STEM Programs Near Me

Develop leadership and responsibility while making lifelong friends. Through hands-on activities, teens will learn valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all while giving back to their community in meaningful ways. It’s a fun, enriching experience that sets them up for success and gets them off their devices. Outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly, kayaking and rock climbing once weekly each. Campers participate in outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly. We spend the first and last hour of the day inside doing arts and crafts, STEM projects, and indoor sports such bowling and ping pong. The rest of the morning and afternoon we are outdoors doing field games and traditional activities utilizing local area parks. CITs may participate in the special activities if they wish, and should have appropriate clothing for those activities. Swim days are planned to be Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the morning session. Kayaking are Wednesdays during the morning session, weather permitting. Rock climbing is on Fridays. We are open rain or shine, during inclement weather and poor air quality days we spend more time inside doing crafts, indoor sports and other activities. Hot lunch and healthy snacks are included. Early Bird pricing of 25% off, and ends 3/30. Early Bird pricing of 20% off, and ends 4/30. Early Bird pricing of 10% off, and ends 5/31. Discounts do not stack with other discounts, you will receive the best discount available to you at check out.

Develop leadership and responsibility while making lifelong friends. Through hands-on activities, teens will learn valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all while giving back to their community in meaningful ways. It’s a fun, enriching experience that sets them up for success and gets them off their devices. Outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly, kayaking and rock climbing once weekly each. Campers participate in outdoor field games in local area parks daily, swimming twice weekly. We spend the first and last hour of the day inside doing arts and crafts, STEM projects, and indoor sports such bowling and ping pong. The rest of the morning and afternoon we are outdoors doing field games and traditional activities utilizing local area parks. CITs may participate in the special activities if they wish, and should have appropriate clothing for those activities. Swim days are planned to be Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the morning session. Kayaking are Wednesdays during the morning session, weather permitting. Rock climbing is on Fridays. We are open rain or shine, during inclement weather and poor air quality days we spend more time inside doing crafts, indoor sports and other activities. Hot lunch and healthy snacks are included. Early Bird pricing of 25% off, and ends 3/30. Early Bird pricing of 20% off, and ends 4/30. Early Bird pricing of 10% off, and ends 5/31. Discounts do not stack with other discounts, you will receive the best discount available to you at check out.

** For Rising Grades 2-4! NO EXCEPTIONS! In this exciting capstone week, students become young innovators as they learn how to clearly and confidently create and pitch an idea to a live panel of key communication members! Students will: - Create their own product or idea (toy? Game? tool? Even pitch their book?) - Learn the fundamentals of PERSUASIVE PITCHING - Learning how to create and structure an ELEVATOR PITCH - Practice explaining ideas clearly, confidently, and engagingly - Learn how to ANSWER QUESTIONS from a panel and think on their feet - Work COLLABORATIVELY to strengthen presentation skills - Build CONFIDENCE presenting to new audiences 🎉 End-of-Week Event: “Pitch and Product” Showcase! Students will present their ideas to a friendly panel of key community members (teachers, business owners, and more), who will watch, encourage, and provide positive, age-appropriate feedback! This will truly be a fun and powerful confidence-building experience! 🧠 Daily Camp Structure (3 Hours) Part I (1–1.5 hours): Icebreaker activity Lesson of the day Practice through games or structured speaking assignments (small groups) Break (20 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Students remain indoors and use our break room or watch an age appropriate show/video/movie. Part II: Group discussion and reflection Continued lesson Additional practice through games or structured assignments Wrap-up and celebration of progress 🎁 Why Parents Love Ultimate Speak! - Tons of speaking practice — not just lectures - Supportive, FUN, and encouraging coaching - ONLY Professional Coaches and 2-4 coaches per class (max class 22 students) - Confidence that carries into school and life - Kids leave proud, energized, and excited to speak on a DAILY basis! ✨ Give your child the gift of confident communication this summer — while they have a blast! ** Camps are for beginners as well as our experienced students. We work from each student’s baseline to ensure value! Each Camp week is independent! You do NOT need the camps before to proceed to another week!

Parent Night Out will take place on selected evenings of every month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm (or as noted) and will incorporate many types of fine arts over the course of the school year....visual arts. All while parents enjoy a night out! Cost per event is $40 per child, $37 for additional children FROM THE SAME FAMILY. Kids will enjoy 2 hours of Art and Art related Activities!Parent Night Out is designed for parents to drop off kids while they go out for a dinner, meet up with friends, run errands or enjoy some alone time :) Parent Night Out... aka PNO... is a drop off program & for ages 4 and older. A teacher led art project, a fun themed craft, time for a snack (please bring your own snack & water) are included in our 2.5 hours together. Kids enjoy stations as well as several art projects during their 2 hours of fun at the Art Studio! Groups will be separated by age & grade level, so students can make new friends and work on age appropriate art projects. Every Day is a different theme, so you can sign up for every week :) Discounts apply when you sign up for several classes at one time. ***Bring peanut free snack & water bottle

Parent Night Out will take place on selected evenings of every month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm (or as noted) and will incorporate many types of fine arts over the course of the school year....visual arts. All while parents enjoy a night out! Cost per event is $40 per child, $37 for additional children FROM THE SAME FAMILY. Kids will enjoy 2 hours of Art and Art related Activities!Parent Night Out is designed for parents to drop off kids while they go out for a dinner, meet up with friends, run errands or enjoy some alone time :) Parent Night Out... aka PNO... is a drop off program & for ages 4 and older. A teacher led art project, a fun themed craft, time for a snack (please bring your own snack & water) are included in our 2.5 hours together. Kids enjoy stations as well as several art projects during their 2 hours of fun at the Art Studio! Groups will be separated by age & grade level, so students can make new friends and work on age appropriate art projects. Every Day is a different theme, so you can sign up for every week :) Discounts apply when you sign up for several classes at one time. ***Bring peanut free snack & water bottle

Youth ages 12-14 are invited to come and learn about urban farming, sustainable building, land stewardship, water conservation, and farm to table dining at our beautiful location at Hawk Creek Farm. By supporting the completion of special projects and daily farm care, youth gain direct experience acting as land stewards. Daily activities include farm care, composting, animal care, teacher guided exploration on a topic of their choosing, and the creation of special projects that help the farm! There will also be plenty of time for relaxing and socializing. The program runs from 12-5pm daily Monday to Friday. Early drop off is available upon request. Email camp@goldenbridgesschool.org for more info.

**MUST BE RISING GRADES 5-8! No Exceptions! Ultimate Public Speaking Summer Program for Rising 5th-8th Graders in Northern VA/DMV Area! Get ready for an EPIC summer at our awesome CENTER in Reston, VA! Join us for the Ultimate Public Speaking Summer Program, where your child will boost their confidence, learn key speaking skills, and have a ton of fun in the process! Public speaking is essential for success in school, making new friends, and even preparing for future careers. For middle schoolers and rising middle schoolers, mastering public speaking now is the perfect way to gain the confidence needed for class presentations, group discussions, and social situations. In this 5-day, 3-hour per day program, we’ll teach your child how to speak confidently and effectively in any situation. Here’s what we’ll cover: - Performing like a pro in any public speaking situation! - How to conquer nerves and speak confidently in front of others! - The secrets to organizing a powerful and effective speech! - The basics of Persuasive Speech, Storytelling, and Impromptu Speaking! - A beginner’s intro to Debate—think fast, speak well! Each day is packed with fun, interactive activities, speaking assignments, and lots of opportunities for practice and feedback! Here’s how the day will break down: Part I (1-1.5 hours): Icebreaker activities to help everyone feel comfortable A lesson packed with practical tips for the day Practice through games and group activities that make learning fun! BREAK (15 minutes): Time to grab a snack and drink! Part II: Individualized Feedback: Your child will have a chance to practice and get specific feedback on their performance! Multiple Practice Opportunities: Students will practice several times in smaller groups to really make sure they understand and can apply the feedback they’ve received. More interactive games and activities to help reinforce the lesson Wrap-up to reflect on the day and discuss key takeaways for improvement Bonus: There will ALWAYS be two or more instructors leading the program, including Sumedha Bahri, the founder of Highest Speak (she’s a Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic! Why is this so important for middle schoolers? Middle school is a time when students are starting to speak up more in class, participate in group projects, and face more challenging academic situations. Public speaking skills will help your child gain the confidence they need to express themselves clearly, think critically, and speak up in any situation—whether for a class project, school debate, or even in social situations. Plus, they’ll learn how to think on their feet and craft arguments that are persuasive—skills that will be useful throughout their school years and beyond! This program WILL sell out FAST, so make sure to reserve your spot TODAY! Your kids will not only learn an important life skill, but they’ll also have an absolute blast doing it! No experience necessary! Whether it’s your child’s first time or they’ve been with us before, they’ll have a fresh and exciting experience with new exercises and games! Don’t miss out—this is the summer program they’ll never forget!

Farm Camp is run from our 1-acre school farm in the Mission Terrace neighborhood. We provide an opportunity for children to connect with nature while directly participating in the daily rhythms of farm life. Our day camp is designed to inspire a connection with and love of the natural world, and also a chance to get hands dirty in fun and educational ways. Activities include animal care for our chickens, weeding, watering, mulching, harvesting, compost care, crafts and free play. Children should bring snacks and lunch and come prepared to get dirty!

Drone Explorers: STEM Missions is an exciting indoor program for students in grades 4–8. Kids will learn to fly and code real drones while solving hands-on, real-world challenges. Each session blends science, technology, and teamwork in a fun and engaging way. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and creativity. All equipment is provided, and classes are held safely indoors.

Enjoy a well-rounded summer at NoVA PlayLabs and avoid the summer brain drain. Our Summer Camps offer a good mix of fun and academics, learning and chill time, and quiet activities and active play. We will spend time outside playing and eating snacks and lunch. Students will be grouped by grade level and rotate among different stations. We maintain a small 1:8 instructor/student ratio in order to give personalized attention to each student. For ages 5-14. Please pack two snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle (water refilling station is available). NO phones or tablets are allowed. Parents may call or text at any time (571-250-7719) to ask about their kids. 🤧 Our make-up policy for illness is very generous in order to encourage sick students to stay home 💲Fees are non refundable, but can be used towards another week, based on availability. 👶👶 Early Registration discount does not apply to the sibling discount. Final fee for the sibling is $325 and the discount will be refunded to you.

🧱✨ Build, Create, and Imagine at GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp! Calling all young builders, creators, and problem-solvers! GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp gives kids in grades 1–3 the perfect full-day experience—mornings filled with hands-on LEGO® building challenges and afternoons packed with high-energy All-Sports fun. It’s the ultimate blend of creativity, engineering, and movement! ⭐ Why Choose GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp? 🧱 Hands-On Building & Challenges: Campers dive into themed builds every day—bridges, vehicles, towers, robots, and full LEGO® worlds. Each project boosts imagination and engineering skills. 🧩 STEM Learning Made Fun: Kids practice problem-solving, design thinking, and early engineering concepts while experimenting with structures, motion, and simple mechanisms. 🤝 Teamwork & Creative Collaboration: From group builds to friendly challenges, campers brainstorm, build, and celebrate each other’s creations. 📈 Full-Week Immersion: Projects progress throughout the week, giving campers time to refine skills and complete larger builds. Drop-ins not available for this specialty camp. Camp Details 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🧱 Morning: LEGO® Camp (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location: The Plex Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the BACK of The Plex. Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the BACK of The Plex. Early pick-ups accepted at the same location. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing Water bottle Two snacks Lunch GrowFit has over a decade of experience running engaging, kid-centered camps. Our LEGO® + All-Sports Camp inspires creativity, problem-solving, and confidence—while giving kids the movement and fun they need each afternoon. Your child will come home excited to show you what they built, imagined, and discovered!

🧱✨ Build, Create, and Imagine at GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp! Calling all young builders, creators, and problem-solvers! GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp gives kids in grades 1–3 the perfect full-day experience—mornings filled with hands-on LEGO® building challenges and afternoons packed with high-energy All-Sports fun. It’s the ultimate blend of creativity, engineering, and movement! ⭐ Why Choose GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp? 🧱 Hands-On Building & Challenges: Campers dive into themed builds every day—bridges, vehicles, towers, robots, and full LEGO® worlds. Each project boosts imagination and engineering skills. 🧩 STEM Learning Made Fun: Kids practice problem-solving, design thinking, and early engineering concepts while experimenting with structures, motion, and simple mechanisms. 🤝 Teamwork & Creative Collaboration: From group builds to friendly challenges, campers brainstorm, build, and celebrate each other’s creations. 📈 Full-Week Immersion: Projects progress throughout the week, giving campers time to refine skills and complete larger builds. Drop-ins not available for this specialty camp. Camp Details 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🧱 Morning: LEGO® Camp (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location: The Plex Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the BACK of The Plex. Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the BACK of The Plex. Early pick-ups accepted at the same location. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing Water bottle Two snacks Lunch GrowFit has over a decade of experience running engaging, kid-centered camps. Our LEGO® + All-Sports Camp inspires creativity, problem-solving, and confidence—while giving kids the movement and fun they need each afternoon. Your child will come home excited to show you what they built, imagined, and discovered!

A Week-Long, Hands-On Science + Cooking Adventure! Get ready to mix, measure, taste, and experiment! Kitchen Scientists is the perfect camp for curious kids who love to explore how science comes alive in the kitchen. Throughout this week-long, hands-on camp, young chefs become real scientists as they investigate chemical reactions, experiment with microbes and enzymes, and test their super-taster senses. Each day features a unique science theme, hands-on experiments, and delicious cooking challenges. Campers will end the week with an exciting Cook-Off Competition to show off their new culinary science skills! All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

Build, Code & Engineer the Future Step into the world of innovation! Tech Explorers gives teens hands-on experience with electronics, 3D printing, robotics, and engineering challenges. Throughout the week, campers build circuits, design 3D models, and explore electromagnetism discovering how technology powers the world around them. Whether they’re curious about engineering, love experimenting with gadgets, or enjoy solving complex problems, campers will gain confidence applying real-world STEM skills in a fun and engaging environment. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

Farm Camp is run from our 1-acre school farm in the Mission Terrace neighborhood. We provide an opportunity for children to connect with nature while directly participating in the daily rhythms of farm life. Our day camp is designed to inspire a connection with and love of the natural world, and also a chance to get hands dirty in fun and educational ways. Activities include animal care for our chickens, weeding, watering, mulching, harvesting, compost care, crafts and free play. Children should bring snacks and lunch and come prepared to get dirty!

We are offering 11 different art camps/ new curriculum for Art Camps this summer. Art Camp at All Things Art Studio is the best way to experience total immersion in a summer art program! It's fun & and students get a chance to delve into their creative selves without crazy time restraints. Students will also get to Tie Dye an All Things Art Studio Camp Shirt (or other item for repeat campers) on Day 1! (included in the fee of camp). In the mornings, they will be working on individual projects, and the afternoon art academy will give them a relaxed but focused exercise in fine arts. There will be landscape drawing and painting, and still life exploration. We explore drawing, clay, printmaking, textiles, weaving, watercolor, acrylics, tempera paint, glazing & more! We will work with canvas, clay, watercolor, tissue paper and many other types of medium as well. Every camp is a different curriculum, so please register for as many as you can :) It's an amazing week for students, they meet and make new art friends and enjoy the warm summer weather. Bring a sack lunch each day and a water bottle, We will have outdoor lunch & walk in the neighborhood- plus outdoor "en plain air" instruction in their daily journal/ sketchbook. Bring it on! Some of our Elementary, Middle School and High School groups will be offered at the same times & days (convenient for families with older & younger children). But the Camps will be separated by the groups and have different curriculum and locations within the studio. (MS/HS have a seperate registration with separate curriculum)

Students will assume the role of a veterinarian and learn how to perform a tip-to-tail feline exam, living at home with a cat, other feline animals in the cat family, and identify cat body language. Each student will take home their own stuffed animal that they will adopt to their family and tools necessary to take care of them. Day 1: Intro + Greeting our Cat Patient Day 2: Tip to Tail Feline Exam and Cat Body Language Day 3: Cat Home Life and a Stress Free Cat Day 4: Blood, Tigers, and Lions Day 5: Lacerations, Immune System, Vaccines, and Graduation

Drop-off summer camp for 3-6 year olds. 3-5pm, M-F

High School Big Idea Lab Create and Deliver a TED-Style Talk! Rising Grades 9–12 | 1:30–4:30 PM Reston, VA – Highest Speak Center If your high schooler likes sleeping in during the summer, this afternoon camp is perfect! Great communicators don’t just speak well — they share ideas that inspire people to think, act, and lead. In this exciting High School Big Idea Lab, students will develop and deliver their own TED-style talk while learning the key elements that make persuasive and motivational speeches powerful and memorable. High school is when communication skills truly start to matter. Students are expected to present projects, participate in discussions, interview for leadership roles, and soon apply for college and internships. Yet most students are rarely taught how to develop a strong idea and present it in a compelling way. That’s exactly what this program focuses on. Throughout this high-energy 5-day program (3 hours per day) students will brainstorm ideas, write short speeches, and learn how to present them in a clear, engaging, and confident way. Students will learn how to: • Develop a powerful idea worth sharing • Organize and write a talk with clear structure • Use storytelling, persuasion, and motivational speaking techniques • Incorporate elements used in successful persuasive and inspirational speeches • Speak with confidence and presence • Manage nervousness while presenting • Deliver a talk that feels natural, thoughtful, and impactful Students will practice multiple speaking rounds throughout the week, receiving individualized feedback and coaching from instructors. Expect creative brainstorming activities, speaking games, collaborative exercises, and presentation challenges that make learning both fun and energizing. By the end of the week, students will deliver their own TED-style presentation and experience what it feels like to confidently share an idea with others. Presentation recordings will be provided for parents and students. Daily Structure Part I • High-energy icebreaker activities • Brainstorming and idea development • Speech writing and structure • Practice through games or breakout exercises Break (15 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Part II • Speaking practice rounds • Storytelling and delivery coaching • Presentation challenges • Individualized feedback • Wrap-up We always have at least two instructors to ensure students receive personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to practice speaking. For this program, Highest Speak founder Sumedha Bahri — Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Federal Orals Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic — will be teaching alongside one or more of Highest Speak’s engaging instructors. This program is fun, fast-paced, and confidence-building, and students leave with communication skills that will help them in school, leadership roles, interviews, and future careers. ** NO prerequisites needed. Spots are limited and camps typically sell out. Reserve your spot today!

Students will assume the role of a doctor and learn how the body and organs work, how to use medical instruments, and even tie knots like a real surgeon. Each student receives their own stethoscope that really works. Each child receives a diploma as a graduate of Little Medical School at the completion of the course. Day 1: What is in the Doctor’s Bag? 1. Name and define 3 instruments used by doctors 2. Perform parts of a doctor’s exam using the 3 instruments 3. Understand the purpose of each instrument Day 2: All about the Heart! 1. Explain heart facts and how it works 2. Identify the different parts of the heart and know what it looks like 3. Discuss how the stethoscope aids in hearing normal and abnormal heart sounds Day 3: All about the Lungs! 1. Understand how lungs work 2. Explain how lungs exchange air for oxygen and carbon dioxide 3. Discuss what lung function tests measure Day 4: Digesting Digestion 1. Name and explain the organs of digestion 2. Understand how the entire process of digestion works and explain it to others Day 5: Is there a Surgeon in the House? 1. Discuss the concept of “scrubbing” 2. Suture and tie surgical knots 3. Explain how a surgeon works as part of a team

Things are about to get messy! Mad Science blends art and experimentation as campers explore cause and effect through fizzy reactions, mixing colors, and hands-on sensory projects. This high-energy week is perfect for curious minds who love to test, tinker, and create with a little bit of chaos.