STEM Summer Camps
& Classes for Kids & Teens

Why attend a STEM summer camp or class?

The world depends on STEM, and frankly, there aren't enough qualified individuals to take on the millions of STEM careers that go unfilled each year. (Read more about the importance of STEM.)

With over 600,000 alumni, 50+ innovative courses, online after-school programs, coding tutoring, virtual camps, and 75+ prestigious locations, we are uniquely qualified to embolden students to shape the future—making us the world's #1 STEM destination for kids and teens, online and on campus.

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Find a STEM Camp Near You

In addition to virtual summer camps, choose from STEM programs held at prestigious locations, including:

• Atlanta, GA: Emory University
• Austin, TX: St. Edward's University
• Chicago, IL: Loyola University
• Cincinnati, OH: Xavier University
• Columbus, OH: Ohio State
• Dallas, TX: UT Dallas
• Denver, CO: University of Denver
• Hartford, CT: Trinity College
• Houston, TX: Rice
• Jacksonville, FL: UNF
• Las Vegas, NV: UNLV
• New York, NY: Columbia University
• Philadelphia, PA: UPenn
• Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State
• Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Mellon
• Portland, OR: Lewis & Clark
• Raleigh, NC: NC State
• San Antonio, TX: Trinity University
• San Diego, CA: San Diego State
• San Francisco, CA: SF State
• Seattle, WA: UW Seattle
• Stanford, CA: Stanford
• Washington DC: American

Benefits of STEM Summer Camps for Middle School Students

STEM Summer Camps Fill an Educational Void

For today's middle schoolers, there's an abundance of info, courses, activities, and tutorials readily available on any subject. The challenge is, the place where most kids spend their time - school - doesn’t traditionally offer STEM subjects. Some do, and more are every day, but it’s still a small fraction of schools that are able to invest in STEM. Thus, STEM summer camps offer the opportunity for middle schoolers to dive into such learning and build valuable STEM skills. 

Students Experience a New Friendship-Building

One benefit of summer camp is the social aspect, right? But with a specialized STEM summer camp, students are making friends with like-minded peers. The result is relationships that extend beyond a weeklong friendship and into long-term networking. Students leave with names to call on when they need help with STEM projects, but also when it comes time to find internships or even launch businesses. 

Online Programs Provide the Socialization Kids Need

Sometimes, attending an in-person summer program isn't an option. So, virtual summer programs fill a socialization void, giving kids the chance to learn in small groups, and interact with other kids even with social distancing. This is different than a typical classroom setup where parents might see children on-screen with 30 or more kids—all of whom need to be muted in order for instruction to take place. 

Why is coding important for kids & teens?

Computer Science is a rapidly growing STEM field. According to Code.org co-founder Hadi Partovi, “Although only 10 percent of schools teach computer science, even one hour of exposure can be enough to change a student’s life, as it did mine. In the 21st century, this isn’t just a course you study to get a job in software—it’s important to learn even if you want to be a nurse, a journalist, an accountant, a lawyer, or even a president.”

There are plenty of reasons why your child should learn to code, and so we wholeheartedly believe programming to be a vital skill for today’s youth. So do Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Will.i.am, and other notable figures. Read more about why kids should learn coding, and watch the video that has garnered over 14 million views since its release.

What about engineering?

Space, sports, and rollercoasters. What could any of these things possibly have to do with each other? Believe it or not, they're all areas where you can apply engineering!

Engineering isn't just relegated to civil engineering and infrastructure, but spans into chemical engineering, electrical, mechanical, environmental, computer hardware, and much more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering jobs are projected to grow 7% by 2026. Read more about the unique jobs you can land with an engineering degree. 

Additional STEM Resources

Read more STEM statistics, research STEM-related jobs, and learn about STEM competitions. Here are a few of our favorite STEM resources:

iD Tech Blog Posts

• Why is STEM important?
• What does STEM stand for in education?
• STEM education stats
• STEM competitions: the ultimate guide!
• Coding for kids: the ultimate guide
• High school STEM classes guide
• How to inspire girls in STEM
• Is coding for me?
• Java for kids
• Futuristic STEM jobs & career list
• Winter STEM activities 
• STEM movies for kids & teens

iD Tech STEM Programs

• Video game camps & classes
• Girls coding camp
• Online coding classes for kids & teens

Other Resources

• Stats from Code.org
• National STEM Video Game Challenge
• STEM and Our Planet Infographic