Capitalizing on summer

Gorgeous warm days draw old and young alike to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Summer Institute, with a variety of activities for children, is a great way for kids to enjoy the outdoors while learning something new and exciting.

Check back for Summer Institute offerings in 2024. Last summer kids enjoyed EXPLORE!, Summer Stories, Wee Wonders, an archaeology workshop and an Art in the Park summer art camp for kids. See information below.

Call (717) 762-0373 or contact us by email at [email protected] for more information about Summer Institute programs.

An overview of the 2024 Summer Institute season is below. 

Summer Institute: Children’s Summer Stories

2024 details TBA

Preschoolers and up

Children gather under a tree to listen to stories and enjoy related hands-on activities. Free admission. (If inclement weather, call 717-762-0373 to confirm.)
Kathy Helfrick and Jane Glenn will read a new story each week, with related crafts for kids.

Underwriting support provided by John and Deb Beck.

Summer Institute: EXPLORE!

Explore! programs are a series of outdoor adventure programs, designed for kids in grades K to 5.

Summer 2024 details TBA

All program activities are outside. Taught by Institute educators, each program includes educational activities related to the season.

Summer Institute: Wee Wonders

Summer 2024 details TBA

Wee Wonders programs are a series of outdoor adventure programs, designed for our youngest budding naturalists, age 2 and a half to 5.

Taught by Institute educators, age-appropriate program activities make learning fun, and include exploring the outdoors, hikes, nature stories, rhymes, finger plays, nature games, and puppets.

Wee Wonders is sponsored by Diana Dale, in memory of Mary Ann Payne.

Summer Institute: Art in the Park 2024

TWO SESSIONS this summer!
Monday through Friday, June 17–21, 2024
—OR—
Monday through Friday, July 8–12, 2024

Summer Art Camp for Kids
A one-week art immersion program designed to inspire students to creative expression through visual art.

In an outdoor park setting surrounded by nature, students spend a full week exploring and creating with a variety of mediums and techniques like drawing, painting, sculpture, clay, fiber arts and collage.

With guidance from professional art educators, each student will complete one project in the morning and another in the afternoon, with a lunch break in between. Working with a wide range of mediums, students will develop and build upon their pre-existing skills to create new artworks.9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Age: Kids completing grades K – 7
Maximum enrollment: 40
Art Show open to artists and families 

This art camp sold out quickly last year—Check the event pages for registration information.

Summer Institute: Hands-on Workshop: Geology & Archaeology

2024 details TBA

In a workshop program combining earth science, geology, archaeology and history, students explore the secrets of a 200-year-old homestead and how its environment influenced early settlers.

Offered in partnership with Little Antietam Creek, Inc. (LACI) as part of a series of Discover programs for students in grades 5–12 (ages 10 to 17).

Students join Institute educators and LACI archaeologists to “dig into the past” at historic Stoner Farm—digging and working with artifacts, scientific testing of the properties of limestone and soil, using remote sensing, learning how limestone is cut and mortar is made, and more.
Space is limited; pre-register at 717-762-0373 or via email at [email protected]. Rain date: TBA