Registration now open for 2025 summer camps!
The Virginia Aquarium is excited to host summer day camps for eager explorers. All camps offer a safe and unique experience for campers to connect with science and nature. Camps are offered for children ages 4 to 15, and must meet the specified age requirement by the time a camp begins. Birth certificates required for children age 4.
If your preferred camp is sold out, send us an email to be added to the waitlist! Please include your name, your camper's name, the camp program name and date, and your phone number.
Why don’t we see polar bears in Virginia? Where do the whales go over the summer? In this nature-inspired camp, we learn all about the different habitats found around the world, how they are important, and what we can do to protect them.
July 7-9 | July 23-25 | August 20-22
9:00am-1:00pm
Non-Member: $190
Member: $150
Become an honorary veterinarian at the “Virginia Aquarium School of Stuffed Animal Sciences.” We’ll use our imaginations to be veterinarians through play, fun activities, and crafts. Meet some of the Aquarium staff who care for the animals and get a close look at some of our animal ambassadors.
June 23-27 | July 28-August 1 | August 11-15
9:00am-1:00pm
Non-Member: $260
Member: $220
What types of animals live in our neighborhood? Discover the creatures that make Virginia Beach their home by hiking our Nature Trail, creating habitats, and exploring the shoreline of Owls Creek. During this camp, learn about the animals that live here at the Aquarium and all over Virginia.
July 10-11 | August 18-19
9:00am-1:00pm
Non-Member: $140
Member: $100
Campers will combine their love of art with the science of color in this creative STEAM camp. Learn where colors come from, how to make a rainbow through optical physics, and the chemistry of tie dye.
June 30-July 2 | July 14-16
9:00am-1:00pm
Non-Member: $190
Member: $150
Play and investigate water through science experiments and activities. Discover what’s living in water and why water is so important for living things as you explore Aquarium habitats, Owls Creek, and our Watershed Play Area.
June 26-27 | July 28-29
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $180
Member: $140
Think like a scientist at this 3-day camp where you’ll conduct your own creative science experiments to try to prove your hypothesis. Embrace trial and error and learn about how things act and react through fun, engaging science activities.
July 14-16 | August 11-13
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $270
Member: $230
Become an honorary veterinarian at the “Virginia Aquarium School of Stuffed Animal Sciences.” This camp is perfect for kids who love animals, enjoy role-playing activities, and have always wondered how the animals at the Virginia Aquarium are cared for. There will even be opportunities to meet some live animals and chat with members of our animal care staff and vet team!
June 30-July 2 | July 21-23 | August 4-6
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $270
Member: $230
Animals live all around us! In this camp, we will learn how to find animals in a variety of habitats as we explore Owls Creek and its surrounding habitats. Collect crabs in the salt marsh, learn who lives on a piling, roll logs, search for birds, insects, and other signs of wildlife in the maritime forest.
June 23-25 | July 30-August 1
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $270
Member: $230
Calling all adventurers! In our W.A.V.E. (Wandering Around Virginia’s Environments) camp we’ll pull out our maps and hit the road to explore the many amazing natural environments of coastal Virginia. We’ll visit a different location every day. There are so many incredible places to explore in our “backyard,” let’s go!
July 14-18
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $430
Member: $390
Adventure to different Hampton Roads coastlines and use everything but a fishing pole to see what lives in our local waterways. Become an expert on local fish and invertebrates. Fine-tune your marine biology knowledge during daily collection trips and hands-on explorations of marine habitats.
June 30-July 2 | August 18-20
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $270
Member: $230
Explore the vastness of the Chesapeake Bay with daily trips to our local waterways. Campers will learn all about the past, present, and future of the largest estuary in the United States!
July 21-25 | August 4-8
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $500
Member: $460
Learn to fish (or fine tune your skills) on the Virginia shoreline! During this two-day camp, we’ll learn fishing techniques, identify fish, and explore some of the most active fishing spots in the area.
June 23-24 | July 7-8
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $300
Member: $260
Experience what it is like to work in marine biology at the Aquarium! In this engaging two-day camp, your teen will get a chance to observe the daily routine of our animal care staff and meet some amazing professionals in this growing field. This camp is perfect for teens who are thinking about a career in marine science or curious how the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center operates.
June 26-27
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $260
Member: $220
Back by popular demand! Take a deep dive into aquatic environments with interactive experiences both at the Aquarium and beyond! In this weeklong camp, we’ll explore topics including fish identification, ecosystem health, and water quality. This camp is exciting and engaging with hands-on learning including saining for fish and invertebrates, kayaking, behind the scenes tours, and more!
July 7-11 | August 11-15
9:00am-4:00pm
Non-Member: $500
Member: $460
Become a Member
All of our camps offer a reduced rate for Virginia Aquarium Members. Join today to enjoy this and many other perks!
About MembershipContact our School & Youth Programs Coordinator at (757) 385-0278 or via email for information about camps and registration. If a camp is sold out, we can place you on a waitlist.
