The Penn Museum indefinitely suspended its anthropology summer camp earlier this week.
A museum webpage attributed the move to Penn’s ongoing hiring freeze, adding that the University was “unable to cover the operational staffing required to run the camp.” The Penn Museum Anthropology Camp, which ran for nearly 30 years, was an eight-week-long program designed for children ages 6-13.
“We have made the difficult decision to suspend the summer camp for the foreseeable future, and we will not be running the program in Summer 2026,” the website read.
According to the announcement, the decision came after “extensive discussion and careful consideration of multiple scenarios.”
“We are grateful to Museum colleagues and all the families who have made this a successful and memorable experience for the past 27 years,” a Penn Museum spokesperson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Roughly 12,000 students — nearly 500 each summer — have participated in the program since its inception in 1998.
“Each week offers an exciting theme inspired by the museum’s world-renowned collections, blending hands-on workshops, expert talks, gallery explorations, and creative projects,” a 2025 camp description read. “With themes changing weekly, there’s always something new to learn and create.”
The Penn Museum website added that while its anthropology camp will not take place this summer, the museum “remains committed to welcoming families.”
“While the Penn Museum is suspending Anthropology Camp, we remain committed as ever to welcoming families through year-round programming such as CultureFests!, Up Late with the Sphinx, Winter Break, Kwanzaa, and many more initiatives designed to strengthen community partnerships with youth-focused organizations,” a Penn Museum spokesperson wrote.
Penn first implemented “proactive financial measures” in March of last year, pausing all hiring “except for critical positions, student workers, and those funded by active grants or restricted sources.”
In March 2025, 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, threatening Penn Museum’s federal funding. In fiscal year 2024, the IMLS awarded the Penn Museum over $1 million.
Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences will also cancel its science camp this summer.
“With the Academy now open to the public Fridays through Sundays, we’re unable to provide the consistent Monday-Friday resources that a high-quality camp experience requires,” the academy wrote.
Staff reporter Lavanya Mani covers legal affairs and can be reached at mani@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies English. Follow her on X @lavanyamani_.
