Camp Croods

The Croods: A New Age is available on digital NOW! To celebrate the at-home release of this family fun film, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is launching "Camp Croods" a limited engagement, virtual museum program for kids! Learn more about the event, find out how to register, and read about my "Camp Croods" experience. PLUS I had to opportunity to listen to The Croods: A New Age director, Joel Crawford answer some questions, I've got the highlights ( what did he say when asked about Croods 3??).

"Camp Croods" a Virtual Kids Museum Program Kicks Off Today!

La Brea Tar Pits, part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) have partnered with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment to bring families and kids “Camp Croods,” based on the DreamWorks Animation family film The Croods: A New Age.

"Bringing the world of The Croods to life with the help of these two distinguished museums within an exclusive setting is a truly unique opportunity that we are pleased to share virtually with families and kids. As time-honored brands for research, discovery and exhibition, La Brea Tar Pits and the Smithsonian continue to develop entertaining and engaging programs for kids making them the ideal partners to celebrate the home entertainment release of The Croods: A New Age, the must-own family movie of the year.”  - Hilary Hoffman, Executive Vice President – Global Marketing, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Camp Croods | About the Event

The two separate interactive programs will feature hands-on activities and scientific investigation to explore the Ice Age, human origins and fate of saber-toothed cats. Families will have the chance to meet real-life paleontologists and archaeologists, participate in DIY art projects, explore virtual tar pits (La Brea Tar Pits camp), take a virtual tour of the Human Origins exhibition (NMNH camp) and experience drawing demonstrations that bring the fan favorite prehistoric Croods characters to life.

“This collaboration is a great opportunity to showcase the ways in which art and science intersect, while at the same time introducing families to La Brea Tar Pits, the world’s only active paleontological research facility in a major urban area. We are grateful to Universal and DreamWorks for helping us provide campers with a new way to see science in action and encourage them to keep exploring the world around them—be it through paleontology or animation.” - Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

Related: The Croods: A New Age Coming Soon to 4k, Blu-ray & DVD

Camp Croods | Event Dates & Times

Camp Croods at La Brea Tar Pits
Thursday, February 11, 2021, 3pm- 4:30pm PT
Saturday, February 13, 2021, 10-11:30am PT
FREE. Registration required. RSVP at tarpits.org/campcroods.

Camp Croods at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 6pm-7pm ET
FREE. Registration required. RSVP at s.si.edu/croods

“We are excited to join with Universal and DreamWorks to take visitors to Camp Croods on a journey back in time to explore the evidence scientists use to understand the lives of early humans. Campers will embark on a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Human Origins which examines the lives and environments of our earliest ancestors and considers the notion of what it means to be human.” -Dr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Camp Croods | Media Preview

I had the pleasure of attending a media preview of the virtual "Camp Croods" at La Brea Tar Pits and it was a fun-filled evening!

During our camp we met with a paleontologist who shared photos of some of the dig sites she has worked on and learned about different animals that are now extinct. 

A fun interactive portion of the camp was learning to draw Chunky from a Story Artist from Dreamworks, you can see my masterpiece below. During another hands-on portion of the event we followed along to make our own puppets, like Guy!

There was a clear star of the evening though, he is a Saber Tooth CAT - not a tiger, and it is very important to him that you know this, named Nibbles! He is a puppet that guests at La Brea Tar Pits can meet and greet (the museum is currently closed) and he was full energy and lots of jokes.

During our camp we got to meet the puppeteer behind Nibbles and he explained what it is like to maneuver and voice the marionette puppet.

"Camp Croods" is just another example of how businesses are working so hard to bring experiences into our homes during these unprecedented times. If you have a child who loves not only the Croods movies and characters but also animals, science and drawing (!!) then this virtual camp experience will be great for them! It is also interesting enough for adults too, make it a family activity - have your paper and pencil ready to draw and maybe even take a few notes.

Related: Virtual Trips to the Crayola Factory

Camp Croods | The Croods: A New Age Director, Joel Crawford

An exciting part of our media preview of "Camp Croods" was the opportunity to listen to the director of The Croods: A New Age, Joel Crawford.  Fun fact, Joel Crawford did not work on The Croods but he was a fan of the film!

One question asked during the Q&A portion with Joel Crawford was about the colors seen in The Croods: A New Age, much more colorful than The Croods. Joel described the first film as being based on a dangerous world, one that was falling apart (hence the darker colors) and with "A New Age" he used lots of color as he wanted the audience to experience the change in environment along with the Croods family.

When asked why there was a focus on Guy's backstory for "A New Age", Joel said he found it interesting (from the first film) that Guy had been traveling his whole life. 

Joel Crawford also talked about what it was like to make a movie during a pandemic. The Croods: A New Age was just about half-way done when the pandemic shut everything down so the film was finished while everyone was working form home!

The cast of The Croods: A New Age is a long list of heavy-hitters, Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Cloris Leechman, and Joel said they did a lot of improvising (with their lines). 

The question, I think on everyone's mind is, will there be a Croods 3? The first film was released in 2013, seven years later and here we are with The Croods: A New Age could there be a 3rd? If it were up to director, Joel Crawford he says yes! However, he was very quick to point out that it is Universal's call. So for now we'll have to wait and see and enjoy The Croods: A New Age.

​​The Croods: A New Age is available to own on Digital NOW and will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray™ and DVD February 23, 2021 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Follow Along on Social Media

​#CampCroods, #CroodsNewAge
Facebook: @TheCroods
Twitter: @DreamWorks
Instagram: @TheCroods
 
#TarPits
Facebook: @tarpits
Twitter: @labreatarpits
Instagram: @thelabreatarpits
 
#Smithsonian
Facebook: @SmithsonianNMNH @Smithsonian
Twitter: @NMNH @Smithsonian
Instagram: @smithsoniannmnh @smithsonian

ABOUT THE CROODS: A NEW AGE
The first prehistoric family is ready for another rocking adventure! The Croods have survived fanged beasts, natural disasters, and even young love, but now they must face their biggest challenge yet: another family! In search of a new home, the Croods discover a walled-in paradise created by the sophisticated Betterman family (emphasis on the “better”). As they try to coexist, the differences between the two families escalate into a full-blown feud, but when a new threat forces both families to embark on an epic adventure, they must all learn to work together…or they’ll all go extinct! Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clarke Duke, Cloris Leachman, Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage and Kelly Marie Tran star in this hilarious animated comedy for the whole family!

ABOUT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects. Using these collections for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, the museums also incorporate them into on- and offsite nature and culture exploration in L.A. neighborhoods, and a slate of community science programs—creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences that explore the past, present, and future. Visit NHMLAC.ORG for adventure, education, and entertainment opportunities.

ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth’s unfolding story. The museum is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world with approximately 5 million annual visitors from the U.S. and around the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is a scientific research center dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world’s most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. For more information, visit naturalhistory.si.edu which offers a host of educational programming, a chance to explore our collections, and the opportunity to embark on a virtual tour of current and past exhibitions.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG). UFEG produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and other distribution platforms, as well as consumer products, interactive gaming and live entertainment. The global division includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Brand Development, Fandango, DreamWorks Animation Film and Television and Awesomeness.  UFEG is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.