Looking Ahead to Summer 2023: Registration Opens for Penn Museum Anthropology Camp

PHILADELPHIA—Making archaeology and anthropology accessible to all, the Penn Museum is offering a limited number of need-based, full-tuition scholarships for adventure-seekers ages 6-13 who live in Philadelphia to learn more about cultures around the world at Penn Museum Anthropology Camp, which begins June 26, 2023.

Summer camp registration will open February 1, 2023.

“Here, in a safe, summer camp environment, children discover ‘the story of us’ as humans, but they can also find new friends and challenge themselves to think differently,” says Allison Krisch, Summer Camp Director. “Safety is our top priority, and as protocols change, camp guidelines will adapt to maintain our standards of excellence.”

Tailored for children entering grades 1-8 in the 2023-2024 school year, summer camp at the Penn Museum features hands-on workshops, educational talks with experts, and immersive gallery exploration. The weekly curriculum engages curious young minds with diverse themes:

Creating the World: June 26-30 (Week 1) and August 7-11 (Week 7)
Campers will uncover the power of their own voices while exploring origin stories—drafting their own creation myths and painting a meaningful story on a scroll.

Furry Friends, Savage Beasts: July 3-7 (Week 2) and August 14-18 (Week 8)
Loyal companions throughout history, animals can be found in most of the Museum’s galleries. This week is dedicated to understanding why cats were revered in Ancient Egypt. and includes fascinating tales of larger-than-life creatures.

Designing the Museum: July 10-14 (Week 3)
Campers will have a chance to learn about today’s exciting museum careers, as they practice real-world responsibilities across the Museum: describing artifacts on labels, repairing broken ceramic vessels, and creating an exhibit.

Celebrations Around the World: July 17-21 (Week 4)
Exploring music, dance, and storytelling, campers will examine seasonal and religious festivals, participate in a dance workshop, and make their own instruments.

Engineering the Mediterranean: July 24-28 (Week 5)
Campers will zoom in on the architecture of Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia by designing a city and building a model Colosseum.

Cracking the Code: July 31-August 4 (Week 6)
Diving into the markings used in early written languages, campers will make a cuneiform tablet, design an Egyptian cartouche, and create their own secret code.

Additional information
Campers and counselors will be required to present proof of vaccination for COVID-19.

Scholarships
To request a need-based scholarship application, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The deadline to submit all full and partial scholarship applications is April 15, 2023.

Costs
An early registration discount is available for families who register before March 15, 2023. With the discount, the cost for camp tuition per week is $350. For Penn Museum members, the tuition is $320 per week.

After March 15, the cost per week is $370. For Museum members, the cost is $340.

Pre-camp and after-camp care services are available for an additional expense.