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In just a few weeks, parents across the country will be organizing their summer calendars and scrambling to get online registrations for summer camps completed. While virtual summer camps may be accessible for all nerds, sometimes they need to get away. Backpacking, canoeing, and sleeping in a tent may not be what your little nerd is looking for. Luckily, there are many day and sleep away summer camp options for nerds.
Space Camp
Ages: 9-18, additional options for families and younger children
Price: Average is $1,000 to $1,600 depending on the program
Location: Huntsville, AL
While this is one of the more expensive options, if your nerd is into space and has dreams of being an astronaut, this is the place for them. They offer weeklong programs in Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, Robotics Camp, and Cyber Camp. Opened in 1982, Space Camp has been the motivation for many young people to reach for the stars and was the inspiration for the 1986 movie SpaceCamp
Camp programs are also available for adults and families. Family programs may include children as young as 7. Great news, you are never too old for Space Camp! There are Scholarships available to help defer the cost. The application period for scholarships is September through November for the following summer.
Ninja Camp
Ages: 8-17
Price: $500 to $800 depending on the camp
Location: Middletown, NY, Otisville, NY, and Thompson, PA
I am very jealous that this was not available when I was growing up. Through Ninja Camp, your child can experience the life and training of the great Ninjas of Japan. Ninja Camp is run by Jonin Sensei Heath Macaluso. His goal is to give kids confidence, self-defense skills, and agility. ‘Sensei’ holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Aikido, a Black Belt in Budo Jiu-Jitsu, and was a 4 Year Division One Wrestler.
These 4-day, 3-night camps will challenge your child and help build their agility and self-confidence. Some of the skills your little nerd will learn at Ninja Camp are:
- Archery
- Camouflage
- Mental Strength
- Espionage tactics
- Hand to Hand Combat
- Sword, Staff, Blow Gun skills
- Night Hiking
- Mind Control
- Leadership Skills
Great news! Ninja Camp is also open to adults. Mind Control seems like a great skill for parents to have.
Wizards And Warriors Camp
Ages: 7-19
Price: Day camps start at $375 a week, 2 week sleep away camps start at $2,900
Location: Salem, MA, and surrounding area
At Wizards And Warriors Camp, your nerd will create a character and embark on a heroic epic to defend the region from monsters while solving mysteries to reclaim a lost treasure. Campers participate in adventures where they learn science, math, Latin, history, and more in order to solve the mystery. Through solving the mystery, your nerd is the hero they want to be.
Scholarships and financial aid are available to help defer the cost of the day camp programs. Scholarships are not available for overnight camps. Applications for scholarships must be submitted by May 15th to be considered for that year’s summer camp.
Mad Science
Ages: 3-13
Price: Half-day programs start at $115 a week depending on location
Location: Over 165 locations in 24 countries around the world.
From astronomy to zoology, Mad Science camps have something for every nerd. Most programs offer full and half-day programs. Mad Science camps use inquiry-based teaching techniques to guide campers to discover new insights based on their interests. Campers will have daily projects and experiments that can be taken home to show family and continue the learning.
Mad Science camps offer a daily combination of in-class projects, games, and physical activities. Some of the activities that your nerd will participate in are:
- Build their own robot using the principles of circuits and engineering
- Cook a snack with solar power
- Discover cool chemical reactions
- Learn about the amazing capabilities of the human body
- Make and launch model rockets to explore the physics of flight
iD Tech Camps
Ages: 7-17
Price: Most weeklong programs start around $650, but vary by course and location
Location: Over 150 locations in the US and several countries around the world
iD Tech Camps offer weeklong, 2-week, and 3-week camps, with both day and overnight camps available. There are separate camps that are all-girl, allowing your daughter time to expand her horizons in STEM. During camp, your nerd can learn how to code a mobile app, design their own video game, or discover the secrets of cryptography. iD Tech offers over 30 courses that blend world-class instruction with fun camp activities.
iD Tech has been providing tech camps for kids since 1999. Since it’s inception, it has grown from 280 to 60,000 students per year. The iD Tech Scholarship Program application period is from January through March for the summer sessions. There are also scholarships offered through partner companies.
Project Scientist
Ages: 4-12, girls only
Price: Between $500 and $800 per week, depending on location
Location: Los Angeles, CA, Charlotte, NC, and St. Paul, MN
Project Scientist began in 2011 with the goal to increase diversity in STEM by inspiring girls. There are many courses offered by Project Scientist including Coding & Gaming, Genetics, DNA & Dissection, and Robotics & AI.
During the courses, girls are immersed in STEM through hands-on activities, weekly field trips, and interaction with female leaders in a variety of STEM industries. The weekly field trips give the girls an opportunity to interact with female STEM professionals and tour exciting STEM workplaces.
There are discounts available if you sign up for multiple weeks or have multiple nerds signing up. Many people support Project Scientist by providing donations and even by sponsoring a child for the whole program.
Summer is coming. Whether your nerd goes to a day camp or a sleep-away camp, there is more to summer than hiking and making lanyards. Your nerd can learn a new skill like coding, engineering, robotics, or even how to be a ninja. It’s time to start thinking about summer camp in a whole new way.
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