Bug Camp - Summer 2024
Camp Registration and the Waitlist for summer 2024 has been filled
Insects are the most abundant animals on earth! Not only are these creepy-crawlies everywhere, they provide many necessary benefits to humans and human society. Through a variety of hands-on activities and interactive field trips, Bug Camp: Insects. Science & Society will teach kids how amazing and valuable bugs truly are. Campers will gain experience with science in the field and the lab, and will come away with an understanding of the important relationship between humans and insects.
Bug Camp: Insects, Science & Society is supported by the University of Maryland’s Department of Entomology and the University of Maryland Extension, 4-H Youth Development.
o Field trips around the UMD campus to local bug habitats
o Bug bodies and life stages o Interacting with bugs in their natural environment o Lab experiments with live bugs o Bug DNA & genetics |
o Team building & games
o Arts & crafts o Pollinators & Pests: How humans and bugs get along o Bug habitats and houses |
Bug camp is for youth ages 7-12 (at time of session)
Camp counselors are trained and accredited by the 4-H Youth Development program and the staff to camper ratio will be approximately 1:7.
The camp is non-residential and will be held daily from 9:00am – 3:00pm on the UMD College Park campus with after care available from 3:00-4:30pm at additional cost.
There are two one-week sessions of Bug Camp. The sessions are identical in content.
Session 1: June 24, 2024 - June 28, 2024 (full)
Session 2: July 8, 2024 - July 12, 2024 (full)
Camp fee is $350. The camp fee covers all materials for the camp. guardians are responsible for providing transportation and lunch for the campers. Snacks will be provided by the camp. After care and t-shirts come at an additional cost: $375 for camp fee with shirt, $475 for camp fee with aftercare, $500 for camp fee with aftercare and one camp shirt
Camp counselors are trained and accredited by the 4-H Youth Development program and the staff to camper ratio will be approximately 1:7.
The camp is non-residential and will be held daily from 9:00am – 3:00pm on the UMD College Park campus with after care available from 3:00-4:30pm at additional cost.
There are two one-week sessions of Bug Camp. The sessions are identical in content.
Session 1: June 24, 2024 - June 28, 2024 (full)
Session 2: July 8, 2024 - July 12, 2024 (full)
Camp fee is $350. The camp fee covers all materials for the camp. guardians are responsible for providing transportation and lunch for the campers. Snacks will be provided by the camp. After care and t-shirts come at an additional cost: $375 for camp fee with shirt, $475 for camp fee with aftercare, $500 for camp fee with aftercare and one camp shirt
Bug Camp 2024 Interest Form (closed, camp is full for summer 2024)
Anyone who is interested in sending their camper to Bug Camp must complete the Interest Form (opens Wednesday, February 14, 2024 between 8:30AM and 10:30AM). Please understand that the completion of this form does NOT mean your camper is registered for Bug Camp 2024. You will receive a link to register and make payment for camp only if space is available. No camper will be considered registered until full payment has been made.
Registration (closed, camp is full for summer 2024)
Registration is first come first served, based on the date and time in which we receive the completed interest form. If space is available when we receive your interest form we will send you a link to register and process payment for Bug Camp. If Bug Camp is full for the session you requested in interest form then we will notify you.
You are not considered registered until payment is made. All payments are due within 5 business days of receiving the registration and payment link. If your payment is NOT received by the appropriate date, you may forfeit your campers’ space in Summer Camp.
Need-based Financial Aid
If you would like to attend bug camp but need some financial support, consider applying for the needs based financial aid. The financial aid covers $300.00 of the $350 camp fee. Financial aid will be awarded to up to 3 campers per session.
How to apply, please indicate on the interest form that you would like to apply for financial aid. Just like paid registration, financial aid registration is first come first served, based on the date and time in which we receive the completed interest form. If space is available when we receive your interest form, we will send you a form to register and apply for financial aid for Bug Camp. Complete and return registration form and financial aid application by Monday March 4th. Award winners will be announced by Monday, March 11th. Award winners will be billed for the remaining $50 of the camp fee, which will be due by Monday, April 15th. If you apply for financial aid but are not awarded, you will be billed for the full $350 camp fee with payment due by Monday, April 15th.
Waitlist (full)
Anyone who is interested in sending their camper to Bug Camp must complete the Interest Form (opens Wednesday, February 14, 2024 between 8:30AM and 10:30AM). Please understand that the completion of this form does NOT mean your camper is registered for Bug Camp 2024. You will receive a link to register and make payment for camp only if space is available. No camper will be considered registered until full payment has been made.
Registration (closed, camp is full for summer 2024)
Registration is first come first served, based on the date and time in which we receive the completed interest form. If space is available when we receive your interest form we will send you a link to register and process payment for Bug Camp. If Bug Camp is full for the session you requested in interest form then we will notify you.
You are not considered registered until payment is made. All payments are due within 5 business days of receiving the registration and payment link. If your payment is NOT received by the appropriate date, you may forfeit your campers’ space in Summer Camp.
Need-based Financial Aid
If you would like to attend bug camp but need some financial support, consider applying for the needs based financial aid. The financial aid covers $300.00 of the $350 camp fee. Financial aid will be awarded to up to 3 campers per session.
How to apply, please indicate on the interest form that you would like to apply for financial aid. Just like paid registration, financial aid registration is first come first served, based on the date and time in which we receive the completed interest form. If space is available when we receive your interest form, we will send you a form to register and apply for financial aid for Bug Camp. Complete and return registration form and financial aid application by Monday March 4th. Award winners will be announced by Monday, March 11th. Award winners will be billed for the remaining $50 of the camp fee, which will be due by Monday, April 15th. If you apply for financial aid but are not awarded, you will be billed for the full $350 camp fee with payment due by Monday, April 15th.
Waitlist (full)
Q: When should I expect to receive the additional required documents for camp?
A: All additional required camp documents will be emailed upon receipt of full payment to the email addresses provided on your campers registration form. If you did not receive your packet, please contact, Amy Yaich at bugcamp@umd.edu or by phone at 301-405-3911.
Q: I forgot which session I enrolled my child in, whom do I contact?
A: Please email Amy at bugcamp@umd.edu or call her at 301-405-3911.
Q: What are the procedures for having someone other than a legal guardian pick-up my child from camp?
A: To release a child to someone other than a legal guardian, we will require written permission from a legal guardian.
Q: I have materials I would like to donate to the camp. Whom do I contact?
A: Feel free to write to us at bugcamp@umd.edu with a description of the materials and someone will be in touch.
Q: I am interested in teaching and/or internship opportunities with your camp. How can I get involved?
A: Our primary counselors are pulled from a group of 4-H individuals. However, we do offer the internship priority to students from the University of Maryland, particularly those from a math, science, or education track. We will consider interested individuals from outside of the University as well. Interested in working for us please send a brief description of your qualifications and a statement of purpose (what you would like to get out of working at our camp and what you hope to contribute to our camp) to bugcamp@umd.edu .
Q: We live out of state or far away. Are there lodging options available?
A: We do not offer any on-campus lodging. However, the City of College Park has numerous reputable, nearby hotels. The most favored options are listed below:
A: All additional required camp documents will be emailed upon receipt of full payment to the email addresses provided on your campers registration form. If you did not receive your packet, please contact, Amy Yaich at bugcamp@umd.edu or by phone at 301-405-3911.
Q: I forgot which session I enrolled my child in, whom do I contact?
A: Please email Amy at bugcamp@umd.edu or call her at 301-405-3911.
Q: What are the procedures for having someone other than a legal guardian pick-up my child from camp?
A: To release a child to someone other than a legal guardian, we will require written permission from a legal guardian.
Q: I have materials I would like to donate to the camp. Whom do I contact?
A: Feel free to write to us at bugcamp@umd.edu with a description of the materials and someone will be in touch.
Q: I am interested in teaching and/or internship opportunities with your camp. How can I get involved?
A: Our primary counselors are pulled from a group of 4-H individuals. However, we do offer the internship priority to students from the University of Maryland, particularly those from a math, science, or education track. We will consider interested individuals from outside of the University as well. Interested in working for us please send a brief description of your qualifications and a statement of purpose (what you would like to get out of working at our camp and what you hope to contribute to our camp) to bugcamp@umd.edu .
Q: We live out of state or far away. Are there lodging options available?
A: We do not offer any on-campus lodging. However, the City of College Park has numerous reputable, nearby hotels. The most favored options are listed below:
Cambria College Park: (301) 595-2600
Holiday Inn Express & Suites College Park University Area: (301) 441-8110
Holiday Inn College Park: (301) 345-6700
The Hotel: (301) 277-7777
College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center: (301) 985-7300
Holiday Inn Express & Suites College Park University Area: (301) 441-8110
Holiday Inn College Park: (301) 345-6700
The Hotel: (301) 277-7777
College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center: (301) 985-7300
Have a question that is not answered here? Write to us at bugcamp@umd.edu or call us at 301-405-3911.