This summer, embark on a historic journey through time with our Youth Summer Camps at the Texas Historical Commission’s state historic sites! Immerse your young historians in a unique blend of education and adventure, where the past comes to life. Fill out the form below to sign up for a summer camp! 

Registration will close one week before each camp is scheduled to begin.

Bush Family Home

Cowboy Week

June 16-19 (Tuesday to Friday)
9 a.m.–noon

Join the Bush Family Home for a week filled with all things cowboy! The early 1950s were the golden age of Westerns and Cowboy films, and it just so happened to be a genre beloved by George W. Bush as a child! We'll listen to people tell us how to care for horses, make soap like the cowboys did, and even meet some real, live horses!

• Ages 6-11
• $50 
• bushfamilyhome@thc.texas.gov

Casa Navarro

Camp Bexar Cocina

June 20, July 11, July 25 (Saturdays)
10 a.m.–noon

Bring history to the table this summer at Casa Navarro's Camp Bexar Cocina. Families are invited to experience San Antonio’s culinary past through a hands-on cooking series. Each class explores historic local recipes and food traditions while participants prepare and enjoy the dishes together.

• Ages 8 and up
• $25 for family/group of 4 (1 adult per group required)
• casa-navarro@thc.texas.gov

Longhorn Herd at Fort Griffin

Frontier Trailblazers: A Day of Adventure at Fort Griffin

June 6 (Saturday)
9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Step into the boots of a frontier scout for a day of adventure at Fort Griffin!

At Frontier Trailblazers, families will team up in small groups to learn 1870s-style navigation and measurement skills—using pacing, compasses, and even the height of the flagpole to chart their course across the fort grounds. Participants will take on a guided scavenger hunt that tests their new skills and leads them to hidden instructions in clever locations.

The day also features a live branding demonstration with the State of Texas longhorn herd, where kids will help corral the animals and later brand a cedar-plank keepsake to take home. Enjoy a hearty chuckwagon lunch and tap your toes to live frontier music—with a chance to try your hand at an old-time instrument like the spoons or washboard.

From marching orders to music, it’s a full day of frontier fun for the whole family.

• Ages 8 and up. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• $10 per person
• ft-griffin@thc.texas.gov

Fort Martin Scott

Texas Frontier Trail Adventure

June 13, July 18, August 8 (Saturdays)
10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Set out on the Texas Frontier Trail this summer at Fort Martin Scott! Join your party, load your wagon, and prepare for the challenges of settling on the Texas Frontier! Cross rivers, fight outlaws, trade with natives and settlers, and try not to catch dysentery! Join staff and volunteers from across the Texas Historical Commission as you navigate the dangers of the "Wild West"!

• Ages 7-13
• $30
• ftmartinscott@thc.texas.gov

Goodnight Ranch 

Camp Cattalo Family Summer Camp

July 21-23 (Tuesday to Thursday)
9 a.m.–noon

Camp Cattalo Family Summer Camp invites children and adults alike to dive into the vibrant history of the Texas Panhandle. Discover the stories of nomadic Native Americans, bronco-busting cowboys, and resilient pioneer women. Campers will leave with unforgettable memories and a newfound appreciation for the past!

• All ages. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Children $5, Adults $10
• goodnightranch@thc.texas.gov 

Magoffin Home

Kids Historic Cooking Class

Calabazitas on May 16 (Saturday)
Wheat Muffins with Honey Butter on June 13 (Saturday)
Three Sisters Salad on July 18 (Saturday)

The Magoffin Home Kids Historic Cooking Classes invite young chefs to explore history through hands-on cooking. Using kid-friendly versions of historic recipes, participants will learn how families cooked in the past while measuring, mixing, tasting, and creating together.

• Ages 6-11 
• $10
• magoffin-home@thc.texas.gov

Mission Dolores

Archeology Camp

June 24 (Wednesday)
9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Discover the exciting field of archeology. Participants will learn about field work, artifacts, and historic preservation while participating in a mock dig.

• Ages 8-12
• $15 (one child), $10 each additional child
• missiondolores@thc.texas.gov

National Museum of the Pacific War

Nimitz Summer Camp

June 22-26, July 20-24 (Monday to Friday)
8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Step into history this summer! In this exciting five-day camp, kids (ages 8–14) will explore the Second World War through hands-on activities, interactive challenges, and real WWII artifacts. Campers will undergo “boot camp," learn about wartime communications, the Home Front, propaganda, spycraft, and more! Through immersive storytelling and innovative activities, history will come to life like never before!

Spots are limited—reserve your camper’s place using the signup form at the link below:

NMPW Summer Camp Signup

Sam Rayburn House

Summer Day the Rayburn Way: Design a House 

June 25-26 (Thursday to Friday)
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Children ages 10 to 12 are invited to join a three-hour program to learn about basic architecture and design, draw a scale model floor plan of a home from preselected rooms, and create a 3-D version of their design. Children who want to learn more about architecture, home design, or how to effectively rearrange their rooms are invited to this camp. We will have two sessions of this camp, one on June 25 and one on June 26. Space is limited to five children per camp session. We will charge $15 per child for each session. Parents or caregivers may accompany their child during the session at no charge, or children may be dropped off. Registration is required to attend the camp, and the registration deadline is June 15. We will have water available, but we will not provide food.

• Ages 10-12
• $15 per child for each session
• sam-rayburn-house@thc.texas.gov

San Felipe de Austin

Journeyman Experience at San Felipe de Austin

June 26-27 (Friday and Saturday)
9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

July 25 (Saturday), 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
July 26 (Sunday), noon–4:30 p.m.

San Felipe de Austin played an important role on the road to the Texas Revolution and Independence. This story has been largely overlooked in the broader story of the Republic of Texas. Learn about the town's history from its founding to revolutionary ideas, to the burning of the town during the Runaway scrape, and finally on archeology and the town's story today.

• Open to anyone over age 13
• $40
• san-felipe@thc.texas.gov

Starr Family Home

Lift Off! Hot Air Balloon Exploration

June 10 (Wednesday)

Step into the age of curiosity, invention, and skyward adventure! Join us from 10 a.m. to noon on June 10 for a morning of discovery as we explore the remarkable world of hot air balloons. Hear tales of Victorian pioneers who rose hundreds of feet above the earth, guided only by fire and ingenuity. Learn how early balloonists mapped cities, observed the weather, and captivated thousands of onlookers with daring flights. Through stories, crafts, and hands-on activities, children will uncover the science that makes balloons ascend and the history that inspired generations to look upward with wonder. Adventure is in the air-let imagination take flight! A morning of aerial adventure for just $5 per young explorer, with all materials included. Best for ages 5 to 10, though all curious minds are welcome!

• Ages 5-10
• $5
• starr-family-home@thc.texas.gov

French Legation 

Petits Texans: French Language & History Camp

June 1-5 (Monday to Friday)

Petits Texans are invited to join the French Legation's half-day French Language & History Camp. This passport to frontier Texas is led in partnership with Education Française Austin teachers to guide ages 8 through 10 on a fun learning journey to explore where Texas meets France. Programs and activities include cultural activities such as crepe-making and French language instruction. Half-day camp with no meals provided. French fluency not required. 

Please click the link below to access the French Legation's Summer Camp signup form:

Petits Texans: French Language & History Camp Form

Sam Bell Maxey

Little Sprouts: Nature Adventures with the Maxey House

June 4, 11, 18, 25 (Thursdays)
2–3 p.m.

Little Sprouts is a month-long summer program designed to help young learners explore nature through hands-on activities inspired by the historic grounds of the Sam Bell Maxey House. Meeting weekly on Thursdays in June, this program encourages curiosity, creativity, and outdoor exploration through gardening, nature walks, and simple Victorian-era practices.

Each week features a new nature-themed adventure that blends sensory learning, crafts, and history in an age-appropriate and engaging way. Participants will explore local habitats, discover historic gardens, learn about plants and helpful garden creatures, and experiment with natural dyes—just like children might have done in the past.

Please click the link below to access the Little Sprouts Summer Camp signup form:

Sam Bell Maxey Little Sprouts: Nature Adventures with the Maxey House Form

• Ages 5-13
• $8 per class or $20 for all four classes
• sam-bell-maxey@thc.texas.gov

Sam Bell Maxey

Red, White, and Crafty!

July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 (Thursdays)
2–3 p.m.

Red, White, and Crafty! is a hands-on, craft-focused summer program that invites young creators to explore art, tradition, and community through weekly creative projects. Meeting on Thursdays in July, each session features a new themed craft inspired by history, seasonal celebrations, and classic American pastimes. This program also connects to America250, encouraging participants to reflect on shared traditions and creative expression as we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States.

From festive decorations and collaborative art to sweet summer treats and fiber crafts, participants will enjoy a relaxed, fun-filled environment that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and self-expression—all in the historic setting of the Sam Bell Maxey House.

Please click the link below to access the Red, White and Crafty Summer Camp signup form:

Sam Bell Maxey Red, White, and Crafty! Camp Form

• Ages 5-13
• $3
• sam-bell-maxey@thc.texas.gov

Your reservation is not complete until we contact you to confirm your spot. Please make sure you are giving us the correct email address and/or phone number. 

If another adult will be accompanying or dropping off your child(ren), please provide their name and contact information here.

If another adult will be picking up your child(ren), please provide their name and contact information here.