We were honored to be featured by KDRV NewsWatch 12 this week in a story about one of our favorite summer missions: helping kids stay curious and engaged through ScienceWorks Summer Camps.

In the segment, reporter Damien Alvarado visits ScienceWorks to see how hands-on, creative experiences are helping to prevent summer learning loss. Instead of forgetting what they’ve learned during the school year, kids at ScienceWorks are building on it through playful, purposeful projects that blend science, art, and imagination. From exploring Pokémon-inspired paleontology to writing and performing wildfire puppet plays, the activities go far beyond traditional lessons. They spark questions, invite collaboration, and make science approachable and fun.

Education Manager Johnnie Snow emphasizes the importance of connecting educational experiences to a child's own interests:

"We are not only learning the game, Pokémon, but also learning some of the science behind the creation of creatures. And we are a child-led program, so we are looking for what’s going to be engaging for our audience."

This summer, not only are we offering our traditional day camps for kids ages 6 – 12, we've also launched a new counselor-in-training program for youth ages 13 – 15. It’s a great opportunity for young teens to gain real-world experience and develop valuable skills. Whether it’s space science, nature exploration, or engineering challenges, each week offers fresh opportunities for discovery.

Availability Update:

Spots for ages 6 – 7 are filling quickly, but we still have moderate availability for ages 8 – 9 and plenty of space for campers ages 10 and up — so if you’ve got an older curious kid, now’s the perfect time to sign them up!

Scholarships Available:

Thanks to the generosity of AllCare Health, ScienceWorks is able to offer summer camp scholarships. At this time, each child is eligible for one scholarship, which covers one week of camp.

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to families who qualify for any food assistance program (WIC, EBT, SNAP, etc.) or the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). We’re also proud to offer scholarships to families of school teachers and staff.

To apply, simply fill out the application form. If approved, you’ll receive a discount code to use during registration.

While we can’t guarantee your first-choice camp will be available, we’ll do our best to accommodate your preferences — thank you for understanding.

👉 Explore themes, check availability, and apply for scholarships at: scienceworksmuseum.org/camps

We’re grateful to KDRV NewsWatch 12 for showcasing the importance of summer learning — and to all our campers, families, and educators for making this summer unforgettable. Let’s keep the learning going!