Camp Adventure

According to the American Educational Research Association, more than half of U.S. students experience summer learning losses five years in a row. These students, on average, lose nearly 40 percent of their school-year learning gains. High-quality summer learning programs can make a difference in mitigating summer learning loss and closing the achievement and opportunity gaps. That is why we are supporting children in economically disadvantaged communities to make summer count.

Camp Adventure returns this summer! Designed for Pre-K through 5th grade in partnership with Children’s Museum Houston, Camp Adventure is a hands-on learning experience where students engage in STEM activities including Structural Engineering, Chemical Reactions, Forensics, Scientific Journaling, and of course, Storytime. This summer will see campers exploring careers such as junior forensic detectives by preserving the details of a mock crime scene, becoming structural engineers using materials to build a model bridge structure, and becoming electrical engineers using electric currents to create a microgrid. This summer, we expect to serve more than 450 students in 9 community-based sites across Houston.

What the Research Says

According to research, students can lose up to three months of reading skills and a month of math competence if they do not practice these skills over the summer. Summer learning loss can build over time; by middle school, struggling young readers may fall as much as two years behind in reading achievement. Children from economically disadvantaged families are especially vulnerable to the summer slide and its lasting effects, including an increased risk of dropping out of school.

Camp Adventure 2026

Camp Adventure is designed so that literacy is woven into the entire experience rather than treated as a separate block of time. Campers use journals every day to record observations, sketch designs, respond to prompts, and reflect on what they are learning. These function as both science notebooks and literacy tools, giving students regular opportunities to read, write, and communicate about their investigations in a way that feels natural to the flow of camp.

Alongside that, we will include a dedicated literacy station each day. The intent is for this station to feel creative and exploratory rather than like a traditional reading or writing period. We have had some early conversations with your team about possible directions for that space, but we are still finalizing the exact activities and structure. What we do know is that the station will focus on storytelling, vocabulary development, and creative expression tied directly to the weekly themes so that literacy feels fully integrated into the camp experience rather than separate from it.

The first two-week session is Space Explorer. Campers take on the role of mission specialists preparing for a journey beyond Earth. They explore topics like forces and motion, planetary science, and engineering design through hands-on challenges and group problem-solving. Literacy shows up through daily mission logs, reading and responding to prompts, and documenting their discoveries as part of an ongoing story of exploration.

The second two-week session is Ocean Explorer. In this session, campers step into the role of marine scientists and engineers. They investigate buoyancy, ocean habitats, and environmental stewardship while continuing to document observations, respond to prompts, and share their thinking through writing and discussion. As with the space session, literacy is embedded throughout the experience so that it supports and deepens the STEM learning happening each day.

Overall, our goal is for campers to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening in ways that feel purposeful and engaging. They are constantly documenting, explaining, and building on ideas, which naturally reinforces literacy skills while keeping the focus on exploration and discovery.

Camp Adventure is hosted and managed by Children's Museum Houston. If you have questions or inquiries, please contact Children’s Museum Houston.

Camp Adventure Impact

3,347

students in the Fifth and Third Wards have participated in Camp Adventure.

(Camp Adventure has now expanded.)

22,585

books distributed during Camp Adventure.

“I love the hands-on experience. I love how you take something like polymers, and you link it to chemistry. You have that tangible piece that helps with comprehension.”

— Ms. Hickerson, Atherton Elementary Teacher

Story of Impact

STREAM Career-Focused Curriculum Inspires Hundreds of Campers at Camp Adventure

What people are saying…

“The activities were hands on, fun and exciting. It created a culture of scientists. The exposure to the level of activities and questions the students were able to receive was great.” — Blackshear Elementary School Teacher

“The students loved the products produced and looked forward to it every day.” — Atherton Elementary School Teacher

“Integrating high-quality programs such as Camp Adventure into our regular summer school program portfolio is a key strategy to closing the achievement gap, while at the same time providing students experiences that they otherwise would not be afforded without the investments of time, talent, and collaboration within our community”

— Millard House, III, Former HISD Superintendent

“Curiosity, inspiration, creativity, and imagination are the driving forces that make Camp Adventure an unrivaled summer experience. Together through Camp Adventure, we have an opportunity to make summer count and continue to fulfill our mission to transform communities through innovative child-centered learning”

— Tammie Khan, Children's Museum Houston Executive Director (Retired)

“I was able to take the vocabulary and make connections with the current environment, millipedes’ habitat, and make cross-curriculum connections, which helped the students ask more questions. Because we did so much talking and exploring, the kids were able to make connections at home and then be open to explore and discuss toward the end (more so than the beginning) different scientific terms and how STEM is everywhere.” — School Teacher