October 2024
If tinkering with gadgets and debating about dinos causes your kid to buzz like the speaker on a Snap Circuits board, a STEM-themed camp might be just the ticket! Connecting with other kids and adults who are passionate about nature, coding, exploring, and inventing can spark their curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.
As a science and tech hub that’s home to 12 colleges and universities, North Carolina’s Triangle region is full of STEM enthusiasts. Here’s a sampling of some of the many great STEM camp offerings in our area!
1. NC School of Science and Math
Summer Camps | Rising 5th & 6th Grade | Rising 7th-12th Grade
| Locations: | Durham campus, near downtown 1219 Broad St., Durham, NC Morganton campus, in western NC 901 Burkemont Ave., Morganton, NC |
| Ages: | 10 – 18 (rising 5th – 12th grade) |
| Hours: | Day “Accelerator” programs: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (some programs have reduced hours on Fridays) Residential overnight “Accelerator” programs: Sunday arrival, Friday departure Hours vary for other programs |
The NC School of Science and Math (NCSSM) is not only our state’s premier STEM-focused public high school; it also hosts a slew of summer programs geared toward inspiring young North Carolinians to pursue STEM studies by engaging in real-world, hands-on experiences. While many of these programs require an application, some are free to attend, making them accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Explore all the opportunities for science-loving tweens and teens at the NCSSM Summer Programs website.
2. Museum of Life and Science
| Locations: | North Durham for Museum Camp 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham, NC Southwest Durham, near Chapel Hill for Camp Curiosity 4512 Pope Rd., Durham, NC |
| Ages: | 4 – 14 (rising pre-K – 8th grade) |
| Hours: | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, with extended care options up to 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Triangle parents know and love the Museum of Life and Science as a fabulous place to take the kids for a fun day out. Did you know kids can keep the fun going all week long with amazing camp programming? Delve into a variety of exciting STEM themes at two camp locations serving families across the Durham and Chapel Hill areas.
The museum has not yet published dates, themes, and details for their summer 2025 camps, but you can review their 2024 summer offerings or register now for schools-out camps held throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
3. Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
| Location: | Chapel Hill, downtown at UNC campus 250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC |
| Ages: | 5 – 14 (rising K – 8th grade) |
| Hours: | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with extended care options up to 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM (half-day options also available) |
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center is a STEM gem that has fostered North Carolinians’ curiosity for 75 years, even serving as a training location for astronauts in the 1960s and 70s! Their summer science camps promise unforgettable science adventures with hands-on activities to keep kids engaged in half and full-day camps on a variety of themes.
The official registration date for 2025 has not yet been announced but it was in February last year. While we await the 2025 catalog of camp dates and themes, you can peruse last year’s camp catalog and explore camp policies, FAQs and more at the Summer Science Camps website.
4. NC State University College of Engineering
| Location: | Raleigh, west of downtown at NCSU campuses Exact location provided after program acceptance but typically either on North Campus or Centennial Campus |
| Ages: | 5 – 18 (rising K – 12th grade) |
| Hours: | Day programs (rising K – 10th grade): Drop off 8:30 – 8:45 AM, pick up 3:30 – 3:45 PM Residential overnight programs (rising 11th & 12th grade): Sunday arrival, Friday departure |
Summer programs at the NC State College of Engineering provide participants a chance to experience how engineers help society through hands-on investigations and design challenges at our state’s flagship college of engineering. Day camp challenges are updated each year; previous challenges have included designing solar cities, water slides, rockets, heart valves, and more. Residential camp programming is designed and presented by faculty, students, and staff in the College of Engineering.
Dates and themes for week-long summer 2025 will be posted online in December 2024. The registration process opens January 13, 2025 and closes March 28. Find more logistical information and application details at the College of Engineering Summer Programs website.
5. Camp Invention
| Locations: | Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, and beyond Use their Camp Finder to search for camps near your zip code |
| Ages: | 5 – 12 (rising K – 6th grade) |
| Hours: | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (may vary by location; some locations also offer an extended day program) |
Camp Invention® is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame® and operates at 1,400 locations nationwide. Most Triangle-area locations are operated out of partnering schools. With hands-on programming designed to inspire curiosity and build STEM skills, campers immerse themselves in the stories of world-changing inventors and enjoy problem-solving games, creative experiences, and a healthy dose of outdoor time.
Learn more about their camp philosophy and daily programming at the main Camp Invention website. Then, find a program near you to get all the details on logistics and registration.
6. Zebra Robotics
Website | Select location to browse camps at that location
| Locations: | Cary 1408 Boulderstone Way, Cary, NC North Raleigh 1141 Falls River Ave., #104, Raleigh, NC Holly Springs 624 Holly Springs Rd., Holly Springs, NC |
| Ages: | 6 – 18 (rising 1st – 12th grade; varies by program) |
| Hours: | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, with optional extended care until 5:30 PM |
Zebra Robotics provides training to students in the field of robotics and coding through curricula made in-house by experienced and passionate coaches from diverse backgrounds in aerospace, computer science, robotics engineering, machine learning, and more. Their innovative self-paced approach to STEM education is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge for a fast-paced, technology-driven future. Hands-on work promotes engagement and interest in STEM, and the organization offers opportunities for kids to showcase their skills at regional, national, and international competitions.
Summer, track-out, and one-day camps are available throughout the year, plus regular weekly classes. Choose your location and explore the offerings at their website.
What other Triangle-area STEM camps do your kids love? Share them in the comments and we might feature them in a future article!
Camp photo credits: 1. NC School of Science and Math; 2. Museum of Life and Science; 3. Morehead Planetarium & Science Center; 4. NC State University College of Engineering; 5. NC State University College of Engineering; 6. National Inventors Hall of Fame; 7. Zebra Robotics.
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