STEM Programs Near Me

Welcome to Camp Footsteps Adventurers! Footsteps Child Care, in partnership with the City of Belmont Parks and Recreation, is excited to offer nine weeks of summer camp designed specifically for older children and youth entering fourth grade through middle school. This summer, we are thrilled to feature specialized classes provided by Lando, including Advanced LEGO Robotics and Clay Studio Lab. Field Trip: Explore San Francisco Special Event: Junior Camp Counselors at Nesbit Mini City Festival Every day brings something new to discover, learn, and explore—making camp an unforgettable adventure! MONDAY kicks off the week with team-building activities that help campers connect and collaborate, plus Advanced LEGO Robotics (10am-12pm), where they will choose a robotics challenge, plan their build, and test it with real data. Using LEGO® bricks and Technic components (beams, axles, gears, motors, and sensors), they will tune for speed, lift, or control, log test results, and present how each modification improved their design. In the afternoon campers can participate in a group cooking project. TUESDAY features morning hikes through local trails followed by recreational swimming at the Carlmont High School pool. WEDNESDAY is field trip day, with exciting excursions designed for adventure and exploration. Campers will experience thrilling attractions, water activities, outdoor adventures, and even an overnight camping experience! Each trip offers opportunities to build friendships, try new activities, and create unforgettable summer memories. THURSDAY offers flexible morning time for activities and games, along with a trip to the Belmont Library, followed by recreational swim time in the afternoon. FRIDAY wraps up each week with special events, community service projects, or Counselors-In-Training opportunities. From 2pm to 4pm, campers can also join Clay Studio Lab, where they will create gallery-ready, multi-module scenes using internal armatures, balanced bases, and clean joins. They will refine their work with cohesive color palettes and textures while explaining how their design choices enhanced structural integrity and visual clarity.

Develop leadership and responsibility while making lifelong friends. Through hands-on activities, teens will learn valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all while giving back to their community in meaningful ways. It’s a fun, enriching experience that sets them up for success and gets them off their devices. Outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly, kayaking and rock climbing once weekly each. Campers participate in outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly. We spend the first and last hour of the day inside doing arts and crafts, STEM projects, and indoor sports such bowling and ping pong. The rest of the morning and afternoon we are outdoors doing field games and traditional activities utilizing local area parks. CITs may participate in the special activities if they wish, and should have appropriate clothing for those activities. Swim days are planned to be Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the morning session. Kayaking are Wednesdays during the morning session, weather permitting. Rock climbing is on Fridays. We are open rain or shine, during inclement weather and poor air quality days we spend more time inside doing crafts, indoor sports and other activities. Hot lunch and healthy snacks are included. Early Bird pricing of 25% off, and ends 3/30. Early Bird pricing of 20% off, and ends 4/30. Early Bird pricing of 10% off, and ends 5/31. Discounts do not stack with other discounts, you will receive the best discount available to you at check out.

Students will assume the role of a veterinarian and learn how to perform a nose-to-tail exam, the importance of proper nutrition, perform a tick check, and identify animal body language. Each student will take home their own stuffed animal dog that they will adopt along with tape measures, dog journal, dog bone cookie cutter and so much more! Day 1: Intro + What is in the Veterinarian’s Office? Day 2: The ABC’s of Dog Care! Day 3: Lacerations and Ticks Day 4: The Immune System and Vaccinations! Day 5: Vet Fun and Graduation

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!

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 Week-Long Exploration of Engineering! Curious builders and problem-solvers this camp was made for you! Dive into the exciting world of engineering, where science meets real-world design and innovation. Campers will tackle hands-on challenges across five major engineering fields, use professional-grade tools and materials, and discover how engineers shape the world around us. Campers will gain confidence as they explore, discover, and learn like real scientists. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

**MUST be in RISING Grades 2-4…NO Exceptions! Northern VA/DMV Area! We are back for the ULTIMATE IN-PERSON Summer Programs for your kids in our Reston Center! Public speaking skills are absolutely ESSENTIAL to academia, future career success, and to simply making friends! Effective and engaging storytelling and writing are key skills, not only for language arts, but to better engage with people, think creatively, persuade, and enhance ANYTHING we say! (It's also SUPER fun!) Welcome to Week 2: “Sensational Storytellers! -Fundamentals of Storytelling!" In this fully interactive class, we will have a ton of fun learning the elements of effective storytelling, playing hilarious storytelling games, and practicing multiple storytelling assignments! In this 5 day, 3-hours per day program, we will cover: - How to best PERFORM any kind of story! - How to conquer any level of NERVOUSNESS and become a more CONFIDENT storyteller! - The ELEMENTS of stories! - How to STRUCTURE and WRITE a story! - Different TYPES of stories from fiction, fantasy, stories about ourselves, motivational stories, and even news stories! - How to USE storytelling to enhance anything you do! Every day, the students will have multiple opportunities to practice what WE preach and receive feedback! Our 3-Hour day is broken into: Part I (1-1.5 hours) - Ice Breaker Activity - Lesson for the day - Practice through Game or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! BREAK (15 minutes: Please bring a drink and snack.) Part II: Group Discussion of Previous Exercise/Lessons Lesson Cont. Practice through Games or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! Wrap-Up We ALWAYS have two or more instructors to ensure EVERY student gets plenty of individual attention and truly improves their speaking skills! All of our instructors are teachers/public speaking professionals and are ALSO stand-up comics/performers, so your child is bound to have a great time! This limited sized class WILL sell out FAST! Reserve your spot TODAY! This is the greatest skill you can give your kids, while they have an absolute blast! ***NO class prerequisites necessary! Basic grade level reading skills ARE needed. Previous and New Students will ALL benefit from this program!

Fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on exploration come together in Outdoor Discovery Camp, a five-day outdoor experience for children ages 4.5–11. Designed with age-appropriate activities and guided participation, this camp encourages children to explore nature, move their bodies, and learn through real-world experiences beyond the classroom.

🟣 Week 2: Sensational Storytellers! Fundamentals of Storytelling & Creative Expression 📅 July 13–17, 2026 **Must be RISING GRADES 2-4! NO Exceptions! Are your kids creative and LOVE making up stories? Do you just want to encourage their creativity, their voices, AND their writing skills? This creativity-filled week helps students turn imagination into confident performance while learning how storytelling strengthens all types of communication! Students will learn how to: - Perform stories with confidence, expression, and clarity - Become more confident storytellers, even if they feel shy - Understand the core elements of great storytelling - Structure and write engaging stories - Explore different story types, including fiction, fantasy, personal stories, and motivational stories - Use storytelling to enhance public speaking, presentations, and everyday communication - Students practice daily and grow more expressive and confident with every performance. 🧠 Daily Camp Structure (3 Hours) Part I (1–1.5 hours): Icebreaker activity Lesson of the day Practice through games or structured speaking assignments (small groups) Break (20 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Students remain indoors and use our break room or watch an age appropriate show/video/movie. Part II: Group discussion and reflection Continued lesson Additional practice through games or structured assignments Wrap-up and celebration of progress 🎁 Why Parents Love Ultimate Speak! - Tons of speaking practice — not just lectures - Supportive, encouraging coaching - ONLY Professional Coaches and 2-4 coaches per class (max class 24 students) - Confidence that carries into school and life - Kids leave proud, energized, and excited to speak on a DAILY basis! ✨ Give your child the gift of confident communication this summer — while they have a blast! ** Camps are for beginners as well as our experienced students. We work from each student’s baseline to ensure value!

Explore, Experiment & Discover the Science of Life Step into the fascinating world of living things! Biology Camp gives young scientists hands-on experience exploring DNA, microorganisms, plants, animals, and the human body. Throughout the week, campers conduct experiments, observe specimens under microscopes, and investigate how life works at every level—from cells to organs. Whether they love biology, enjoy experiments, or are curious about the natural world, campers will gain confidence as they explore, discover, and learn like real scientists. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

Don't worry about a sitter! Give yourself a parents' night off and send your child to our Kids' Night Out! Pizza party dinner will be included, as well as multiple arts and crafts, and a big, instructor-led project! $40 for the first child and $35 for additional siblings. Each child will go home with a full bag of art that they create.

Come Celebrate our 22 YEAR ANNIVERSARY at our Cow Hollow Kids Club! Reserve your space today for our special event jam packed with fun for the entire family to celebrate this annual milestone! The event will be from 10am-11am and will include a Music Class with Team JAMaROO! Join us for some of your favorite JAMaROO songs! We will also have Art, Bubbles, Face Painting, Sensory Play, Snacks, Games and More! Get your Ticket to Reserve your spot Today Space is Limited Each child is $45 (all siblings are 40% off)! Email jamarookids@gmail.com with any questions!

A Week of Discovery, Innovation & Out-of-This-World Science🛰️ Reach for the stars, literally! Throughout this exciting week, campers take on the ultimate challenge: designing and building their very own weather balloon that will be launched through the atmosphere and into space at the end of camp. From mission planning to liftoff, young scientists will learn how to track space flight navigation, sense environments during flight, and experience firsthand what it takes to send something beyond our skies. Whether your camper is a first-time explorer or a future aerospace engineer, this camp blends creativity, problem-solving, and real hands-on science in a fun, supportive environment. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

Get ready to blast off into space! In this daylong camp, we will dive into pretend play that explores the magic of outer space. Come along as we adventure to the Solar System of Make-Believe Planets... this is a wonderful camp for kiddos who feel a connection to the stars and like to imagine worlds beyond our own! Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is anytime between 3:30 - 4:00pm. Refund Policy: Please note that we have a no refund policy. Full credits will be issued for anything with a 4 week notice and can be used for any future Rabbit Hole activity. After 4 weeks we are unable to credit. If your child is sick or you need to miss a day of camp we will have a camp bag ready for you at the studio. This bag will be filled with enchanted projects, art materials, audio and video links and anything your kiddo might be missing in class. Please email us ahead of time and let us know if you need to miss and would like an at-home camp bag! Photography Notice: We love to share the joy of our experiences on SmugMug and social media! Photos taken during our sessions may be used on our social media platforms. If you would prefer not to have photos taken of your kiddo, please add a note to your child's account on Care.com.

Investigate, Analyze & Solve Mysteries Like a Real Scientist Step into the world of forensic science! Junior Detectives gives young investigators hands-on experience with DNA, fingerprints, microbiology, and crime scene analysis. Campers explore how scientists uncover clues, examine evidence, and piece together the story behind a case through fun and engaging experiments. Whether they love solving puzzles, studying biology, or dreaming of becoming a detective, campers will gain confidence using real scientific techniques to investigate, analyze, and solve mysteries. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

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!

week 7 - bugs and insects

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.

In Game Art Studio, campers explore the world of pixel art and animation using Aseprite, a professional tool used to create graphics for 2D video games. Students learn how to design characters, environments, icons, and animated sprites while building strong foundations in color, shading, and animation timing. Throughout the week, campers create original game-ready artwork such as character walk cycles, enemies, backgrounds, and user interface elements. They also learn how pixel art is used in real games and how their creations can be exported for use in 2D games, Scratch or Flowlab projects, Godot or Unity games, Minecraft-style mods, and animated GIFs. This camp is ideal for creative kids who love games and want to bring their ideas to life. No prior art or coding experience is required. Recommended for ages 10 - 15.

Learn how technology thinks — not just how to use it. Coding isn’t about memorizing commands or trying to compete with AI. It’s about learning how to think clearly, logically, and creatively in a digital world...and that skill is more important than ever. In Coding 101, students are introduced to the fundamentals of programming in a way that is approachable, engaging, and confidence-building. Through hands-on projects and interactive challenges, campers learn how code actually works behind the scenes — and how humans guide technology to do meaningful things. This camp focuses on core thinking skills: Breaking big problems into smaller steps Recognizing patterns Testing ideas and fixing mistakes Understanding cause and effect These are the same skills used by software engineers, game designers, data scientists — and even the teams who build and train AI systems. What students will do: Learn the basics of coding logic and structure Write programs and interactive projects Understand how computers “follow instructions” Practice problem-solving, debugging, and iteration Build confidence working with technology, not just consuming it For Loops, If/Else Statements, While Loops used daily by software engineers! Rather than treating coding as a rigid or intimidating subject, Coding 101 makes it accessible and empowering. Students leave with a strong foundation that prepares them for more advanced camps like game design, robotics, Minecraft modding, and beyond. For parents wondering whether coding is still relevant in an AI-powered world: AI doesn’t replace coding — it amplifies the people who understand it. Learning to code helps students become creators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers who can shape technology instead of being shaped by it. This camp is an ideal starting point for students who are curious about how technology works and want to build skills that will serve them across school, careers, and life.

We're going to unlock all the incredible, hidden secrets of botany. You'll transform into a buddy botanist, discovering exactly how plants grow, what they 'eat,' and how they stay super healthy. Our hands-on fun includes awesome seed extractions – carefully freeing tiny seeds from tasty fruits and veggies! Then, grab your imaginary lab coats as we become soil chemists, figuring out the perfect recipe for happy, healthy soil. But the best part? You'll plant your own seeds and witness the pure magic of life as they sprout and grow! This camp includes a trip to the Children's Garden in the Golden Gate Park on Friday. Students will take the Muni to the designation.