply order.
As part of our sustainability initiative, we are no longer providing water bottles in camp lunches. All campers should come to camp with a reusable water bottle. We will have extra disposable water bottles for emergency situations.
Regular Lunch Sample Menu:
Each lunch contains a main, side, and fresh fruit
Monday – Cheeseburger
Tuesday – Turkey sandwich
Wednesday – Chicken tenders
Thursday – Cheese quesadilla
Friday- Hot dog
Vegetarian Lunch Sample Menu:
Monday – Black bean burger
Tuesday – Grilled Cheese
Wednesday – Veggie Wrap
Thursday – (Meatless) Cheese Quesadilla
Friday – Cesar Salad Wrap
Does my camper receive a Camp T-shirt?
One complimentary Camp T-shirt will be automatically included toward your camper’s summer registration, at no extra charge. Simply select your preferred t-shirt size during registration and we will make sure your camper gets it during their 1st week of camp!
Note, if you are registering for multiple sessions, your camper will only receive one t-shirt for the entire camp season. For instance, if you sign up for three sessions, your camper will only receive 1 t-shirt at their 1st session.
If you prefer not to receive a t-shirt, you may opt out during the registration process.
Do you have a Camp Lost and Found?
Any misplaced items will be kept in Camp Leadership’s Lost and Found Storage until the end of summer. If your camper has lost an item during their camp week, you can email us your inquiry at summercamp@lifeandscience.org and/or stop by our camp locations during camp hours to search through our Camp Lost and Found Boxes.
What is your camp contact information?
For information about the camp program curriculum, scheduling late drop-off or early pick-ups, or have any urgent communication needs, contact the Camp Team:
Email: summercamp@lifeandscience.org
Museum Location Phone: 919.391.9279 *only active during Summer Camp months and program hours
Camp Curiosity Location Phone: 919.695.3729 *only active during Summer Camp months and program hours
For any reservation, payment, or account questions, or to cancel or change a Camp session, contact our Reservation Team:
Email: reservations@lifeandscience.org
Reservations Phone: 919.220.5429 x313
What and where is Camp Curiosity?
We are so excited to return to Camp Curiosity at the beautiful Montessori Community School (MCS) campus located at: 4512 Pope Road, Durham, NC 27707
We developed Camp Curiosity to capitalize on the amazing space at the Montessori Community School Campus. We’ve taken the best parts of the curriculum you would expect from our Museum camps and mashed them together with a more traditional camp with Morning Circle, Camp Songs, and all-camp games you might expect from a more traditional camp!
Camp Curiosity is ideal for campers who are excited about science and love to play in community with others. Camp here is generally a little more relaxed, owing to the lack of additional guests and the abundance of large open areas. Because of these open areas, Camp Curiosity offers opportunities for more “camp-like” activities such as hide and seek, capture the flag, and relay races.
What will a regular day look like for my camper at Camp Curiosity?
Each day, campers will meet up with their small camp group to touch base about the day, get to know each other better, and prepare themselves for the day.
Campers will then make their way to the morning Curiosity Circle, where campers will meet camp staff, hear what other groups are up to, and have the opportunity to play with campers from other groups in an elective based activity opportunity.
After Curiosity Circle, campers will return to their home base to explore their camp topic with their camp group.
Around lunch time, Campers will gather outdoors (weather permitting) for free play.
The afternoon will be entirely devoted to camp topics within each group.
When can I register for summer camp?
Registration for 2026 Summer Camp opens mid-January.
If you are a Museum member, you will receive an email with the access code the morning of registration. General Public registration will not require a code.
January 13, 9:00 am – Innovators Society Presale (access code required)
January 15, 9:00 am – Explorer Member Presale (access code required)
January 21, 9:00 am – Open Registration to the General Public
If you would like to check your membership status prior to Camp registration dates, reach out to membership@lifeandscience.org
Which age group should I register my child for?
Register for the camp appropriate to the grade your camper will enter in Summer/Fall 2026.
Four-year-olds must have completed a minimum of six months in a group childcare setting and reach their 4th birthday by April 30, 2026 to attend camp. No exceptions. Proof of age may be required.
All campers must be capable of toileting without any assistance, before attending our camps.
Before I register, are there any camper requirements I should consider?
Four-year-olds must have completed a minimum of six months in a group childcare setting and reach their 4th birthday by April 30, 2026 to attend camp. No exceptions. Proof of age may be required.
All campers must be capable of changing their clothes and using the restroom independently without any assistance before attending our camps.
Campers will be expected to follow instructions and will need to remain with the group at all times during the camp day.
While we hope to offer our camps to as wide a range of children as possible, our camps are not designed to offer one-on-one care. The Museum is committed to full and equal opportunity for children to enjoy the camp experience and reasonable modifications will be considered. Contact summercamp@lifeandscience.org to discuss support options.
What do I need to make a reservation?
To register for camp, you will need an UltraCamp account. Please visit the following link to set up your profile: Create An Account
We highly recommend setting up your profile and saving your payment details ahead of the registration date so you can sign up for camp as quickly and easily as possible!
Once your registration is complete, add details for every camper in your household. Just choose “Add a person…” It’s that easy!
On the day of the pre-sale, click the Purchase button on the bottom of the page and start a reservation to purchase camps for each of your campers.
If you are experiencing trouble with registering or do not have access to a computer, please call our Reservations Staff at 919.220.5429 ext. 313.
Is there a maximum number of weeks my child can attend?
To support positive and meaningful camper experiences, we strongly encourage families to register for no more than 4 weeks of MLS camp during our summer season (May 26-August 21). In our experience, we’ve found higher number of camp weeks leads to camp fatigue, reduced engagement, and increased behavioral challenges.
In addition to the number of camp weeks, we highly recommend campers are registered for different camps offerings/topics within their age group. Camps with the same session title follow the same curriculum and activities each week, so new camp offerings ensure your camper’s week is exciting, fresh, and full of discovery.
I am having trouble logging in to UltraCamp? What do I do?
It is not uncommon for camps other than Museum camps to also use UltraCamp as their registration software. Unfortunately, your accounts used to register for those camps require different log in credentials than your account for Museum Camps. If you use a password manager that stores your password, it’s possible that it will autofill the incorrect credentials. If you are having issues logging in, check to make sure that you are using the correct credentials used to register for our camps.
If you need to update your UltraCamp account information, you can use the “Forgot your login information?” prompt or contact our reservations team for assistance at reservations@lifeandscience.org or by phone at 919.220.5429 ext. 313.
Are payment plans available for my camp tuition?
Yes! We have two options for payment plans for Museum Summer Camps:
Option 1: Monthly payment. Pay $100 at registration, with the remaining balance divided equally between the months remaining until May 15th and auto drafted the morning of the 4th of each month.
Example: You register for 2 sessions at the member price of $345 each on January 23. You would owe $200 at registration. On the morning of the 4th of February, March, April and May, $122.50 will be auto drafted from your card.
Option 2: You choose – $100 due at registration, with the remaining balance automatically drafted May 15th. You can make payments in the amount of your choice in the months between registration and May 15th.
You register for 2 sessions at the non-member price of $345 each on February 19. You would owe $200 at registration. You can pay the remaining $490 in multiple installments of your choosing before May 15th or have the full $490 auto drafted on May 15th.
With either plan, your account balance can be paid in full at any time before May 15th, 2026.
Payment plans do not incur a use fee.
Any registrations made after May 15th, 2026 will require full payment of tuition at the time of registration.
If you have an outstanding Ultracamp balance from previous Museum programs, payments will need to be made prior before adding new camp registrations.
What is the Cancellation and Refund policy?
The Museum can grant refunds for cancelled camp sessions only up to and including May 15th, 2026. No refunds will be issued after this date. Changes to individual camp sessions may be made up to two weeks before a session starts, as available. All refunds and changes will incur a $50.00 fee per camp session.
What type of extended care options do you provide? How do I sign up for Before or After Care in my registration?
We have Before Care (8 – 8:30 am, $20/week) and After Care (3 – 5 pm, $45/week) options available at both the Museum Camp and Camp Curiosity locations.
You may register and purchase Before and/or After Care through your UltraCamp account and can be adjusted any time before the end of day Tuesday, prior to your camp week.
If your plans change and you need extended care added to your registration after the Tuesday deadline, please contact summercamp@lifeandscience.org as soon as possible for an accommodation request.
Am I able to purchase and add a lunch to my camper’s registration (for Museum Camps only)?
Yes! You must pre-register and purchase lunch through your UltraCamp account. Lunch add-ons are only available for Summer Camp at the Museum location, and is $50/week.
However, we are unable to add additional lunches to your camper’s registration after end of day Tuesday prior to your camp week. This weekly lunch deadline ensures our lunch provider has time to put in an accurate supply order.
Do your camps have a waitlist?
Yes, we do have waitlist options! If your desired camp is full, you can add your child to that camp’s waitlist through your Ultracamp account. No payment is required to place your camper on the waitlist.
If a spot becomes available, you will receive an email from ultracamp@lifeandscience.org with instructions on how to claim your camper’s spot. You will only have a 48 hr window to claim your spot and complete the registration process. After that point, the space reserved for you will be made available to the next child on the waitlist.
Are you able to accommodate my child with medical allergies?
We are happy to work with you to adjust our boxed lunch menu for food allergies/intolerances. See the FAQ regarding “What is included in the boxed lunch?” for more information on camp lunches (available for purchase at our Museum location camp only).
In the case of severe food allergies, please be aware that it is not possible for us to monitor the food other children bring into camp.
Our staff are trained to use EpiPens in the case of an anaphylactic event. An EpiPen authorization and waiver of liability form is available here. Once complete, please hand this form to the Site Director along with your EpiPen when you check-in on your first day of camp. If you do not have a form, they will be available for you to fill out at check-in.
Other than EpiPens, the Museum will not be responsible for administering medication to children.
Are you able to accommodate my child with special needs?
The Museum is committed to full and equal opportunity for children to enjoy the camp experience, and reasonable modifications will be considered. While we hope to offer our camps to as wide a range of children as possible, we are unable to provide one-on-one care.
If your child has a personal assistant that you would like to attend with your camper, please contact summercamp@lifeandscience.org at least 2weeks before your camper’s session, to discuss steps to bring them on site. Background checks and additional information will be required.
We ask that you provide detailed answers to the questions about your camper in the registration process. This information will only be shared with camp administration and your camper’s educators.
You may also contact our Camp Manager at summercamp@lifeandscience.org to discuss your family’s specific needs.
What happens on a rainy or extremely hot day at camp?
Each day, camp administrators will monitor outdoor conditions such as inclement weather, heat index, and air quality. If these conditions change to concerning levels, campers will follow an amended schedule. Such modifications may include, but not limited to:
Groups will utilize indoor exhibit exploration and/or adjust activity locations to limit outdoor travel time.
Camp educators already have frequent water breaks integrated into their camp days, but extra attention will be taken to ensure campers stay hydrated.
Outdoor activities will be modified for timing and duration. Camp staff will limit outdoor activities to short periods, followed by longer cooling off breaks indoors. If feasible, energetic outdoor activities will adjust to occur earlier in the day, when the morning temperatures are relatively cooler.
When should my camper stay home from camp?
We ask that any camper showing any type of illness symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) stay home and contact the Museum to notify us of your symptoms. At a minimum, do not send your child to camp if they have had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours, and follow the recommendations of your health provider.
If your camper is showing signs of illness, but has been cleared to return by a doctor, please provide any documentation or proof of clearance to return to the camp team summercamp@lifeandscience.org
What happens if someone shows symptoms of illness while at camp?
If a camper appears to be ill, or voices they are feeling unwell at camp, they will be moved to an isolated location under supervision. Caretakers will be notified for immediate pick-up.
Any camper who is sent home due to illness will be asked to stay home until their symptoms improve.
At the Museum: How does drop-off (8:30 – 8:50 am) and pick-up (3 – 3:30 pm) work?
MORNING DROP OFF will be on our Southside campus, across the street from the main Museum. Drop- off and the sign-in process will start no earlier than 8:30 am and will run from 8:30 – 8:50 am.
We will have two methods of drop-off at the Museum. You are free to choose whichever method works best for your needs:
Carline Drop-Off: Drive up to the Parking Deck’s 2nd floor and follow the line for drop-off. One of our staff will direct you to the unloading area. Once at the drop-off area, staff will sign in your camper and walk them to their group. Please remain in your vehicle during this process.
Caretaker Walk-Up: Park outside the Museum Parking deck in the lot and walk your camper to the walk-up area at the base of the Picnic Dome. A Camp administrator will welcome you and check your camper in. Past our check-in area is a camper-only zone, so once signed in our staff or volunteers will walk your camper to the rest of their group.
AFTERNOON PICKUP will be on our Southside campus, across the street from the main Museum. The sign-out process will start no earlier than 2:50 pm with pick-up running from 3 – 3:30 pm. All adults are required to sign campers out by showing either the Camper Pick-Pass or a photo ID whose name is listed on the authorized pickup list.
We will have two methods of pick-up at the Museum. You are free to choose whichever method works best for your needs:
Carline Pick-Up: Drive up to the Parking Deck’s 2nd floor and follow the line for pick-up. One of our staff will sign out your camper, then direct you to the loading area. To ensure efficiency, please stay in your car when your camper arrives to the loading zone. If your camper needs additional help buckling their seatbelt, pull forward to an available parking spot past the carline’s loading area.
Caretaker Walk-Up: Park outside the Museum Parking deck in the lot, and walk to the check-out area at the base of the Picnic Dome. A Camp administrator will check your pickup pass or ID, sign out your camper, and radio them to walk-up.
At Camp Curiosity: How does drop- off (8:30 – 8:50 am) and pick-up (3 – 3:30 pm) work?
MORNING DROP-OFF will exclusively make use of our carline in the Montessori School Parking lot. Drop-off and the sign-in process will start no earlier than 8:30AM and will run from 8:30-8:50AM.
Carline Drop-Off: will weave through the Montessori Community School’s parking lot. Follow the directional signs and cones to the drop-off location at the front of the school’s main building. One of our camp administrators will direct you to the unloading area and specific cone number. Once at the drop-off area, our staff will sign-in your camper and walk them over to join their camp group.
AFTERNOON PICK UP will work the same as morning drop off, with the sign-out process will start no earlier than 2:50 pm with pick-up running from 3 – 3:30 pm. All adults are required to sign campers out by showing either the Camper Pick-Pass or a photo ID whose name is listed on the authorized pickup list.
Carline Pick-Up: Carline will weave through the Montessori Community School’s parking lot. Follow the directional signs to the drop-off location at the front of the school’s main building. One of our staff will walk the line to check your pickup pass or ID, sign-out your camper, and call them to the loading area. Our staff will direct you to the loading area where one of our staff will be waiting with your camper.
To ensure efficiency, please stay in your car when your camper arrives to the loading zone. If your camper needs additional help buckling their seatbelt, pull forward to an available parking spots past the carline’s loading area.
How does drop off and pick up work if I registered for Before Care (8 – 8:30 am) and/or After Care (3 – 5 pm)?
MUSEUM BEFORE CARE DROP-OFF
Before Care programming is pre-registered through your Ultracamp account and occurs 8 – 8:30 am each camp day.
To drop off, park in the main parking lot and walk your camper to the front doors of the main museum building. Camp staff will greet you, check-in your camper, and walk them inside. Campers enrolled in Before Care who arrive after 8:30 am, should join regular drop-off in the South Side parking area, across Murray Ave.
MUSEUM AFTER CARE PICK-UP
Museum After Care programming is pre-registered through your Ultracamp account and occurs 3 – 5 pm each camp day. After Camp pick-up is available anytime 3:30 – 5 pm.
To pick-up, park in the South Side parking lot, across Murray Ave from the main Museum building, and walk toward the picnic tables. One of our camp staff will meet you to check your pickup pass or ID, and radio to have your camper brought to you.
For late pickups, after 5:00 pm $5 will be charged for the first 15 minutes and a charge of $25 will be added for each additional 15 minutes.
CAMP CURIOSITY BEFORE CARE DROP-OFF
Camp Curiosity Before Care programming is pre-registered through your Ultracamp account and occurs 8 – 8:30 am each camp day.
To drop off, park in the school’s parking lot and walk your camper to the front of the main building. Camp staff will greet you, check your camper in, and walk them inside the Gym to join the rest of the group. Campers enrolled in AM care who arrive after 8:30 am should join the regular drop-off carline.
CAMP CURIOSITY AFTER CARE PICK-UP
Camp Curiosity After Care programming is pre-registered through your Ultracamp account and occurs 3 – 5 pm each camp day. After Camp pick-up is available anytime 3:30 – 5 pm.
For pick-up, park in the school’s parking lot and walk to the side driveway heading toward the outdoor basketball courts (to the right of the front building). One of our camp staff will meet you at the basketball courts to check your pickup pass or ID, and radio to have your camper brought to you.
For late pickups, after 5:00 pm $5 will be charged for the first 15 minutes and a charge of $25 will be added for each additional 15 minutes.
What do I do if I need to pick up my child early from camp?
We plan our days to make full use of our time. As such, pick-up and drop-off outside of normal hours may lead to missed activities and project time for your camper.
For drop-off and pick-up outside of the regularly scheduled times, schedule early camper pickups in advance by emailing summercamp@lifeandscience.org and/or calling your location’s Site Directors:
Museum Camp (919.391.9279)
Camp Curiosity (919.695.3729)
Note, we can only accommodate early pick-ups before 2 pm.
What do I do if I need someone else to pick up my child from camp?
Authorized pickups are entered through your UltraCamp account and can be adjusted at any time. The week before camp, check your email for the names of individuals authorized for pick up and add anyone else through UltraCamp.