Join us for Hands-On History in Denver! Camps are hosted at CSU Spur Campus and History Colorado Center! Hands-On History provides safe, engaging learning opportunities for elementary and middle school children enrolled in grades 1 - 5.

Each year we offer Summer Camp, Winter Break Camp, as well as Spring Break Camp! Check back for more information each season.

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Hands-On History at the History Colorado Center

Click here to register for Summer Camp→

WHO: Kids enrolled in grades 1 - 5
WHERE:  1200 N. Broadway Denver, CO 80203
WHEN:  June 8 - 26, July 6 - August 7, 2026 | 8:30am - 5:00pm

Class themes:

Week 1: June 8-12th
Unearth! Stories from the Land.
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.

Week 2: June 15-19th
Ride! Ranching, Wrangling & Rodeos.
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!

Week 3: June 22-26th
Remember! Looking Back at the Past 150 Years.
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.

Week 4: July 6-10th
Plant! Let’s Grow Together.
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!

Week 5: July 13-17th
Create! Arts & Innovations
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!

Week 6: July 20-24th
Explore! The Elements in Colorado
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!

Week 7: July 27-31st
Thrive! Life in Colorado.
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!

Week 8: August 3-7th
Share! What's Your Story?
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.

Click here to register for Spring Break Camp→

WHO: Kids enrolled in grades 1 - 5
WHERE:  1200 N. Broadway Denver, CO 80203
WHEN: March 23rd, 2026 - March 27th, 2026   | 8:00am - 5:00pm

Class theme:

Campers dive into Colorado's history through the lens of it's native wildlife! From exploring and creating, campers will have the opportunity to learn about the history and importance of animals in the state. This immersive experience connects wildlife, people and place for a wild week of learning and fun!

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Hands-On History at CSU Spur

Click here to register for Summer Camp→

WHO: Kids enrolled in grades 1 - 5
WHERE:  CSU Spur Campus: 4777 National Western Dr, Denver, CO 80216, USA
WHEN: July 13 - August 7, 2025 | 8:30 - 5:00 pm 

Class themes: 

Week 1: July 13-17th
Plant! Let’s Grow Together.
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!

Week 2: July 20-24th
Create! Arts & Innovations.
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!

Week 3: July 27-31st
Explore! The Elements in Colorado.
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!

Week 4: August 3-7th
Thrive! Life in Colorado.
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!

Click here to register for Spring Break Camp→

WHO: Kids enrolled in grades 1 - 5
WHERE:  CSU Spur Campus: 4777 National Western Dr, Denver, CO 80216, USA
WHEN: March 30th, 2026 - April 3rd, 2026 | 8:00 - 5:00 pm 

Class theme: Paws & Claws

Campers dive into Colorado's history through the lens of it's native wildlife! From exploring and creating, campers will have the opportunity to learn about the history and importance of animals in the state. This immersive experience connects wildlife, people and place for a wild week of learning and fun!

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Automatic Tuition Assistance

The following tuition assistance, if applicable, will be automatically subtracted from your tuition!

• Free/reduced lunch: save 40%
• Enrolling multiple children: save 10%
• Early bird registration: save 10% by registering before Feb. 28 for spring break and before May 12 for summer camp
• History Colorado Members, including History Buff Fourth Grade Members: save 10%

Sign up for a History Colorado membership here →

Sign up for a History Buff membership here →

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