The importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is becoming more and more apparent in our children's lives. Technology is everywhere, and STEM fields provide some of the most in-demand career opportunities. Plus, kids can learn to design video games, build LEGO robots, or even dissect a squid! How cool is that?
Fun and engaging summer camp programs in science and technology are plentiful in the Philadelphia area. All this is sure to make summer science anything but boring.
Visit the Mommy Poppins Camp Directory for even more great summer program options.
Science Explorers
Many parents may already be familiar with Science Explorers' after school programs, but they also offer week-long day camps all over the Delaware Valley. Programs are held at schools, museums, libraries and recreation departments throughout the summer. Families can choose morning, afternoon, or full-day options making topics such as marine biology, astronomy, physics, and chemistry fun to learn. Programs are grouped by ages 4 - 6 or 7 - 11. Early bird registration and discount available.
GSK Science in the Summer
My children have participated in this FREE camp and have loved it. Sponsored by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and administered by the Franklin Institute through local libraries, this program give kids entering grades 2-6 fun, hands-on lessons in one of several STEM topics. Previous sessions were for one hour per day over four days. Information about the 2017 program will be posted to their website in early April and in past years, registration opened the first week of May, but check with your library ahead of time. Because this program is so popular, some libraries hold lotteries or first-come, first-served sign-ups.
Camp Invention
If your children love to tinker and build, this creative inventors' camp could be for them. Kindergartners through sixth graders can register for week-long sessions being held at over a dozen schools across the Delaware Valley. Campers engage in creative problem solving, a design studio, and entrepreneurial planning to bring their products to life. Sessions generally run from 9 AM - 3:30 PM. Early registration discounts are available.
Lavner Camps
Lavner runs a wide variety of sports, arts, and science camps at schools in the Philly area. Some of their science and technology offerings include: Minecraft, Science Discovery, Programming with Scratch (ages 8 - 11), Programming with Java (ages 12 - 14), Robotics with Legos, and Game Design with Apps. An overnight tech camp is also hosted at West Chester University for ages 8 - 14. Camp costs vary depending on the theme and scheduling options chosen. Early bird registration and sibling discounts are offered.
iD Tech Camps
iD Tech hosts summer computer camps for kids ages 6-18 at Villanova University, West Chester University, and the University of Penn as well as an all-girls Alexa Cafe program at Bryn Mawr College. Campers can develop skills in courses such as programming, web design, robotics, and video game design. There are all-day and overnight options available.
Engineering for Kids
This organization offers STEM-related programs through schools and township recreation departments in Montgomery County, the Main Line, Central Bucks, and Centennial School Districts. Topics include: Minecraft, Lego robotics, software engineering, and more.
Mad Science
Mad Science offers week-long half- and full- day programs that allow kids ages 7-12 to experience lots of unique hands-on activities and experiments. Children create, design, build, and assemble challenging projects and bring at least one project home every day. Mad Science offers different camp themes to choose from, including Radical Reactions and Detective Science, NASA, Junior Doctors, and Spy Academy. Mad Science camp programming has not yet been published fro 2017, so check its website updates. Spots fill up quickly for these camps, so register early.
Digital Media Academy
Digital Media Academy has camps in 3D modeling and design, robotics and engineering, programming, and game design for kids ages 8-12 and teens ages 12-17. Full camps are available at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania. Overnights are also available.
Photo courtesy of Engineering for Kids Facebook page.
Originally published in February of 2015 and updated with current information for 2017.
