The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids: 239 Cool Sites About Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
July 14, 2014 by DS Examiner
I could go on and on about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. How job openings are predicted to soar to over one million by 2020. How the U.S. government is freaking out that students aren’t prepared.
But I won’t. Because, frankly, this guide to STEM opportunities is for you:
You’re going to take the first step on Mars.
You’re going to plant farms on skyscrapers.
You’re going to discover a cure for cancer.
Nuclear fusion. Virtual reality. Clean water for all. With the world facing 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering, your interest in math and science is set to pay off—big time.
You’ll be the one using your problem-solving skills to find answers to impossible challenges.
You’ll be the scientist leading an exploration of the Mariana Trench or the engineer building a next-generation robot.
You’ll be the graduate finding a great job and earning a hefty salary.
It’s your life. Know that amazing things are possible.
President’s Environmental Youth Awards: The PEYA program celebrates K-12 students, school classes, summer camps or youth organizations that are promoting environmental stewardship. Every year, one outstanding project from each region is selected for national recognition.
STEM Career Resources
Bureau of Labor Statistics K-12: The U.S. Department of Labor has been busy. Here you’ll find charts, maps and many other resources on careers and the U.S. economy.
WeUseMath.org: Ever wondered (as I frequently did) when you’re going to use math in real life? This website on math careers has more than a few answers.
Government STEM Initiatives
Educate to Innovate: Launched in 2009, Educate to Innovate aims to move U.S. students from the middle to the top of the heap in science and math achievement. It’s spawned a number of federal efforts and philanthropic initiatives (see below).
STEM AmeriCorps: This multi-year initiative is focused on placing AmeriCorps members in STEM non-profits (such as FIRST) to work in underserved communities.
White House Science Fair: At this science fair, the President serves as the host! Students are honored for innovative projects, designs and experiments while the White House streams the event live.
Women in STEM: In collaboration with the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has instigated a number of efforts to increase the participation of girls in STEM subjects.
Philanthropic STEM Initiatives
Change the Equation: Led by CEOs, this nonprofit seeks to mobilize the business community to improve the quality of STEM education across the U.S.
Connect a Million Minds (CAMM): Sponsored by Time Warner Cable, CAMM is a five-year, $100 million philanthropic initiative that aims to inspire students to develop STEM skills.
US2020.org: The ultimate aim of this nonprofit is to mobilize one million STEM mentors annually by 2020.
Youth Inspired Challenge (YIC): Created by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), YIC is designed to expand the impact of STEM learning outside the classroom.
STEM Fun for Elementary School Kids
Funology: At Funology, science is bound to get interactive. Make a tornado with water. Build a Jurassic Park terrarium. Or, simply torment your siblings with endless jokes about bugs and insects.
Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics: Your parents might be interested in this. Curated by the U.S. Department of Education, this website contains math activities (to be completed at home, at the store and on the go) for preschoolers and elementary kids.
Kids Do Ecology: Every kid should be an ecological hero. Learn about biomes, blue whales and data collecting. You can even create your own classroom experiment. Available en Español.
Kids.gov: From imaginary jungles to ion experiments, Kids.gov has plenty of resources for a rainy day. Watch an animation on thunder and lightning or take a virtual field trip to the National Zoo.
The Kids’ Science Challenge (KSC): Hands-on science activities, games, cool videos, scavenger hunts … this website is full of fun stuff. KSC also hosts a free, nationwide science competition for students in grades three to six.
NASA Kids’ Club: At NASA Kids’ Club, it’s perfectly okay to fool around in space. You can use your science and math skills to explore Mars, construct a fleet of rockets or search for NASA spinoffs in your garage.
NASA Space Place: Build your own spacecraft, play space volcanoes or browse through a gallery of sun images. When you’re at the Space Place, the universe is the limit.
National Geographic Kids: Which do you think is cuter: the puffer fish or the clown fish? On this website, you can vote in polls, take part in eggs-periments, watch videos, play puzzles and learn amazing facts.
Weather Wiz Kids: Meet meteorologist Crystal Wicker. She’s put together a website that explains everything about the weather. Find fun facts, games, flashcards and photos, plus get answers to your meteorological questions.
TechRocket: Learn programming languages, graphic design in Photoshop, and more! Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
Cyberchase: Help Jackie, Matt and Inez use math to protect the digital universe from evil. Don’t worry: Cyberchase has lots of math games, videos and activities to aid you in your quest.
Design Squad Nation: Design anything (!) your mind might imagine. Through Design Squad challenges, videos and tutorials, you’ll discover all there is to know about engineering principles.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!: Pre-K STEM games, activities and videos galore. The adventurous Cat in the Hat is even ready to lead you on an exotic math safari adventure
The Greens: Wondering what you can do to protect the planet? The Greens have some great ideas, including games, activity guides and their very own carbon calculator.
Lifeboat to Mars: Explore the world of biology with this free online game. In one simulation (Microland) you control hungry microbes. In another (Ecoland), you have to balance out the space station’s ecosystem.
Science Games and Apps
Amazing Alex App: Amazing Alex has a lot of crazy physics challenges in need of your inventive solutions. You can even build and create your own. Brought to you by the creators of Angry Birds.
Angry Birds Space App: Those whacky (and wildly successful) birds are now playing their physics puzzles in space, where gravity does some pretty strange things!
Every Body Has a Brain!: Plunge headfirst into your amazing brain with songs, animations and mini-games. The complete game is available for purchase as a CD-ROM or digital download.
Geo Walk: 3D World Factbook App: Geography nuts rejoice! This educational app contains pictures and facts on hundreds of places, plants and animals.
Kinectic City: An amazing collection of science experiments, games, activities and challenges. You might choose to run the blood cell relay race or use a computer model to build your own interstellar slush business.
Max and the Magic Marker App: In this fun physics-based game, you’re in complete control of Max and his incredible magic marker. There are 15 puzzle levels, with challenges, secrets and rewards in each.
Move the Turtle: Programming for Kids App: You don’t have to be a computer genius to code! With this app, any kid can learn the ABCs of programming in a graphic environment.
Seasons! App: Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you. In this app, you’ll learn how to identify various weather situations in different seasons. For kids age 3 to 6.
Sid’s Science Fair App: Sid from PBS’ “Sid the Science Kid” has three science games for your entertainment pleasure: Gabriela’s “Collection Inspection,” May’s “Chart It!” and Gerald’s “Time Machine.” For kids age 3 to 6.
Team Umizoomi: The cheerful animated characters from Nick Jr.’s TV program offer lots of math games and activities for preschoolers.
Math Games and Apps
Geometry Quest App: Travel the world by solving geometry challenges along the way. You’ll receive passport stamps for perfect quests. Covers Common Core standards 3MD, 3G, 4MD, 5G, 6G, 7G and 8G.
Math Blaster: Do you have what it takes to save the galaxy? You’re going to need your math skills to complete your training missions in this free online game.
MathBoard App: One for the parents. This useful app walks kids through the steps to solving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations. There’s a handy scratchboard area where kids can work problems out by hand.
Motion Math: Pizza! App: Pizza, pizza! In this math-based game, you buy ingredients, design signature pizzas and sell them to customers (hopefully at a profit).
Motion Math: Questimate! App: How fast is the world’s fastest train? How many jellybeans fill up a soccer ball? In Questimate!, you get to make up your own questions.
Mystery Math Town: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to rescue the fireflies hidden in Mystery Math Town. Be warned: you’ll need your math skills to unlock all the rooms and passages on your quest!
Numbers League: In the Numbers League, only math can save the day. You’ll use everything from addition to negative numbers to assemble a team of superheroes and capture a horde of villains.
Umigo: Bored with everything? The crazy characters at UMIGO might have the answer. Their interactive games are just right for building math and critical thinking skills.
Junior FIRST® LEGO® League: Are you a LEGO® fiend? Then this is the contest for you. You’ll use LEGO® bricks to design and build a moving model; then, you’ll assemble a Show Me poster to showcase your solution. For kids age 6 to 9.
NSBE KidZone Elementary Science Olympiad: Collect a team and test your science skills in 18 different events at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) National Convention. Open to grades three to five. Those in kindergarten through second grade compete in a non-competitive league.
Perennial Math Tournaments: A virtual math tournament (via videoconferencing) for both teams and individuals. Open to grades three to eight.
Audubon Nature Camps: Audobon offers a ton of Nature Camps throughout the country. Beginning in April, they start taking applications for Wild Birds Pathways to Nature.
Camp Invention: Daydreams become discoveries at this summer day camp. Created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention presents essential STEM concepts through creative hands-on activities.
Camp KAOS: To infinity and beyond! These cool flight and space adventure-themed camps take place at the Smithsonian-affiliated Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center (KAOS) in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Destination Science Camp: Spend a week this summer creating robots, building a digital music system, training an electric-powered chameleon or even preparing for a mission to the moon! Held at 130 locations in six states.
Digital Media Academy Adventures Camp: Digital Media’s award-winning camps cover everything from cartoon creation to computer programming to advanced robotics with LEGO® EV3. For kids age 8 to 12.
Engineering for Kids: Engineering for Kids is an education company for kids age 4 to 14. It offers a variety of STEM programs, including in-school field trips, birthday parties, workshops and camps.
Engineering Summer Camps: Interested in building the world’s future? The Engineering Education Service Center has put together a state-by-state list of engineering summer camps.
iD Tech Camps: The sky’s the limit at iD Tech’s day and overnight camps. Make your own video game, program your own app or even code in Java.
KinderCare® Summer Camps: From the wacky wet science of water to the basics of surviving in the wilderness, KinderCare offers a variety of programs for pre-K through school-age kids.
Science Explorers: Sharks and submarines, potions and slime, castles and catapults .. whatever you love, these science summer camps have just the activity for you. Offered in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Snapology: Snapology partners with schools around the country to offer STEAM programs, contests, and camps. The programs are interactive, which allows kids to learn through hands-on instruction and play. Programs are offered in a number of different formats, including after school, on weekends, and over the summer.
Vision Tech Camps: Vision Tech offers camps for kids ages 7-17 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Camp topics include robotics, programming, minecraft, and more.
Youth Digital Summer Camps: Design 3-D models for Minecraft, create your own video game or even direct a 3-D animation! These camps focused on digital technology are held in various southern cities. For kids age 8 to 16.
Career Aisle: Elementary: Dreaming about what you want to be when you grow up? These videos about jobs in science, technology, engineering and math can help you decide.
STEM Fun for Middle School Kids
The Big Brain Theory – Discovery Channel: Competitors on this TV show have just 30 minutes to come up with a solution to an (seemingly) impossible engineering challenge.
Bill Nye the Science Guy: Bill’s entertaining television episodes cover everything from comets to the science of music. Have some fun with his home demos.
Chi Alpha Mu: Otherwise known as the National Junior Mathematics Club, Chi Alpha Mu is the younger sibling of Mu Alpha Theta. Check out its list of contests and summer grants.
Environmental Health Student Portal: Interested in learning more about chemicals, air quality and water pollution? This website has videos, games and experiments to help you along.
Kids Ahead: A STEM bonanza. Kids Ahead is packed with all kinds of resources, including scavenger hunts, videos, articles, links to local activities and fun events and info on cool jobs, that inspire and excite.
MathMovesU: Hone your math skills with online games, virtual thrill rides and national competitions! MathMovesU also offers a variety of scholarships and sponsorships.
MythBusters – Discovery Channel: The folks at MythBusters use experiments to bust rumors, myths and urban legends. (During their Cannonball Chemistry experiment, they accidentally drove a cannonball through the side of a house.)
Sally Ride Science: Founded by America’s first female astronaut, Sally Ride Science hosts a number of student programs, including science festivals and overnight camps.
Science Bob: Bob is a science teacher who loves to experiment (often on Jimmy Kimmel). His website has videos, links and plenty of ideas for build-your-own experiments and science fair projects.
SciJinks: It’s all about the weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and NASA put together this educational website to teach kids about meteorology and earth science. Check out their games section.
Scratch: Designed for kids age 8 to 16, Scratch is a place where you can program your own interactive stories, games and animations. A project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.
TechRocket: A great learning tool for kids interested in programming, graphic design, and more! Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
STEM Games and Apps
Auditorium: The Online Experience: Auditorium is a beautiful and challenging puzzle with many different solutions. One game reviewer called it “part puzzle game, part light sculpture, part musical instrument.”
CSI: Web Adventures: Based on the T.V. series, this immersive adventure allows you to solve your own forensics case. Levels range from beginner to advanced.
DimensionU Games: DimensionU has developed lots of games that tackle STEM skills. Use math to reveal the mysteries of Xeno Island or join forces in a race to disengage a bio-digital virus.
Gamestar Mechanic: Learn to design your own video game! Explore game-based quests and take courses to build your skills.
Machinarium: An incredibly slick point-and-click adventure game. You’re a robot who’s been tossed on a scrap heap and must solve a series of puzzles to make it back to the city, save the girl and beat the bad guys.
Minecraft: Minecraft is a popular 3-D block-building game that pushes your imagination to the limits. Protect yourself against nocturnal monsters or a build a giant one-of-a-kind creation.
National Geographic Games: Journey deep into the nano-world. Build the greenest city in the universe. Prepare for the apocalypse. Some of these games are free; some must be purchased.
Portal 2: A mind-bending action adventure game built around physics principles and environmental puzzles. Navigate portals and battle against a power-crazed artificial intelligence named GLaDOS. Suitable for teens.
Quantum Conundrum: Your uncle has disappeared. He’s left his Interdimensional Shift Device behind. And his house just got very weird. Welcome to the physics-based puzzle game known as Quantum Conundrum.
Robots for iPad App: Everything you want to know about robots in one easy app. Robots for iPad has 360-degree views, lots of articles and specs and hundreds of photos and videos.
You Can Do the Rubik’s Cube: You knew there had to be a game completely devoted to it. Unlock the secrets of the world-famous Rubik’s Cube.
Ambition Program: Boldly go where no kid has gone before. Immerse yourself in a six-day aviation-themed learning adventure at the National Flight Academy in Florida.
Audubon Nature Camps: Audobon hosts a huge number of Nature Camps throughout the country.
Camp Euclid: A Mathematics Research Camp: Participate from virtually anywhere! Camp Euclid’s six-week summer camps are held online. Collaborate with fellow students on solution-defying math problems.
Camp KAOS: Discover the thrill of space. These exciting flight and space adventure-themed camps take place at the Smithsonian-affiliated Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center (KAOS) in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Digital Media Summer Camp for Teens: Digital Media’s award-winning summer camps are for teens age 12 to 17. Learn about game design and development, programming and apps, filmmaking and visual effects or 3-D modeling and animation.
Earth Camp: Explore the wonders of Arizona’s Sonora Desert. You’ll camp in the wilderness, scan the night sky at the University of Arizona Sky Center and become an expert in sustainability and water resource issues.
Engineering Summer Camps: Fancy some problem-solving this summer? The Engineering Education Service Center has put together a state-by-state list of engineering summer camps.
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC): Live (and play) on a real college campus. Designed to support underrepresented middle school kids, these popular summer science camps are located across the country.
iD Tech Camps: Make your own video game. Program your own app. Code in Java. At iD Tech’s day and overnight camps, practically anything is possible.
Northern Illinois University STEM Camps: Northern Illinois University holds STEM summer camps that allow middle school kids to engage in interdisciplinary activities. Students learn through classes, hands-on activities, and more!
Physics Wonder Girls at Indiana Wesleyan University: Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Physics Wonder Girls camp offers middle school girls the opportunity to take part in hands-on physics experiments, projects, physics-based games, and science tours.
STEM Summer Institute at MIT: During the summer, STEM offers a five-week math and science institute at MIT for students entering grades six through nine. Field trips and racquet sports included.
Vision Tech Camps: Vision Tech offers camps for kids ages 7-17 in the San Francisco area. Camps focus on topics like engineering, game design, robotics, and more.
Youth Empowered Action (YEA): YEA is a week-long overnight camp for youth age 12 to 17 who want to change the world. Workshops include “Planetary Problem Puzzles” and “A Million Ways to Make a Difference.”
Zero Robotics Middle School Summer Program: Launch yourself into computer programming, robotics and space engineering. MIT’s five-week STEM curriculum will immerse you in space and provide you with hands-on experience programming SPHERES (Synchronized, Position, Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites).
Science and Technology Contests
Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge: In this one-of-kind contest, you’ll be challenged to create a one- to two-minute video describing a new and innovative solution that can solve an everyday problem. The grand prize is $25,000 and an international trip!
eCYBERMISSION: By tackling a mission (such as alternative sources of energy) with your team, you have the chance to win $5,000 in savings bonds and a STEM-in-Action grant to put your solution to work in your community.
FIRST® LEGO® League: Design, build and program your own robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology! Score points on a themed playing field and develop solutions to real-world challenges.
Future City Competition: If you can imagine it, you can build it. Working with an educator and engineer mentor, you’ll plan a city using SimCity™ software, research solutions to an engineering problem and build tabletop scale models with recycled materials.
National Stem League (NSL): Formerly known as the Ten80 Student Racing Challenge, NSL offers four different contests for middle school and high school students. You can engineer a fast, efficient and stable racing car in the Racing Challenge, teach a robot to navigate a course in the Rover Challenge, transition to renewables in the Energy Challenge or do something completely new in the Innovation Challenge.
National STEM Video Game Challenge: Submit your original game design made with tools like Gamestar Mechanic, Scratch and Kodu. The winner receives an AMD-powered laptop computer with game design software and $2,000 for his or her school.
NSBE Jr. Bridge Magazine Contests: The National Society of Black Engineers sponsors a variety of contests that challenge you to demonstrate your STEM skills or promote awareness around issues in STEM.
NSBE Jr. Explorer Technical Innovation Competition: Go head-to-head with other student scientists at the NSBE Annual Convention. Middle school and high school students are eligible. You must be a paid NSBE Jr. member to participate.
Math Contests
AMC 8: Test your math skills in this 25-question, 40-minute multiple choice contest (held every November).
MATHCOUNTS Competition Series: MATHCOUNTS holds a series of “bee-style” contests in over 500 local chapters. Top teams advance to the state competition and then to the National Competition in May.
MATHCOUNTS Math Video Challenge: Create your very own math video with your friends and classmates and be in the running to win a college scholarship!
Rocket City Math League (RCML): Sponsored by Mu Alpha Theta, RCML is a year-long, four-round math competition. Trophies are mailed to top-ranked middle school and high school students at the end of the year.
U.S.A. Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS): Pit your problem-solving skills against some of the toughest conundrums out there. Because of the level of difficulty, USAMTS allows students a full month or more to work out solutions.
Career Aisle: Middle School: Wondering what the future might hold? Explore some of the options available to you in science, technology, engineering and math. Lots of videos.
Kids.gov Jobs: Get the skinny on every job under the sun. Wondering what marine biologists do? Want to watch a video on becoming a veterinarian? You’re in the right place.
iON Future: If website browsing isn’t your style, you can always play this free STEM career exploration game. It’s geared toward middle school and early high school students.
NASA Look to the Future: Careers in Space: You don’t have to be an astronaut to work in the space program. NASA has a list of other professions, including robotics engineer, computer scientist and oceanographer, for you to consider.
STEM Fun for High School Kids
Arrick Robotics: This the prettiest website in the world, but if you’re looking for robotics resources, this is the place to be. Includes lists of competitions and contests, groups and clubs, games and simulation.
Codeacademy: Learn to code interactively (and for free). Codeacademy offers coding classes in major programming languages like Python, PHP, jQuery, JavaScript and Ruby.
DiscoverE: Thinking about engineering? DiscoverE has a selection of resources on careers, preparing for college and research schools. You might also want to check out their list of videos, trips, websites and hands-on activities.
Mu Alpha Theta: Also known as the National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta has over 100,000 student members. It organizes a national math convention, offers special awards and provides competitions.
Student Science: A central spot for science news, blogs, resources and information about Intel competitions. Sample article titles include “Native ‘snot'” and “A library with no books.”
TechRocket: Neat tool for exploring programming languages, 2D and 3D game design, and more. Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
Algebra Touch App: Get a refresher on your algebra skills with this touch-based tool. Tap to simplify, drag to rearrange and draw lines to eliminate identical terms.
The Elements App: If you geek out on the periodic table as much as I do, you’ll want this app. Check the current price of gold, find the half-life of plutonium or read up on helium-neon lasers.
Interplanetary 3D Sun App: Sponsored by NASA, this tool pulls data from a fleet of NASA spacecraft. Watch solar flares, coronal mass ejections and geomagnetic storms moments after they happen.
Muscle System Pro III App: Strip away the flesh to discover what lies beneath. Developed in collaboration with Stanford University School of Medicine, this interactive app allows you to explore the workings of human musculature, layer by layer.
NASA App: A must-have for NASA fans. This monster app includes live streaming of NASA TV and over 13,000 images, as well as on-demand videos, news stories and International Space Station (ISS) sighting opportunities. It also happens to be free.
National Geographic Apps: National Geographic has plenty to keep you entertained on a dull day. Top-rated apps include National Parks and the World Atlas.
Pocket Universe App: Astronomy unbounded. Take a virtual visit to the surface of Mars. Animate the night sky. Play quiz games. Get pop-up notifications of astronomical highlights.
Solar System for iPad: Explore the universe on your tablet with stunning visuals, 150-plus story pages, images from the Mars rover Curiosity and a 3-D orrery that lets you control the orbits of planets and their moons.
Virtual Frog Dissection: All of the education with none of the guts. This app allows you to wield virtual dissection tools to uncover the mysteries of amphibian anatomy.
Alaska Summer Research Academy (ASRA) – High School: At ASRA, you’ll spend two weeks on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, working in small teams and participating in project-based learning. Some modules will take you to remote areas of Alaska for fieldwork.
Ambition Program: Brace yourself for a thrill ride. For six days, you’ll be immersed in an aviation-themed learning adventure at the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida.
Camp Euclid: A Mathematics Research Camp: Camp Euclid’s six-week virtual summer camps are held online. Collaborate with fellow students on tantalizingly difficult math problems.
Camp KAOS: These flight and space adventure-themed camps take place at the Smithsonian-affiliated Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center (KAOS) in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Digital Media Summer Camp for Teens: Get down and creative with game design and development, programming and apps, filmmaking and visual effects or 3-D modeling and animation. Digital Media’s award-winning summer camps are for teens age 12 to 17.
Earth Camp: Explore global changes in climate, water and landscapes while you raft down the Green River’s Desolation Canyon in Central Utah. Run by the University of Arizona College of Science, Project WET, the Planetary Science Institute and the Arizona-Desert Museum.
Engineering Summer Camps: Check out this state-by-state list of engineering camps for a summer camp near you.
iD Game Design & Development Academy: These two-week summer camps offer an intensive submersion in game development, programming, design, 3-D modeling and animation. Choose from courses in Minecraft, Unreal® Engine, Maya®, iPhone® and more. For teens age 13 to 18.
Game Camp Nation: Game Camp Nation offers fun programs that harness your child’s passion for video games. They have East Coast locations from Massachusetts to Atlanta for kids from 7 to 16 years old. A few programs they currently offer include Game Design with Tynker, Coding & Minecraft Modding with Java, and 3D Game Programming with Unity.
iD Programming Academy: Ideal for students with previous programming experience who want to take their coding skills to the next level. Camps are held at university campuses across the U.S. For teens age 13 to 18.
iD Tech Camps for Teens: Choose your own adventure. iD’s week-long summer camps allow you to program a new app, produce a film, develop a website—practically anything tech-related. For teens age 13 to 17.
Northern Illinois University STEM Camps: NIU offers multiple STEM summer camps for high school students, including STEM Career Explorations, Crisis on Mars!, and Eagle’s Nest STEAM Camp.
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP): Interested in science or math? Then you could intern for eight weeks at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory. Most labs require students to be 16 years of age (though 15-year-olds will sometimes be allowed).
Summer Academy for Mathematics and Science (SAMS): Carnegie Mellon’s competitive summer program is for promising students entering their junior or senior year of high school and contemplating a STEM career. The course load is fairly heavy, but there’s no tuition, housing or dining fees if you’re selected.
Vision Tech Camps: Vision Tech offers summer camps for kids between the ages of 7-17 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kids will take courses in engineering, robotics, programming, game design, and other interesting tech topics.
Youth Digital Summer Camps: Design 3-D models for Minecraft, create your own video game or even direct a 3-D animation! These digital technology-focused camps are held in various southern cities. For kids age 8 to 16.
Youth Empowered Action (YEA): YEA is a week-long overnight camp for kids age 12 to 17 who want to change the world. Workshops include “Planetary Problem Puzzles” and “A Million Ways to Make a Difference.”
AbilityOne Design Challenge: A challenge with a purpose. You’ll research, design and engineer technologies that empower people with disabilities to secure a new job or become more productive in the workplace.
Air Force Association (AFA) CyberPatriot Competition: Tackle real-life cybersecurity situations in a virtual environment. Early rounds take place online during weekends in the fall, winter and spring; top teams are invited to Washington, D.C. to take part in the National Finals Competition.
The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing: The University of Waterloo’s CEMC holds internationally recognized contents designed to help kids fall in love with mathematics and computer science.
Envirothon: Compete for awards and scholarships by demonstrating your knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. Teams advance through local Envirothon competitions to the week-long summer finals in July or August.
FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC): Build, program and compete with a robot of your own design. Learn sophisticated hardware, work with professional engineers and qualify for student scholarships.
FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC): A close cousin of FRC, FTC challenges you to create a robot that you can use to compete in an alliance format against other teams. You’ll get hands-on programming and rapid prototyping experience.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): The Godzilla of science fairs. Around 1,800 innovators are invited to participate in a week-long celebration of science, technology, engineering and math. More than $5 million in awards and scholarships is up for grabs.
Intel Science Talent Search (STS): Intel STS bills itself as the nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. Forty finalists compete for $630,000 in awards and a $100,000 first-place prize. It’s a big deal: eight alumni have won the Nobel Prize.
NASA Asteroid Grand Challenge Series: Become a real-life asteroid hunter. In a series of topcoder challenges, you’ll be challenged to develop a significantly improved algorithm to identify asteroids in images from ground-based telescopes.
NASA Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments (CELERE): Developed by NASA and Portland State University (PSU), CELERE is open to student teams in grades nine through 12 and multi-grade teams from grades five through 12. Each team creates an experiment testing the effects of microgravity on capillary action; PSU conducts the tests at their Dryden Drop Tower.
NASA Dropping In a Microgravity Environment (DIME): DIME is open to student teams interested in designing and building a science experiment that can be operated in a microgravity environment. Finalists travel to the Glenn Research Center to perform their experiments in NASA’s drop tower.
National Stem League (NSL): Formerly known as the Ten80 Student Racing Challenge, NSL offers four different contests for middle school and high school students. You can engineer a fast, efficient and stable racing car in the Racing Challenge, teach a robot to navigate a course in the Rover Challenge, transition to renewables in the Energy Challenge or do something completely new in the Innovation Challenge
Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC): Design, build and launch your own rocket. Developed by the Aerospace Industries Association, this is the only aerospace-specific STEM competition in the country. Students compete in teams of three to 10; the winning team took home $10,500 in 2014.
Zero Robotics High School Tournament: Tackle a problem of interest to DARPA, NASA and MIT. If you make it past the controlled simulations to the finals, you’ll see your code run in SPHERES satellites aboard the International Space Station with live transmission from space.
The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME): High-scoring AMC 10 and AMC 12 entrants (see below) may be invited to take AMAA’s 15-question, three-hour examination. Top scorers in this test go on to the USAMO (see below).
AMC 10/12: Every year, AMAA offers 25-question, 75-minute multiple choice exams in high school mathematics. It’s the first step on the journey toward the International Mathematical Olympiad (see below).
American Regions Mathematics League (ARML) Power Contest: Into teamwork? ARML’s Power Contest will provide you and your mates with two problem sets, one in the fall and one in late winter, each of which must be solved within 45 minutes. Trophies are awarded to the top 10 teams.
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO): If you’ve made it through the AMC 10/12, the AIME, the USAMO and the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP), you’ll be invited to compete for the U.S. against peers from over 90 nations in this two-day exam.
Moody’s Mega Math (M3) Challenge: During the M3, you and a small team of fellow juniors and/or seniors have 14 hours to solve an open-ended applied math-modeling problem focused on a real-world issue. You can work from any location. Scholarship prizes are awarded to the winners.
NSBE Jr. Try-Math-A-Lon: The National Society of Black Engineers developed this contest to tutor high school students in SAT-level mathematics, science and African-American history. Winners of locals and regionals head to the NSBE National Convention.
Purple Comet! Math Meet: The name is hokey but the contest’s reputation is strong. In this free, online and international math competition, your team will be presented with 25 problems to solve in 90 minutes.
U.S.A. Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO): Only top AIME/AMC 10 scorers are invited to take this two-day exam. This includes six questions and nine hours of essay/proof examinations. The top scorers advance to the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MASP).
U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO): Only top AIME/AMC 12 scorers are invited to take this two-day exam. This includes six questions and nine hours of essay/proof examinations. Top scorers advance to the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MASP).
U.S.A. Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS): Pit your problem-solving skills against some of the toughest conundrums out there. Because of the difficulty level, USAMTS allows students a full month or more to work out solutions.
Who Wants to Be a Mathematician?: Battle for cash and prizes by answering multiple choice math questions. Qualifying tests are taken online; semifinals and finals take place at the Joint Mathematics Meetings.
STEM Grants and Opportunities
InvenTeam: InventTeams are made up of students, teachers and mentors who receive grants of up to $10,000 to devise technological solutions to real-world problems (you can choose your own problem).
iSTEM Scholars Program: Live in California and looking at a STEM-related profession? You might want to consider this after-school and summer program. You’ll go on field trips, receive individual tutoring and be prepped for national tests.
Planet Connect Student Grants: Have a passion for protecting wildlife and native habitats? Planet Connect offers high school students grants of $1,000 to implement local projects and participate in wildlife or natural resource internships.
Career Aisle: High School: You’ll find a truckload of exploratory videos on Career Aisle’s website, as well as links to wage information and career prep resources.
Career Cornerstone Center: It won’t win any prizes for beauty, but Career Cornerstone Center has a lot of helpful resources on STEM careers. Explore over 185 degree fields, dip into interviews or learn more about education requirements, typical salaries and networking.
CareerOneStop: Learn all you need to know about STEM careers, including typical occupations, internships and education options. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Get Biotech Smart: Curious about biotechnology research? Have a look at these video podcasts, e-learning courses and resources.
IEEE Try Computing: A good resource if you’re just starting to look into computing. You can explore career options and majors, search for accredited programs and tinker with the visual career cloud tool.
IEEE Try Engineering: This website includes a university search, info on engineering majors and a long list of links to camps, internships, scholarships, contests and more. You’ll also find insights from experts and virtual engineering games.
IEEE Try Nano: IEEE gets around. In the third of their career sites (see above), they look at jobs in nanoscience and nanotechnology: technical fields that focus on matter at the nanoscale.
iON Future: If web surfing isn’t your style, you can always play the free STEM career exploration game. It’s geared toward middle school and early high school students.
Take IT & Go Anywhere: Your source for all things IT. Check out their list of degree programs, upcoming IT events, internships, student programs, advice on paying for college, career fairs, websites and the like.
STEM Fun for Girls
CanTEEN: CanTEEN was developed to help girls explore STEM careers. Take a challenge (such as creating your own urban garden), play games like “Click! Spy School” or learn more about real-life role models.
Engineer Girl!: Why should you become an engineer? Let this website for middle school girls explain. Along with interviews, quizzes, fun facts and profiles, it has links to scores of engineering contests, clubs, programs and scholarships.
Engineer Your Life: Dream big and love what you do. This guide to engineering for high school girls is packed with profiles of inspiring women, great tips for college prep and helpful job tools.
For Girls in Science: Be what you want to be. Sponsored by L’Oréal, this site offers all kinds of STEM options, including a video blog, profiles of women in science, a list of summer camps and info about careers.
Girls Communicating Career Connections (GC3): Curious about a career in science or technology? This youth-produced media series for girls from undeserved groups has lots and lots of ideas to explore.
Girl Scouts STEM Program: Push your limits as you make the world a better place. To support STEM experiences, the Girl Scouts have developed three leadership journeys and a number of STEM proficiency badges.
iWASwondering.org: Inspired by “Women’s Adventures in Science” and developed by the National Academy of Sciences, this website invites you to investigate the careers of famous women scientists.
PBS SciGirls: SciGirls videos are great resources for the classroom. Each episode follows a different group of middle school girls who are designing and building STEM projects.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) K-12 Outreach: Aspire to be great. You’ll find a huge variety of engineering resources on this site, including links to activities, competitions, camps and scholarships.
Women@NASA: Meet the women you want to be. This NASA site includes video interviews and biographies of NASA employees, as well as info on careers, events and outreach programs. Energy.gov has a sister site called Women@Energy.
TechRocket: Learn the most popular programming languages like Java and iOS, explore Minecraft modding and 2D and 3D game design, and dive into graphic design in Photoshop. Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
G2O: Generating Girls Opportunities: G2O is an initiative of The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) designed to engage girls, parents, and teachers in expanding girls’ educational opportunities. Visit their website to explore careers in STEM, participate in summer contests, and more!
NSTA Angela Award: The National Science Teachers Association awards a $1,000 US EE Savings Bond to one female student in fifth through eighth grade who is involved in or has a strong connection to science.
Camp Reach: From constructing the perfect shoe to building the ultimate ice cream sundae, this two-week summer camp at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts is designed to stretch your engineering imagination. For girls entering seventh grade.
Design-Connect-Create! Physics Camps for Young Women: Live in or near North Texas? Get a hands-on introduction to key principles in AP Physics. For high school girls entering their junior year.
DigiGirlz High Tech Camp: Microsoft’s career-based camps are held throughout the U.S. and abroad. You’ll have the chance to listen to tech speakers, take tours, network and get some hands-on experience in workshops. Variable schedule. For high school girls.
E2@UMD: Explore engineering at the University of Maryland. Over the course of one week in the summer, you’ll take part in hands-on activities, lab experiments, team challenges and seminars with professional engineers. For rising juniors and seniors.
Girls’ Adventures in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (G.A.M.E.S.): Be part of a state-of-the-art engineering or science lab this summer! At the University of Illinois’s G.A.M.E.S., you’ll work on challenging camp projects and meet mentors in technical fields. For rising nine through 12th graders.
Girls Reaching to Achieve in Sports & Physics (GRASP): Hosted by Ohio State University’s Department of Physics, GRASP is a five-day summer camp loaded with physics fun. OSU staff and students are present at all sessions to share their love of the subject. For middle school girls.
Girlstart: Get stuck on STEM subjects. Girlstart’s Austin-based programs (including summer camps, Saturday STEM workshops and Science Extravaganzas) are open to girls in kindergarten through age 16.
Students with Potential and Interest, Considering Engineering (S.P.I.C.E.): Build a new world. Through activities, projects, tours and talks at the University of Maryland, College Park, you’ll learn how engineering is being used to change the face of the planet. For girls entering ninth and 10th grades.
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP): One hundred girls, four weeks, one incredible experience. At this Massachusetts summer camp, you’ll be immersed in two fascinating research courses. For rising rising nine through 12th graders.
Women in Natural Science (WINS): Hosted by Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences, this after-school and summer science enrichment program is free! For promising eighth graders who plan to attend a public or charter school in Philadelphia.
Alexa Cafe: Students collaborate in small, close-knit clusters. With an emphasis on entrepreneurship, leadership, brand identity, and philanthropy, you’ll build tech skills in a unique, stylish setting, alongside tech-savvy female mentors. Weeklong day and overnight sessions in programming, game design, filmmaking, and more.