Longmont Museum summer camps

What: Weeklong camps for kids that cover a variety of subjects

Age range: Camps are available for kids aged 3 to 18

Cost: $150 to $250 per child, depending on the camp

Scholarships: Newly available for more students based on need

To apply or register: Visit bit.ly/2lhKMaE or call 303-651-8374

The Longmont Museum received a $20,000 grant that will enable staff to accommodate 1,170 more area schoolchildren for tours of the museum and 70 more kids for summer camps.

The grant comes from the Equitable Access Project, an initiative of the Dodge Family Fund. This summer, the money will fund full tuition for summer camps for children in Boulder and Weld counties based on need.

The museum holds weeklong camps in the summer that help children ages 3 to 18 learn about a bevy of subjects. The museum kicked off the summer with camps that ran last week about western settlers, paleontology, general science and environmental stewardship. Summer camps will continue to run until Aug. 3.

The museum is accepting applications for camp scholarships for this summer. Need is based on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology living wage calculator. An example is that one full-time working adult supporting the household with one child qualifies if they make less than $27.65 per hour or $57,512 annually.

Ann Macca, Longmont Museum curator of education, said in a news release that the camps are important to children and families because they see children come back year after year.

"We have seen campers grow up to become teen volunteers in our camps and even return after college to lead camps of their own and mentor young children," she said. "These experiences support learning outside of school and offer opportunities for exceptional cultural encounters with an impact that can last a lifetime."

Zombie apocalypse training instructor Erin Angel helps Liam Seplavy, 13, make a live-action role playing weapon Monday morning at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road. The Longmont Museum received a $20,000 grant to make sure more kids in Boulder and Weld Counties can attend summer camps and visit the museum. To view more photos visit timescall.com. (Lewis Geyer / Staff Photographer)

In the fall, the $20,000 grant will help the museum open educational tours to more schools across the St. Vrain Valley. Usually, school groups come to learn about the history of the area at the permanent Front Range Rising exhibit, the Longs Peak Room or the Vance Brand exhibit, said Joan Harrold, the museum's marketing and development manager.

"Schools can book a tour, and usually it's something like the whole third grade will come and rotate through the gallery part of the time and the classroom for part of the time, so there is some interactive learning," Harrold said.

The museum charges schools a fee ranging between $2 and $3 per student per tour. Many schools pass that cost and transportation cost onto parents.

"So the school might say to parents 'It's $6 for the tours and $2 for the bus.' Some parents can pay that but for others, it's not an option so then the whole class doesn't get to have that opportunity," Harrold said. "The idea with the grant is that we can extend the chance of a tour to children from schools who wouldn't normally have the ability to come here."

With the grant money, the museum will be able to offer free tours to schools where a certain percentage of students meet the need requirements. The museum will also be able to offer those school stipends for transportation to and from the museum.

Karen Antonacci: 303-684-5226, antonaccik@times-call.com or twitter.com/ktonacci