STEAM Summer Camps for Chicagoland Kids

Your young scientists can learn all summer long with these camps.

Is your child into science, technology, engineering, art or mathematics? Help them find a hands-on STEAM summer camp in Chicagoland that will pique their curiosity.

These summer camps fill up fast. Be sure to register ahead of time. Prices and locations for the camps are subject to change.

Featured Event: STEM CON 2024

StemCon 2024

April 27, 2024

College of DuPage’s STEMCON 2024 offers an immersive day into the world of STEM with hands-on experiments and demonstrations from soldering and robots to microorganisms and fossils. Highlights include hands-on STEM exhibits, a keynote by MIT engineer and TV host Emily Calandrelli, interactive workshops tailored for middle school students and the captivating Mr. Freeze demo show.

Learn more about STEMCON 2024.

Looking for more summer camps? Check out our Ultimate Summer Camp Guide to find the best summer camps for Chicagoland kids.

Featured STEAM Summer Camps for Chicagoland Kids

In this section, Chicago Parent’s advertising partners share their top summer camp offerings.

College of DuPage Youth Academy

College of Dupage
Photo credit: College of Dupage

June 3-Aug. 2, 2024

  • Address: 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
  • Phone: 630-942-2208
  • Cost: Cost varies, see website for details
  • Best for ages: Kindergarten through high school

Academic and enrichment classes are offered throughout the year for students in elementary, middle school and high school. Explore exciting STEM topics or gain additional practice in school subjects. High school credit courses, test preparation, enrichment and private tutoring are available. 

Mad Science

Mad Science
Photo Credit: Mad Science Camp

Dates may vary by location

Discover the excitement of Mad Science Camp in Chicago – where learning meets fun! Mad Science’s immersive program blends hands-on experiments, captivating demonstrations and themed weeks to spark your child’s curiosity in science. 

Led by experienced instructors, each day is packed with interactive activities, outdoor playtime and opportunities to make new friends. With safety as Mad Science’s priority, rest assured your child will thrive in our supervised environment. Give your child a summer to remember, enroll them in Mad Science Camp today. Limited spots available, reserve now and watch them explore the wonders of science!

Camps at the Museum of Science and Industry

Camps at the Museum of Science and Industry
Photo Credit: Brad Boron

June 24 – Aug. 16, 2024

Museum of Science and Industry’s week-long summer camp experiences are about exploring everything the museum has to offer. Campers can engage in a wide variety of interdisciplinary activities bridging science, art and engineering. Don’t miss out — this summer is going to be a blast!

Camp Galileo

Camp Galileo
Photo Credit: Camp Galileo

Check location for specific dates

  • Address: 10+ Chicagoland locations
  • Phone: 800-854-3684
  • Cost: $490 – $525
  • Best for ages: Rising K-8th

At Camp Galileo, every week is a one-of-a-kind adventure full of engaging STEAM projects, collaborative design challenges and classic camp fun, from silly skits to face painting to pie throwing. Grounded in the acclaimed Galileo Innovation Approach, their hands-on activities and outdoor games cultivate essential skills — including collaboration, perseverance and creative confidence — that last long after summer ends. 

Chicagoland families can choose from more than 10 locations, along with extended care 8 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Snapology Summer Camp

Snapology Chicago
Photo credit: Snapology Chicago

June 10 – Aug. 23, 2024

Snapology, a top franchise in STEAM enrichment in the Chicagoland area, engages children ages 4-14 using Lego bricks, K’Nex and technology! Snapology believes that children are meant to learn through play. When children are engaged in interactive, hands-on learning activities, their creativity flourishes and they show an increased interest in school. 

Snapology helps your child grow up with a thirst for knowledge. With dozens of programs to choose from, there’s something for everyone like Minecraft and Pokemon to STEM/STEAM programs, robotics and movie making. All while using Lego bricks or K’Nex, kids will stay engaged from the minute they walk in the door. The kids are having so much fun with familiar toys, laptops and iPads, they won’t even realize they’re learning … shh, don’t tell them it’s educational!  

Summer camp offerings include theme camps, engineering camps, robotics camps, technology camps, indoor and outdoor activities and Pizza Fridays. Chicago Snapology is the premier partner for STEAM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math), offering year-round programs in schools, community facilities and homes. You can join Snapology this summer and beyond!

STEM Camp by Noggin Builders

Noggin Builders
Photo credit: Amy Torf

May 20-August 23, 2024 (weekly sign up)

Send your child on a STEM Adventure this summer! Kids can become explorers and creators at Noggin Builders STEM Camps. How do you build a dunk tank? How do catalysts change chemical reactions? What kinds of challenges would you create if you designed an escape room? 

These are just a few of the questions kids explore in Noggin Builders summer camps, where they dive into different STEM-related themes each week and follow their curiosity along new pathways. A new theme and different activities each week will keep your budding scientist or engineer engaged all summer long.  

Campers entering grades K-5th (divided by age) will explore with experiments and hands-on activities in a variety of STEM areas and open-ended engineering design projects. Some of the themes for 2024 include Chemistry, Space Voyagers, LEGO Engineers, Science of Art and Green Science.  

Campers entering grades 6th-7th will experience an in-depth, full day camp designed for middle schoolers filled with open-ended design projects and STEM skills. Middle school themes include Robotics, Maker Camp and Escape Room Design.  

Noggin Builders also offers special options for the youngest and oldest campers. Preschoolers harness their natural curiosity about the world around them as they explore and build early math and science skills with activities customized for young learners.  

Rising 8th and 9th graders build leadership and collaboration skills in a unique program including team building through fun, hands-on activities and STEM, opportunities to work with younger campers, volunteerism, and more. 

Noggin Builders has flexible options to meet your summer needs. Sign up by the week with half day and full day options for most camps. This summer, your curious camper will build skills in creative problem solving, collaboration, and resiliency while having fun with hands-on STEM. Use coupon code ChicagoParent for $25 off your weekly summer camp. 

Bennett Day Camp

Bennett Day Camp
Photo credit: Samantha Rud

June 17-Aug. 16, 2024

Bennett Day Camp provides an enriching atmosphere that enables campers ages 4-11 to develop self-identity, leadership skills and a lifelong sense of adventure. Their campers and counselors participate in neighborhood explorations, team sports, music, arts, scientific discovery and water play in a collaborative culture.

Each morning, campers can enjoy art, movement and STEM activities based on the theme of the week. In the afternoon, campers get to “choose their own adventure” with afternoon choices. Options include (but aren’t limited to): Sewing, textiles, claymation, digital photography, slime time, coding, engineering, basketball, soccer, flag football and badminton. On Water Wednesdays, campers can escape the heat with water relays, slip and slide fun, water balloon games, and more!

At Bennett Day Camp, they know plans change. They pride themselves on the flexibility we provide to campers and their families. The camp’s refund policy allows families to receive a full refund up until the very first day of camp.

Summer Lab at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Summer Lab
Photo credit: Summer Lab/Nancy Kubel

June 17-July 26, 2024 (Two-week sessions available)

  • Address: 1362 E. 59th St., Chicago
  • Phone: 773-834-7766
  • Cost: Cost varies, see website for details
  • Best for ages: Nursery through Grade 8

Summer Lab has over 100 program offerings to stimulate your child’s interests and explore new ones. Your child will learn to program a robot, enjoy outdoor adventures, build a drone, dance and act, start a business, cook, and more. Mix and match courses to craft your child’s perfect summer. Your camper will have the chance to learn, explore, and grow while making lasting friendships and memories.

Brains & Motion Education Summer Camps

June 3 – Aug. 12, 2024

Let your students dive into an amazing summer adventure at Brains & Motion Summer Camps in Chicago. Explore a range of STEM, arts and sports camps for Grades K-8. Learning is fun and possibilities are boundless! Take advantage of the special offer to save $50 on all your summer camp purchases with code CHICAMPS. 

Engage in dynamic hands-on experiments, challenging coding activities and thrilling robotics projects, igniting innovation and honing problem-solving skills. Brains & Motion’s STEM camp is designed to inspire curiosity, fostering a deep-rooted love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics among students.

Discover boundless creativity with painting, origami and performing arts sessions.  Brains & Motion’s art camp fosters self-expression, ignites imagination and explores diverse artistic avenues, nurturing a lifelong love for creativity and deepening appreciation for the arts among students.

Participate in Brains & Motion’s vibrant sports camps, including soccer, tennis, and basketball, to foster teamwork, refine skills, and embrace sportsmanship. Their inclusive programs prioritize physical fitness and camaraderie, offering a supportive and enjoyable environment for all students, regardless of level. 

A summer of endless possibilities awaits your young ones! Save $50 on each enrollment with the code CHICAMPS, until the end of summer!

Reviews: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/kidztopros.com

The Language Labs Spanish Summer Camp at Oak Brook Park District

The Language Labs Spanish Summer Camp at Oak Brook Park District

Session 1: June 17-21, Session 2: July 8-12, Session 3: August 5-9

The Language Labs Spanish Summer Camp’s amazing team of native Spanish teachers will introduce your children to the  language with fun indoor and outdoor games, interactive activities and creative crafts.

More STEAM Summer Camps in Chicagoland

Kids Science Labs

June 10-Aug. 30, 2024

  • Address: Locations in Chicago and Northbrook
  • Cost: Call for pricing
  • Best for ages: 4-12

At Kids Science Lab, young scientists love the mystery and surprise of seeing inside devices we use every day, designing their own cities of the future, and understanding how devices are made. Summer themes include everything from builders paradise and living on Mars to how stuff works and cool chemistry.

Lincoln Park Zoo Camps

June-August 2024

Lincoln Park Zoo offers conservation camp and zoo crew, both designed to introduce kids to the amazing world of animals. Along the way, they will spend time with their peers, discover how to overcome challenges, and build empathy for other creatures and for one another.

Field Museum Camps

June 17-Aug. 16, 2024

Foster a love of science and exploration all summer long with museum summer camps that are perfect for curious minds in grades K-8. Campers will have the opportunity to engage with the natural and human worlds through tailored learning experiences and up-close encounters with museum collections.

Academic Summer Day and Residential Camps at Northwestern University

June 23-Aug. 2, 2024

This camp is broken up into two sessions. It’s either by residential camp or day camp and divided by grade. Camp offerings are in subject areas Arts & Humanities, English & Language Arts, Leadership & Services, Mathematics, Science and Technology & Engineering.

Kids STEM Studio

June 12-Aug. 7, 2024

  • Address: Locations in the West Loop and Lincoln Park
  • Cost: $495/week
  • Best for ages: 6-13

STEM-focused camps teach the kids to think and work like real scientists, programmers, engineers and creative designers. Campers get to work on cool projects, hands-on activities, engage in fun and developing real-world products, and digital creation.

Argonne National Lab

Summer 2024 Dates TBA

At Argonne’s 5-day summer computing workshop, high school students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn how to code from some the best and brightest computer scientists in the nation. No prior coding experience necessary.

Chicago Botanic Garden Camp

June 3-Aug. 9, 2024

Chicago Botanic Garden offers week-long STEM camps with themes that include botany in the kitchen, field science, nature survival skills, multimedia and more.

Want your summer camp featured in this story? Connect with us!


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Lori Orlinsky
Lori Orlinsky
Lori Orlinsky is an award-winning journalist and bestselling children's book author. She is the mom of three little ladies who keep her on her toes.

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