Are you planning your child’s summer schedule and want to incorporate STEM camps or activities into the mix? You may be surprised to learn that there are online summer camps with a STEM focus. This may be the perfect solution if you don’t have in-person programs near you, or you need the flexibility and convenience that online offers. A virtual camp could be a good option if you need to work from home or even if you’re on vacation but want to keep your child engaged.
Online summer camps give you access to a wide spectrum of top-notch STEM programs from around the country with live instruction. These programs generally run for one week and are held for a few hours a day. Unlike other online classes and in-person camps, online summer camps typically feature smaller group sizes, shorter session times, and a curriculum incorporating active learning and multiple learning methods. Your child may also be challenged with supplemental work outside of camp, allowing them to practice their skills and work on projects independently.
3 Places to Find Online STEM Camps
Not sure how to find an online camp? This article outlines how parents can find great virtual summer programs for kids and teens.
1. STEM Education Companies
If you’re searching for an online summer camp, the best place to start is my Online STEM Classes & Camps article and its accompanying list of companies that specialize in online STEM education for kids. Many of these organizations offer their classes during the summer; some even create unique programs tailored for the summer. These programs are offered live and are led by instructors; most charge a fee.
2. Universities & Colleges
Colleges and universities are another source for online summer STEM programs, especially for teens looking for pre-college opportunities and the chance to explore possible majors. The course curriculums often include live lectures, career talks, case studies, hands-on work, and capstone projects. For example, UMass Amherst offers a 2-week session in Programming for Aspiring Scientists: Python with Applications to Physics, and John Hopkins University offers a number of online STEM courses.
Universities all over the country offer summer STEM programs, but not all offer virtual camps. To search online for a university-based program, you might start with a college or university in your area that you are already familiar with. You could also target specific institutions that are of interest to your child. When searching online, it’s best to search on a specific topic. For instance, you might search on “[name of a university] pre-college summer [robotics] programs.” You could also call the department in the particular area your child is interested in: for example, call the Department of Engineering if you’re looking for a hands-on engineering and design program.
3. Summer-Only Programs from Other STEM Institutions
Some organizations host specialized programs that are only offered in the summer. A sample is shown below.
- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center provides virtual and weeklong summer camps in genetics and molecular biology for students in grades 6–12. Campers receive materials kits so they can perform labs and activities at home and participate alongside classmates and instructors in real-time or on-demand with video instruction.
- Boston Leadership Institute offers Biotech Research and Biomedical and Surgical Research for teens. Programs provide students with the opportunity to develop high-level research skills and subject matter expertise, as well as strengthen credentials valuable for college admissions interviews and essays.
- Girls Make Games offers camps to girls and non-binary kids ages 8–18. Students work in groups of 5-6 with a live online instructor to learn how to design and program their own video games. No previous coding or game development experience is necessary. The students also collaborate on playing online games, participate in community contests, and attend online programs featuring speakers who talk about careers in the video games industry.
- iResearch Institute offers a summer program geared towards high school students with a passion for science. In the month-long Summer Research Institute program, high school and early college students conduct original, student-driven science research projects.
- MehtA+ offers two summer camps in AI/Machine Learning taught by MIT & Stanford Engineers: an intensive 6-week machine learning research bootcamp for current 8th–12th graders and a 2-week competitive programming bootcamp for current 7th–12th graders. In the research bootcamp, students will be able to work closely with top university professors to complete an AI research project in the sciences or the humanities.
- The National Inventors Hall of Fame offers Camp Invention Connect, where kids in grades K–6 build creative inventions. An Innovator’s Toolkit—packed with all the materials needed for your child’s STEM summer camp experience—is shipped directly to your door, and students can join a week of virtual camp sessions (four per day for five consecutive days) led by a qualified educator.
- ScioVirtual is a student-led organization that offers an engaging online summer camp experience for three weeks in July. Students between the ages of 10 and 14 have the unique opportunity to be part of a community where they can participate in live instruction, games, and competitions. Courses are taught by carefully selected instructors with strong backgrounds in science, including national Olympiad medalists and students from top colleges, who serve as role models for younger students. In addition to classes, students take part in challenging and enjoyable activities designed to provide a perfect balance of competition and exploration.
- Sea Education Association (SEA) offers SEA Quest, a program designed for high school students from around the country – and the world – who share a passion for ocean science, want to make a difference through ocean conservation, and prepare for college at the same time. The program draws on leading experts in oceanography, marine ecology, maritime history, and nautical science.
- Wolfram Research offers Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp, an interactive, workshop-based camp introducing middle-school girls to cutting-edge programming, computational thinking, and innovative technology. The camp combines hands-on training led by Wolfram instructors, expert speakers on topics of interest, peer collaboration, and individual exploration. Students focus on learning the basics and beyond of coding, design, and computational thinking, with plenty of time reserved for social activities and bonding with young people from around the world.
Looking for In-person STEM Camps?
If you prefer a summer camp that’s in-person rather than virtual, here’s a sampling of well-known organizations that run programs all over the country. You can also find programs in your community offered by local companies, libraries, museums, universities, and youth-focused organizations. Search for them online and contact them directly for details on schedule, cost, and curriculum. In many areas, the local newspapers publish a special summer camp guide in late winter or early spring, which will include many listings from those local organizations. And if you live in Massachusetts, review my extensive list of 100+ STEM summer camps. Finally, for more on evaluating a summer STEM program for your child, check out BostonTechMom’s tips.
