Imagination Station Spring Camp 2026
March 16 – 20
March 23 – 27
For Children in Grades K-3
Morning, Afternoon, or All Day
Morning Session: 9 am – noon
Afternoon Session: 1 – 4 pm
Weekly Rates:
Half Day
Members – $145
Non-Members – $165
Full Day
Members – $230
Non-Members – $260
Registration Fee
A $50 non-refundable registration fee is required for each child at the time of registration. This is a one-time fee. It is in addition to the camp fee and covers administrative costs.
Full payment is due at registration. We are currently unable to offer camp scholarships.
Cancellation Policy
Camp fees are fully refundable if cancellation is requested at least two weeks before the start of camp, excluding the $50 non-refundable registration fee. Cancellations made less than two weeks before a camp begins are not eligible for a refund.
Spaces are limited so don’t delay. For questions, please call (865) 482-1074 or email jordonez@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
Week One: March 16 – 20
STEAM Toy Lab, 9 am-noon
Get ready to discover the science and design behind your favorite toys! In this hands-on STEAM camp, campers will explore how everyday playthings work by imagining, building, testing, and improving their own toy creations. From spinning tops and marble runs to mini catapults and simple robots, campers will combine engineering, art, and experimentation to investigate motion, balance, sound, and creative design.
Monet’s Magical Garden, 1-4 pm
Inspired by Claude Monet, campers will explore color, light, and nature through hands-on art and STEAM activities. Children will experiment with painting techniques, color mixing, and science concepts like light, reflection, and patterns found in nature. Through creative projects and playful exploration, campers will learn to observe the world like Monet.
Week Two: March 23 – 27
STEAM into Spring, 9 am-noon
Celebrate the first days of spring with us! Campers will create art, fly kites, explore weather phenomena, and investigate plants and animals in the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens. Through experiments and creative projects, campers will discover the science, engineering, and patterns all around them in spring.
Garden to Table: Spring Edition, 1-4 pm
Spring brings the first signs of life as days grow longer, and gardens begin to wake up. In this hands-on cooking camp, young chefs will prepare fresh, good-for-you treats inspired by spring flavors using herbs, berries, and vegetables. Campers will also explore how plants grow, start seeds indoors, prepare a garden bed in the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens, and learn how food connects from garden to table.
For questions, call (865) 482-1074 and leave a message or email jordonez@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
Imagination Station Summer Camp 2026
June 8 – July 24
For Children Rising into Grades K-5
Morning, Afternoon, or All Day
An exciting learning experience awaits your child or grandchild at CMOR’s Summer Camp. Themes this year include America 250, STEAM, art, world cultures, cooking, gardening, and more!
Weekly Rates:
Half Day
Members – $145
Non-Members – $165
Full Day*
Members – $230
Non-Members – $260
Registration Fee
A $50 non-refundable registration fee is required for each child at the time of registration. This is a one-time fee for the entire summer. It is in addition to the camp fee and covers administrative costs.
Discounts
Families who register their child for full-day camp for all eight weeks will receive a $100 discount off the total camp fee. This discount applies only to full-day registrations for all eight weeks per child.
*Save money when you register your child for two half-day camps in the same week. Discount rate applies to a single child registered for morning and afternoon camp, or 2 siblings registered for camp during the same week.
Full payment is due at registration.
Cancellation Policy
Camp fees are fully refundable if cancellation is requested at least two weeks before the start of camp, excluding the $50 non-refundable registration fee. Cancellations made less than two weeks before a camp begins are not eligible for a refund.
Rising Grades K-2
Garden Sprouts June 8-12, 9 am-noon
Dig in and get growing! Campers will explore the different parts of a plant, discover what plants need to thrive, and learn how to care for their own garden. We’ll investigate the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens, plant seeds, and get our hands dirty with hands-on activities. Each camper will take home their very own plant to nurture and grow.
Fairytale STEAM June 8-12, 1-4 pm
Join us for an exciting adventure through the world of fairy tales. Campers will build a bed for Goldilocks, turn the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, help Little Red Riding Hood escape the Big Bad Wolf, prove to Henny Penny that the sky is not falling, and bake their own Gingerbread Man. Get ready for a week where stories leap off the page, and imagination rules the kingdom!
Mixed Media Mash-up June 15-19, 9 am-noon
Why use just one art supply when you can use them all? In this camp, young artists will experiment with paint, paper, chalk, pastels, markers, and more to create layered masterpieces. Campers will explore different techniques like collage, resist art, and printmaking as they mix materials in fun and surprising ways. Come, let your imagination lead the way!
Dino Discovery June 15-19, 1-4 pm
Step back in time! Campers will dig for fossils, create erupting volcanoes, and uncover clues about how these incredible creatures lived and disappeared. Through hands-on experiments and creative design challenges, young paleontologists will explore habitats, adaptations, and prehistoric mysteries. Get ready for a week packed with science, discovery, and dino-sized fun.
Jedi Academy June 22-26, 9 am-noon
Do you have what it takes to become a Jedi? Campers will test their skills as they learn the Jedi Code, play Boba Fett hunt-and-seek, and practice lightsaber training drills. Along the way, we will make our own Grogus, paint Jawas, catapult Ewoks, and learn how to defy gravity. Have makings of Jedi, do you?
Fiber Fun Factory June 22-26, 1-4 pm
Get ready to twist, tie, weave, and create! In this hands-on art camp, young artists will explore the colorful world of fiber and fabric. Campers will paint on cloth, experiment with yarn and string, try simple weaving projects, and discover how everyday materials can become beautiful works of art. Campers will design soft, colorful creations they’ll be proud to show off.
United Tastes of America June 29-July 3, 9 am-noon
Celebrate America 250 one delicious bite at a time! In this cooking camp, campers will explore flavors from different regions of the United States while learning simple kitchen skills. Young chefs will mix, measure, and create recipes inspired by the diverse cultures and traditions that shape American cuisine. It’s a week full of tasty discoveries, teamwork, and red, white, and yum.
Red, White, Create June 29-July 3, 1-4 pm
Get ready to celebrate America 250 with art, color, and creativity. Campers will explore American symbols, landmarks, and traditions as they paint, design, and build their own patriotic masterpieces. Young artists will discover how art helps tell the story of who we are. It’s a week full of creativity, celebration, and red, white, and blue fun!
Poké Pals Clubhouse July 6-10, 9 am-noon
Welcome to a world of pocket-sized monsters and big imaginations! Through art projects, simple experiments, games, and creative storytelling, young trainers will build problem-solving skills while learning about real-world habitats and animal adaptations. It’s a week full of imagination, exploration, and playful discovery.
Space is the Place July 6-10, 1-4 pm
Have a stellar time of space-themed STEAM as you explore the solar system. Create constellation art, mix up galaxy jars, try astronaut food, explore planets, and discover how the moon’s craters were made. 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!
A Pirate’s Life for Me July 13-17, 9 am-noon
Climb aboard and prepare for adventure! Campers will dive into the science of the sea as they design pirate ships, explore ocean habitats, practice navigation and map skills, and hunt for hidden treasure. Young explorers will learn how sailors survived the high seas while discovering the wonders of the world’s oceans.
Asian Adventures July 13-17, 1-4 pm
Travel across the world’s largest continent as you explore the art, animals, traditions, and stories of different Asian cultures. Create art, discover unique wildlife and habitats, listen to traditional music, and explore celebrations and customs from several countries. Come gain an appreciation for the people and cultures that make Asia so extraordinary.
Pouch Power! July 20-24, 9 am-noon
Why do some animals carry their babies in pouches? Campers will investigate habitats and animal adaptations as they explore the amazing world of marsupials. Campers will test how far kangaroos can leap, compare ecosystems from Australia to the Americas, and design their own creature built for survival. It’s a week of animal science, movement challenges, and wild creativity.
Upcycled Art July 20-24, 1-4 pm
Turn everyday materials into extraordinary masterpieces! In this camp, young artists will discover how to transform cardboard, fabric scraps, bottle caps, and other recycled materials into colorful sculptures, textured collages, and imaginative creations. One person’s trash can truly become treasure!
Rising Grades 3-5
Full STEAM Ahead June 8-12, 9 am-noon
All aboard for a week of engineering on the rails! In this hands-on STEAM camp, campers will explore how trains transformed transportation, industry, and communities across America. Students will investigate how steam engines work, experiment with forces like friction and magnetism, design model rail systems, and tackle real-world engineering challenges inspired by modern railways.
CSI: Museum Edition June 8-12, 1-4 pm
In this forensics camp, campers will learn to analyze fingerprints, bloodstain patterns, DNA evidence, hair, fibers, and other types of crime-scene evidence, and create a composite sketch of the criminal. Collect the evidence, record the data, conduct the tests, and solve the case!
Kids in Action Garden Club June 15-19, 9 am-noon
Get ready to get your hands dirty! Prepare and plant a garden bed while learning about soil composition, pH, and the nutrients plants need to thrive. Campers will explore the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens, and earn their Peppy Pepper Garden Club badge.
Art of Storytelling June 15-19, 1-4 pm
Every great story begins with imagination. In this creative camp, campers will craft their own original stories and bring them to life through illustration. By the end of camp, each camper will have a fully illustrated story to share and take home. It’s a week of creativity, writing, and artistic expression.
Mini Masterpieces June 22-26, 9 am-noon
Think small—create big! In this art camp, students will design and construct miniature artworks, including canvas paintings, small sculptures, and immersive dioramas. Campers will explore scale, proportion, and perspective as they carefully craft tiny scenes and objects with precision and creativity. Discover the artistry and challenge behind working in miniature.
Join Us, You Will June 22-26, 1-4 pm
Is the Force calling to you? Let it in! Join us as we defeat the Death Star, rescue Han Solo from Carbonite, train with lightsabers, use the Force to move objects, and blast Stormtroopers. To this camp, invited you are.
Stars, Stripes, and Brush Strokes June 29-July 3, 9 am-noon
Art has long played a role in telling the story of America. In this creative camp, campers will explore American symbols, historic and contemporary artists, and the power of color and imagery in shaping national identity as they create bold, red, white, and blue works of art inspired by America 250. It’s a week of vibrant celebration!
Stars & Sparks: American Innovation June 29-July 3, 1-4 pm
What makes an idea innovative? This hands-on STEAM camp challenges campers to think like inventors and problem-solvers as they explore American ingenuity from the light bulb to space travel and beyond. Students will investigate historic and modern inventions, design solutions to real problems, and build prototypes inspired by groundbreaking innovations. It’s a week of exploration, invention, and big thinking!
Scientific Studio July 6-10, 9 am-noon
Spend the week using science to create art! Campers will create refraction drawings, explore gravity while doing a paint pour, make fingerprint art, discover tessellations, use the sun’s energy to make evaporation art, create art using electricity and magnetism, and more.
Elite Fours Challenge July 6-10, 1-4 pm
Are you ready to test your skills and rise through the ranks? In this action-packed STEAM camp, trainers will explore the science and strategy behind creature battles, habitats, and adaptations as they design their own creature cards, investigate real-world animal abilities, and experiment with elemental science. It’s a week of imagination, experimentation, and next-level training!
Africa Uncovered July 13-17, 9 am-noon
Explore the rich cultures, diverse ecosystems, and amazing innovations of the African continent. Campers will investigate ecosystems from the savanna to the rainforest, discover ancient engineering feats, and create art inspired by African artists and traditions. Campers will gain a deeper understanding of the continent’s history, culture, and scientific contributions.
Cool Chemistry July 13-17, 1-4 pm
Get ready for hands-on chemistry adventures! In this exciting STEAM camp, we will make slime, test the pH of household substances, and watch reactions come to life. Learn how science is all around us in this camp.
Street Art July 20-24, 9 am-noon
Bold colors. Big ideas. Powerful messages. In this dynamic art camp, we will explore the world of street art and murals as we learn how artists use public spaces to express creativity and spark conversation. Through collaborative planning and hands-on creation, campers will design and create their own murals that make a statement.
Creepy Critters July 20-24, 1-4 pm
Get ready to explore the tiny creatures that make a big impact! In this STEAM camp, young scientists will investigate insects, worms, and other invertebrates and discover how these creepy critters survive, adapt, and support ecosystems. Campers will explore the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens for inspiration to create larger-than-life bug sculptures, mixed media art, and habitat dioramas. Campers will combine biology and creativity in a week full of curious discoveries.
Guidelines For a Great Camp Experience
Camp drop-off and pick-up are at the Museum’s Gym Door entrance (on the opposite end of the building from the main entrance). A photo ID is required to sign out your camper.
If your child is attending all day (morning and afternoon camps), they will need to bring lunch. There is a refrigerator and microwave available for camper use. After lunch, we have supervised playtime, so there is no need to pick up your camper until the end of the afternoon session.
A snack break is provided at approximately 10 am and 3 pm daily. Your child will need to bring their snacks and drink. Water will be provided.
| VERY IMPORTANT: Please notify the Education Director of any food allergies, food sensitivities, or health issues so we can properly care for your child. If your child has any special learning or behavioral needs, please contact us BEFORE registering so the Education Director can determine if the camp staff can meet your child’s needs. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your child’s registration. Please let us know if your child uses an EPI-Pen or inhaler. |
At CMOR, bullying is inexcusable, and we have a zero-tolerance policy against all types of bullying. Each camper is expected to treat all other campers respectfully and help each other achieve the best possible experience. If a camper has difficulty meeting this expectation, parents will be called. Repeated incidents may result in dismissal from camp without a refund.
To keep campers safe, we require that they wear closed-toe shoes: no flip-flops, sandals, Crocs, or other shoes that do not stay on.
Campers should wear comfortable clothing and dress for the mess! Wear clothing that is appropriate for painting, dirt, clay, and other messy fun.
Apply sunscreen and bug spray before your camper arrives; they will be outside, weather permitting.
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact Education Director Jessica Ordóñez at jordonez@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org, or call the Museum at (865) 482-1074.
