Camp Session Hours
- Morning Drop-off: 8:45-9:15 a.m.
- Camp for grades 1-8: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Afternoon Pick-up: 3:45-4:15 p.m.
- Little Learner camp Drop-off: 8:45-9:15 a.m.
- Little Learners camp: 9-11 a.m.
- Little Learners camp Pick-up: 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Extended Care Hours
- Morning Care Drop-off: 7:30-8:45 a.m.
- Afternoon Care Pick-up: 4:15-5:30 p.m.
FAQs
Summer Camp registration opens at 12 a.m. on Friday, February 14. You can register for a camp session up to 1 week before the program runs.
There are member discounts, early bird discounts (through March 14), discounts for District Connect members, and more. You can view all discounts on the Summer Camp Descriptions and Dates page.
Our grades refer to the level that children are entering for the upcoming school year (‘25-26). If your child is entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2025 or Fall of 2026, please enroll them in the Little Learners camps.
Each camp’s curriculum is developed according to the assigned grade level so that each camp is developmentally appropriate. If a child is on the cusp for starting Kindergarten and intends to stay in Pre-K for another year, they are still eligible to attend camp as long as they are ‘kindergarten ready.’ This means that the child can be away from their parents for an extended period of time, are fully potty trained, and know their ABCs and numbers.
Yes! Morning care for grades 1-8 runs from 7:30-8:45 a.m. and is $50 per full-week camp or $10 per single-day camp.
Afternoon care for grades 1-8 runs from 4:10-5:30 p.m. and is $50 per full-week camp or $10 per single-day camp.
During these times, campers will take part in activities such as watching educational videos, playing games, coloring, and other hands-on activities. Campers that remain past their designated pick-up window will be charged a late fee. More details on this policy can be found here.
Morning and afternoon care is not available for Little Learners camps.
Camp drop-off takes place at the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance located on W. Court Street.
Drop-off takes place from 8:45-9:15 a.m.
Parents/Guardians may utilize curbside drop-off for their camper(s) on W. Court Street during the above designated timeframe only. Parents/Guardians will not need to enter the building during curbside drop-off.
For late drop-offs, parents/guardians must walk their child(ren) into the building (using the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court Street) to be checked in and must park their vehicle in a nearby parking garage.
Camp dismissal for Little Learners runs from 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Camp dismissal for grades 1-8 runs from 3:45-4:15 p.m.
Parents/Guardians may utilize curbside pick-up for their camper(s) on W. Court Street during the above designated timeframes only. Parents/Guardians will not need to enter the building during curbside pick-up.
For late or early pick-ups, parents/guardians must park their car in a nearby parking garage and utilize the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court Street.
Children will be released from their classrooms only after photo I.D. has been checked and confirmed against our list of authorized pick-ups. Individuals are expected to bring their photo I.D. with them each day.
Parents/Guardians may utilize free curbside drop-off and pick-up during the designated timeframes. Any early or late drop-offs and pick-ups will require parents/guardians to park in a nearby parking garage. For parking garage rates, please visit the Allentown Parking Authority’s website.
The two closest parking garages are the Spiral Deck (directly across from the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court St.) and Maple Street Parking Garage (about a 2-3 block walk).
- Registration can be cancelled/transferred with a full refund/no charge up to 30 days prior to the start of camp.
- Cancellations made 8-29 days before arrival date: 50 percent refund
- Cancellations made 7 days or less before arrival date: No refund
Refunds can be made to the card used for payment.
No tuition adjustments or pro-rates will be made for participants who are only able to partially attend a camp program. If a child becomes ill prior to the start of a camp and can no longer attend, please notify our team. A camp transfer or credit to attend a future camp can be applied to the participant’s account.
For example, if your child catches the flu on Sunday and you notify us and do not report to camp that week, we can extend the credit for a future camp week. If your child catches the flu on Tuesday but already attended the session on Monday, no credit for the rest of the week can be given.
Food is not provided at camp unless you register for our lunch option during online registration. Full-day camps have 2 snack breaks per day. Please pack a snack and/or lunch for your child(ren) or opt into our snack and/or lunch option at the time of registration. Snacks and lunch options through Da Vinci Science Center are provided by Aramark.
We will make every effort to provide allergen information as needed, but please note that Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion is not a nut-free facility.
All of our educators are trained Science Center staff hailing from a variety of backgrounds. We have Ph.D.s, engineers, teachers, and college students pursuing teaching and STEM degrees who offer their talent to our campers over the summer. In addition to having clearances and background checks, our staff is trained in strategies and techniques for incorporating inquiry-based learning into an informal classroom learning experience, classroom management, accessibility, and safety.
Unfortunately, it is hard to know if or when a spot will open up on a waitlist. If your place on the waitlist becomes eligible for a camp opening, you will be notified as soon as it becomes available.
Children entering kindergarten in fall 2025 should register for the Little Learners camp programs. The regular camp programs are designed for children who have completed at least one year of primary school.
Yes, they are different! We are doing theme weeks this year, so every camp will focus on the same topic, but with activities and information appropriate to their grade level. Your second grader and your sixth grader will not be doing the same things in their camps…we promise!
Field trips are an exciting benefit we get to offer many of our campers this summer! We understand if you do not want your child leaving the Da Vinci Science Center facility. Unfortunately, no camps will be prorated or discounted based on missed days. If you have concerns about any activities, please speak with our STEAM Programs Manager.
When does summer camp registration open? How long is it open for?
Summer Camp registration opens at 12 a.m. on Friday, February 14. You can register for a camp session up to 1 week before the program runs.
Are there any discounts for summer camps?
There are member discounts, early bird discounts (through March 14), discounts for District Connect members, and more. You can view all discounts on the Summer Camp Descriptions and Dates page.
What do the camp grade levels refer to?
Our grades refer to the level that children are entering for the upcoming school year (‘25-26). If your child is entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2025 or Fall of 2026, please enroll them in the Little Learners camps.
Each camp’s curriculum is developed according to the assigned grade level so that each camp is developmentally appropriate. If a child is on the cusp for starting Kindergarten and intends to stay in Pre-K for another year, they are still eligible to attend camp as long as they are ‘kindergarten ready.’ This means that the child can be away from their parents for an extended period of time, are fully potty trained, and know their ABCs and numbers.
Do you offer before/after care for summer camps?
Yes! Morning care for grades 1-8 runs from 7:30-8:45 a.m. and is $50 per full-week camp or $10 per single-day camp.
Afternoon care for grades 1-8 runs from 4:10-5:30 p.m. and is $50 per full-week camp or $10 per single-day camp.
During these times, campers will take part in activities such as watching educational videos, playing games, coloring, and other hands-on activities. Campers that remain past their designated pick-up window will be charged a late fee. More details on this policy can be found here.
Morning and afternoon care is not available for Little Learners camps.
What is the camp drop-off procedure like?
Camp drop-off takes place at the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance located on W. Court Street.
Drop-off takes place from 8:45-9:15 a.m.
Parents/Guardians may utilize curbside drop-off for their camper(s) on W. Court Street during the above designated timeframe only. Parents/Guardians will not need to enter the building during curbside drop-off.
For late drop-offs, parents/guardians must walk their child(ren) into the building (using the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court Street) to be checked in and must park their vehicle in a nearby parking garage.
What is the camp pick-up procedure like?
Camp dismissal for Little Learners runs from 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Camp dismissal for grades 1-8 runs from 3:45-4:15 p.m.
Parents/Guardians may utilize curbside pick-up for their camper(s) on W. Court Street during the above designated timeframes only. Parents/Guardians will not need to enter the building during curbside pick-up.
For late or early pick-ups, parents/guardians must park their car in a nearby parking garage and utilize the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court Street.
Children will be released from their classrooms only after photo I.D. has been checked and confirmed against our list of authorized pick-ups. Individuals are expected to bring their photo I.D. with them each day.
Do I have to pay for parking if I'm dropping off or picking up for camp?
Parents/Guardians may utilize free curbside drop-off and pick-up during the designated timeframes. Any early or late drop-offs and pick-ups will require parents/guardians to park in a nearby parking garage. For parking garage rates, please visit the Allentown Parking Authority’s website.
The two closest parking garages are the Spiral Deck (directly across from the Groups & Reserved Programs entrance on W. Court St.) and Maple Street Parking Garage (about a 2-3 block walk).
What is your camp cancellation policy?
- Registration can be cancelled/transferred with a full refund/no charge up to 30 days prior to the start of camp.
- Cancellations made 8-29 days before arrival date: 50 percent refund
- Cancellations made 7 days or less before arrival date: No refund
Refunds can be made to the card used for payment.
What if my child can only partially attend the week or gets sick?
No tuition adjustments or pro-rates will be made for participants who are only able to partially attend a camp program. If a child becomes ill prior to the start of a camp and can no longer attend, please notify our team. A camp transfer or credit to attend a future camp can be applied to the participant’s account.
For example, if your child catches the flu on Sunday and you notify us and do not report to camp that week, we can extend the credit for a future camp week. If your child catches the flu on Tuesday but already attended the session on Monday, no credit for the rest of the week can be given.
Is food provided at camp?
Food is not provided at camp unless you register for our lunch option during online registration. Full-day camps have 2 snack breaks per day. Please pack a snack and/or lunch for your child(ren) or opt into our snack and/or lunch option at the time of registration. Snacks and lunch options through Da Vinci Science Center are provided by Aramark.
We will make every effort to provide allergen information as needed, but please note that Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion is not a nut-free facility.
What staff do you have supervising campers?
All of our educators are trained Science Center staff hailing from a variety of backgrounds. We have Ph.D.s, engineers, teachers, and college students pursuing teaching and STEM degrees who offer their talent to our campers over the summer. In addition to having clearances and background checks, our staff is trained in strategies and techniques for incorporating inquiry-based learning into an informal classroom learning experience, classroom management, accessibility, and safety.
I got put on the camp waitlist. When will I know if I get into the camp?
Unfortunately, it is hard to know if or when a spot will open up on a waitlist. If your place on the waitlist becomes eligible for a camp opening, you will be notified as soon as it becomes available.
Where are the camps for my child entering Kindergarten?
Children entering kindergarten in fall 2025 should register for the Little Learners camp programs. The regular camp programs are designed for children who have completed at least one year of primary school.
These camps all have the same names, even though they're different grade levels. Are they actually different?
Yes, they are different! We are doing theme weeks this year, so every camp will focus on the same topic, but with activities and information appropriate to their grade level. Your second grader and your sixth grader will not be doing the same things in their camps…we promise!
I'm not comfortable with my child going on a field trip. Can I get a discount if they stay home the day of the trip?
Field trips are an exciting benefit we get to offer many of our campers this summer! We understand if you do not want your child leaving the Da Vinci Science Center facility. Unfortunately, no camps will be prorated or discounted based on missed days. If you have concerns about any activities, please speak with our STEAM Programs Manager.