Children and Youth Programs

Scout Programs

Architecture Badge
The Architecture Badge Workshop is designed for scouts aged 9 - 10 years old, to explore the amazing history and architecture of Balboa Park's unique buildings and gardens!  Your group will examine copies of original blueprints, learn about the Park's intriguing history, and complete super fun activities including a scavenger hunt!

When:  Available year round
Where:  San Diego History Center in Balboa Park
Time:  Please allow at least 2 hours to complete this workshop
Reservations are Required:  Please call 619 -232-6203, ext. 129 or email education@sandiegohistory.org
Cost:  $5 self guided workshop (led by troop leaders/chaperones); $10 guided workshop (led by History Center staff)

Shipboard Life
Ahoy Matie!  Ships have brought thousands of people to San Diego for more than 450 years.  From Cabrillo, Viscaino to Richard Henry Dana, San Diego's maritime past is full of excitement.  Learn the parts of ship in a fun interactive game, tie various knots used in handling sails, chart a course for California from world-wide destinations, and create a piece of scrimshaw art in your free time.   Though landlocked, you will be immersed in the sights, sounds, and stories of shipboard life!

When:  Available Year Round.
Where:  San Diego History Center
Time:  Please allow at least 2 hours to complete this workshop
Reservations are Required:  Please call 619 -232-6203, ext. 129 or email education@sandiegohistory.org
Cost:  $10 per participant for guided workshop (led by History Center staff).  1 adult free for every ten children.  All other adults pay the regular workshop fee.

Group Overnight

Nighttime Adventure at the Serra Museum
The San Diego History Center is offering a unique way for groups, ages 7 - 15 and accompanying adults to experience the Serra Museum....at night!  We'll start our adventure by enjoying an afternoon of outdoor activities in beautiful Presidio Park while learning about some of San Diego's most famous people and places.  We'll feast on an historically themed meal on the loggia overlooking the Presidio site, play an historical game or two, then head indoors for some hands-on history activities including costume dress-up in historical clothing.  Once the lights go out, kids will go on an historically themed flashlight tour to the top of the Serra tower, before watching a special history-themed movie.  At bedtime, curl up in the main museum gallery next to the old mill stones, wine press, and historic cannon.  A light breakfast will be served in the morning prior to ending your overnight adventure!

When:  Available November through May
Where:  Junipero Serra Museum, Presidio Park
Time:  3pm Saturday through 9am Sunday
Reservations are Required:  Call 619-232-6203, ext 129 or email education@sandiegohistory.org
Cost:  $45 per participant.  Cost includes:  museum admission, hands-on activities, flashlight tour of the tower afer hours, historically themed dinner on the loggia, an evening movie, and a light breakfast.
Participation:  Minimum of 10 participants, Maximum 30 participants (adults/children combined).  There must be one adult over the age of 21 for every 5 children attending, and no adult can be admitted without accompanying a child.  A final count of participants must be made known at least one week prior to the program date.
Please bring:  Sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, camera, toothbrush and toothpaste, warm pajamas, solid-soled shoes, and any medications.
Release forms:  Each participant must fill out the release forms that will be sent to you upon booking your program.  Once signed, they must be scanned, faxed or brought back to the History Center at least two weeks prior to the program date.  Once the registration forms have been submitted, we will contact each participant individually to confirm participation and collect payment.
Payment:  Payment can be in the form of checks, cash or credit card.  Checks should be made out to San Diego History Center.  You are welcome to pay for the entire group with one payment, or have each person pay individually.  Once the appropriate forms have been filled out and submitted, we will contact each participant to confirm, and to arrange payment.  All payments must be made in advance of the program date.
Cancellations:  There is a cancellation charge of 10% per participant.  No refunds one week prior to the program date.  A full refund will be returned to each participant if the overnight is cancelled by the museum.

Spring Day Camp

Children ages 7 to 15 are invited to spend their Spring school break with us, explore super fun areas of San Diego's past.  Each day camp program has a different theme.  You are welcome to attend one or all programs in this fun-filled week.  Each day theme is as follows:

Apr  2  2012 - 9am - 12noon
History Detectives

San Diego History Center's library and archives is filled with clues about grown-ups and kids who have lived in our area over the last several hundred years.  This program gives you a chance to examine copies of old letters, journals, scrapbooks, and advertisements to learn more about their lives.  Write with a quill and ink, use a numeracy board, and create a scrapbook to take home.

Apr  3 2012 - 9am - 12noon
Survivor San Diego!

What would you need to survive if you came here in 1769 when San Diego was founded?  Pack a trunk of necessaries, chart a course using historic maps, and learn about life onboard ship in this fun, engaging program.

Apr  4 2012 - 9am - 12noon
So You Think You Can Dance?

Learn historical dances and pasttimes popular in San Diego in the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s!

Apr  5 2012 - 9am - 12noon
San Diego's Got Talent!

Discover inventions, art work, and other San Diego 'firsts'.  Create your own art project and devise San Diego's next big invention!

Apr  6 2012 - 9am - 12noon
Project 'FUN'-way!

San Diego's got style!  Using our historic costume collection as a guide, learn what children and grown ups wore at different times in San Diego's past.  Dress up in historic fashions for a fashion parade around the museum, and design an outfit that may become fasihon of the future.

When:  Monday, April 2 - Friday, April 6, 2012
Where:  San Diego History Center, Balboa Park
Time:  9am to 12noon daily
Reservations are required!:  Call 619-232-6203, ext. 129 or email us at education@sandiegohistory.org. 
Cost:  $10 per child, per day or $40 per child for the week program.  You may attend one or all programs.  Please determine level of participation at time of registration.
Payment:  Payment must be made in full at the time of reservation.
Participation:  Children ages 7 - 15 years old.  Space is limited to approximately 20 children per program.  Teacher ration, 1-10 children.

History Center Summer Camp

Ever wonder what it would have been like to live as a child in San Diego in the 1760s, 1870s or early 1900s? Now you can find out! Kids 7 to 15 are invited to spend an historical and fun filled week experiencing the life of a San Diego child in the past.  Each day children will tour the History Center galleries or library, then change into elements of historical clothing and travel back in time! Child participants will learn to talk, work, cook and play as early settlers. Children will have time each day to work on their own project. Participants bring their own lunches and snacks daily and should wear sturdy shoes. Historical costumes will be provided by the Museum for use during the program. The program is presented by experienced Museum education staff and docents.

When:  July 23 - 27, 2012: 
Where:  San Diego History Center, Balboa Park
Time:   Grades 6-8 from 9am - 12noon; Grades 1 - 5 from 1-3pm, can be combined with other Balboa Park institutions for a full day camp experience.
Cost:  $85 SDHC members, $95 general
Payment:  Payment must be made in full at time of registration.