Finding a STEM based science camp – Atlanta Guide

Finding a STEM based science camp – Atlanta Guide

Before I get into my extensive Science Camp – Atlanta Guide, I have to say that I’m so, extremely happy that STEM Education (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) has become a major focus both in schools and extracurricular activities. For those of you who are unaware, back in 2010, President Obama expanded the “Educate to Elevate” campaign whose focus was on strengthening STEM education in schools by training over 100,000 educators in Science and Math and funding programs that motivate students to excel in STEM learning projects. 

My daughter took part in the Big Thinkers Science Exploration Program at her school last semester and that was only the start of her love and appreciation for science. She came home each time with some really cool science experiments they worked on and was always excited for more science fun. We’ve gone on to enforce this love through various STEM based toys such as the Project MC2 lab kit and LittleBits project kit.

This summer, as my husband and I have been researching summer camps in Georgia, we figured that we should probably go ahead and place her in a science camp since she’s still at the age where she finds science fun and is eager to learn. There are various science summer camps in Georgia that offer STEM learning, science fun, and real life opportunities to explore various science fields. Here’s a full list we’ve found below.

***If you’re looking for other types of camps, be sure to check out my full list of summer camps in Georgia!***

 

Multiple locations in Metro Atlanta

Big Thinkers

Big Thinkers is an upbeat day camp where students explore cool science phenomena through demonstrations, innovative experiments, outdoor activities, and hands-on explorations. Each camp runs for one week, for 8 weeks. Weekly themes include Gizmos and Gadgets, ChemLab Extreme, Lego Robotics and more. K – 5th grade

Club SciKidz 

Founded by education professionals Bob and Sue Hagan, Club SciKidz offers 42 different themed science camps in the Atlanta Metro area. Some of the activities that your children are likely to experience in this camp include veterinary medicine, robotics, forensics, video game creation, food science, paleontology, engineering, chemistry and biology, astronomy, oceanography, emergency medicine, and special effects. Ages 5 – 14. 

Imagine That

Imagine that camps are week-long camps that offer STEAM (STEM plus Art) courses – Science, Art, Technology, Programming, Minecraft and Robotics camps and combinations of these subjects. Ages 3-14.

internalDrive (iD Tech)

iD Tech offers hands-on, high-energy summer computer programs for kids and teens. They immerse students in a STEM learning experience where they choose from courses in game design, web design, coding, programming in Java and C++, Minecraft modding, filmmaking, robotics, photography, and more. There are both co-ed options and an all girls program called Alexa Café, for girls ages 10-15. There are typically 8 students maximum per instructor to encourage customized learning experiences. Day camps and Overnight camp are available for this program, with overnight campers sleeping right in the college dorms. Atlanta summer camps are held at Emory University and Georgia Tech and Alpharetta summer camps held at Fulton Science Academy.

Play Well TEKnologies

Play Well offers LEGO®-Inspired Engineering Camps for Kids K-8. Camps are offered nationwide, with multiple locations in Metro Atlanta. The goal of the camp is to develop and enhance students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills, expose children to concepts and vocabulary of Engineering, Architecture and Physics, and provide an opportunity to have a great time with a terrific and versatile building system. Camps are week-long and are offered as 1/2 programs. 

Mercer Youth Programs

Mercer University youth enrichment are but highly interactive courses designed for students interested in learning new information at a higher grade level. Their summer enrichment programs nurture academically talented students through activities and instruction in creative writing, mathematics, and science. Summer Camps are held on Mercer University’s campuses in Atlanta, Macon, Douglas County and Henry County. Rising 1st-8th graders 

Youth Digital Camps

Youth Digital camps teach kids the technology skills that they will need to be successful in today’s digital world, such as coding, graphic design, and animation. This camp is equipped with professional equipment that will enable your children to learn more about digital design techniques in a camp setting. These camps are offered at various schools throughout Atlanta and are now enrolling. Ages 8 to 16

Midtown/Downtown

Ben Carson Science Academy

The Ben Carson Science Academy is operated by the Morehouse School of Medicine. The program offers STEM project development, exciting classroom activities, laboratory activities, and motivational speakers. This is a four-week science program with lab activities, field trips and classroom instruction. Open to rising 4th-8th graders.

Bio@Tech

Bio Tech is an intensive three-week camp at Georgia Tech School of Biology for high school students with strong interests in the biological sciences. Topics included in each session will vary, though each session focuses on advanced topics in the biosciences. Application is competitive. Open to rising 11th and 12th graders, or “exceptional rising 10th graders.”

campMODA

Camp Moda is brought to you students by the Museum of Design Atlanta and offers hands-on camps focused on basic robotic engineering, programming principles, and STEM concepts. Students learn the basics of designing and building a robot using LEGO WeDo® robots, which they’ll bring them to life as they learn how to program their creations to perform project-oriented tasks and challenges. More experienced students will use LEGO MINDSTORMS® to develop sophisticated programming and engineering skills to create and control interactive robots. Camps take place at Georgia Tech and the Lovett School. Ages 6 to 12

CDC Disease Detective Camp

Started by CDC′s David J. Sencer CDC Museum in 2005, the CDC Disease Detective Camp (DDC) is 1 week summer camp and educational program based on contextual and situated cognition learning principles. Over the course of 5 days, students will be able to identify five careers within public health, demonstrate an understanding of basic epidemiology terms, calculate basic epidemiologic rates given an outbreak scenario and data, recognize how infectious and chronic diseases are tracked in the US, and understand the role of public health law. Activities include lectures by CDC experts, a mock press conference in the CDC press room, and a look behind the scenes of CDC. This summer camp is free and highly selective. Open to high school juniors and seniors 16 and older.

Emagination

Emagination offers a hands-on core Computer Camp program that blends technology learning with fun summer camp activities to create a well-rounded summer camp experience. They offer 25 Technology Workshops plus Retro Games and swimming for daily recreation and fun. Sessions are two weeks giving campers the time to become part of a community while learning new tech skills. Programs are located at the Georgia Institute of Technology and offered as day camps or overnight camps. Ages 8-17.

Georgia Aquarium – Camp H2O

The Georgia Aquarium offers a week-long summer day camp that provides campers with hands-on learning experiences within Georgia Aquarium’s educational facilities and with some of the leading marine biologists in the world. Kids will have the opportunity to learn about marine habitats, explore aquatic animals, & gain new skills. with a focus on marine biology. Themes repeat each week for 8 weeks. 1st-6th graders. 

Georgia Tech CEISMC camps

CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEM) are week-long camps giving rising 6th-9th graders hands-on, interactive learning experiences in STEM concepts. These day camps are held on the Georgia Tech campus and applicants must submit a report card and a teacher recommendation.

TEC Camp at Georgia Tech

TEC Camp is a one-week camp specifically for middle-school girls and crafted to offer middle school girls an introduction to technology, engineering, and computing. TEC Camp inspires girls to consider college majors and careers in these important fields. The camp is limited to 40 girls, and applicants are selected based on an essay and school transcript. Rising 7th and 8th graders

Georgia Tech College of Computing camps

The mission on Georgia Tech College of Computing classes is to expose elementary, middle school, and high school students to the creative side of computing so that they may add computing to their creative tool set and use it as a lifelong means of expression. These are one week camps, offering themes that include robotics, games, computing and music. Camp participants are also introduced to college life through college tours and access to certain Georgia Tech facilities. Ages 8 to 16 

Georgia Space Grant Consortium

The Georgia Space Grant Consortium offers two summer camp programs for upper elementary and middle school students that place on the Georgia Tech campus in Midtown, Atlanta. “Courage to Soar” program is for rising 3rd to 5th graders interested in aeronautics and aviation. The second program, “On to Mars,” is hands-on program where 5th-8th grade young engineers will use STEM disciplines to explore the past, present, and future of manned spaceflight

Midtown International School

Midtown International School offers 1 week summer camps focusing on a variety of topics for various grade levels, including Rocketry, Robotics, Volcanoes / Plate Tectonics and more. Rising kindergartners through 8th graders.

Vivien Thomas Summer Research Program

The goal of the Vivien Thomas Summer Research Program is to increase the number of minority students pursuing biomedical research and health careers. This is a 6 week program offered at the Morehouse School of Medicine, where participants will be immersed in scientific instrumentation, laboratory techniques, and individual or team projects. Students will also participate in mini-courses and workshops on health equity, careers in the sciences and health professions, critical thinking and career planning. Eligible students must have an interest in Biomedical Research, 3.0 overall GPA, and recommendations from teachers or school counselor. Rising 9th-12th grade students.

Northeast Atlanta

Ms STEM summer camps

Ms. STEM programs are geared toward young ladies, helping them explore the world of STEM and related careers. Camps are run on 2 tracks for various age groups from 2nd – 9th grade and with each track, a new STEM theme is introduced each week. 

East Atlanta

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Fernbank Museum’s offers summer day camps that consist of week-long sessions where campers are guided on an exploration of the scientific world: paleontology, forest ecology, zoology and more. The camp provides a near one-on-one learning experience due to its low counselor-to-camper ration.
Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Summer Science Academy

The Summer Science Academy Program is a two-week science enrichment program that offers a series of lectures, labs, and field experiences for high school students. Hand-on experiences are designed to heighten students’ interest in science, increase awareness of careers in science and healthcare, and introduce and/or reinforce some principles of science. Topics covered include, but are not limited to Physics/ Chemistry/ Biology, Human Anatomy, Neuroscience, Human Diseases, and Genetics. Day camps and Overnight Camps are available. Rising 9th and 10th Grade Students.

Marietta/Cobb County

Atlanta Gifted Academy

Atlanta Gifted Academy offers “Brain Camp,” a summer camp that adds art and design to the traditional STEM learning fields. Campers will use creative thinking and critical questioning to help them discover, explore, learn, and play their way through STEAM (STEM plus Art) education. Pre-K to 5th grade.

 

Overnight Camps outside of Atlanta

Governor’s Honors Program

The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is highly selective residential summer program for gifted and talented high school students who will be rising juniors and seniors during the program. Programs are designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders. The program is free for participants and has been held at Valdosta State University in past years. Rising HS Juniors and Seniors.

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Making a decision on science camps (really, just summer camps) in Georgia may be a bit overwhelming, but hopefully my science camp: Atlanta guide helps. Before making that vital decision, be sure to consider the mission and the philosophy of the camp which will help you to have a clear understanding of what your kids are expected to learn in the camp. If you are sure of what your kids are passionate about, that will help you make a great decision on the perfect science camp to peak their interests.

If you know of any other science camps in Atlanta, please share those in the comments and I will include them in the list!

***View the full and complete guide to Summer Camps in Georgia!