Find a STEM Summer Camp That’s Perfect For You!

Summer can be tough! Kids are excited about time away from school. But… By early July, you might hear the dreaded words “I’m bored!” Totally understandable. We’ve heard from many parents about their struggle to find a balance during summer. They want kids to stay active. However, they also want them to have down time and family time and maybe sports time. What’s the right mix? As we’ll discuss below, a week or two at summer camp might offer a great solution.

Other families might have a different challenge. For example, for working parents, finding a summer camp might be more than just a fun thing to do. It can be a requirement for child care. We’ve personally felt that panic when the calendar strikes April, and the camp we were counting on is already full. Yikes! Finding a program the kids enjoy, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg… sometimes that’s even a bigger hurdle!

With that in mind, we built a collection of summer camp opportunities. Of course, given our STEM focus here, many camps offer science themes/activities.

Finding summer camps with a STEM slant

Below, you’ll find our collection of STEMium STEM summer camp listings. Importantly, these are summer camp programs that we’ve found and have heard good feedback, or have attended ourselves. Whether you’re looking for a way to get your child exposed to something new, or let them delve into a topic more deeply, summer camp can be a great way to accomplish it. Some parents may hesitate about sending their kids to a STEM summer camp. Spending eight hours on a computer, indoors, without conversing much with other kids — that does not sound good! However, we’ve seen STEM camps really evolve over the years. Many offer a variety of activities (and outdoor time!).

Summer research experience: summer camp alternative but more intense

Finding summer camp activities that fit with older kids is hard. But, if you have a student in high school, one route to consider is pursuing a summer research experience as an alternative to summer camp. Our STEMium STEM summer camp list contains these as well!

What is a summer research experience? These programs are held at university campuses. Typically, students participate in the program for several weeks. Students work with either faculty members or graduate students and learn about the research process. They do experiments, analyze results and present to the team. My own experience with a summer research experience was as a graduate student and faculty member when I served as a mentor for high-school students.

A summer research experience will differ from summer camp. It’s more work and often longer. BUT! It can also be more rewarding for older students! Considering a major in a STEM field? These are great opportunities to learn more about the specific area. Lastly, students generate impressive resume building activities for college applications.

No summer camp near you? No problem!

Maybe some of these camps sound great! But, you live 1,000 miles away. Or, perhaps you live in a rural community and it’s just not possible to make commuting work. For families who live in locations with fewer in-person options, we have also found some online offerings. These might be another alternative to consider. Most important, many of the programs we’ve highlighted here offer STEM camps in more than one city. So, check out the list to see if there is an alternate location closer to you.

Most importantly, are we missing one? Don’t see your favorite camp listed here? Had a great experience at one? Please let us know!