A volunteer docent and summer camp kids reach into the ray touch pool

Registration Opens in April For Summer Camp 2024

Registration for Members begins April 8, and public registration begins April 10. 

The Virginia Aquarium is excited to host summer day camps for eager explorers! All camps offer a safe and unique experience for campers to connect with science and nature. Camps are offered for children ages 4 to 15, and must meet the specified age requirement by the time a camp begins. Birth certificates required for children age 4. This year's program offerings are available below!

Pre-K Through Kindergarten Graduates

June 17-21 | 9:00am-1:00pm

July 29-August 2 | 9:00am-1:00pm

$200 Members | $240 Non-Members

Come join us for a fun-filled camp where we learn how our animals here at the Virginia Aquarium are taken care of! We’ll use our imaginations and pretend to be veterinarians through play, fun activities, and crafts. We’ll even have the chance to meet some live animals up close and the people who take care of them!

July 1-3 | 9:00am-1:00pm

$140 Members | $170 Non-Members

Why don't we see polar bears in Virginia? Where do the whales go over the summer? In this nature-inspired camp, we learn all about the different habitats found around the world and how each one is unique and important for the animals that live there. Learn what makes these parts of our world so special and what we can do to protect them.

August 12-16 | 9:00am-1:00pm

$200 Member | $240 Non-Members 

Why don't we see polar bears in Virginia? Where do the whales go over the summer? In this nature-inspired camp, we learn all about the different habitats found around the world and how each one is unique and important for the animals that live there. Learn what makes these parts of our world so special and what we can do to protect them.

July 15-19 | 9:00am-1:00pm

August 19-22 | 9:00am-1:00pm

$200 Members | $240 Non-Members

Campers will combine their love of art with the science of color in this creative STEAM camp. Learn where colors come from, how to make a rainbow through optical physics, and the chemistry of tie dye.

1st-3rd Grade Camps

June 17-21 | 9:00am-4:00pm

July 22-26 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$250 Members | $290 Non-Members

Investigate water through experiments and play to find out why it's so important for living things. Discover what's living in water as you explore aquarium habitats, Owls Creek, and our new South Building Watershed Play Area.

July 1-3 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$200 Members " $240 Non-Members

Learn about animal anatomy and behavior through this camp that's full of fun hands-on activities. Dissect fish and squid, learn about parasites and other animals with gross reputations, and explore how animals take in food and turn it into, well, you know.

August 5-9 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$375 Members | $445 Non-Members

Learn about animal anatomy and behavior through this camp that's full of fun hands-on activities. Dissect fish and squid, learn about parasites and other animals with gross reputations, and explore how animals take in food and turn it into, well, you know.

July 8-12 | 9:00am-4:00pm

August 19-23 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$375 Members | $445 Non-Members

Become a seasoned Veterinarian at the “Virginia Aquarium School of Stuffed Animal Sciences!” This camp is perfect for kids who love animals, enjoy role-playing activities, and have always wondered how the animals at the Virginia Aquarium are cared for. There will even be opportunities to meet some live animals and chat with members of our animal care staff and vet team!

4th-6th Grade Camps

June 26-28 | 9:00am-4:00pm

August 5-7 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$250 Members | $290 Non-Members

Adventure to different coastlines in Hampton Roads and use everything but a fishing pole to see what lives in our local waterways. Become an expert on local fish and invertebrates. Fine-tune your marine biology knowledge during daily collection trips and hands-on explorations of marine habitats.

July 15-19 | 9:00am-4:00pm

August 12-16 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$445 Members | $505 Non-Members

Explore the vastness of the Chesapeake Bay with daily trips to our local waterways. Campers will learn all about the past, present, and future of the largest estuary in the United States!

July 29-August 2 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$375 Members | $445 Non-Members

Calling all adventurers! In our W.A.V.E. (Wandering Around Virginia’s Environments) camp we’ll pull out our maps and hit the road to explore the many amazing environments of coastal Virginia. We’ll visit and explore a different location every day! There are so many incredible places to explore in our “backyard”, let’s go!

4th-9th Grade Camps

June 24-25 | 9:00am-4:00pm

August 8-9 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$250 Members | $290 Non-Members

Learn to fish (or show off your fishing skills!) on the shores of Virginia Beach! During this two-day camp we’ll learn about fishing techniques, hone your child’s fish ID skills, and even take a boat trip out to fish in the Atlantic Ocean! (Campers are required to bring their personal fishing pole for this camp.)

Teen Camps

June 27-28 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$200 Members | $240 Non-Members

What’s it like working at an aquarium in the field of Marine Biology? In this engaging two-day camp, your teen will get a chance to observe the daily routine of our animal care staff and meet some amazing professionals in this growing field. This camp is perfect for a teen who is thinking about a career in the Marine Sciences or is simply curious about how locations like the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center operate.

July 8-12 | 9:00am-4:00pm

July 22-26 | 9:00am-4:00pm

$445 Members | $505 Non-Members

Back by popular demand! Take a deep dive into aquatic environments with interactive experiences both at the Aquarium and beyond! In this weeklong camp we’ll explore topics including fish ID, ecosystem health, and water quality. This camp is exciting and very engaging with hands on learning including saining for fish and invertebrates, kayaking, behind the scenes tours, and more!

Want The Member Discount?

All of our camps offer a reduced rate for Virginia Aquarium Members. Join today to enjoy this and many other perks!

AMMPA Logo
AZA Accredited Logo
WAZA Logo