Mad Science Summer Camps

Sessions: June 3-August 16, 2024

Step into the world of wonder at Mad Science Camps, where education and excitement collide! With 18 locations throughout the St. Louis area, our week-long camps are designed for children aged 4 to 11, offering an unforgettable summer filled with eight captivating adventures packed with hands-on experiments.

Earth and Space Investigators – Ages 5-11

Discover the world around you as you investigate everything from the earth below to the skies above. Explore nature around you and find out how science can help us to protect our planet. Contemplate communication as you converse in codes. Experience how Newton's laws are at work in your favorite sports and join the ranks of space scientists examining the mysteries of the solar system!

Make It! Camp – Ages 5-11

Roll up your sleeves, put on your makers cap, and get ready to create! This is our most hands-on camp! Together, campers will build a geodesic dome large enough to sit in. Who can build the strongest bridge? Can your bridge withstand the shake rattle and roll challenge? Explore the world of birds and beasts with bird feeder building and our super bug investigation. Speaking of birds, what did Hooty the owl have for dinner? A mouse? A Squirrel? A Frog? Kids will dissect owl pellets and reconstruct Hooty’s dinner. Enter the Mad Science chemistry lab and mix, mash, and brew concoctions to create cool sidewalk chalk and bath fizzers! Assemble and control pulleys, levers, catapults, simple machines, and megapinchers! Campers will discover the wonders of photography and make their own chromatography-dyed T-shirt. It’s a week packed with non-stop science fun!

Rocketry Camp – Ages 5-11

Get ready to blast off into the world of rockets and discover the amazing science behind them. You'll become a rocket safety superstar by learning all about the model rocket safety code. You'll also uncover the secrets of how rockets soar through the sky, stay perfectly balanced, and return safely to Earth. Each day, you'll get to build a rocket from a sleek and awesome Mad Science rocket kit to a rocket made of toilet paper tubes – how cool is that? You'll also be part of a real launch team! Imagine working together with your new friends as altitude trackers, launch preparers, and launchers. Every day, you'll watch in awe as we send a rocket soaring high into the sky.

The Nuts and Bolts of Robots – Ages 7-11

Embark on a week of exhilarating robot exploration made just for kids! Get ready to be awed as we delve into the fascinating world of robotics. Get hands-on as you make gears and set things into motion. Unite as a team to craft your very own circuits, unveiling the intricate web of connections that power robots. Delve into the mesmerizing world of sensors and witness how robots use them to navigate and interact with their surroundings. Discover the countless roles robots play in our daily lives. Experiment with sound-sensing marvels, master line-tracking wonders, and so much more! Throughout the week, you'll accumulate a wealth of knowledge and skills which you’ll use to create your own working robot to take home with you. It's a week filled with exploration, excitement, and the chance to become a budding robotics expert!

Secret Agent Lab – Ages 5-11

Ever dreamed of becoming a secret agent? We'll start with the basics: From decoding messages to metal detectors and night vision, campers have the opportunity to check out spy tech equipment and take home lots of gadgets like spy glasses! Step into the shoes of a detective as you uncover the science involved in evidence gathering and analysis! Figure out the science of forensics in a hands-on look at crime scenes! Become a super spy and learn clever ways of performing tasks as we take a hands-on investigation of the science that spies use!

AstroInnovators Camp – Ages 6-11

Campers use creative and collaborative skills to design a mission patch, train like an astronaut and solve real-world engineering problems using spinoff technology, just like NASA astronauts working together on a mission. They propose answers to questions like “How could space suit cooling tubes be used to solve a problem here on Earth? How could robotic arms help make our world a better place?” Then, they create a storyboard and presentation to share their spinoff project and work on their science communication skills.

NASA Journey into Outer Space – Ages 5-11

From our Earth's atmosphere to the outer reaches of our solar system, this program sends campers on a quest for exploration! Comets, planets, stars and more are all waiting to be discovered. Learn about the four forces of flight, the challenges of space travel, and even participate in a rocket launch!

Little Green Thumbs – Ages 3-4

Give your preschooler a green thumb without using paint! Campers will learn about plants by dissecting seeds, making leaf rubbings and creating frameable fruit and veggie prints. Learn what types of weather are vital for a healthy garden. Put on your Bee-utiful Bug Costume and flutter by the camp as you learn about one of a flower's favorite pollinators! Come see what the buzz is all about!