Middle School Summer Camps

stem Academy

Middle school summer camps

 

Register for a Program!

Below are the camps from 2024. A list of 2025 camps will be posted after January 1st.

Image
Blue and white atom symbol on a dark background.

  Physics Camp

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * June 20 * 9-Noon OR 1-4PM * $60 * Needs-based scholarships available

Physics is the study of fundamental properties of the universe. In this workshop we will explore physics concepts through hands on experiments to see how we interact with physics in our everyday lives. Come join us!

Register for Physics Camp!

  Engineering Camp

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * June 24-28 * 9AM-4PM * $320 * Needs-based scholarships available

Students will spend a week exploring different disciplines in the field of engineering. Hands-on activities may include: solar cars, chromatography, chemical reaction cars, reverse engineering & super absorbent polymers, 3D design & printing, Ozobots, and K'NEX building challenges. Throughout, campers will be introduced to the fun and powerful tools of engineering design, collaboration, and problem solving. Activities aim to engage campers to embrace and appreciate a wide range of engineering concepts through science, technology, engineering, and math.

Register for Engineering Camp!

Image
Person watching 3 D printing machine.
Image
Three kids exploring seaweed in the ocean.

  Wild About Wildlife Camp

OSU Campus & Field Trips * Entering Grades 6-8 * July 9-11 * 9AM-3PM * $200 * Needs-based scholarships available

Are you a budding biologist wondering about the plants, bugs, and animals in your backyard? Join biologists from OSU’s Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences department and the Integrative Biology department to discover the wonders of the natural world! In this camp, students will learn how scientists study nature both in the lab and in the field. Campers will learn about many different habitats in Western Oregon and observe, identify, and learn about native species that can be found in and around the OSU Corvallis and Newport campuses. During the activities we will discuss biology, conservation, and natural resource management. Activities may include learning about plant and animal adaptations, an owl pellet dissection, a strawberry DNA extraction, a human/wildlife interaction mystery, bug ID, birding, tide pooling, game theory, otoliths, plankton, telemetry, tracks, and more! Field trips (by OSU van) have not been scheduled yet but may include: Chintimini Wildlife Center, Peavy Arboretum, Finley Wildlife Refuge, and Newport.

Register for Wild About Wildlife Camp!

  ActivityBots Camp

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * July 15-19 * 1-4PM * $170 * Needs-based scholarships available

Can a car drive itself? With sensors and smarts, of course! Using the ActivityBot 360 robot kits, students will learn how to build and code a robot that is smart enough to make its way around a room on its own. Using easy-to-understand BlocklyProp graphical programs and easy-to-follow online examples, even students with no mechanical, electrical, or coding experience can successfully build circuits and a robot, and code it to do amazing things!  Each team of two will work together to move their robot through remote control navigation, while learning about touch, visible light, infrared light, and ultrasonic sensors.

Register for ActivityBots Camp!

Image
A person holding a Lego robot on a table.
Image
A laptop with a circuit board connected on top of it.

  Making with Microcontrollers

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * July 22-26 * 9AM-NOON * $170 * Needs-based scholarships available

Discover the amazing world of physical computing! Using the micro:bit microcontroller you will learn to build and program physical devices which can interact with your environment in a variety of ways. We will start by learning initially how to program the micro:bit using the MakeCode programming platform, which has both block and text based (javascript) programming support. Then you will build a physical device of your choice using the micro:bit as a controller. No previous building or programming background will be necessary. You will only be limited by your imagination and willingness to learn.

Register for Making with Microcontrollers!

  Making Arcade Games

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * July 22-26 * 1-4PM * $170 * Needs-based scholarships available

Learn how to code by creating arcade style games using MakeCode programming platform, which has both block and text based (javascript) programming support. You will start by learning initially how to program using the MakeCode programming platform, which has both block and text based (javascript) programming support. Then you will design and develop multi-level platformer and top-down arcade style games using MakeCode.  No previous game making or programming background will be necessary. You will only be limited by your imagination and willingness to learn.

Register for Making Arcade Games!

Image
A young boy focused on coding video games.
Image
Man holding his hand below a flying drone.

  Flying Robots Camp – Wonderful World of Drones!

OSU Campus * Entering Grades 6-8 * August 5 * 9AM-NOON or 1-4PM * $60 * Needs-based scholarships available

Learn all about drones: how they fly, how they are used in research, and how you can program and fly them too! Students will learn what drones do and the physics behind how they fly. They will also engage in a design-a-drone activity, learn how to manually fly a drone, and program a drone with an iPad to fly autonomously. No coding experience needed!

Register for Flying Robots Camp!