2023 Summer Science Camps

This Summer we will be offering full day science camps for kids ages 6-12 in Cupertino! Week long camps will run from 9 am to 3 pm combining exciting experiments, storytelling, free exploration STEM activities, and more! We will also have one week of camp aimed at our younger campers (ages 5-9) with shorter days the week of July 4th. See below for more information on our daily schedule, camp themes, location, ages, and tuition. Registration coming soon!

Camp Themes

Who Dunnit?

Use forensic science, chemistry, and problem solving to search for clues and solve mysteries!

Dates: June 26-30 or July 24-28, ages 8-12

• Fingerprinting — Can you lift fingerprints off a glass and use them to identify a culprit?
• Chromatography — Use Chromatography to figure out which pen was used to write that note! 
• Identifying Powders — What’s this? A mystery powder? Use chemistry to identify what it is!
• Soil Analysis — Where has this person been? Can we tell from the dirt on their shoes?
• Casting Footprints — Quick, get some plaster and let’s preserve those prints as evidence!
• Blood Typing — Learn how to do blood typing with artificial blood samples!
• UV Light — Is there more than we can see with our naked eye?
• Liquid Analysis — What’s in that mysterious puddle? Use chemistry to find out!
• Analyze Evidence — What does all this evidence mean?
• DNA — Try out gel electrophoresis to divide out dyes the way forensic scientists test DNA!
• Face Composites — Can you build an image of the suspect based on witness testimony?
• Sorting Plastics — What type of plastic are those fragments? Learn to identify plastics!
• Make Your Case — Now that you’ve solved the mystery, can you convince others you are right?

Sun, Water, Grow!

Explore topics from climate and energy here on Earth to the moon, solar system, and beyond!

Dates: July 10-14 or July 31 – August 4, ages 6-12

• Solar Furnace — Use the sun to melt a penny in 10 seconds and turn a rock into hot lava!
• Seed Dissection — What are the parts of a seed? How does it grow? 
• Wriggling Worms — How do worms help and create soil?
• Erosion — Build a stream and watch what it washes away!
• Greenhouse Effect — How does carbon dioxide in the air affect warming?
• Growing Sprouts — Discuss what seeds need and watch them grow!
• Weird Water — Can you make water flow uphill?
• Photosynthesis — See photosynthesis in action!
• Picnic Time! — Use science to make ice cream and more for a picnic!
• Rainbows — How many ways can you create a rainbow!
• Thirsty Flowers — See how capillary action moves water up a plant’s stem!
• Wind Chill Factor — How does mist and wind work together to cool us down?
• Grass Heads — Create a plant buddy with hair that really grows! 
• Wind Powered Cars — Design a car that races in the wind!
• Sunlight — Create a UV bracelet and sunprints!

Storm the Castle!

Build towers and bridges and use catapults to send objects flying through the air in a week of engineering fun!

Dates: July 17-21 or August 7-11, ages 6-12

• Building of a Cliff — Use blocks to see how far out you can build a structure over the edge of a cliff!
• Trebuchets — Use conservation of energy to launch water balloons the length of the parking lot!
• Straw Rockets — Shoot a straw clear out of sight with a tube and an ordinary balloon!
• Bull Roarer — Summon the troops with a spinning instrument that roars!
• Samson’s Columns — Think you need to be as strong as Superman to hold up a heavy building? Think again!
• Catapults — Build a catapult and use it to launch stuff all over the courtyard!
• Parachutes — Experiment with parachute designs to keep your action figures safe when falling from the sky!
• Glove-o-phone — Play victory music on your homemade bagpipes!
• Building Bridges — Find ways to span the distance!
• Marshmallow Shooters — Use your breath to propel marshmallow ammunition!

Daily Schedule:

Location

For the Summer of 2023 our Summer Camps will be held at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Cupertino. We will be holding camps outside in two locations on the campus. Lunch, recess, and our calmer experiments will be held in a fenced courtyard that includes shaded tables, grass, and a playground. Our active, messier experiments that my involve water, flying objects, or need a lot of space will be held in a section of the parking lot which will be blocked off for our use.

St. Jude’s is located at 20902 McClellan Road in Cupertino. It is situated on three acres of land at the southeast corner of Stelling and McClellan Roads, diagonally across from DeAnza College. You can enter the parking lot from either road.

Schedule, Rates, and Registration

To register for the Spring, click on the class your would like to register for below and you will be taken to a registration page for that class. We highly recommend you follow the instructions on our “How to Register” page to avoid any confusion if you are new to our system. Clicking on the button below will open the “How to Register” page in a separate window.