THF Summer Camp: Innovation, Community, and Lasting Memories

During the 2025 season, THF Summer Camp hosted 453 enthusiastic campers, marking another successful year at one of Metro Detroit’s signature summer programs. While many children came from the local area, the camp’s reputation drew families from across the nation creating a vibrant and diverse group of campers.

For one parent, this was a full-circle opportunity for her child. “My daughter had such a fantastic experience. She lives in Texas, but I grew up in Michigan and attended Discovery Camp as a child for many years. When she became old enough to join and spend time with family in Michigan it was a no-brainer… She won't stop talking about it and it brings a smile to my face that it is becoming a generational tradition.”

The Henry Ford was proud to partner with numerous Detroit-based Community Outreach Partners this year, allowing 38 campers from these organizations to experience the program. “Offering scholarships to THF Summer Camp is another way to connect and nurture curiosity, ignite creativity and encourage big dreams,” said Mary Beth Haliburda, Program Manager of Field Trip Partnerships and Enrichment at The Henry Ford. “At THF Summer Camp we are specialists at making memories, inspiring imaginations and helping every camper discover their spark.”

The camp operates as a Monday-through-Friday day camp, offering five one-week sessions each summer for children entering grades 2 through 7. Its curriculum centers on hands-on experiences and unique access to The Henry Ford’s venues and collections, all grounded in three core learning principles: learning powered by perspective, learning applied to the real world and learning shared equitably by all.

One parent in Michigan praised their campers’ experience by saying, “When compared to other summer camp experiences, this one checks all the boxes. It’s fun, engaging and unique and my camper learned about innovative habits.”

Learning Experiences by Grade

Every year, dedicated staff work hard to provide meaningful camp experiences that are appropriate for each grade level. Unique themes and signature activities help differentiate the grade levels while the overarching lessons for each encourage campers to think like innovators and stimulate their curiosity for learning.

“THF Summer Camp is such a unique experience, as lessons and activities are rooted in our rich stories and artifacts, while taking place right here on our campus of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village,” says Mary Beth Haliburda. “Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and creativity, fostering a love of learning that extends well beyond the summer months.”

For rising second graders, the "Superheroes" program encourages children to discover the innovator within, highlighting how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Our third grade “Movers” explore the evolution of transportation through interactive experiences, like touring the Ford Rouge Factory and ground-driving horses at William Ford Barn.

The "Explorers" program for fourth graders focuses on connecting with nature and history—hiking Oxbow Island, canoeing in Suwanee Lagoon, weaving with Hello Loom, and making soap. Our fifth grade “Growers” camp explores the journey of food with experiential highlights of cooking in our Edible Education programming space and “selling” their own food products at Market Day.

For our older campers, sixth grade “Makers” enjoy a STEM-based camp and seventh grade “Dreamers” discover the inspiration behind art and how it can be used to change the world.

THF Summer Camp’s commitment to experiential learning, community partnerships, and creating an inclusive and welcoming program contributed to a memorable 2025 season. As one caregiver stated, “My grandson attends 3 to 4 different camps every summer. The Henry Ford camp is by far his favorite every year.” And another, “Our son loved camp! His favorite experience was getting to operate the handcar. As parents we loved the great communication and how professionally everything was handled. We will definitely be back next year!!” 

Registration for THF Summer Camp 2026 will open March 4 for members of The Henry Ford and March 11 to the public. Keep an eye on the THF Summer Camp website for further updates. We hope to see you this summer!

All photos courtesy of Vansen Media.