Robot Technology (Grades 2-3)
Our robots are fully charged and ready to go – are you? Get ready for hands-on mechanics as we explore the world of robotics.
STEM Learning Goals: Increase interest in robotics and gain experience and knowledge with gears, basic coding and engineering.
REGISTER FOR THIS CAMP.
Jr Naturalists (Grades 2-3)
The great outdoors never looked better. Campers will explore the land and water around SCI, discover the importance of recycling, upcycle trash into treasure and learn about the animals you can see – and some you can’t.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain experience in the fields of botany, biology and conservation by developing an understanding of connections in the natural world, specifically to organisms native to Iowa.
Re-Imagine It! (Grades 2-3)
Let your creativity soar as we explore the Maker Design Cycle to re-imagine what every-day objects could be used for! Learn about how engineering and art combine in the MAKER mentality.
STEM Learning Goal: Using the engineering design process, build creations to expand engineering skills and knowledge of the design process.
Get in touch with the world around you through activities like water quality research, ecology, hiking, tree identification, species documentation and more!
STEM Learning Goals: Increase understanding of local ecology, interactions of species and environment and develop an understanding of environmental stewardship practices.
RESGISTER FOR THIS CAMP.
Jr Architects (Grades 2-3)
Design, build, test, repeat! Use your own blueprints to solve an everyday problem. Maybe Rube Goldberg could help you?
STEM Learning Goals: Increase knowledge of modern building technology and gain experience utilizing simple machines.
iEarth (Grades 2-3)
Meteors & Meteorology (Grades 2-3)
Explore the ever-changing weather in our home state. Practice with instruments meteorologists use to predict the weather and discover what’s beyond our atmosphere!
STEM Learning Goals: Develop an understanding of the water cycle. Gain experience with the instruments meteorologists use, and the different weather patterns experienced in Iowa.
Note** This is a 4-day camp
Jr. Naturalists (Grades 2-3)
The great outdoors never looked better. Campers will explore the land and water around SCI, discover the importance of recycling and upcycle trash into treasure, and learn about the animals you can see, and some you can’t.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain experience in the fields of botany, biology, and conservation by developing an understanding of connections in the natural world, specifically to organisms native to Iowa.
Re-Imagine It (Grades 2-3)
Take your love of animals to the next level in this career exploration camp. Use microscopes, x-rays, and an intro to animal dissection to expand your animal knowledge, and discover how organs, muscles, and bones work in your favorite animals.
STEM Learning Goals: Increase understanding of anatomical systems, and gain awareness of the animal world and various animal-related careers.
Wild Survival (Grades 2-3)
Do you have the skills it takes to survive, stranded on an island or deep in the woods? Learn how to build shelters, clean water, and more!
STEM Learning Goals: Increase knowledge of survival skills. Expand skills in building with various natural materials
Chemistry Creations! (Grades 2-3)
Ever wonder why bubbles are round? What is sublimation? This camp will talk about things from bubbles to explosions. These chemical reactions are sure to explode your minds!
STEM Learning Goals: Increase knowledge of the 3 basic states of matter. Gain experience with chemical reactions and learn about the various indicators a reaction has occurred. Increase interest with science.
Inventor's Workshop (Grades 4-5)
This week is dedicated to imagination and creativity. Discover the invention process and go to work. Make the best invention since sliced bread!
Lights, Camera, Animate (Grades 4-5)
Spend your day creating your own world. Construct characters, plots, and scenery for your very own movie. Learn about special effects and the equipment that makes it possible to make movies.
STEM Learning Goals: Develop an understanding of how films are made including set design, clothing, special effects, and more. Expand skills through completing a short film as a class to showcase learned material.
iEarth (Grades 4-5)
Nature's Experiences (Grades 4-5)
Delve into the world of wild animals during this wild adventure. Explore the animal kingdom and assist local scientists as they study native creatures of Iowa. It’s a zoo out there!
STEM Learning Goals: Gain experience in the field of botany, biology, and conservation by developing an understanding of the animal kingdom and relating that to native Iowa organisms.
SCI Space Camp (Grades 4-5)
Turn your eyes to the sky as we explore the universe. Learn about the tools astronomers use to gaze into the cosmos and create one of your own! Study the stars and your favorite planets in the space adventure.
STEM Learning Goals: Increase interest and knowledge in the solar system and deep space objects.
Learn about what it takes to become a veterinarian! Get an up-close look at animals from A-Z! Examine animals x-rays, diagnose “patients”, and meet a veterinarian.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain a basic understanding of the anatomical systems that all living organisms possess. Provide opportunities to develop and experience the skills necessary to becoming a veterinarian. Gain awareness of the animal world and various animal related careers.
Learn about design and experiment with materials and machines. Tackle a challenge each day to create the next ground breaking invention!
STEM Learning Goals: Gain experience in using the engineering design cycle. Expand skills by exploring various machines to create camper-designed objects.
Create your own world in this camp about creativity. Construct characters, plots and scenery for your very own movie. Learn about special effects and the equipment that makes movies possible!
STEM Learning Goals: Develop an understanding of how films are made. Explore set design, costuming, special effects and more. Implement learned creative skills through completing a short film as a class to showcase learned material.
Nature's Experiences (Grades 4--5)
Chemical Reactions (Grades 4-5)
This isn’t your regular science class… Campers will conduct a series of experiments learning different properties of matter and create dramatic reactions. This camp is about to explode with excitement!
STEM Learning Goals: Increase knowledge on clues of chemical reactions and to gain understanding on changing states of matter.
SCI Girls: Create (Grades 4-5)
If you like science and creating, this is the camp for you. This camp will explore different ways to create, combining conventional crafting with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
STEM Learning Goals: Using the engineering design process, build creations to expand engineering skills and knowledge of the design process.
Discover the language of computers, and learn how to code through games, robots, design and more!
STEM Learning Goals: Gain an understanding and appreciation of computer sciences. Develop coding skills through basic drag-and-drop blockly based coding.
Game Design Studio (Grades 6-8)
Discover the language of computers! Learn how to code through game design.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain an understanding and appreciation of computer sciences. Develop coding skills through basic drag-and-drop blockly based coding, as well as line-by-line based coding.
Take your love of animals to the next level in this career exploration camp! Use microscopes, x-rays and dissection to expand your animal knowledge and discover how organs, muscles and bones work in your favorite animals.
How do computers work? Learn the basics of coding and beyond in this computer science camp. It’s great for beginners and experienced coders alike!
STEM Learning Goals: Gain an understanding and appreciation for computer science. Develop coding skills through basic drag-and-drop blockly-based coding and line-by-line coding.
Mapping Adventures (Grades 6-8)
Combining science and creativity, the study of cartography has been instrumental throughout history! Come join us as we combine hundreds of years of map making and design with technology of the 21st century.
STEM Learning Goals: Develop both an understanding an appreciation of maps and how they have been used throughout history and in creative endeavors as well such as in books, movies, and video games.
Create: 3D (Grades 6-8)
How do 3D printers work? Get the opportunity to design your very own 3D models through various mediums, and then use the 3D printer to print it and take it home!
STEM Learning Goals: Develop an understanding of how 3D software works through hands-on designing and printing. Expand skills to use various materials such as clay and wood, to create 3D art that can then be captured into a computer based form.
**Note, this is a 4-day camp
Discover the language of computers and learn the basics of coding through game design.
Animal M.D. (Grades 6-8)
iExplore: DSM (Grades 6-8)
Who doesn’t like a field trip? We will be on the road all week exploring Des Moines’s treasures including parks, lakes, and museums. This camp is always on the move.
STEM Learning Goals: Develop an understanding of local areas and the importance of these areas to Des Moines, Iowa and the county.
Point. Click. Code (Grades 6-8)
How do computers work? Discover the basics of coding and beyond. This camp will be great for beginners, while still challenging those with more coding experience.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain an understanding and appreciation of computer sciences. Develop coding skills through drag-and-drop blockly based coding, as well as an introduction into more advanced coding languages.
iEarth (Grades 6-8)
Architecture & Design (Grades 6-8)
Explore the timelessness of architecture around us as we visit sites around downtown Des Moines. We’ll work together as we learn different styles, ultimately constructing our own awe-inspiring structures.
STEM Learning Goals: To develop an understanding of various structural designs combined with art and geography of the surrounding area.
Amusement Park Science (Grades 6-8)
Explore the physics and technology behind some of your favorite amusement park rides and activities and get a chance to create your own carnival games! This camp will involve a day-long trip to Adventureland Amusement Park.
STEM Learning Goals: Gain understanding related to momentum, acceleration and force.
Explore energy, friction and how things work
Note: All Kindergarten-1st Grade Camps are All Day Sessions (9am-4pm) and are $270 for Non Members, $220 for Members. Must be potty trained to attend.
Investigate germs and find out how they affect us.
Discover what happens when substances are mixed together
Tinker around with a variety of materials and invent something that works!
Explore robots and design your own.
Work with tools and design your own wooden masterpiece.
Explore coding and learn how to create a program to control a robot.
Face the challenge and help someone solve an engineering problem.
Investigate Iowa’s reptiles.
Dig up fossils and explore the bones of dinosaurs!
Note: All Preschool Camps are Morning Session only (9am-12pm) and are $135 for Non Members, $110 for Members. No Afternoon sessions available. Available for Ages 3 & 4. Must be potty trained to attend.
REGISTER FOR THIS CAMP
Use famous inventors for inspiration and be challenged to build something to solve a problem.
Experiment with different substances to see their reactions.
Insects are all around us, explore their habitats.
Investigate different types of tools that are used to build things.
Try out some early coding skills.
Investigate live snakes.
Your imagination is endless, use a variety of material to make a masterpiece!
