Learn More & Sign Up

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is committed to helping every camper find their niche and blossom at Camp. We design activities that emphasize exploring nature and experiencing the outdoors in a safe, inclusive, and child-centered environment. Each camp is led by two of our highly trained and award-winning educators and supported by two high school Naturalists in Training interns who teach as they learn. Each week has a special theme where additional staff and educators bring specialized expertise and to working with campers outside on adventures and in cozy museum spaces. Campers try new things and learn about nature as they grow friendships with their fellow kids. Games, activities, science experiments, field trips, and projects build campers’ confidence as part of a team.

Many of our campers have been with us for several years. As they grow into Pinecone Camp, they are ready for some special adventures we reserve just for them! These 3rd –5th grade camps have a stronger focus on science, exploration, and observation. We use naturalist and scientific tools to learn more about nature, invite experts to share their knowledge, and do experiments and projects that are larger in scope and camper-directed. Field science camps will have 2 or 3 full days at a field site away from the Museum. On July 17th, anyone who has attended any Pinecone Camp this summer is invited to bring 1 adult to a Night at the Museum Camp Out! We will have dinner, a special sneak peek at the Museum’s collection, solve a Night at the Museum mystery, have an outdoor movie in our sleeping bags, and then sleep under the buckeye tree or in the bird gallery. 

Museum Family Members & Above: $410/week
General: $460/week
Special Pinecone overnight: $100

All camps will run from 9am-3pm
Lunch care will be provided but lunches must be brought from home
Pinecone Campers have the option of joining us for an extra sleepover night at the Museum!

Registration for Family Members and above begins at 9:00am on Friday, February 13, 2026
Registration opens for the public at 9:00am on Friday, February 27, 2026

Many of these camps do sell out so we encourage early signup.
If you’re interested in joining, renewing, or upgrading your membership you can do so by clicking here

Join us for a FREE Camp Preview Day on April 11 from 10:00 - 11:30. Learn more and register here.

8:50 Arrival – Campers put away their backpacks, wash hands, and join the table-group activity 

9:00 Opening Circle – The day begins with a game and discussion of the Plan of the Day 

9:20 1st Activity – We often explore the Museum before opening or start an experiment or a project to follow all day 

10:15 Snack Time – Acorns and Pinecones join together to have snack on the Museum patio and have a choice of activities such as listening to a story, building a cup castle, or working with a partner to complete a garden scavenger hunt 

11:00 2nd Activity – We explore the topic of the camp through games, activities, experiments, and projects. We use Museum exhibits and collections to deepen the experience and emphasize hands-on and experiential learning in the Museum garden and nearby environments. 

12:00 Lunch Bunch! - After everyone has a chance to eat their lunch, educators and NITs have several tools available in Jewell Park for camper-directed play. Some campers might organize a game of sharks and minnows while others build a fort or pretend they are animal trainers at a zoo.  

1:00 Quiet Activity – The group re-focuses during quiet time by working on a week-long project, nature journaling, listening to a story, or other quiet activity. 

1:30 3rd Activity – Each camp will go on a field trip at least 2x during the week. Favorite destinations include Lovers Point, Greenwood Park, Berwick Point, and for the most adventurous Pinecone camps – George Washington Park.  

2:30 Closing Circle – The day ends with a game and reflection on what we did. Camp leaders might reveal the answer to a mystery the campers were working on or lead the campers in planning a project or outing. We preview the next day’s plan and clean up camp. 

3:00 Pick up – As families arrive, we say goodbye to our new friends.