STEM Programs Near Me

Students will assume the role of a veterinarian and learn how to perform a tip-to-tail feline exam, living at home with a cat, other feline animals in the cat family, and identify cat body language. Each student will take home their own stuffed animal that they will adopt to their family and tools necessary to take care of them. Day 1: Intro + Greeting our Cat Patient Day 2: Tip to Tail Feline Exam and Cat Body Language Day 3: Cat Home Life and a Stress Free Cat Day 4: Blood, Tigers, and Lions Day 5: Lacerations, Immune System, Vaccines, and Graduation

Drop-off summer camp for 3-6 year olds. 3-5pm, M-F

High School Big Idea Lab Create and Deliver a TED-Style Talk! Rising Grades 9–12 | 1:30–4:30 PM Reston, VA – Highest Speak Center If your high schooler likes sleeping in during the summer, this afternoon camp is perfect! Great communicators don’t just speak well — they share ideas that inspire people to think, act, and lead. In this exciting High School Big Idea Lab, students will develop and deliver their own TED-style talk while learning the key elements that make persuasive and motivational speeches powerful and memorable. High school is when communication skills truly start to matter. Students are expected to present projects, participate in discussions, interview for leadership roles, and soon apply for college and internships. Yet most students are rarely taught how to develop a strong idea and present it in a compelling way. That’s exactly what this program focuses on. Throughout this high-energy 5-day program (3 hours per day) students will brainstorm ideas, write short speeches, and learn how to present them in a clear, engaging, and confident way. Students will learn how to: • Develop a powerful idea worth sharing • Organize and write a talk with clear structure • Use storytelling, persuasion, and motivational speaking techniques • Incorporate elements used in successful persuasive and inspirational speeches • Speak with confidence and presence • Manage nervousness while presenting • Deliver a talk that feels natural, thoughtful, and impactful Students will practice multiple speaking rounds throughout the week, receiving individualized feedback and coaching from instructors. Expect creative brainstorming activities, speaking games, collaborative exercises, and presentation challenges that make learning both fun and energizing. By the end of the week, students will deliver their own TED-style presentation and experience what it feels like to confidently share an idea with others. Presentation recordings will be provided for parents and students. Daily Structure Part I • High-energy icebreaker activities • Brainstorming and idea development • Speech writing and structure • Practice through games or breakout exercises Break (15 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Part II • Speaking practice rounds • Storytelling and delivery coaching • Presentation challenges • Individualized feedback • Wrap-up We always have at least two instructors to ensure students receive personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to practice speaking. For this program, Highest Speak founder Sumedha Bahri — Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Federal Orals Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic — will be teaching alongside one or more of Highest Speak’s engaging instructors. This program is fun, fast-paced, and confidence-building, and students leave with communication skills that will help them in school, leadership roles, interviews, and future careers. ** NO prerequisites needed. Spots are limited and camps typically sell out. Reserve your spot today!

Students will assume the role of a doctor and learn how the body and organs work, how to use medical instruments, and even tie knots like a real surgeon. Each student receives their own stethoscope that really works. Each child receives a diploma as a graduate of Little Medical School at the completion of the course. Day 1: What is in the Doctor’s Bag? 1. Name and define 3 instruments used by doctors 2. Perform parts of a doctor’s exam using the 3 instruments 3. Understand the purpose of each instrument Day 2: All about the Heart! 1. Explain heart facts and how it works 2. Identify the different parts of the heart and know what it looks like 3. Discuss how the stethoscope aids in hearing normal and abnormal heart sounds Day 3: All about the Lungs! 1. Understand how lungs work 2. Explain how lungs exchange air for oxygen and carbon dioxide 3. Discuss what lung function tests measure Day 4: Digesting Digestion 1. Name and explain the organs of digestion 2. Understand how the entire process of digestion works and explain it to others Day 5: Is there a Surgeon in the House? 1. Discuss the concept of “scrubbing” 2. Suture and tie surgical knots 3. Explain how a surgeon works as part of a team

Things are about to get messy! Mad Science blends art and experimentation as campers explore cause and effect through fizzy reactions, mixing colors, and hands-on sensory projects. This high-energy week is perfect for curious minds who love to test, tinker, and create with a little bit of chaos.

Build, Explore & Launch Into Space Blast off into a week of space exploration! NASA LEGO Camp lets campers choose a NASA-themed kit and spend the week building their model while learning about the science, engineering, and missions behind it. From rockets to rovers, campers discover how real spacecrafts are designed and assembled—all while developing hands-on STEM skills. Whether they dream of exploring space, love building, or just enjoy creating intricate models, campers will gain confidence as they learn and build like real engineers—and take their completed kit home! All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

Are you ready for a summer filled with adventure, learning, and fun? At Sundial Farmstead, we offer experiences on a real, working farm where children can explore, create, and grow! A Day at Camp: Each day begins with a gathering of singing and readings from a classic book, followed by rotations through farm activities, morning snack, hands-on agriculture or forestry lessons, and creative handicrafts. After lunch, campers will enjoy free play and relaxation before diving back into an afternoon rotation of activities - sports, nature study & science notation journals, and additional farming activities. We wrap up each day with group clean up time. This ensures that kids learn how to maintain a well-ordered environment and leave camp feeling satisfied with their accomplishments!

This combination class offers children a sampling of art projects using various media such as painting, clay, watercolors, collage, and pastels. It is amazing what you can create when you explore with your imagination. A variety of materials are used to create your many masterpieces – Many projects are “built upon” each class, so that students experience a variety of mediums and take home several projects. Projects are new every session & seasonal, so sign-up for all sessions.

Farm Camp is run from our 1-acre school farm in the Mission Terrace neighborhood. We provide an opportunity for children to connect with nature while directly participating in the daily rhythms of farm life. Our day camp is designed to inspire a connection with and love of the natural world, and also a chance to get hands dirty in fun and educational ways. Activities include animal care for our chickens, weeding, watering, mulching, harvesting, compost care, crafts and free play. Children should bring snacks and lunch and come prepared to get dirty!

⚙️💡 Ignite Creativity at GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp! Does your child love building things, taking them apart, and imagining what’s possible? GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp invites young creators in grades 1–3 to dream big, test bold ideas, and bring their inventions to life—then burn off energy with an afternoon of action-packed sports! This is where imagination meets movement, and every child becomes a problem-solver, builder, and innovator. Why Choose GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp? 🛠️ Hands-On Building Adventures: Campers use simple materials—cardboard, tape, recycled parts, craft sticks, rubber bands, and more—to design and build their own inventions. Think launchers, bridges, contraptions, machines, and imaginative creations that surprise even them! 💡 Creative Engineering: Through guided challenges, kids explore engineering, design thinking, and “What happens if…?” experimentation in a playful, age-appropriate way. 🧠 Invent, Test, Improve: Campers sketch ideas, build prototypes, test them out, and refine their creations—just like real inventors. It’s all about growth, curiosity, and celebrating the “aha!” moments. 🏅 Active, High-Energy Afternoons: After lunch, campers join our All-Sports Camp for a daily mix of games like soccer, basketball, gaga ball, bounce house tag, and more. It’s the perfect blend of brains and play! 🤝 Teamwork & Problem-Solving: Whether building a tower with teammates or working together on a group invention, campers collaborate, communicate, and cheer each other on. 📈 Full-Week Experience: Each day builds on the last, allowing young inventors to brainstorm, create, and improve throughout the week. Full-week registration is required. Camp Details 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🛠️ Morning: Inventor’s Lab (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location:The Plex Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the BACK of The Plex. Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the BACK of The Plex. 🎒 What to Bring: Comfortable clothes for building, water bottle, lunch, and two snacks. With over a decade of creating unforgettable experiences, GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp inspires creativity, confidence, resilience, and joy—where ideas take shape and kids discover what they’re capable of! ⚙️ Ready to Invent, Build, and Play? Spaces fill fast—register today and watch your child’s imagination soar! Refunds and Cancellations: 30+ days before camp: full refund minus 10% fee Within 30 days: credit for future GrowFit camps On or after the start date: non-refundable Tax ID: 81-1018163

🔬⚡ Spark Curiosity and Creativity at GrowFit’s Science + All-Sports Camp! Calling all young scientists, inventors, and curious creators! GrowFit’s Science + All-Sports Camp gives kids in grades 1–3 the perfect full-day experience—mornings filled with hands-on experiments and afternoons packed with high-energy All-Sports fun! It’s the best of both worlds: messy, exciting science + active play and teamwork. ⭐ Why Choose GrowFit’s Science + All-Sports Camp? 🔬 Exciting Experiments: From glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls and fizzing erupting volcanoes to DIY kaleidoscopes, campers explore science through fun, creative projects every day. 🧪 Hands-On Discovery: Kids dive into chemistry, physics, and simple engineering—all through playful, age-appropriate activities that inspire confidence and curiosity. 🤝 Teamwork & Collaboration: Campers work together on builds, experiments, and challenges, building social skills and learning how inventions come to life. 📈 Full-Week Progression: Each day adds new skills and new discoveries. Because activities build throughout the week, drop-ins are not available. Camp Details 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🔬 Morning: Science Camp (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location: The Plex Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the BACK of The Plex. Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the BACK of The Plex. What to Bring: Comfortable clothes for messy science fun Water bottle Two snacks Lunch GrowFit has over a decade of experience delivering camps that blend learning, movement, and unforgettable fun. Our Science + All-Sports Camp gives kids the perfect balance of discovery, creativity, and active play—they’ll go home excited to tell you everything they built, mixed, erupted, and explored! ⚡ Ready to Discover Something Amazing? Spots are limited—register today! Refunds and Cancellations: 30+ days before camp: Full refund minus 10% fee Within 30 days: Credit for future camp Day-of or after camp begins: Non-refundable

In this hands-on engineering camp, students learn how to build their own interactive electronic devices. Using user-friendly microcontrollers, campers will build circuits, then code them to create systems that light up, buzz, react to motion & sound, and more. Students begin with the basics—how electricity flows, how devices collect data, and how coding controls hardware—then apply those skills to build smart alarms, reaction-time games, simple monitors, and interactive devices. (No coding experience required.) By the end of the week, each camper will have developed a working knowledge of physical computing, controls, sensors and more. This camp is ideal for students new to electronics as well as those ready to level up their engineering skills. Recommended for ages 11-15.

A playful introduction to robotics and programming. In Robotics with Sphero BOLT, campers dive into the world of robotics using one of the most engaging robots around - a programmable, sensor-packed robotic ball that responds to code, creativity, and experimentation. Students learn how to code and control their Sphero BOLT as they tackle hands-on challenges that involve driving, navigating obstacles, displaying designs on the built-in LED matrix, and even communicating with other robots using infrared signals. Each activity introduces core STEM concepts in a way that feels more like play than work. This camp is designed to spark curiosity and build confidence. Campers experiment, test ideas, and immediately see the results of their code in action—helping them understand how programming controls real-world devices. What students will do: Learn the basics of robotics and block-based coding Program movement, speed, and direction Use the LED matrix to create designs, animations, and games Explore sensors and infrared communication Solve challenges through trial, error, and collaboration No prior robotics or coding experience is required. This camp is an excellent introduction for students who enjoy hands-on learning and want to explore STEM in a fun, approachable way. Robotics with Sphero BOLT often inspires campers to continue into LEGO Robotics, BattleBots, or coding and game design camps as they grow.

A hands-on introduction to real-world robotics and engineering. One of Silicon STEM’s most popular camps, LEGO Robotics introduces campers to the powerful LEGO® Mindstorms robotics platform—the same system widely used in middle and high school robotics programs. Campers work in pairs to design and build different machine-style robots, then bring them to life using block-based programming in the EV3 coding environment. As they test and refine their robots, students learn how code controls movement, sensors, and decision-making. Depending on the build, robots may be programmed to: Sort objects Perform pick-and-place tasks Balance or react to sensors Complete structured engineering challenges This camp is perfect for students who love tinkering, building, and figuring out how things work. Along the way, campers develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and teamwork—core abilities used by engineers and roboticists. What students will do: Build robots using the LEGO Mindstorms platform Learn block-based coding and robotics logic Program robots to complete real-world style tasks Test, troubleshoot, and improve designs Collaborate with a partner on engineering challenges LEGO Robotics is an excellent “get ahead” experience for students interested in future robotics programs and competitions, and a natural next step toward BattleBots, Rocketry, and advanced engineering camps. Note: This is a collaborative camp. Students will work in pairs throughout the week.

A hands-on introduction to real-world robotics and engineering. One of Silicon STEM’s most popular camps, LEGO Robotics introduces campers to the powerful LEGO® Mindstorms robotics platform—the same system widely used in middle and high school robotics programs. Campers work in pairs to design and build different machine-style robots, then bring them to life using block-based programming in the EV3 coding environment. As they test and refine their robots, students learn how code controls movement, sensors, and decision-making. Depending on the build, robots may be programmed to: Sort objects Perform pick-and-place tasks Balance or react to sensors Complete structured engineering challenges This camp is perfect for students who love tinkering, building, and figuring out how things work. Along the way, campers develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and teamwork—core abilities used by engineers and roboticists. What students will do: Build robots using the LEGO Mindstorms platform Learn block-based coding and robotics logic Program robots to complete real-world style tasks Test, troubleshoot, and improve designs Collaborate with a partner on engineering challenges LEGO Robotics is an excellent “get ahead” experience for students interested in future robotics programs and competitions, and a natural next step toward BattleBots, Rocketry, and advanced engineering camps. Note: This is a collaborative camp. Students will work in pairs throughout the week.

Go beyond playing Minecraft — learn how to change it. If your student loves Minecraft and is ready to take the next step, Minecraft Modding shows them how to turn their ideas into real, playable features inside the game. In this camp, students learn how to create their own Minecraft mods (short for modifications) that add new worlds, biomes, characters, and items to the game. Campers move from simply playing Minecraft to understanding how it works behind the scenes - and how to shape it themselves. Using MCreator, a powerful yet beginner-friendly drag-and-drop, Java-based modding tool, students design and build custom mods through an intuitive visual interface. Along the way, they’re introduced to core Java programming concepts, learning how code brings their creations to life. What students will do: Design custom Minecraft mods using MCreator Create new worlds, biomes, characters, and items Learn how games are structured and modified Explore introductory Java programming concepts Develop problem-solving, logic, and creative thinking skills This camp blends creativity, game design, and real-world coding foundations in a way that’s engaging and accessible. Many parents see Minecraft Modding as a natural gateway into deeper coding and software development skills—and kids love seeing their ideas come alive inside a game they already enjoy. If your student loves Minecraft Modding, they may also enjoy: Coding 101 BattleBots Game Design camps Minecraft Modding is where creativity meets code - and where players become creators.

Turn creativity into content - and ideas into polished videos. In YouTube Creator Lab, campers learn what it really takes to create engaging video content - from planning and filming to editing and presentation. This camp focuses on creative storytelling, video production, and responsible content creation, not just posting videos online. Throughout the week, students use a professional video-editing application to transform raw footage into polished videos. They learn how thoughtful editing choices - like titles, transitions, music, and effects - can dramatically improve the quality and impact of a video. Campers also explore what makes content compelling and learn best practices around audience engagement, branding, and digital citizenship, helping them understand how creators grow channels responsibly and creatively. What students will do: Plan and storyboard video ideas Edit videos using industry-standard tools Add titles, transitions, music, and visual effects Learn the basics of storytelling and audience engagement Explore how creators grow channels and build an online presence This camp is perfect for students who enjoy video, storytelling, creativity, and media production. Whether they dream of being a creator or simply want to build valuable digital skills, campers leave with confidence and a stronger understanding of how content is made. Prerequisite: Basic computer and keyboarding skills Ages: 10–15 YouTube Creator Lab pairs well with Game Design, Pixel Art, and other creative technology camps for students who love expressing ideas through digital media.

Build, Engineer & Compete. Design it. Build it. Battle it. If your student loves building, problem-solving, and friendly competition, BattleBots delivers an unforgettable hands-on engineering experience. In this camp, students work in teams to design and build their own robots using VEX IQ robotics kits, the same platform used in competitive robotics programs worldwide. Campers start from the ground up—planning, constructing, testing, and improving their robots as they learn how engineering decisions impact real-world performance. Once their robots are built, teams customize and fine-tune their designs in preparation for a series of exciting challenges. The week culminates in a BattleBots®-style tournament, where robots face off in a structured, high-energy competition that rewards strategy, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. What students will do: Design and build a robot from scratch using VEX IQ Learn mechanical design and basic engineering principles Test, troubleshoot, and improve robot performance Collaborate with teammates and follow design constraints Compete in a fun, structured robot tournament While campers do not take their robots home, they gain something even more valuable: engineering experience, teamwork skills, and confidence built through hands-on problem-solving. Ages: 10–15 Prerequisite: Ability to work collaboratively and follow building guidelines If your student enjoys BattleBots, they may also love: Rocketry 3D Printing & CAD Advanced Robotics and Engineering camps BattleBots is where creativity, strategy, and engineering collide and one of our most popular camps for students ready to level up their STEM skills.

In this hands-on engineering camp, students learn how to build their own interactive electronic devices. Using user-friendly microcontrollers, campers will build circuits, then code them to create systems that light up, buzz, react to motion & sound, and more. Students begin with the basics—how electricity flows, how devices collect data, and how coding controls hardware—then apply those skills to build smart alarms, reaction-time games, simple monitors, and interactive devices. (No coding experience required.) By the end of the week, each camper will have developed a working knowledge of physical computing, controls, sensors and more. This camp is ideal for students new to electronics as well as those ready to level up their engineering skills. Recommended for ages 11-15.

Spin. Soar. Engineer. In this high-energy LEGO® Robotics theme, students explore machines that spin, soar, splash, and perform dramatic actions—all while learning to code and control their creations. Each build uses rare and hard-to-find LEGO® elements to create dynamic motion and expression. Students will program motors and sensors using a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface, building both engineering and creative skills in every session. Disclaimer: Students will not take home any LEGO® kits, parts, or creations. This program is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the LEGO Group.

Enjoy a well-rounded summer at NoVA PlayLabs and avoid the summer brain drain. Our Summer Camps offer a good mix of fun and academics, learning and chill time, and quiet activities and active play. We will spend time outside playing and eating snacks and lunch. Students will be grouped by grade level and rotate among different stations. We maintain a small 1:8 instructor/student ratio in order to give personalized attention to each student. For ages 5-14. Please pack two snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle (water refilling station is available). NO phones or tablets are allowed. Parents may call or text at any time (571-250-7719) to ask about their kids. 🤧 Our make-up policy for illness is very generous in order to encourage sick students to stay home 💲Fees are non refundable, but can be used towards another week, based on availability. 👶👶 Early Registration discount does not apply to the sibling discount. Final fee for the sibling is $325 and the discount will be refunded to you.