Science Summer Camps for kids

Best STEM Camps for Elementary Students in Chicago and Seattle

Do we offer STEAM Camps for PreK-8th?

Yes. Our summer camps are for students ages 4-12. Research shows that science begins at toddlers. Even 2-year olds experiment with nearly everything they can see, so offering a world class program to help them unlock their curiosity, while offering real engineering challenges as science experiments, is the right way to yield long-term outperformance.  

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During the summer, we invite our Innovators (Ages 3-5), Investigators (6-7), Creators (8-9) and NexGen Designers (10-14) to join our differentiated programs that all are supported by PowerScience, our proprietary neuroscience-based hands-on science program, that has won awards across the country. Each summer, thousands of kids pour into Kids Science Labs, and do everything from designing Netflix streaming tech and Kid Sized Go-Carts, to exploring how to better insulate their lunchbag and developing a puncture proof soccer ball.

Every Summer Camp @KSL includes the following

  • Afternoon Creativity Study - A daily 45 minute STEAM challenge that changes daily to give kids an opportunity to solve a basic science problem using their hands-on creativity and imagination.
  • Morning Discovery Science - The first science class on a typical camp day is comprised of 4-6 discovery science experiments. Think of it as mixing lemons, sugar, and water to try to find the right combination of juice, and then adjusting the color, texture, and additives to see how it affects the flavor and emotional response of the juice. Basic Science.
  • Morning Innovation Science - The second science class, on a typical day involves a real problem based on discovery science, and then we teach kids how to use engineering problem solving to make a real product, that often they take home on the 2nd and 4th day of camp.
  • Afternoon FourSquare/Creators Choice - After a brief lunch, students are given options to choose sensory, engineering, art, or academic reading activities, so they can optimize a small bit of free time to play with friends or continue one of the morning experiences.
  • Outdoor Experience - An outdoor, instructor led adventure, with sharks and minnows, selected sports, mentos & coke launches, and general fun activities for kids that compliment our more academic focus morning and help release some energy before pickup.
  • The Big Close & Foursquare - We end the day applying the science and providing our students a strucured time to engage materials one more time before their scheduled pickup at the conclusion of the camp day

Summer Camp Schedule and Topics

We at KSL are committed to ensuring every one of our camps are not only fun, but offer real skill development and STEAM enrichment activities that will boost academic success.

When you register your child, know that each day begins with us using engaging science games to learn your child’s name and build community within our camp classrooms. You should expect the following at KSL:

  • Each classroom has two engaging science teachers (10:1 student/teacher ratio)

  • 150 minutes of daily hands-on science classes, M-F, led by our awesome instructors

  • One (1) Discovery Science Class

  • One (1) Design Thinking and Innovation Class

  • Afternoon Creativity Studio

  • Outdoor Experience

  • Opportunity to eat a parent-packed lunch

  • Free-Choice Elective of Reading, Engineering, or Community STEAM Games

Schedule of Camps

For the upcoming summer, we have four unique themed camps, each packed with the above STEAM enrichment activities that kids love, led by our passionate teachers that are willing to lean into the summer to give your child a STEM boost. We offer four distinctive camp choices to support the full range of student interests, but every camp includes engineering, discovery science, afternoon creativity studio. Every one of our over 60 summer camps are broken into four categories, based on the type of experience parents/kids are seekingto make it easy for parents to choose:

What type of students attend our STEAM Camps @ KSL?

MIXERS - Camps for Kids who love experiments

Some kids just prefer to pour, mix, and see things fizz, pop, and change, so all of our mixing camps are each full of 20+ experiments, where each day we mix, then apply that science to design solutions for real problems such as how to make liquids more viscous (thick) without changing their usefulness.

BUILDERS - Camps for Kids Who Design Things

Whether its Legos, Magnetiles, Kapla Blocks, or literally making inventions in their play room, some of our kids would rather spend a little more time with design in camp. We have dozens of camps for builders, each full of both discovery experiments (mixing and testing) and design thinking (building) that include capstone engineering projects from customizing battlebots to working pinball machines

ADVENTURERS - Camps for Kids who are Creative

Some kids are into journeys to space, superheroes, wild nature explorations and problem solving missions that use the full range of STEAM skills. We have nearly 20 unique camps that are entirely story driven throughout the week, where kids are experiencing real problem solving. If your kid loves using their imagination, this is the right place.

SCIENTISTS - Camps for Kids who love the science

Over the years, our most popular camps are often our basic science themes, because it is not only where kids curiosity lies, but also where parents appreciate the accelerated boost it provides to put kids ahead of their classmates and develop core science skills that prepare kids for STEAM careers.

Note: Camp spaces are limited and early registration is both encouraged and rewarded at KSL.

Summer Camp Options

  • Full Day: 9am - 3pm, M-F ($350-$750/week)

  • 2-week Flex Camp Package (discounted 15%, only available for early registration period

  • 4 week Adventure Package (Build more skills with our )

  • Camp at KSL is full-week only, and we are not able to offer any individual days during the summer.

    Center Specific Membership Options:

  • Half Day 9am - 12pm, 1pm-4pm can be purchased at select centers

  • Extended Day 3pm-5pm can be purchased separately at select centers

A day in the life of summer camp

Our families can choose the program that best fits your schedule. There are two primary options to choose from: Full Day (9am - 3pm), Half Day (9am - 12pm). Select centers, such as the South Loop in Chicago, do offer an Extended Day Program (3pm-5pm).


Benefits for your Kids

In addition to engaging themes, our kids’ science summer camps will provide many benefits to your children, including:

  • Confidence in design principles and the skills to innovate.

  • A focus on your child's growth mindset to stretch the limits of what they believe possible.

  • Access to our outstanding engaging teachers who care about your kids.

  • Using creativity to enhance their understanding basic science with real world applications

  • Building collaboration and problem solving skills to better prepare them for understanding how science can be used to build a better world  

  • Flexible schedule choices (Full day, Half day, Extended day)

  • Worry-free registration - reserve your space and pay in 4 equal installments (starting in Feb 1, March 1, April 1, and May 1)

““I just wanted to share what a wonderful time my son has had during his 3-weeks of Kids Science Lab camp! He’s always so excited to go in the morning and at the end of the day to recall all that he did and learned. The weekly newsletter is also wonderful. I’ve been very pleased with all the precautions and safety measures you have taken and have been impressed with the kids ability to wear the masks. Lastly, I just want to say what a great job the staff has been doing! They are all so warm and engaging. They have made attending camp during this unusual time so fun and exciting, and for that we are very grateful.”
— Kelly M

All New Camps Each and Every Year

At Kids Science Labs, our team of full-time scientists, engineers, teachers, and artists create outstanding camps all year long. With a current roster of over 50 unique weeks of camp, your child is sure to receive a five-star experience each summer as we innovate the camps to enable a comfortable and exciting learning environment for students ages 4-12. For students who have previously completed a Kids Science Labs camp and are now ages 12-15, please ask about our successful Counselor-in-Training Program (7th - 10th grade).that we have hosted since 2015.

This isn't any regular summer camp

Kids Science Labs' summer camps are some of the best in the nation thanks to our amazing team and the depth of our curriculum. Our science summer camps for kids incorporate weekly themes and topics ranging from medicine to chemistry to engineering design—all topics certain to engage your curious child. Our goal is to foster the next generation of creative thinkers by changing the way your child perceives, learns about, and interacts with the world around them. It is an audacious goal that has been the foundation for our core values since we began nearly a decade ago.

In our camps, we strive to help children retain their creative mindset, and we believe the way we present science to them and hands-on projects is the perfect vehicle. After experiencing something far different from the usual summer camp, this growth mindset will give your child a better understanding of science concepts and, more importantly, confidence in their ability to design and create. They leave with a reawakened curiosity and desire to learn. And we guarantee they will bring home more than a few projects that will amaze you.

Come meet our dedicated and passionate teachers who have degrees and experience in education, engineering, biology, art, architecture, materials science, sociology, and theater. Join us and make this summer fun, rewarding, and one that will benefit your child for years to come.

Science Centers Designed for Creativity

Kids Science Labs centers are beautifully designed in a sustainable way, with dry-erase walls, open spaces, eco-friendly classrooms, and filled with the next generation of creative leaders and thinkers. A typical center has three labs called Creativity, Imagination, and Inspiration. We provide science lessons for kids all year long and love developing new and engaging stem programs