When most people think of summer camp, they’re picturing cabins, swimming pools, campfire s’mores and horseback riding. What you may not realize is that while those adventures are definitely still a big part of some summer camps, more and more St. Louis families and kids are spending their summers building robots, designing video games, exploring careers in medicine, and even learning about geospatial technology.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) summer and after-school programs give kids the opportunity to turn their curiosity in these subjects into hands-on experiences. If your child has dreamed of becoming a doctor, a vet, a scientist or an inventor, there are incredible STEM programs available in the greater St. Louis region.
STEM Learning that Feels Like Fun!
One of the biggest reasons kids (and families) love STEM summer camps is that kids have so much fun they don’t even realize how much they’re learning. In previous blog posts, we’ve covered some of the many benefits of learning in summer camps and how they offer different experiences than sitting in a classroom. STEM programs let students tackle real-world challenges, experiment with technology and collaborate with other kids who share their interests.
One of the great things about the STEM programs offered in St. Louis is the variety of camps that have options available for different ages and interests. For families with multiple kids, we know this is important so that you aren’t spending the whole summer running back and forth between several camps!
Here are just a few of the MANY camps Blueprint4 has listed in STEM areas:
Robotics and Engineering
AI and Machine Learning
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Coding and Game Design
St. Louis Video Game and Esports Camp
Medical and Healthcare Careers
Junior Veterinarians: STEM in Action!
Space Exploration
Chemistry and Physics
Physics, Flights, Vehicles and Drones
Architecture and Design
Pre-College Design and Visual Art Program
Construction
Pre-K Little Builders Construction Zone
These hands-on summer camps help kiddos work on their problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork and confidence while, most importantly, having fun!
Making STEM Programs Accessible
Many parents assume specialized STEM programs are expensive, but there are a variety of affordable and free STEM opportunities in St. Louis. Some offer scholarship opportunities (filter by “Scholarship” on the Blueprint4 search site to find these) while others provide completely free summer programs designed to increase access to STEM education.
This is critically important for kids in areas where other summer opportunities are limited. Giving children and families a way to access summer camps and learn through STEM programs exponentially increases their interest in school and their career opportunities down the line.
Why STEM Programs Matter
Kids today are growing up in a world shaped by technology and innovation. STEM summer camps help prepare young minds for future careers while also teaching skills that are valuable in any field, like critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and creativity.
Most importantly, STEM camps allow kids to discover new interests and passions. Your child doesn’t have to want to be an engineer when they grow up to enjoy learning how to build a robot or learning to develop and design a video game.
Summertime provides the perfect opportunity for kids to explore their interests in a low-pressure, engaging and fun environment where curiosity is encouraged and mistakes are part of the learning process. Plus, they may develop some lifelong friendships along the way!
Find STEM Camps on Blueprint4
Whether your child is interested in robotics, coding, medicine, engineering, space exploration or hands-on science experiments, Blueprint4 makes it easy to discover STEM opportunities throughout the St. Louis area.
Our free-to-use search database lists hundreds of summer camps and after school programs so that families can explore options based on age, interest, cost, location and more. Start searching to give your child a chance to explore and discover what excites them most!