The Museum of Aviation is proud to offer 6 weeks of interactive and stimulating Summer Camps that integrate a variety of innovative hand-on STEM disciplines. Students in rising grades 1-10th grade have the opportunity to create, build, learn and investigate in a positive environment. STEM Summer Camps are offered one week at a time and students may register for as many weeks as desired.
- All Camps are Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 12 noon.
- Cost is $132.50 per week, per participant.
- Please read and review all pertinent information, policies and procedures for our summer camps below.
Please review all important information as well as our policies and procedures below for an overview of what you and your students can expect from our camps.
A Note from the Director
Students have amazing imaginations. Their ideas and willingness to design and create is truly remarkable and is what will be our future workforce. The National STEM Academy proudly offers many programs that support learning opportunities for all ages four and over. STEM Labs which are usually a few hours on a Saturday, and STEM Camps which are usually five consecutive days during a holiday week or Summer are very popular with families seeking STEM learning experiences for their student.
STEM Labs and Camps are interactive experiences that integrate innovative hands-on STEM disciplines. Students of all ages learn about the Engineering Design Process through creative problem solving. The goal-setting experiences often use scientific equipment and a variety of technology which includes robotics, virtual reality, 3D printers, flight simulators and much more.
STEM Labs and Camps also provide hands-on opportunities to create, build and learn in a relaxed environment without tests and specific benchmarks. Students thrive in this type of classroom because there is less fear of failure and they have fun learning as they play. Albert Einstein said, “play is the highest form of research”. Our trained staff specifically allow students the time to think creatively, take risks, and communicate their design process. It is often during the messiest activities that we see the students formulate the best ideas. When your student leaves the National STEM Academy with what looks like a pile of popsicle sticks wrapped in masking tape or some sort of paper plate animal, please ask them what they learned while experimenting with this creation.
Thank you for your support as the National STEM Academy continues to provide learning opportunities that promote creativity and exploration. Our team is sincerely grateful to all the families participating in programs located at the Museum of Aviation.
Respectfully,
Melissa
Melissa Spalding
Director of Education & Visitor Experience
General Info for ALL Summer Camps
- All Summer Camps feature hands-on, grade appropriate activities.
- All Camps are Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 12 noon. No extended hours or full-day options are available.
- Cost is $132.50 per week for each participant.
- Students are grouped by grade levels into separate classrooms. Some grade levels are grouped together based on registrations (1st, 2nd, 3rd – 4th, 5th-6th, 7th-10th, and 11th – 12th (Jr. Volunteers)).
- Please no food or drinks other than water.
- Please register your student for the grade they will be entering in the Fall of 2023.
- For 1st Graders: Due to Bright from the Start Regulations, students must be 6 years old by the start date of the camp and entering 1st grade.
Registration, Cancellation & Refund Information
Registration:
- Your receipt for payment is your confirmation. Separate emails will not be sent out.
- A reminder email will be sent no later than the Friday prior to the camp’s start date. Please mark your calendars for the dates/times/camps that you are registered.
- Please add education@museumofaviation.org to your safe senders list to ensure you receive emails
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
- All Summer Camp Cancellations must be received in writing. Please email education@museumofaviation.org for cancellations.
- Refund Policy: Refunds are made if cancelled up to 2 weeks prior to start date of program. Please mark your calendars for dates/times registered.
- Account Credit Policy: Account credits are made at the discretion of the National STEM Academy for cancellations made within the 2 week refund window on a case by case basis. Account credits are not guaranteed.
- No-Show Policy: No-Shows and those cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to the start of the registered camp are not eligible for refunds or account credits. It is the responsibility of the registered to remember the dates/times signed up for.
Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
Summer Camp drop off will be between 9:10 and 9:20 am. This allows us to have all child(ren) in their camps ready to begin right at 9:30.
Camp dismissal will begin promptly at 12:00 pm. Dismissal Cards are required for all of our campers.
Please note which building the camp your child(ren) will be in held in for corresponding drop off and pick up locations and instructions:
Century of Flight Campers:
Please enter the Museum Campus and take an immediate right. You will park in the lot next adjacent to the Century of Flight Hangar and park. Please walk with your camper into the lobby for check in.
Space and Innovation Center Campers:
Pick up and drop off will be in the loop directly in front of the building. Upon entry to the campus, you will take an immediate right and then an immediate left into the first parking lot.
Camp is for Campers:
Only Museum staff and registered volunteers may enter the classroom areas. Guardians must remain in check-in/drop off area.
Behavioral Issues
Campers are expected to follow directions and be respectful and responsible for their behavior during camp. Guardians will be alerted by a verbal report if their camper’s behavior has become disruptive. It is the job of the guardian to address this behavior before the next day of camp. If disruptive behaviors continue, the camper will be removed from the camp, and no refund will be issued.
If your camper requires assistance during camp, a camp aide may attend camp with the camper. Families are responsible for hiring and paying for camp aide. Camp aides must have completed ninth grade, be at least four years older than the child he/she is assisting, and may not be a family member. Assistants 19 and older will be subject to a background check.
We utilize a 5-step behavior policy. The following steps will be used to address any camper behavioral issues:
- Verbal Reminder: Campers will be asked to stop disruptive behavior.
- Environmental Change: Campers will be removed from the area and may be asked to sit out one activity.
- Behavior Report: A verbal account of the disruptive behavior will be given to the guardian at pick-up.
- Send Home: A camper will be sent home if the formally addressed behavior is repeated. They will be allowed to return the next day.
- Removal from Camp: If the behavior happens again after the previous four steps have occurred, the camper will not be permitted to return to camp for the 2023 season. No refund will be issued. Any other camps that the camper is registered for will be forfeited with no refund.
Disruptive behaviors are classified at the discretion of the Education Team. Ultimately, the behavior will be deemed disruptive if it negatively affects the experience of other camp participants or puts themselves or others in danger.
Examples of Disruptive Behavior:
- Talking while others are talking
- Repeatedly running through the Museum when asked to walk
- Refusing to participate in activities
- Throwing items
- Entering off-limits areas
- Bullying or aggravating fellow campers
- Using hurtful language
- Excluding other campers from activities
- Inappropriate touching
- Misuse of cell phone
The following will result in immediate dismissal from camp without refund:
Physical violence: hitting, kicking, punching, biting, or inappropriate touching
Inappropriate language: cursing, name-calling, derogatory remarks, or hate speech.
Handbook, Policies, & Procedures
A complete copy of our Handbook, Policies, and Procedures can be found on our National STEM Academy About Page.
1st - 10th 2023 STEM Summer Camps
*Preliminary Camp Schedule for 2023 is below. Registration will begin in March 1, 2023. Schedule subject to change prior to March.
June 5th-9th
- 1st-6th Grades: Mad Scientist
- Put on your goggles and lab coats as we explore the world of fizzing, foaming and floating science in this crazy week of experimenting!
- 6th-10th Grades: Mission Quest Flight Simulation
- Work and communicate with your crew to plan and fly missions in the flight simulator.
- 7th– 10th Grades: Digital Media & Website Design
- Students will develop their computer skills by learning about website design and simple coding to create web pages. Students will learn to incorporate graphics, video, sound, and other tools to engage their web audience.
June 12th-16th
- 1st-6th Grades: Space Exploration
- Discover the mysteries of the solar system with hands-on activities. Students will explore planets, stars, space travel and much more in this exciting camp dedicated to space!
- 7th-10th Grades: Coding
- Using robotic kits, and various software programs, explore the world of programing and coding in our technology lab.
June 26th-30th
- 1st-4th Grades: The Wonders of Wildlife
- Get wild this summer! Learn about different animals from around the world, their habitats and much more in this new camp dedicated to wildlife.
- 5th-6th Grades: Engineering
- Using the engineering design process, let your imagination run wild in this camp for budding engineers and inventors!
- 6th-10th Grades: Mission Quest Flight Simulation
- Work and communicate with your crew to plan and fly missions in the flight simulator.
- 7th-10th Grades: 3D Printing
- Learn about the engineering design process and prototyping using 3D modeling software and 3D printers. Students will take home a 3D printed item.
July 10th-14th
- 1st-6th Grades: Inventions and Robotics
- Calling all innovators, dreamers, and engineers. Join us to design, build and practice your programming skills in this camp filled with fun and creativity.
- 6th-10th Grades: Advanced Mission Quest
- Students must have attended Mission Quest Class within the past 18 months. This course focuses on advanced flight principles including formation flying, instrument flying procedures and advanced mission planning. Students will fly in multiple aircraft configurations, including USAF aircraft, Cessna, and Seaplanes.
July 10th – 21st **TWO WEEK CAMP**MUST Register for BOTH Weeks**
- 7th-10th Grades: Project Mars 1 and Project Mars 2 (MUST Register for BOTH Weeks)
- Week One: Hands-on challenges in which students build and test rovers, redesign wheels using 3D printing software and fly drones to complete simulated missions on Mars.
July 17th-21st
- 1st-2nd Grades: Storybook STEAM
- Imaginations delight in this Story book adventure. Experiments and activities bring the pages to life!
- 3rd-4th Grades: Arts Academy
- Let your creativity run free in this week dedicated to the Arts.
- 5th-6th Grades: Museum of Aviation Camp
- Discover the wonders of the second largest Museum in the United States Air Force. Learn about the exhibits, explore behind the scenes, meet a curator and much more in the exciting new camp.
- 7th-10th Grades: Project Mars 2 (MUST have registered for AND completed Mars 1)
- Week Two: Hands-on challenges in which students build and test rovers, redesign wheels using 3D printing software and fly drones to complete simulated missions on Mars.
11th - 12th Jr. Volunteer Program
The Jr. Volunteer Program is open for students entering Grades 11 or 12.
Students will assist in lower grade summer camps, help with classroom set-up and clean-up, assist younger students with activities, and other duties as assigned.
