Top STEM Camps for Innovative Kids, Tweens and Teens
Summer break is a time for kids to learn more and be inspired by STEM and STEAM in non traditional ways. While camps looked different this past summer, we are confident that they will return to a vibrant in-person experience soon.
Many of the camp programs that we have noted below are also offering virtual after-school programs from home, winter break and spring break programs, and tutoring opportunities.
Below are our choices for Top STEM Camps for innovative kids, tweens and teens:
Camp Invention
National
Program Overview
Camp Invention is a national program developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame to inspire innovators and makers of the future. Camp invention offers after school camps, one week summer camps, and online classes in innovation for 1st – 5th grade.
Kids customize their own tech toys (purchased as part of the program), learn about the principles of a growth stage mind, and get to work with peer groups on solving fun STEM based challenges that push their minds and imaginations.
How to Register
Visit: https://www.invent.org/programs/camp-invention
Call: 1-800-968-4332
Online or In-Person Camp Options
Both Online and In-Person Camp options available
Who is this Camp for?
Ages: K-6th Grade
Participants: Young makers with an interest in innovation and problem solving; promotes perseverance and a “can-do” attitude
Counselors in training: 6th – 8th grade students who are interested in becoming Camp Innovation counselors. These students work as liaisons between counselors and students. They ask questions that promote critical thinking and problem solving.
Backpack Bytes Perspectives
Parent Bytes: Students are provided daily challenges within a full week of imagination and engineering. Each participant receives four complete activity kits packed with all the necessary materials. Each student is able to invent independently.
We love that families can bring items to “upcycle” into part of the projects that kids create. There is also outdoor recreational time provided every day, weather permitting.
This camp is really all about innovation and there is no limit to what participants can imagine and create throughout the day!
The curriculum at Camp Invention changes every summer, making it a great choice for repeated visits. This ensures that students explore different things to keep them engaged and that the discoveries are relevant to the real world.
Camp Invention is a well thought out camp perfect for kids who love to be creative an inventive! To learn more about the 20-month development process that goes into each year’s new curriculum, check out this blog!
Kids Bytes: Camp Invention provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) concepts are relevant to our everyday lives.
Kids engage in both individual and collaborative activities. Campers embrace self-directed learning and are free to follow their curiosity. Students also spend time learning about world-changing NIHF Inductees.
Galileo
National
Program Overview
Galileo offers classes in innovation centered around a particular theme, such as national parks, space exploration, marine biology, etc.. The programs are designed to inspire kids to explore designing and creating and developing a “Maker” mindset.
How to Register
Visit: https://galileo-camps.com/
Call: 1-800-854-3684
GALILEO ANYWHERE: galileo-camps.com/galileo-anywhere
GALILEO AT HOME: galileo-camps.com/our-camps/at-home
GALILEO PARTIES: galileo-camps.com/galileo-anywhere/parties
CAMPS NEAR YOU: galileo-camps.com/our-camps/camp-finder
Online or In-Person Camp Options
Galileo has programs online and in-person, including learning pods, birthday parties, and free resources for educators and parents that span science, technology, and creativity.
Who is this Camp for?
Ages: K – 8th grade
Participants: Young makers with an interest in innovation and problem solving; promotes perseverance and a “can-do” attitude; promotes interest in real world problem-solution thinking
Backpack Bytes Perspectives
Parent Bytes: Students enroll in weekly sessions with a specific theme. Students learn about current events and challenges relevant to the theme and explore creative innovations.
What we love is that Galileo fosters confidence in one’s abilities. Experiences are hands-on problem based learning opportunities. Projects are led by enthusiastic staff who inject fun into every project.
Kids Bytes: Everybody is included. Because each session has a theme, kids can enroll in a week that suits their interests, and they know what to expect.
Codeverse
National – Online
Program Overview
High energy virtual coding camps with Codeverse offer the world’s most creative coding experiences. At Codeverse’s week-long virtual camps, kids learn to code, build mobile games that are share-worthy, publish a game in the Coveverse app store, attend virtual field trips, earn digital achievement badges, and more!
Codeverse was designed by two tech stars to be a digital universe that promotes inspiration and creativity. They have created an amazing environment for children to build coding experiences with approachable tools to help them bring their ideas to life.
Codeverse offers a free 7-day trial to determine if this is the right camp for your family!
How to Register
Visit: https://www.codeverse.com/
Online or In-Person Camp Options
Recently Codeverse converted to an online only platform.
Who is this Camp for?
Ages: 6-13 – Camps are two hours per day Monday-Friday. They also offer special holiday break camps that are worth exploring as a gift to give.
Backpack Bytes Perspectives
Parent Bytes: Students learn to code in a fun and interactive way. The classes are a one-on-one experience which really makes the learning environment meaningful and engaging for kids.
Kids Bytes: The projects are interesting and fun and the learning experience is personalized.
Apple Camp at Home
National – Online
Program Overview
Apple offers camps for kids to get comfortable with making mini-movies, coding, editing movies, and learning about the power of design and technology.
During this time when stores are closed, they have downloadable activity packs with projects for kids
How to Register
Visit: https://www.apple.com/today/feature/today-at-home
Online or In-Person Camp Options
While stores are closed or limited, these mini camps are offered online only.
Who is this Camp for?
Ages: 6+ – Kids can choose what interests them the most, from creating cool video effects with Clips to using Garage Band.
Backpack Bytes Perspectives
Parent Bytes: Apple Camps at Home are a great way to keep kids engaged in tech-focused learning in fun and engaging ways. They can create projects using their own devices and share their results, which is a rewarding experience.
These lessons can make fun family projects as well. Try a hand a learning something new as a family and then make-up fun challenges to test your new skills!
Kids Bytes: From basic photo enhancements on the iphone to more complex video editing, kids, tweens and teens (and adults!) can focus what they are interested in learning and experimenting with.
iD Tech
Global (US, UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore)
Program Overview
Learn from tech rockstars. If your child is into coding, robotics, game development or design and wants to choose from over 150 locations, this tech camp is for them.
You can also choose from camps that are co-ed or girls-only.
The iD Tech STEM camps are an amazing opportunity for your child to grow their knowledge and learn from incredible teachers who are recruited from top universities.
As the world’s #1 STEM educator with 20+ years of expertise, ID Tech will guide you from total beginner to college-bound pro.
- Fun courses you’ll love: Roblox, Minecraft, Python, YouTube, and more
- Tech rockstar instructors: Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
- Year-round skill development: Virtual and in-person experiences designed for long-term mastery
- A place to make friends: Join a community of 500,000 like-minded peers and mentors
iD Small Class Guarantee™: Small-group learning with 5 students max per instructor, or 1-on-1 private lessons
How to Register
Visit: https://www.idtech.com/
Online or In-Person Camp Options
Online and In-Person experiences (check with locations to determine in-person availability)
Who is this Camp for?
Ages: Anyone between the ages of 7 and 19 is welcomed at the camps.
Backpack Bytes Perspectives
Parent Bytes: We love that iD Tech camps are highly personal (one-on-0ne or small class sizes). Kids learn about the things that they tend to already be intersted in (Roblox, Minecraft, YouTube, etc.!).
Opportunities are year-round, which makes scheduling around school, family events and breaks much easier.
Kids Bytes: Courses are super fun and relevant. The gamified learning system encourages kids to continue to learn and advance, with the opportunity to earn badges along the way.
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