Spring Vacation & Summer Camps

Learning doesn't stop just because school is out ... that's when FUN learning begins!

The Maritime Aquarium offers educational programs each year during the spring break week of most local school districts and also through the summer. The age-appropriate hands-on activities engage students in ways that demonstrate how exploring our world can be fun and exciting.

Registration is Now Open!

Policies

Financial Assistance

We believe every child should have an opportunity to participate in our summer camp programs. We have limited funds to supply partial scholarships for children to attend 1 session per spring or summer camp season. Please note, full scholarships are not available. To apply, submit a completed financial assistance application by email to campdirector@maritimeaquarium.org.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Spring (April) Cancellation/Refund Policy: Refunds will be issued (minus a $25 processing fee) if notice of cancellation is received by April 5, 2019. No refunds for cancellations will be issued after April 5, 2019.
Summer (June – August) Cancellation/Refund Policy: Refunds will be issued (minus a $50 processing fee) if notice of cancellation is received more than 4 weeks in advance of the session start date. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received within 4 weeks of the start date.

Pre-Care & Extended Care

For most camp weeks, we also offer pre-care and extended care. These relaxed informal sessions include enrichment science activities, games, crafts, exhibits and more. Pre-care is available for 4- & 5-year-old camp programs (extended care is not available for this age group.) To sign up, you must reserve these separately when you reserve your camp program(s).

pre-care (8:30-9:30 a.m. except where noted)

1-week camps: $65/$85

2-week camps: $130/$170

Surf & Turf: $65/$85 (held at the Aquarium on Mon., Wed. & Friday and Stepping Stones on Tues. & Thurs.)

extended care (4-5:30 p.m. except where noted)

1-week camps: $150/$170

2-week camps: $300/$340

Teen Apprentice: $700 (for all 3 weeks)

Surf & Turf: $150/$170 (held at the Aquarium on Mon., Wed. & Friday and Stepping Stones on Tues. & Thurs.)

Programs

To participate, your child must be the listed age by the first day of the program. Pre-registration is required (no same-day registration allowed.) With the exception of the Costa Rica trip, enrollment closes 10 days prior to each session's start date.

Registration and forms are all done through Camp Docs. Register early to take advantage of our payment plan options!

Tide Pool Tots

1-week session: July 29-Aug. 2

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

$350/$300 Aquarium Members

This is a drop-off program. Each day, we will read an entertaining story about a different ocean animal; create puppet, mask or headband crafts; play a game; and visit an Aquarium exhibit. Plus, appearances by special live animals on select days. 20 camper max. Child must be potty-trained to enroll. Extended care is not available.

Ocean Mammals

1-week session: Aug. 12-16

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

$350/$300 Aquarium Members

This is a drop-off program. Seals, otters and whales are among the stars in this week of marine fun! Youngsters will gain a new appreciation for the Aquarium’s highest-profile residents through stories, a visit with a mammal trainer, watching a seal-training demonstration, and participating in hands-on activities, games, and crafts. 20 camper max. Child must be potty-trained to enroll. Extended care is not available.

Secret Worlds

Single Days: April 15 or June 17

1-Week Session: Aug. 5-9

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 aquarium members (single day) or $500/$450 (1-week)

NOTE: Single day session is a preview for the immersive 1-week experience.

Campers will meet the macaws, tortoises, porcupine, monkeys and other fascinating animals in the Aquarium’s “Just Add Water” exhibit, as they also learn about the desert, grassland, temperate-forest and rain-forest habitats represented. Plus, campers will explore a local beach, and get a whole new perspective on local wildlife through the spectacular IMAX movie, “Backyard Wilderness.” 30 camper max.

Ocean Explorers

Single Days: April 16 or June 18

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 Aquarium Members

This memorable week is like a Maritime Aquarium “greatest hits” camp experience. Campers will examine Long Island Sound animals at a local beach and during a cruise aboard the Aquarium’s research vessel. They’ll take on a classroom “build” project; go behind the scenes to learn about our excellent marine-animal care; and find inspiration in becoming a citizen scientist. 30 camper max.

Jr. Aquarist

Single Day: April 17 or June 19

2-week session: July 8-19 or Aug. 12-23

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 Aquarium Members (single day) or $1,000/$950 (2-week)

NOTE: single-day session is a preview for the immersive 2-week experience.

This inspiring program lets campers participate in the care of animals such as sea stars, crabs and turtles to demonstrate how the Aquarium provides top-flight animal husbandry. Campers will meet a mammal trainer, attend a private seal-training demonstration, and make animal “enrichment” items. Other highlights examining animals at a local beach and visiting Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for their perspective on animal care. 25 camper max. In the 2-week sessions, special 8 a.m. drop-off time on second Wednesday for zoo trip.

Shark Safari

Single Days: April 18 or June 20

1-week session: July 29-Aug. 2

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 Aquarium Members (single day) or $500/$450 (1 week)

NOTE: Single day session is a preview for the immersive 1-week experience.

It’s our very own version of Shark Week! Campers will go behind the scenes to attend a private feeding of our large sand tiger sharks, and also to meet a team of divers as they prepare to scuba dive among the sharks. Also planned: hand-feeding the stingrays in the Shark & Ray Touch Pool; a classroom visit by a live shark; and thrills watching the IMAX movie “Great White Shark” on our six-story screen. Take home a necklace featuring teeth of the Aquarium’s sharks! 30 camper max.

Party for The Planet

Single Days: April 19 or June 21

$100/$90 Aquarium Members

This day is dedicated to the health of the environment we all share and depend on. Campers will dabble in the Aquarium’s conservation efforts by testing their frog calls for our “Frog Watch” program and learning what to do if they find a tagged horseshoe crab. An Aquarium tour will inspire creation of a marine food web to help understand how everything is connected. Campers also will explore how water pollution and climate change affects coastal ecosystems, and finish the day by making their own reusable water container to take home.

Surf and Turf

1-week session: June 24-28 or July 22-26

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$500/$450 Aquarium Members

This special program combines the resources of two Norwalk institutions into one week of fun. Programs (including pre- and extended care) will take place at The Maritime Aquarium (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) and Stepping Stones Museum for Children (Tuesday & Thursday). Activities include: interactive discoveries about water, energy and habitats; exploring exhibits; meeting live animals; building a take-home project; and attending an IMAX movie.

Ocean Explorers

Single Das: Tues., June 18

1-week session: June 24-28 or July 22-26

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 Aquarium Members (single days) or $500/$450 (1-week)

NOTE: Single day session is a preview for the immersive 2-week experience.

Secret Worlds

Single Day: June 17

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 aquarium members

Jr. Marine Biologist

Single day: Wed., June 19

2-week session: July 29-Aug. 9

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 Aquarium members (single day) or $1,000/$950 (2-week)

NOTE: single-day session is a preview for the immersive 2-week experience.

Through this in-depth program, campers will get an understanding of how and why marine biologists work in the lab and in the field. In the lab, they’ll set up, stock and maintain an aquarium, providing daily care for their animals and using probes to monitor water quality. For field work, they’ll record biodiversity data at a local beach and also collect biological samples during an outing aboard the Aquarium’s research vessel. Then they’ll design and carry out a scientific investigation on the behavior or physiology of an Aquarium animal of their choice. Open house for parents on last Friday at 3:30 p.m. 25 camper max. In the 2-week session, special 8:45 a.m. drop-off time on Tues., Aug. 6 for cruise.

Shark Safari

Single Day: June 20

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$100/$90 aquarium members

Party for The Planet

Single Day: June 21

$100/$90 Aquarium Members

Ocean Discovery Team

2-week session: July 8-19 or Aug. 12-23

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

$1,100/$1,050 Aquarium Members

This unique session combines marine research and engineering to help campers understand how we study the oceans and confront its challenges. They’ll learn about the science projects the Aquarium is conducting, and go out on the Aquarium’s research vessel to help collect biological, chemical and environmental data of Long Island Sound. In the classroom, they’ll analyze their data to understand changes occurring in the Sound. On the engineering side, they will design and test plankton nets, and take turns operating the Aquarium’s underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 25 camper max. During each session, special 8:45 a.m. drop-off time on both Tuesdays and on first Thursday for cruises.

Teen Apprentice

3-week session: July 8-26 or August 5-23

8 a.m.-2 p.m.

$1,600/$1,500 for Aquarium Members

This extremely popular behind-the-scenes experience provides a small group of teens with hands-on opportunities to understand the operations that keep our animals thriving. Apprentices work side-by-side with aquarists and educators to: feed our large sharks, rays, fish, and turtles; monitor the behavior of key animals; create animal enrichments; and perform daily maintenance tasks for select exhibits. They will participate in research aboard the Aquarium’s research vessel and at a local beach. Limited to 14 participants. Parent open house on the last day at 2 p.m. Pre-care is not available.

Expedition Costa Rica

July 31–August 8

Sea turtles, monkeys, toucans and sloths! After last summer’s teen expedition to Alaska, this year we’re heading south, to one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. We’ll start off at Tortuguero National Park, the most important nesting site in the western Caribbean for the endangered green sea turtle. By day we’ll travel in boats along winding canals to spot spider monkeys, crocodiles, and three-toed sloths. In the company of an expert local guide, we’ll also take nightly beach walks in search of nesting turtles, which lay their eggs from June through October. Next, we’ll head inland to the magnificent tropical rainforest of the Sarapiqui Valley. Highlights that follow will include zip-lining through the rainforest canopy, whitewater rafting and, finally, a visit to Toucan Rescue Ranch to learn about its work rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals such as macaws, kinkajous, owls and, of course, toucans!

To learn more about this amazing trip, please join us for an information session at the Aquarium: February 13, 6-7 p.m.

Parent Resources

Parent Information Pack

Behavior Policy

Health Exam Form

Admin of Meds Form

As a Connecticut State-certified camp, we require health exam forms for every camper. Campers bringing medications (inhalers, epi-pens,etc) require an authorization of medication form for each medication. All forms must be submitted through Camp Docs.

Questions?

Call our Camp Director at 203-852-0700, ext. 1201, or e-mail: campdirector@maritimeaquarium.org