Best STEM Summer Camps For Kids 2024

Summer camp is a fantastic way to encourage learning for kids. These educational opportunities allow students to learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects while exploring new ideas outside the regular classroom.

Confidence, critical thinking, and soft skills that kids learn via STEM programs can make a huge difference in their adult lives. You can choose from various programs for your children, whether you want them to spend their time on campus, take virtual classes, or just participate in a day camp.

High schools and universities around the country have adopted STEM curriculums, and this has expanded to include additional learning opportunities during the off-season. For a few wonderful options online and around the country, check out these STEM summer camps for kids.

1. iD Tech

iD Tech’s summer STEM programs are designed for students ages 7 to 19. They have developed an approach to take your child from complete novice to college-ready expert through year-round online instruction and on-campus courses. There are ID Tech camps all over the United States as well as in other countries like the UK.

Students can also choose one of their virtual tech camps. This way, they can participate in organized sessions from the comfort of their own homes. The camps have games, fun things to do, and challenges that can be both interesting and educational.

ID Tech offers several courses in topics like Minecraft, Roblox, Scratch, game design and development, and AI. Older Children also have various challenging camp options, including JavaScript and Adobe. Teenagers and above are introduced to intriguing programming languages, such as Python, C++, and Java. 

In their on-campus summer camps, campers can be inspired by iconic landmarks, learn in their next-generation labs, and get a taste of the college experience in the dining halls.

2. CodeWizardsHQ

CodeWizardsHQ has been around since 2005. It’s a well-liked platform that provides youngsters ages 8-18 access to online coding courses. The company offers small, instructor-led live sessions on Zoom. Students can learn coding languages like Scratch, Javascript, and Python. They can also learn practical programming skills like web and app development.

CodeWizardsHQ offers summer programs that last one week. Your kids can learn modern coding skills in Scratch, Python, and Minecraft, access exciting internship opportunities, and work on interesting projects.

The curriculum focuses on recent technological advances and coding principles. The coursework is also well-planned and applicable in the real world. This gives them something to be proud of when applying to universities.

The company provides outstanding 24/7 assistance and regular progress reports for parents. Additionally, class sizes are small so that each student receives enough attention. 

3. Code Advantage

One of the top options for K-8th grade students is Code Advantage, which provides a wide variety of courses in computer programming. Children can take lessons virtually or in person and even sign up for a private 1 on 1 session. 

The online coding camps are split by student age or proficiency. Scratch, Robotics, Minecraft, 3D Game Design, Pygame, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Python are some available options. Students are asked to devote two hours every day for four days. Typically, camps take place over the summer or during school vacations and range anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks.

The on-campus courses depend on your location. New York City is home to a wide variety of after-school programs that cater to students of all ages and academic levels.

Private lessons are an amazing way for children to learn how to code in a more attentive setting. Children six years and up can sign up for this option on their website. 

4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

All third-year and four-year high school students ages 16 and above are welcome to apply to the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR). This program is highly sought after as it’s completely free and is offered by none other than Stanford, one of the best universities in the country.

Under the guidance of Stanford academics, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers, undergraduate students from various backgrounds can conduct fundamental research on a healthcare-related issue. The students are selected each year for a competitive 8-week internship at the SIMR. 

Participants are placed in one of eight research laboratories inside Stanford’s Department of Medicine. Some of the research fields include Immunology, Stem Cell, Neuroscience, Genetics, and Bioinformatics. The in-person camps include lectures, labs, research projects, and mentorship.

High school students considering a profession in medicine can benefit from attending SIMR. Whatever their aspirations are in the amazing world of medicine, SIMR is a fantastic step toward these goals.

5. AstroCamp

Located in Idyllwild in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California, AstroCamp combines the outdoor fun of traditional summer camps with a large list of activities focused on STEM learning. AstroCamp offers one-week and two-week sessions of abundant education and fun to kids ages 8 to 17.

STEM activities are woven into the fabric of the program experience, with options for all future engineers, scientists, and mathematicians. Kids can explore the cosmos with telescopes during star nights, conduct experiments with gases and atmosphere in the lab, or build and launch rockets. No matter what choice, fun is guaranteed.

Camp activities like rock climbing, hiking, archery, kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling keep campers active and outdoors in the sun. Healthy bodies help encourage growing young minds, and they provide them with both.

Science and summer camp is fused wonderfully at AstroCamp.

6. Carnegie Mellon SAMS

College preparation is a primary goal of STEM programs, and Carnegie Mellon University offers an accelerated summer academy for this specific purpose. The best part about it is that it’s completely free for students. The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) is a perfect opportunity for children who want to pursue a mathematics or scientific career.

It can accelerate their learning journey and establish a clear path to college and directly into a productive career. The program offers traditional classroom discussions, hands-on projects, and the chance to develop relationships with peers and mentors in their chosen field.

Students who wish to attend Carnegie Mellon’s SAMS need to be at least 16 years old and a junior in high school when applying. It lasts five weeks and provides a full-time educational experience during the school break.

7. Michigan State University HSHSP

The High School Honors, Science, Math, and Engineering Program (HSHSP) was established in 1958 at Michigan State University. HSHSP is a seven-week summer program that gives kids a preview of what the college experience is like alongside a top-of-the-line research-focused curriculum.

Students in the HSHSP program can expect a busy schedule of research, study, and discussion. This is a full-time program for kids who are serious about learning and delving into the purpose of scientific inquiry. Children accepted into the program are allowed to choose from a general field of research, and much of their work is done individually.

Over 95% of those who have attended the HSHSP program have gone on to major in STEM-related fields like mathematics and engineering. With the skills and knowledge learned, alumni have gone on to attend prestigious universities like MIT, Yale, Cal Tech, and of course, Michigan State. 

The focus of HSHSP is to engage students in the process of research, participation in projects, and discussions with other peers and faculty. You can also see this page for more engineering camps.

8. Space Camp

Some children dream of being an astronaut, and they can live out those dreams at Space Camp. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, in cooperation with the U.S. Rocket and Space Center, Space Camp has served families since 1982.

Imagination meets real-world science and training as kids 7-18  learn what they need to become astronauts one day. Space Camp provides children with practical examples of scientific experiments that have been utilized for space flight and exploration. Kids get to create and launch their own rockets, learn what life is like on the International Space Station, and take a spin in the multi-axis trainer.

Programs are six days long and are available year-round for campers 9-18. Parents can partake in fun with their children by enrolling in the Family Space Academy option, which lasts three days. There are also other specialty camps that focus on aviation and cybersecurity. 

9. Mad Science Worldwide

Mad Science Worldwide has several locations across the United States and other countries. Unlike other traditional camps, their STEM camps are hosted at schools and allow entire classes to attend.

There are themes for every camp that kids can enjoy. Future astronauts can learn all about gravity and what it’s like to live in space. They can even participate in a rocket launch. For the inventors, there is an option that allows children to use ingenuity to problem-solve and build working machines. There is also a program for the next-generation super-spy, which lets kids try out forensic science, crack codes, and sharpen their powers of observation.

Mad Science Worldwide has summer camps for kids ages 3-12. Sessions are available in half-day and full-day sessions and in-person or virtually. The teacher-to-student ratio falls between 1:12-1:15, with instructors who are either teachers or college students with previous experience teaching children.