EXPLORER CAMPS at the Historical Museum

Magic at the Museum

Abracadabra, campers! Put on your magician robes and get those wands ready for a fun-filled journey into the fictional and real worlds of magic. Campers are sorted into houses and make their own house crests; learn about the history and practice of magic; and participate in a variety of magical crafts, activities and sports that will get campers’ imaginations and bodies moving!

History Apprentice: Dirty Jobs!

Campers learn about and experience different jobs that they might have had if they lived in a different time, like blacksmithing, farming, gold panning and leather tooling. Have fun learning new skills with each new “apprenticeship”. Dress for a mess!

History’s Mysteries

An “Anonymous Collector” has donated a seemingly unrelated collection of artifacts to the museum. Who is the mysterious benefactor and what do these objects have in common? Using hidden clues within the artifacts themselves, campers work together to solve the mystery.

Play in the Past

What did kids do for fun before we had modern technology? They “made” their own fun! In this camp, campers participate in a variety of historical games, activities and crafts, from creating their own board games to testing their skill at knot-tying, sack races and threelegged relays.

Secrets of the Museum

Learn about how a museum works through collecting, exhibiting and sharing its knowledge. Become an Arlington Heights history expert and try your hand at becoming a museum curator… and maybe even explore some of the places that are typically off limits to the public!

World Explorers

Get out those passports and prepare for a trip around the globe! Campers “visit” different parts of the world by experiencing historic and modern games and crafts, languages and foods from the countries we explore. We’ll also discover how these cultures have influenced our own community.

For more information about Museum camps, contact Dan Schoeneberg, Museum Administrator, at dschoeneberg@ahpd.org.

Great Outdoors

Campers spend the week outside getting their hands dirty learning to care for the plants and trees around us through storytelling; trail-making; animal, insect and plant identification; and more. Who knows what we’ll find crawling through the soil to help us in our activities!

World Celebrations

Make every day of camp a holiday as campers are introduced to past and present celebrations from around the world. From Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to Diwali, Dia de los Muertos and the Pingxu Lantern Festival, these festivities open a window onto the people and cultures that observe them while also giving campers a new appreciation for the richness and diversity of traditional world celebrations.

“HER”story

We’ll celebrate women from all walks of life, from ancient to modern, by looking at their daily lives, their struggles and the achievements that are now part of their historic story. We’ll hear inspiring stories, get creative and get moving!

Adventures in Art

Campers explore and connect with different types of art by immersing themselves in the time period that they originated in, while also getting the chance to create masterpieces of their own!

Fizz, Flash, Bang!

Gather at the site of the Original Arlington Beverages Factory for an “explosive” journey into the world of nineteenth-century soda pop-making. Campers learn about the scientific properties behind this fizzy drink and how it’s made to the bottling process, through experiments, tastings and demonstrations. You will even produce and star in your own soda pop commercial!

History Time Warp

Calling all time travelers! Campers explore the food, fashion, music and culture of different notable decades throughout the 20th century. Learn what made eras like the roarin’ twenties, the flyin’ forties and the swingin’ sixties iconic as we groove, trotand hop our way through the last century.

Pioneer Adventure

Travel back in time to the 19th century and learn what it was like to live in pioneer days. Campers test their skills at a variety of pioneer activities, such as splitting and gathering wood, churning butter and candle-making. Work hard and have fun, just like real pioneer children!

Arlington Heights: Hometown History

Ever wonder how Arlington Heights got its start? In this program, campers delve into Arlington Heights’ past—from its founding to its development into the bustling village it is today—by exploring the museum and visiting different significant sites around town.

Folklore and Fairytales

By drawing inspiration from the writings and home of our local fairytale writer, Nathanial Banta, campers explore the origins of popular folklore traditions and fairytales. Campers also have the opportunity to write and illustrate their own stories to share with family and friends!