Hands-On History Summer Break Camp at History Colorado Center, Denver
*The event has already taken place on this date: Fri, 08/07/2026
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Hands-On History provides safe, engaging learning opportunities for elementary school students, enrolled in grades 1-5 (ages 6 through 12). Programming runs from 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday.
Unearth! Stories from the Land (June 8-12, 2026)
Get your shovel ready, it’s time to dig into the archaeology of Colorado! From towering mountains to ancient artifacts, the land beneath our feet holds millions of years of secrets. Become a junior investigator, learning techniques to excavate and analyze clues that reveal the fascinating history—both natural and human—embedded in the Centennial State's earth.
Ride! Ranching, Wrangling & Rodeos (June 15-19, 2026)
Saddle up for a week exploring the culture and history of the Colorado cowboy! Investigate the significance of ranching, the tools and traditions of wranglers, and the excitement of rodeos that shaped the American West. Discover how livestock, land, and dedicated people turned open ranges into a thriving industry, leaving a lasting legacy on the state. Join us for the ride of the summer!
Remember! Looking Back at the Past 150 Years (June 22-26, 2026)
Colorado officially became a state in 1876. Travel through the decades to examine the major events, cultural shifts, and iconic figures that have defined the past century and a half. Using museum artifacts you can discover how the gold rush, world wars, civil rights movements, and technological progress transformed Colorado from a frontier territory into the modern state we know today. We can only move forward, by taking a look at the past.
Plant! Let’s Grow Together (July 6-10, 2026)
Explore how plants around the state of Colorado support the people and animals of the region. When we tend to a garden and nurture living things, we can understand how Colorado fed its people and grew its communities over the decades. Let’s explore our connections to the land so we can grow together!
Create! Arts & Innovations (July 13-17, 2026)
Inventors, creators, and artists have shaped the state of Colorado over its long history. Discover through hands-on experiments, inventions, and problem solving the blueprints your imagination holds. Start designing the next chapter of our state’s story!
Explore! The Elements in Colorado (July 20-24, 2026)
From the air we breathe to the water that runs through our rivers, the four elements—air, water, earth, and fire—have dictated life, survival, and progress in Colorado. Investigate the challenges that the elements pose, and investigate to understand how people have harnessed or adapted to the powerful natural forces of the Rocky Mountain West. Let’s get our hands dirty for a week of exploring!
Join us to explore how people and wildlife have survived and thrived in the unique - and often challenging! - landscape of the American West. Team up to investigate the resourcefulness required for a successful life in Colorado. Each day promises an adventure into the wonders of the Centennial State!
Every person in Colorado has a unique and important story to tell. This week focuses on history, and the many ways that it’s told. Learn how historians, indigenous elders, artists and more capture narratives, histories, and traditions through storytelling. You may be surprised to see how these different voices contribute to the ongoing story of Colorado.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.