Summer Camp

Overview

Summer Camp at Golden History Museum & Park is a day camp for kids aged 6–12. Tucked against the foothills, just seconds from downtown Golden, Summer Camp at GHM&P is wildly popular for families in Golden, Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and the entire western metro-Denver area.

Camp is offered for eight weeks using a flexible half-day format, operating Monday through Friday. Most families create full-day schedules by selecting both a morning and afternoon theme. Full-day schedules operate from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Extended care (early and/or late) options are also available. The very popular Silent Stars theme is only offered as a full day.

Summer Camp 2026

Registration will open to current museum members on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Members will receive a direct email to register, and museum staff will confirm membership at time of registration.

Registration will open to the public on this webpage on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Summer Camp sells out quickly, with many options filling within the members-only registration period. Pro tip: We recommend becoming a member and registering early for best results. (Once the members-only registration period is over, you can also add a household museum membership at the time of camp registration.)

Pricing (per week)

Become a member for the best rates and early access!

Member: half-day $195, full-day $390

Non-member: half-day $220, full-day $440

*Member prices require a current Household membership ($95) or higher.

GHM&P utilizes ACTIVE Class & Camp Manager software for summer registration. ACTIVE Refund is an optional insurance program offered by ACTIVE and not Golden History Museum & Park. We are not able to remove ACTIVE Refund from purchases. Customers would have to contact Support@Active.com for assistance with removing this if it is accidentally purchased.

Camp Waitlists

Once a camp has reached capacity, parents will still have the option to register their child for the waitlist. There is no fee for remaining on the waitlist. Waitlist spots are filled when there is a cancellation for camp.

Parent Packet

Parent Packet coming soon!

Camp Themes

You asked. We listened. Fresh for summer 2026 we will have new themes for ages 6-8! (Don’t worry, all our well-loved themes will be back in 2027 and hopefully a new theme for ages 9-12 too!)

Unique themes are provided for ages 6-8 and 9-12. Activities take place at the Golden History Park and the Golden History Museum and allow campers to explore history, science, art and more through a variety of hands-on activities and games. Pro tip: Make sure you know what weeks and what themes (morning and afternoon) you want BEFORE registration opens. We also recommend coordinating with friend groups in advance if you want kids to attend the same week.

Read the complete theme descriptions here.

Camp Dates

All sessions are scheduled for Monday through Friday. All camp sessions, except for Silent Stars, are offered in a half day format from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. with a supervised lunch break between sessions. Remember to book a morning and afternoon program when registering if you need full-day care.

June 1 – 5

• Ages 6-8: Critter Investigations and The Art Lab
• Ages 9-12: Frontier Explorers Science & Engineering and Home & Hearth

June 8 – 12

• Ages 6-8: Messy Makers and History Mystery
• Ages 9-12: Silent Stars

June 15 – 19

• Ages 6-8: Critter Investigations and The Art Lab
• Ages 9-12: Frontier Explorers Science & Engineering and Home & Hearth

June 22 – 26

• Ages 6-8: Messy Makers and History Mystery
• Ages 9-12: Silent Stars

June 29 – July 3: Break Week

July 6 – 10

• Ages 6-8: Critter Investigations and The Art Lab
• Ages 9-12: Frontier Explorers Science & Engineering and Home & Hearth

July 13 – 17

• Ages 6-8: Messy Makers and History Mystery
• Ages 9-12: Silent Stars

July 20 – 24

• Ages 6-8: Critter Investigations and The Art Lab
• Ages 9-12: Frontier Explorers Science & Engineering and Home & Hearth

July 27 – July 31

• Ages 6-8: Messy Makers and History Mystery
• Ages 9-12: Silent Stars

Location

The primary drop-off and pick-up location for summer camp is the Golden History Museum (923 10th St., Golden, CO 80401).

Most activities will take place at the Golden History Park (1020 11th St., Golden, CO 80401) across the creek utilizing our historic structures.

Daily Schedule and Drop-off Times

• Morning drop-off: 8:45 a.m. – 9 a.m.
  (Campers leave the museum promptly at 9 a.m. to go to the History Park.)
• Lunch break 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
  (All campers will each lunch together at the same time and then play a group game, supervised by camp staff. No need to pick up in-between!)
• Pick-up for AM-only campers: 12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• Drop-off for PM-only campers: 12:45 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• Evening pick-up: 4 p.m. – 4:15 pm

Extended Care Options

• Early Drop-off (8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.) $35/ week or $10/ day
• Extended Pick-up (4:15 p.m.– 5 p.m.) $35/ week or $10/ day
• Both (8 a.m.– 8:45 a.m. & 4:15 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.) $55/ week

Supervision and Ratios

Campers will be supervised at all times by museum staff. There is an average ratio of one teacher for every 12 campers.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

• All cancellation requests received before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, will receive a full refund minus a $25 processing fee.
• A 50% refund will be given for cancellation requests made between Saturday, May 2, 2026, and two weeks prior to the start of a registered session.
• No refund will be given for cancellation requests made within the two weeks prior to the start of a registered session.
• If for any reason Golden History Museum & Park cancels a camp session, campers will receive a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another session if space is available.

Member Discounts

To receive the member price you must have a current Household level (or higher) membership. If you’re not sure about your membership status, please call 303-278-3557.

Youth Volunteers

Golden History Museum & Park accepts a limited number of Volunteer Junior Summer Camp Aides each summer. Camp Aides assist and lead a variety of activities under the direction of camp staff. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and make a minimum commitment of two weeks of camp, which runs Monday through Friday from June 1 – July 31, 2026. Half-day or full-day camp schedules are available. Full-day History Camp Aide hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Applications will be posted in February 2026. Email Jesse Gagnon to be put on the waitlist when applications open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I drop off and pick up my children?

All drop-offs and pick-ups happen at Golden History Museum at 923 10th St, Golden, CO 80401. This provides a clear meeting location with close parking. Most activities will take place across the creek at the History Park.

What if I need to drop off my child late or pick them up early?

Please make sure that you talk to the camp administrator in advance if you need a different drop-off or pick-up time. The museum is not always open to the public during camp hours, so please let us know in advance so that we can meet you.

What does my child need to bring to camp?

We ask that all campers bring a water bottle, lunch, two snacks, and their own sunscreen in their own backpack to camp every day. A hat and sun shirt are also great. Many camp activities take place outside. Please make sure that children are prepared for the weather, such as raincoats when afternoon showers are expected. Please do not allow children to bring personal toys to camp.

What are the hours of camp?

Camp sessions are from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. with a supervised lunch break from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. Students can arrive as early at 8:45 a.m. for morning drop-off and stay as late as 4:15  p.m. for afternoon pick-up. All campers eat lunch together from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and are supervised by camp staff. If you need an earlier drop-off time or a later pick-up time, considering signing up for one of our extended care options.

What kind of communication can I expect during camp?

• Parent Orientation: We host a virtual Parent Orientation each May to give parents all the information they need for camp. This presentation will be emailed to families after the event.
• Thursdays: Weekly camp email for the upcoming week. This will have any updates and need to know information so that your child has a successful week at camp.
• Wednesday: On Silent Stars weeks, camp families will receive an invitation to our Silent Stars premiere (scheduled for Fridays at 3 p.m.; space is limited; immediate family only, please.) Silent Star movies will be uploaded to our YouTube channel within a week of camp.
• Friday: Thank you and survey. We always want your feedback, and these surveys help us make decisions for the next year of camp.

My child participated in one of your camp themes last year. Will there be new activities this year?

We will have new themes for our campers ages 6-8 for 2026. We plan to release a new theme to replace Frontier Explorers in 2027. Don’t worry, our 2025 themes, Pioneer Kids, Art Explorers, Dirty Jobs and History Mystery the Case of the Stolen Jolly Rancher Recipe, will be back in 2027.

Frontier Explorers: If your child attended Frontier Explorers camp in 2025, the activities will be similar in 2026.

How do you handle allergies?

We are a nut-free camp and ask that all our campers bring nut-free snacks and lunches to camp to help protect our campers and staff that have allergies. We conduct a number of food activities in each of our camps. A food- and ingredient-list is included in our weekly welcome email to families. Please make sure that staff know of any allergies your child may have. There are often simple substitutions that we can make so that your child can still participate.