Registration for our 2026 Summer Day Camp is now open!
Time Travelers: Legacy of the Land
Our Summer Day Camp allows children to discover Ontario archaeology, natural and cultural history, the environment, and science through simulated excavations, artifact exploration, and experiments that help them connect to and learn about the past.
This summer, the Museum of Ontario Archaeology invites campers to step into the field and connect with 13,000+ years of history. Our 2026 Summer Sessions take the eras introduced during our March Break “Odyssey” and expand them into week-long, immersive adventures.
From the frozen edges of the Ice Age to the nature-inspired solutions of tomorrow, campers will join our “Field Crew” to see history from a new perspective. Through hands-on archaeological techniques, exploring the Medway Valley, and traditional heritage crafts, we will uncover the resilience, ingenuity, and deep-rooted legacy of the land we share.
Join us this summer for six themed weeks
full of edu-taining activities and games!
Camp is open to campers ages 6 to 12* and will run from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day.
Drop off begins at 8:30 AM and pickup begins at 3:45 PM with the latest pickup being 4:30 PM.
Cost for the week: $275
Daily Rate: $65
*Children turning 6 by the end of 2026 are welcome to join camp.
Week 1: Mammoths & Makers
Dates: July 6th to 10th, 2026
The First Peoples & The Ice Age- The Odyssey begins at the very beginning, since Immemorial! Step back 13,000 years to an Ontario of glaciers and giants and the earliest stone tools of this region. Campers will explore the relationship between early ancestors and megafauna like the Woolly Mammoth, discovering how the melting ice shaped the Great Lakes we know today.
Week 2: Waterways & Wayfinders
Dates: July 13th – 17th, 2026
Seasonal Travels & Riverways- As the forests grew and changed, the rivers became the heart of the land. Rivers were the original roadways. Campers will become “Wayfinders,” exploring how past travelers mastered navigation and built sophisticated trade networks that spanned the continent. We’ll dive into the science of canoe culture and learn how the first navigators moved in harmony with the seasons and the stars.
Week 3: Ceramics & Cultivation
Dates: July 20th to 24th, 2026
Village Life & Food Forests- Discovery meets the earth! This week focuses on the shift to settled village life and the incredible artistry of pottery. Campers will explore the concept of “Food Forests”—learning how early communities managed the landscape to create bountiful, edible ecosystems. From hand-building clay vessels to studying traditional plant knowledge, we’ll see how people worked with the land to sustain growing communities.
This week is at capacity.
Week 4: Stone & Steel
Dates: July 27th to 31st, 2026
Technology and the Changing Environment- How did the people of this land adapt and thrive through the ages? This week, we look at the incredible evolution of tools—from the deep history of stone and bone to the enduring traditions of copper and the later arrival of steel. Campers will get hands-on with the materials that transformed everyday life, discovering how different technologies changed the way people interacted with the environment. Test your tool-making skills!
Week 5: Dirt & Discovery
Dates: August 3rd to 7th, 2026
The Science of Archaeology- Grab your trowels and join the field crew! This week, campers go behind the scenes to learn the science used to uncover the past. We will explore how archaeologists work with different tools and methods, practicing everything from site mapping to identifying “eco-facts” like ancient seeds. Dig your way through history!
Week 6: Forest & Future
Dates: August 10th to 14th, 2026
Stewardship & Seven Generations- The legacy continues with you! Inspired by the “Seven Generations” principle—that our actions today affect those seven generations from now—we look at how 1000’s years of history can guide a sustainable future. Campers will engage in modern conservation in the Medway Valley and design projects to protect Ontario’s cultural and natural heritage for years to come. Become a Green Guardian!
Registration
Registration for Summer Day Camp is now OPEN!
Use the Paypal button below to purchase registration. Select the camp you are interested in registering in and click “Add to Cart”. You will be taken to a secure PayPal portal, where you can add additional weeks of camp or multiples of the same week if registering multiple campers. Once you have selected your items and paid, do not close the window- you will automatically be directed to the registration form. Please fill it out as prompted.
Running from July 6th to August 14th, 2026 on-site at the MOA
Please note: The MOA requires a minimum of 24 hours’ advance notice for all camp registrations to ensure proper preparation. Registrations submitted with less than 24 hours’ notice may not be accommodated.
Week 3 is now at capacity.
Day Camp Cancellation & Refund Policy:
Cancellations received seven days or more prior to the start date of camp are subject to a cancellation fee of 20%. No refunds will be issued for cancellations with less than one week’s notice.
If you have any questions regarding our Day Camps, the registration process, or any other inquiries, please email info@archaeologymuseum.ca.
Do you know a high school student or someone who is interested in gaining experience and volunteering at the Museum? We’re currently looking for volunteers ages 14+ to volunteer to help us deliver our Day Camp programming!
Press the button below to fill out a volunteer application form!