20 summer camps for kids who love science and technology

Photo above courtesy of Assemble.

Some kids imagine the perfect summer camp to be filled with sports and swimming. For others, it’s all about artistic creation, whether that means painting or performing or anything in between. But the options go way beyond those two: If your child is all about science and technology, Pittsburgh is an incredible place to find the right summer camp.

Our big summer camp guide includes more than 70 camps of all kinds for kids of all ages. Below, we’ve pulled out a selection that are specifically fun for science and tech lovers. Check out what’s possible this summer in the Pittsburgh region:

1. Assemble Pittsburgh

Summer camp at Assemble Pittsburgh offers STEAM camps for kids entering grades 1-9. Camps, happening this year June 16 through Aug. 8, are all about hands-on learning through shared experiences. This year’s weekly themes include Anime Camp, Eco Fashion and Creative Computing Camp. Explore their lineup and register right here. Scholarships are available, and registration is free for Garfield residents.

2. Fern Hollow Nature Center

Fern Hollow Nature Center, located on 33 acres in Sewickley Heights Borough will offer over 20 summer camps for children ages 3-14. Week-long camps will run from June 9 through Aug. 8, with half-day and full-day sessions emphasizing outdoor exploration and discovery. Kids will learn about everything from archery to sustainability. Some camps will take place at the Ohio Township Nature Center, located near Fern Hollow on Nicholson Road. Members’-only registration begins today. Registration will open to the public on March 1. Click here to learn about getting a Fern Hollow membership.

3. Carnegie Science Center

At the Carnegie Science Center, previous field trip camps like Kennywood Camp and Explore Pittsburgh are going to be coming back this year, as well as new camps like Cooking Up Science, Camp Cryptid and Adventure Maker camps. Camps run from June 9 through Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Half-day summer camps are available for ages 4–5 and full-day summer camps are available for ages 6–12. Pre- and post-camp care is available, and lunch care is available for half-day camps. Registration opens for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members on Feb. 3 and to the public on Feb. 10. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

4. Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code summer programs teach high school girls and non-binary students the computer science skills they need to drive community impact and prepare for a tech career. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs, meet women in tech careers and join a supportive sisterhood of girls in tech. The program is available as a 2-week intensive immersion or a 6-week self-paced program and offers a $300 needs-based stipend for eligible students. Apply here.

5. PA Trolley Museum Summer Camps 

For a wonderfully unique experience, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is hosting STEAM-focused summer camps for children ages 6 through 12, designed to ignite curiosity and creativity  while blending history with hands-on STEAM activities. All camps include behind-the-scenes, interactive guided tours of the museum’s collection of artifacts and historic streetcars, plus time to explore the new 21,000-square-foot Welcome and Education Center exhibit galleries. Kids can also ride on several of the museum’s fully-restored antique trolleys, helping to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, while building new friendships and memories on their STEAM-fueled adventures. Details and registration here. (And learn more about inclusive additions to the Trolley Museum here.)

6. Tree Pittsburgh’s STEAM Outside Camp

For two weeks this summer, the STEAM Outside Camp engages 4th, 5th, or 6th graders in the urban forest, fields, and rivers through a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) lens. The camp takes full advantage of Tree Pittsburgh’s five‑acre riverfront campus with interactive activities focused on the benefits of trees, nature in an urban environment, exploration of riparian forests and river habitats, and the life of a tree from seed to sapling at the Heritage Nursery. We’ve reached out for details on the plan for summer 2025 and will post here as soon as we hear back.

7. WQED Film Academy

WQED Film Academy is a youth education program in digital media arts and filmmaking. The Academy is open to all high schoolers, from rising ninth-graders up through recent high school grads. Teaching artists and professional mentors will offer a curriculum covering all aspects of digital media production, including storytelling, camera, audio, lighting and editing. Summer session dates and details should be announced soon.

8. ICE-T Project

In this initiative of The Citizen Science Lab, Black youth will explore the computational and experimental techniques required to examine the physiology, biochemistry, and voltage potential of microbial fuel cells (MFC), a living battery powered by bacteria. After learning basic concepts, students will build and create a device powered by these living batteries. The program is open to all Black high schoolers. We weren’t able to confirm summer ’25 details yet, but info should be coming soon to their website. For more info, email cslhq@thecitizensciencelab.org.

9. Mars Robotics Summer Camps 

The nonprofit Mars Robotics, located in Mars, Pa.,  supports all kinds of STEAM education, not just robotics. In fact, some of last year’s camp themes strengthened the A (that’s “arts”) in STEAM. We’ve reached out for details on this summer’s offerings and will add them to this post when we receive them.

10. Pittsburgh Zoo

You might say Summer Zoo Camps are pretty wild. Each five-day week is packed with animal encounters, guided tours and themed classroom lessons designed to be fun and engaging for specific age groups. Themes this year include Extreme Animals, Go Wild and Conservation Connections. Registration began Feb. 11.

11. Air Force Association CyberCamp

The annual Air Force Association CyberCamp is presented via a partnership between the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security and Pitt Information Technology. This year, the free, weeklong camp is scheduled from June 23-27. High school kids will be immersed in a range of technical skills and digital literacy with a focus on cyber ethics and systems security. Sign up to be notified about registration, which opens March 24.

12. SLB Radio Summer Camp

SLB Radio Summer Camps offer middle and high school students one-of-a-kind experiences at the Youth Media Center (co-located within the Children’s Museum on the North Side), including opportunities to learn new skills, get creative, make new friends, and have their voices be heard. More details, including camp themes and scholarship information, will be released soon. To stay up-to-date, fill out the SLB Summer Camp Interest Form.

13. The Children’s Museum

Summer camps at the Children’s Museum will host sessions for kids ages 4 through 13. Camps will run from June 16 to Aug. 22. Topics will include artmaking, storytelling, nature, game design and metalworking. Details are available now and registration opens Feb. 3 for museum members and Feb. 5 for the general public. Limited scholarships are available, with applications due by March 3. Get all the details here.

14. Camp Invention

Camp Invention offers an inspiring, action-packed experience for kids in grades K-6. The STEM summer program helps kids develop innovative thinking and problem-solving skills and encourages collaboration. Camps are held in schools around Pittsburgh. Find a program location and register here.

15. The Hillman Academy

The Hillman Academy provides authentic research experiences and mentorship to high school students ages 15 and older. Participants work in labs on a cancer research project alongside a Pitt faculty member, graduate student or post-doc. The seven-week program tentatively runs June 17 to Aug. 2 with a final application deadline of Feb. 16. The program offers 34-plus stipends to students from underrepresented groups.

16. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team

Science-minded teens from Pittsburgh Public Schools and other urban high schools who have an interest in biology are invited to apply for the five-week Gene Team program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide state-of-the-art laboratory training to collect data for a current research project. Bus passes will be supplied, and participants will receive a stipend at the end of the program. Sessions will include a focus on strategies and skills that will help with college applications. To be eligible, kids must have completed one year of high school biology. Gene Team runs from June 23 to July 18. Applications will be available in March and accepted through April. Students will be selected for the program and notified in May. If you have any questions about the program or would like to be added to the notification list, please email Jess Robertson at jah99@pitt.edu.

17. National Aviary

As of Feb. 3, some of the National Aviary summer camps (Toddler Camp and Little Explorers) are already sold out for 2025. But Where in the World Summer Camp for kids 6-12 and Teen camp still have space. Get all the details and register here.

18. Venture Outdoors

Registration is open for Venture Outdoors’ summer camps for kids going into grades 1-12. All camps will be hosted this year at North Park between June 23 and Aug. 15. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy active recreation like kayaking, fishing, biking and geocaching. Science experiments, crafts and leadership development will help kids gain self-confidence and a greater appreciation for nature. Choose from camps like Outdoor Adventure, Creek Stompin’ and Hooked on Fishing. Check out the lineup and register here. (Limited scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Jody Rutten.)

19. Mad Science

With titles like Fizz Boom Bang, Red Hot Robots, Brixology and Nature’s Secrets, Mad Science summer camp sessions have us intrigued. Workshops, held at a number of area locations, are geared to kids from kindergarten through 6th grade, giving them the chance to be junior scientists for the summer. Register here for your choice of location and camp.

20. Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History

Creative kids and nature lovers alike can attend a variety of week-long camps at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. Early registration for museum members opened Feb. 17. General registration opens on Feb. 24. Explore specific camp themes right here. Financial aid is available for eligible families.