{"id":124392,"date":"2026-02-26T19:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/124392\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T19:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:51:13","slug":"17-summer-camps-for-kids-who-love-tech-and-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/124392\/","title":{"rendered":"17 summer camps for kids who love tech and science"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of the camps listed in our Big Summer Camp Guide<\/a> for 2026 include some technology or science-related fun. But the ones you\u2019ll find below are especially geared toward STEM-loving campers. Check out the possibilities:\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. SLB Radio Summer Camps: SLB Radio Summer Camps offer middle and high school students one-of-a-kind experiences at the Youth Media Center (co-located within the Children\u2019s Museum on the North Side), including opportunities to learn new skills, make new friends, and be heard. Camp themes include podcasting, songwriting, and the launch of a new, audio-first literary magazine. Scholarship information and application materials are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of SLB Radio.<\/p>\n

2. Assemble Pittsburgh: Summer camp at Assemble Pittsburgh offers STEAM camps for kids entering grades 1-9. Camps, happening this year June 15 through Aug. 7, are all about hands-on learning through shared experiences. This year\u2019s weekly themes include Anime Camp, Eco Fashion and Creative Computing Camp. Explore their lineup and register right here<\/a>. Scholarships are available, and registration is free for Garfield residents.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Kids build 3-D structures at Assemble.<\/p>\n

3. Citizen Science Lab\u2019s Summer Camp: The Citizen Science Lab\u2019s Summer Camp<\/a> offers students an exciting, hands-on opportunity to dive into real-world science. Participants will analyze mock crime scenes using advanced forensic techniques, dissect sharks to understand their anatomy, and investigate the hidden world of microbes found on everyday surfaces. Held at Citizen Science Lab\u2019s undergraduate-level laboratory in the South Hills, these week-long camps provide an engaging environment where students develop laboratory skills, critical thinking and a deeper appreciation for scientific discovery. Week-long camps run from June 23 to August 23. Their South Hills location is perfect for young scientists. For more details and registration, click here<\/a>\u00a0or call 814-830-3100.<\/p>\n

\"citizens\"citizens<\/a>Citizens Science Lab photo courtesy of KDKA.<\/p>\n

4. Pittsburgh Glass Center: Summer intensives<\/a> and teen boot camp sessions are planned this summer for grades 6\u201312 at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Sessions include glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming and coldworking.\u00a0Scholarships<\/a> are available for Glass Center programs, including a new scholarship for the summer intensive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"top\"top<\/a>Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Glass Center.<\/p>\n

5. The Hillman Academy: The Hillman Academy<\/a> provides authentic research experiences and mentorship to high school students ages 15 and older. Participants work in labs on a cancer research project alongside a Pitt faculty member, graduate student or post-doc. The program offers stipends to students from underrepresented groups. More details and contact information to learn more are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Mars Robotics Summer Camps: The nonprofit\u00a0Mars Robotics<\/a>, located in Mars, Pa.,\u00a0 supports all kinds of STEAM education, not just robotics. In fact, some of last year\u2019s camp themes strengthened the A (that\u2019s \u201carts\u201d) in STEAM. We\u2019ve reached out for details on this summer\u2019s offerings and will post them here.<\/p>\n

7. Mad Science: With titles like Fizz Boom Bang, Red Hot Robots, Brixology and Nature\u2019s Secrets, Mad Science summer camp sessions<\/a> have us intrigued. Workshops, held at a number of area locations, are geared to kids from kindergarten through 6th grade, giving them the chance to be junior scientists for the summer. Search here<\/a> to register for your choice of location and camp.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Image courtesy of Mad Science.<\/p>\n

8. iD Tech Camps held at CMU: Students ages 7-17 can get a taste of collegiate life this summer at Carnegie Mellon University during these day camps and overnight camps, running from June 15 through July 31 this year. These camps mix STEM skill development and summer fun, allowing kids and teens from beginner to advanced to work alongside new friends and learn from expert tech mentors. Kids will learn coding, game dev, robotics, 3D printing and more in next-gen labs as energetic music plays and STEM pros recruited from elite universities share their knowledge, inspiring campers to bring their visions to life, from apps and games to AI bots and viral videos. Campers will also enjoy CMU\u2019s outdoor playing fields for ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, kickball, board games and other activities, along with campus exploration and traditions like dress-up days, raffles and gaming tournaments. Register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Fern Hollow Nature Center: Fern Hollow Nature Center, located on 33 acres in Sewickley Heights Borough will offer over 20 summer camps for children ages 3-14.\u00a0Week-long camps<\/a> will run from June 15 through Aug. 14, with half-day and full-day sessions emphasizing outdoor exploration and discovery. Kids will learn about everything from archery to sustainability. Some camps will take place at the Ohio Township Nature Center, located near Fern Hollow on Nicholson Road. Members\u2019-only registration begins Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 28. Registration will open to the public on March 1. Click here<\/a>\u00a0to learn about getting a Fern Hollow membership.<\/p>\n

10. Camp Invention: Camp Invention offers an inspiring, action-packed experience for kids in grades K-6. The STEM\u00a0summer program<\/a> helps kids develop innovative thinking and problem-solving skills and encourages collaboration. Camps are held in schools around Pittsburgh. Find a program location and register by typing in your zip code here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"summer\"summer<\/a>Self-driving Optibot designers road-test their mini-vehicles. Photo courtesy of Camp Invention<\/p>\n

11. Summer Camps at Absolute Value Academy: With so many camps to choose from, AVA\u2019s mix of traditional and out-of-the-box programs ignite passion while celebrating every kind of interest. Math lovers will enjoy Codebreakers and Spy Camp. Gamers can dive into Dungeons and Dragons, learn new strategies in Chess, or design their own tabletop board game. Kids with an interest in forensics or detective work can step into the world of crime scene investigations at CSI Camp, taught by professors from the Criminal Justice department at Point Park University. Camps run Monday-Friday beginning June 15. Recommended ages vary by camp. For complete list and schedule, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

12. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team: Science-minded teens from Pittsburgh Public Schools and other urban high schools who have an interest in biology are invited to apply for the five-week\u00a0Gene Team<\/a> program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide state-of-the-art laboratory training to collect data for a current research project. Bus passes will be supplied, and participants will receive a stipend at the end of the program. Sessions will include a focus on strategies and skills that will help with college applications. To be eligible, kids must have completed one year of high school biology. Gene Team runs from June 22 to July 17. Applications<\/a> will be available later in February and accepted through April. Students will be selected for the program and notified in May. If you have any questions about the program or would like to be added to the notification list, please email Jess Robertson at jah99@pitt.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

13. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Kids ages 4-14 are the focus of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy\u2019s summer camps based out of the Frick Environmental Center, which run various dates between June 15 and Aug. 14. Camps are geared to specific ages, so kids get the most from the experience. In Kinder Camp, for example, 4- and 5-year-olds dig for worms, plant seeds and sing songs. Fifth and sixth graders in Outdoor Expedition Camp take part in hands-on projects and skill-building activities while exploring the beautiful spaces in Frick Park. This year, registration opens Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Scholarships (called \u201ccamperships\u201d) are available. (Note: Each child may participate in one camp session each summer. Space is limited and the Parks Conservancy strives to have as many children experience the camps as possible.)\u00a0Find details here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. Air Force Association CyberCamp: Each year, Pitt Cyber, in partnership with Pitt Digital, hosts the Air Force Association<\/a> CyberCamp. This week-long camp (June 22-26) is free and open to high school students and teaches cybersecurity principles, skills, and future career opportunities. The camp is designed for a range of technical skill levels, including introductory digital literacy, and is focused on systems security and cyber ethics. Taught by cybersecurity professionals from the University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere, students learn in-demand skills like cyber hygiene, Windows and Ubuntu system administration, and more. The camp concludes with students competing to find and fix vulnerabilities in a virtual machine environment. Sign up to be notified<\/a> about registration or contact Sarah Barca at afacamp@pitt.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.<\/p>\n

15. Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium: You might say Summer Zoo Camps are pretty wild. Each five-day week is packed with animal encounters, guided tours and themed classroom lessons designed to be fun and engaging for specific age groups. Kids can visit for half-day and full-day sessions. Member registration opens Feb. 17 and general registration opens Feb. 23. Details and registration here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

16. Kamin Science Center: Summer camps are returning to the Kamin Science Center for 2026 with hands-on STEM adventures for campers ages 4-14. The Science Center\u2019s camps will be sure to spark curiosity and inspire young minds, from science experiments and engineering challenges to robotics, space exploration and creative maker projects. Early registration will begin on Feb. 23 followed by open registration on Feb. 25. Get details and register here<\/a>. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

17. National Aviary: As of Feb. 1 some of the National Aviary summer camps (Toddler Camp and Little Explorers) are already sold out for 2026. But Feathers in Flight for kids 6-12 and Teen Camp still have space. Get all the details and register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many of the camps listed in our Big Summer Camp Guide for 2026 include some technology or science-related…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124393,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[31492,22694,73,22925,75,74,58347,33225],"class_list":["post-124392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-kamin-science-center","tag-national-aviary","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-glass-center","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-parks-conservancy","tag-slb-radio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}