Henry Hall Summer Scholars
Camp Programs
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Duration
Long Term
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Grades
5 - 12
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Price
Free
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Where
In the Field
Overview
The National Aquarium's Henry Hall Summer Scholars camp program offers immersive week-long summer camp opportunities that bring aquatic science to life through hands-on experiences in different aquatic habitats around the United States.
The program provides exciting excursions focused on educational and career opportunities for students interested in marine and environmental science.
Who is eligible to participate?
Baltimore City Public Schools students in good standing rising into grades 5 through 12 and 2023 graduates may apply to take part in these endowment-funded opportunities at no expense to their families.
Prior participation does not guarantee applicant acceptance. Priority may be given to applicants demonstrating need or limited access to other affordable camp options. Before beginning your application, please review the camp descriptions available for your grade level and select your first and second choice camp programs.
Students who participate in Henry Hall camps may also be eligible for one-year $1,000 scholarships as they progress to college-level studies in biology, engineering, environmental science and aquatic science.
Application Timeline
- Please complete your application by February 28, 2023.
- Submit your teacher recommendations my March 6, 2023.
- Expect to hear from us during the week of March 27, 2023.
Contact
Please contact us at HenryHallCamps@aqua.org with any questions related to camp programs or the application process.
Proof of Vaccination Required for All Campers
All Henry Hall Summer Scholars campers will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.
2023 Application
Applications are closed for this year's summer camp opportunities.
2023 Camps
Date: August 14 to August 18, 2023
Time: 8:30 am to 4 pm each day
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is one of America's oldest seaports. Join National Aquarium educators to learn about the initiatives taking place within the city to enhance, protect and create habitats for our local wildlife. Tour some of the city's most iconic locations, discover the biodiversity of the harbor, and experience the cultural history of Baltimore! This day camp includes transportation from the Aquarium to day trip locations, and lunch. Three Aquarium educators lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grade 5 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Date: June 19 to June 23, 2023
Time: 8:30 am to 4 pm each day
Have you ever wondered what animals live in and around Chesapeake Bay? This five-day study explores the Chesapeake Bay's watershed as we seine for fish, discover aquatic invertebrates and learn ways to protect our local habitats. Spend a day kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay and explore the National Aquarium's connection to the Bay. This day camp includes transportation from the Aquarium to day trip locations, kayaking instruction and equipment, and lunch. Three Aquarium educators lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 5 and 6 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Date: July 10 to July 14, 2023
Spend the week at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Horn Point Lab on the Eastern Shore. Discover Chesapeake marshes and waterways through beach seining, canoe trips, water testing and other aquatic exploration. Visit an oyster hatchery, sail aboard a skipjack and tour the Chesapeake Maritime Museum. This summer camp includes round trip van transportation from the National Aquarium to the Eastern Shore, plus lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 6 and 7 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on June 24, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: August 14 to August 18, 2023
Did you know that there are no natural lakes in Maryland? Spend the week exploring the shoreline, wildlife, and unique biodiversity of Lake Erie, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world! Investigate the challenges freshwater lakes face by joining the hunt for invasive species. We'll explore animals big and small, and kayak along a watershed unlike our own. Camp lodging will be at Camp Judson in North Spring Field, Pennsylvania. This summer camp includes round-trip van transportation to and from North Spring Field, lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 7 and 8 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 29, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023
More than 2,000 ships have found their final resting place off North Carolina's Outer Banks. Dive deep into the mysteries of the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" as we hike and kayak our way through mudflats, marshlands, and maritime forests. Visit the Beaufort Maritime Museum to uncover pirate shipwrecks, learn about hurricanes and explore the maritime history of North Carolina's barrier islands. Camp lodging will be at the Trinity Center in Salter Path, North Carolina. This summer camp includes round-trip airfare from BWI Airport, transportation to and from Salter Path, lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 8 and 9 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 15, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: July 24 to July 28, 2023
Sea turtles face many threats to their survival, but you can help improve their odds! Join researchers to collect information on sea turtle life cycles, discover what happens when a sea turtle is injured—from rescue to rehabilitation to release—and explore the coastal habitats of Jekyll Island, Georgia. There will also be time to experience Georgia's beaches and enjoy some beachcombing! Camp lodging will be at the 4-H Tidelands Center in Jekyll Island. This summer camp includes round-trip airfare from BWI Airport, transportation to and from Jekyll Island, lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 9 and 10 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 8, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: July 5 to July 7, 2023
The headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay are a treasure trove of history and adventure. We'll explore the freshwater tributaries of the Susquehanna by kayak, and creek snorkel in search of macroinvertebrates and other life that exists beneath the water's surface. Learn about Native American tribes that inhabited this land including how they survived and thrived off the bounty of the upper Bay. Investigate how some of our modern man-made achievements have changed the ecology of this river system and how conservationist are helping species to overcome these changes. This camp includes round-trip van transportation from the National Aquarium to Pequea Creek Campground in Pequea, Pennsylvania; two nights of tent camping (tents provided) and meals. Three Aquarium educators lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 9 through 11 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on June 17, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: June 26 to June 30, 2023
Discover the incredible diversity of life on the rocks on Maine's southern coast. Explore rocky shorelines; learn about lobster biology; take a wildlife spotting cruise looking for puffins, seals, and other marine life; and more. Camp housing will be at The Ecology School at River Bend Farm in Saco, Maine. This summer camp includes round-trip airfare from BWI Airport, transportation to and from Saco, lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 10 through 12 for the 2023-2024 school year.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on June 10, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: August 1 to August 2, 2023
Have you ever wanted to experience the life of a shark biologist? Join Aquarium educators in this overnight study as we delve into the world of shark research. Explore Ocean City's coastal marshes, dunes, and grasslands; join shark biologists on a shark tagging cruise; and get to know more about ongoing research happening here in Maryland. This overnight camp includes round-trip van transportation to and from Ocean City, one night lodging at Salisbury University and meals. Three Aquarium educators lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 11 and 12 for the 2023-2024 school year and 2023 graduates.
An optional virtual pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 22, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: August 7 to August 10, 2023
Coral Reefs are teeming with life—from fish and sea stars to dolphins and sea turtles—but these delicate ecosystems are being threatened by human activities. Learn to snorkel and put your skills to use at several different sites, kayak through the mangroves, comb the beach looking for wildlife, visit a sea turtle hospital, and experience the unique history of the Florida Keys. This summer camp includes round-trip airfare from BWI Airport, transportation to and from Pigeon Key, lodging and meals. Participants must feel comfortable in water where they cannot touch the bottom and be able to pass a swim test. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grades 11 and 12 for the 2023-2024 school year and 2023 graduates.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 22, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Date: July 17 to July 21, 2023
Sharks are found in every ocean on Earth, and none are as feared as the Great White. In this camp, we will travel to Cape Cod and learn about these powerful predators, including where they live, what they eat and how they have survived for thousands of years. We will get to know the people and organizations working to learn more about these creatures of the deep and explore the nooks and crannies of the Cape! Camp lodging will be at the Craigville Retreat Center in Centerville, Massachusetts. This summer camp includes round-trip airfare from BWI Airport, transportation to and from Cape Cod, lodging and meals. Three Aquarium educators and an EMT lead this camp. This camp is for students rising into grade 12 for the 2023-2024 school year and 2023 graduates.
A required pre-trip meeting for this camp will take place on July 8, 2023, at the National Aquarium.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice
The Henry Hall Summer Scholars program and the National Aquarium strive to create a welcoming environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Who Was Henry Hall?
Henry Hall (1896–1979) was an engineer, world traveler, teacher, aquarist, inventor and philanthropist. He served as a mentor to Baltimore's black engineers, recognizing a lack of opportunities and resources for professionals like himself within his profession. His community involvement and belief in learning helped shape the Aquarium and its relationship to the city and its students.
Hall traveled the world, observing and collecting aquatic animals. He devoted his entire Mosher Street basement to the care of rare freshwater tropical fish, an alligator, an electric eel and a shark. In 1977, he donated his animals to the future National Aquarium, which opened in 1981. To carry on the late Hall's dream, the Aquarium established the Henry Hall Endowment Fund in August 1982 to provide free educational opportunities for students who attend Baltimore City Public Schools. Since then, more than $1 million in awards have been provided to these students through Henry Hall Summer Camps. Every summer, more than 200 Baltimore City students are given the opportunity to explore the aquatic natural world through hands-on experiences, making memories that will last a lifetime.
Hands-On Learning, Beyond Baltimore Empowerment Through Experience
Through the National Aquarium's Henry Hall Summer Scholars camp program, Baltimore students trade city neighborhoods for natural environments and gain a deeper understanding of the connection we share with water.