Looking for easy STEM summer camp ideas? This free STEM Summer Camp guide makes it simple to plan a week of hands-on science, engineering, and creativity using inexpensive supplies you probably already have.
Whether you’re planning camp at home, adding activities to a classroom, or looking for screen-free summer fun, these STEM projects are designed to get kids building, experimenting, creating, and thinking like scientists and engineers.
Download the free STEM Camp Starter Guide below, then use the activities on this page to create your own summer adventure.👉 Find even more Summer STEM activities here
Start Here: Free STEM Camp Starter Guide
Ready to plan your week?
Our free STEM Camp Starter Guide includes a simple five-day camp plan to help you organize your activities. You’ll also find printable planning pages and helpful tips for getting started.
In addition to our free STEM camp guide (below), grab this free STEM Week Camp Guide to add to the fun.
If you’d rather have everything planned for you, be sure to check out our printable STEM Summer Camp Bundle at the end of this post.
How to Use This STEM Camp
One of the best things about STEM camp is how flexible it can be. Pick one activity each day, spend an entire week on a single theme, or mix science, engineering, and art together to fit your child’s interests.
Most activities take about 30 to 45 minutes and use common household or classroom supplies. Encourage kids to ask questions, test their ideas, and make improvements along the way. There isn’t just one right answer—that’s what makes STEM so much fun.
A Simple 5-Day STEM Camp Schedule
Day 1: Build It
Kick off camp with an engineering challenge like the Egg Drop Challenge, experiment with Paper Bridges, or Spaghetti Tower. Encourage kids to sketch a design before they build, then test and improve their creations.
👉 Find more quick STEM Activities with paper here
Day 2: Mix It
Explore chemistry with colorful experiments like Magic Milk, the Baking Soda Balloon Experiment, or Fizzy Paint. These simple activities are always crowd favorites.
👉 Explore more kitchen chemistry experiments for kids here
Day 3: Make It Move
Discover force, motion, and simple machines by building a balloon car or launching a Popsicle Stick Catapult.
👉 Learn more about force and motion or simple machines for kids here.
Day 4: Create It
Bring science and art together with STEAM projects like Coffee Filter Art, Bubble Painting, or another creative project.
👉 Learn more about STEAM here.
Day 5: Invent It
Finish the week by letting kids choose their favorite materials and create something completely new. Can they build a stronger bridge? Design a better roller coaster? Create a new invention? The possibilities are endless.
👉 Try another engineering activity here
Favorite STEM Summer Camp Activities
These are some of our favorite STEM projects for summer because they’re easy to set up, encourage creative thinking, and use simple materials.
Balloon Car STEM Challenge
Explore force and motion with a straw, a balloon, and a homemade car! Challenge kids to test car model designs, record distances and/or times, and test balloon size or shape!
👉 Build a Balloon Powered Car here
Egg Drop Challenge
Can you protect an egg from a big drop? This classic engineering challenge encourages kids to test ideas, solve problems, and redesign their creations.
👉 Try the Egg Drop Challenge here
Popsicle Stick Catapult
Build a simple machine that launches pom-poms or marshmallows while exploring force and motion.
👉 Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult here
Magic Milk Experiment
One of our most popular science experiments! Watch colorful patterns appear as soap changes the surface tension of milk.
👉 Observe the Magic Milk Experiment here
Spaghetti Tower Challenge
How tall can you build using only spaghetti and marshmallows? This open-ended challenge encourages teamwork, creativity, and engineering skills.
👉 Build the Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower here
Marble Roller Coaster
Turn cardboard tubes into an exciting marble run while learning about gravity, momentum, and motion.
👉 Test 2 types of marble roller coasters here
Baking Soda Balloon Experiment
Inflate a balloon without blowing into it by creating a simple chemical reaction using baking soda and vinegar.
👉 Explore the Baking Soda Balloon Experiment here
Paper Bridges
Can a single sheet of paper hold hundreds of coins? Fold, roll, and experiment with different bridge designs to find out.
👉 Build strong Paper Bridges here
Coffee Filter Art
Combine colorful art with simple science as kids create beautiful coffee filter masterpieces.
Fizzy Paint
Painting becomes even more exciting when colorful chemical reactions bubble across the page.
Why We Love STEM Summer Camp
One of the best parts about a STEM summer camp is that learning happens naturally through play. Kids build, test, observe, redesign, and ask questions without feeling like they’re doing schoolwork.
Whether they’re creating the tallest tower, launching a catapult, or watching a colorful chemistry experiment, every activity encourages curiosity, creativity, and confidence. There are no perfect answers—just opportunities to explore, experiment, and discover something new.
More Summer Camp Ideas
Want to keep the fun going? Browse our themed summer camp collections for even more hands-on activities.
- Chemistry Summer Camp
- Physics Summer Camp
- Ocean Summer Camp
- Water Science Summer Camp
- Space Summer Camp
- Cooking Summer Camp
👉 Explore even more camp week themes here!
Printable STEM Summer Camp Bundle
Want an entire camp planned for you?
Our printable STEM Summer Camp Bundle includes complete schedules, printable instructions, supply lists, bonus STEM challenges, science games, STEAM projects, and extension activities that make planning easy.
Inside, you’ll find six complete camp weeks plus twelve bonus mini-camp themes, giving you plenty of ideas to keep kids learning and exploring all summer long.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this STEM Summer Camp for? These activities are best suited for kindergarten through upper elementary. Younger children may enjoy participating with an adult, while older kids can often complete the challenges independently.
Can I do STEM Camp at home? Absolutely! Every activity is designed to use simple, inexpensive materials that work well at home, in classrooms, libraries, or homeschool groups.
How long should each activity take? Most projects can be completed in about 30 to 45 minutes, but you’re welcome to spend longer testing, redesigning, and extending the learning.
What’s the difference between STEM and STEAM? STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math. STEAM adds art to encourage creativity alongside scientific thinking.
What if my child’s project doesn’t work? That’s part of STEM! Encourage kids to ask what happened, make a change, and try again. Testing and improving ideas is exactly how engineers and scientists learn.
Want more hands-on STEM ideas that actually work?
Our Classic STEM & Engineering Projects Pack includes 50+ favorite experiments and engineering challenges with printable journal pages, instructions, and easy-to-find supplies. Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, and curious kids who love to build and test ideas.
