STEAM has become a focus in many schools, but a lot of valuable STEAM learning also happens in out-of-school settings, especially in the kinds of multi-day intensive experiences that summer camps can provide! Many of these camps help catalyze interest in previously-unknown career paths for high-demand occupations. We’ve gathered some high-quality STEAM camps for kids in the Pittsburgh region. Read on and register for steamy adventures when school’s out!

CyberCamp

The University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security (Pitt Cyber) in partnership with Robert Morris University is hosting a week-long Air Force Association CyberCamp for high school students (entering 9th grade – graduating 12th grade) from July 23-27, 2018. This camp, which is free to attend, builds a range of technical skill levels, including introductory digital literacy, and is focused on cyber ethics and systems security.

Summer Engineering Experiences for Kids

Sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers, SEEK camp is offered free of charge for rising 4th-6th graders. This 3-week camp aims to address disparities in STEM participation for African Americans through early exposure to STEM concepts, positive mentoring relationships with adult NSBE members, and team-focused project-based learning curriculum. These camps have no eligibility requirements (although their mission is to increase these opportunities for students of color) and focus on building foundational skills while encouraging imagination and creative problem-solving.

Center of Life

COL is a community-empowerment organization located in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood. The organization focuses on music and arts in their programming, and summer camps (offered at varying price points, some of which are paid training opportunities for teens) include various STEAM activities, where students learn more about the world around them through enrichment, research, field trips, and real-world experiences.

Oasis Project

Bible Center Church in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood uses research and an asset-based community development approach to create oases- places of peace, safety, and happiness in the midst of trouble and difficulty. Their 5-week summer program for kids in grades 3-6 includes active Bible lessons, learning about the environment, and “athledemics”- a combination of athletics and academics.

The Labs at CLP

Summer Skills Intensives at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh allow teens to dive deep into five different workshop series. Each 5-day session is free to attend and teens who complete all session in their workshop earn a $100 Visa gift card. The creative workshops pair teens with professionals working in each field, including Street Art, Hip Hop, Photojournalism, Outdoor Painting, and Music Album Creation.

Assemble Summer Camps

Does your child ask a lot of questions? Do they like solving mysteries and problems? Think science camp, technology camp, engineering camp, art camp and math camp ALL rolled into one for STEAM! Assemble’s Summer Camps are open to kids and tweens, ages 6-13. From beginners to burgeoning hackers, all skill levels are accepted and welcome! Bonus: Assemble camps are free for kids who live in the Garfield neighborhood.

Tissue Engineering Camp

Middle and High School students interested in bioengineering (specifically tissue engineering) are in luck this summer. Camp BioE teaches campers about the technologies, experimental strategies, and ethical considerations involved in bioengingeering, highlighting state-of-the-art research under current investigation at the University of Pittsburgh and beyond. Camps take place throughout the summer, using curriculum designed by master educators and bioengineering majors.

Alcosan Camp

Ever wanted to study sewage? The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority camps increase environmental awareness while teaching concepts that align with PA Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology. Hands-on programming fosters responsible stewardship of our region and lets kids see the inner workings of pollution prevention, water treatment, and watershed practices in our region. Not interested in a week-long camp? Schedule a free tour of Alcosan’s facilities any time!

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Teens can hone wilderness survival skills right here in Frick Park with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Summer camp programs include shelter building, whittling, foraging, and other skills while emphasizing teamwork and decision-making. Camps for younger kids are filling up fast, but focus on skills like restoration, seed planting, and storytelling with a nature theme.

Audubon Camps

Contribute to real-world citizen science, learn about the importance of insects, birds, and native plants to the ecosystem, or study green infrastructure, while getting to see up close and personal with different environmental jobs in the region. Summer camps with the Audubon Society of Western PA cover topics from botany to orienteering, with exciting opportunities to meet professionals in various environmental science fields.

Citizen Science Lab

The Citizen Science Lab is open to everyone: middle and high school students, parents and educators, undergraduate and graduate students, professionals and DIY scientists. Their space (and their summer camps) invite the citizens of Pittsburgh to observe, experiment and analyze through discovery-based learning and STEAM education. Topics range from drone photography to genetic engineering, with zoology and microbiology scattered in between.

Carnegie Science Center

Carnegie Science Center summer camps cover STEAM topics from insects to human tissue, weather to LEGO structures. Kids aged 4-18 can roll up their sleeves, toss on a lab coat, and dig into science all summer long, exploring new concepts each week.

Hungry for More?

This roundup from our friends at Kidsburgh highlights 10 more awesome STEAM camps, ranging from camps focusing on the science of decomposition to camps teaching kids to fly drones!