Camp Directory

Welcome to the circus! Experiment with the big top’s best acts, make carnival treats and explore the science of those tricks. You’ll feel like you’re the ring master!

From Goldilocks to Humpty Dumpty and beyond, we pair fun stories with STEM activities in this camp! Dive deep into the science behind the stories.

Calling all future engineers! Join us as we build everything from A to Z. There is no limit to the creativity in this construction adventure!

Magicians never reveal their secrets... unless you become a magician, too! Learn the science and slight of hand that makes magic so mystical!

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

From teeny-tiny worms to enormous whales, we'll compare some amazing animals! Test out camouflage, discover how animals communicate and learn how scientists classify the animals around us.

Explore the SOUNDS and SMELLS of SCI. SEE how people and animals use their senses in different ways. Can you can FEEL the excitement building for this TASTEful camp?

Let's cook up some chemistry and investigate crazy reactions! Some might fizzle, some may pop, all will be tons of fun!

Ever wonder what makes the weather change? Step into the shoes of a meteorologist as we explore the science behind the weather!

Blast off into this out-of-this-world camp! Discover the different planets of our solar system and gaze into the universe beyond. Enjoy a Star Theater show and make your very own constellations!

Let's cook up some chemistry and investigate crazy reactions! Some might fizzle, some may pop, all will be tons of fun!

Rev up your engineering skills — it’s time for robots! We will build, program and event battle their creations using the LEGO Mindstorm kits. Campers are invited to return Saturday, July 20 to show off their creations during SCI’s Robotics Day.

Do you have a green thumb? Test out your gardening skills as we explore the plants that fill the world around us!

What has six legs and three body parts? Go on a bug hunt and uncover what insects are up to in the world around us. 

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

From gadgets and gizmos to whosits and whatsits, let your curiosity run wild with these crazy contraptions! We will even dive into the crazy fun world of Rube Goldberg machines!

Imagination rules this camp focused on building creative minds. As we experiment with tools and the design cycle, what will you make?

From gadgets and gizmos to whoseits and whatsits, let your curiosity run wild with these crazy contraptions! We will even dive into the crazy fun world of Rube Goldberg machines!

From circuits and batteries to screens and buttons, learn about how these everyday electric items work! Get ready for a hair-raising experience!

Who knew you could do so much with food BESIDES eat it? Foods will become our tools, building materials and much more!

What makes a rainbow? How do we know when it’s going to rain? Learn about the water cycle, light, shadows and weather in this camp. 

Mwahahaha! You’ll be ready to take over the world when you’re finished with this class. Create mysterious chemical concoctions, construct ways to hide your secret experiments and learn tricks to fool the human eye.  

Yuck, gross, EW! Get ready to get dirty as we make predictions about the science behind stink, slime and more!

Grab your magic wand and rabbit, and join us for this magical camp. Try your hand at potions brewing, hide beneath an invisibility cloak and see what else we can "pull out of our hat."

You love to build, so now build with an engineer's mindset! Learn engineering principles and design skills in this architecture adventure.

You love to build, so now build with an engineer's mindset! Learn engineering principles and design skills in this architecture adventure.

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

Learn about what it takes to become a veterinarian! Get an up-close look at animals from A to Z! Examine animal's X-rays, diagnose "patients" and meet a veterinarian.

Calling all future astronomers! Let's learn about all things space. From stars to nebulas, and even the black holes in between, this camp will be out of this world!

Explore the ever-changing weather in our home state. Practice with instruments that meteorologist use to predict the weather. Discover the world’s most extreme weather!

From board games to video games and everything in between, try your hand at building your very own games! Develop skills essential to any game such as teamwork and creative thinking, while also discovering the science behind the games!

It’s all in the name! If you like science and creating, this is the camp for you. This camp will explore different ways to create, combining conventional crafting with science, technology, engineering and mathematics!

Time to save the world! Learn about alternative clean energy sources, recycling and many more way to save the Earth.

We love our electronic gadgets, but how do they work? Discover the world of electricity and experiment with circuits in this electrifying camp!

From simple machines to complex motors, experiment with building your very own marvelous machine! Join us as we learn about the exciting world of engineering.

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

Spend your week creating your own world. Construct characters, plots and scenery for your very own movie. Learn about special effects and the equipment that makes it possible to make movies!

The animal kingdom is waiting for us! Explore animals you have never heard of before, and discover new things about the animals you know and love.

Get ready for a week of puzzles and challenges as we combine all of the STEM fields into our activities. Fire up those thinking caps and get ready for some fun!

Becoming a spy requires a special set of skills. Practice observing fingerprinting, camouflage and much more as we work to become a spy master!

Ladies get ready! We are about to have a tech takeover. Learn about the basics of coding and robotics through fun challenges!

Produce and perform your very own theater show focused on science topics. Combine Science, Theater, Art and Reading to become a S.T.A.R.

How do 3D printers work? Get the opportunity to design your very own 3D models through various mediums, and then use the 3D printer to print it and take it home!

Zombies are here in Des Moines! What do you do? This camp dives into the science of real zombies, biology and survival tactics for disasters. Are you prepared?

Explore the universe outside the Milky Way. Investigate nebulas, learn myths and reach for the stars in this out-of-this-world camp!

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

Chemistry is everywhere... so let's explore! Test out various chemical reactions and explore the elements that are all around us!

Reduce, reuse and UPCYCLE! Take normal recyclables or trash and turn it into something totally new!

Channel your inner aquatic biologist as we explore the life below the water's surface. Explore the animals and plants that live in rivers, lakes and oceans!

Do you enjoy watching or playing sports? This camp is for you! Explore the science behind our favorite sports, while getting active ourselves!

How do computers work? Discover the basics and beyond of coding. This camp will be great for beginners, while still challenging those with more experience.

Who doesn't like a field trip? We will be on the road all week exploring Des Moines' treasures, including parks, lakes and museums. This camp is always on the move!

It’s all in the name! If you like science and creating, this is the camp for you. This camp will explore different ways to create, combining conventional crafting with science, technology, engineering and mathematics!

We are taking the Big Build to a whole new level! Create a city complete with streets, buildings and much more. Discover the world of city planning and combine it with building in a fun new twist on this classic camp!

Join us for a throwback summer camp in the heart of the city. We will explore nature, create art, play games, get wet and learn how to appreciate the earth around us.

Select the iEARTH tab on the right side of your screen for more information!

Calling all aspiring directors, actors and behind-the-scene techs! Learn about the science behind movie-making and produce your own film using what you learned. On Friday during the open house, we will have a screening of all our work!

Use your superhuman abilities to save the day! Using force, magnets and gravity, you will discover the science behind your favorite superheroes!

You can learn about dinosaurs... but it's more fun to act like one! Discover what dinosaurs eat, where they lived and more as you engage in some prehistoric play.

Combine art and science in this camp all about creating things using materials found in nature. Make your own paintbrush and then put it to use!

You’ll have no treble making beautiful music at camp. Experiment with sound waves, build unconventional instruments and share your dynamic sound!

Get moving in this body boot camp! Explore yoga, martial arts, racquet sports and more as you learn how exercise strengthens your heart, lungs and muscles.

Explore the miraculous world of the human body! From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, we'll learn about bones and organs and how they all work together to make up you!

Explore space and stars and the rockets that help us get to them. This camp is truly out of this world!

Cool off from those hot summer days with a summer snowstorm! Discover how snow is formed, then try some experiments where we'll make our own snow and snow crystals.

What makes food so tasty? Explore the chemistry behind your favorite recipes. Then put that knowledge to the test and bake some delicious treats!

Combine art and chemistry to create your own masterpiece! Learn about colors, mixtures, acids and bases as we turn our classroom into an art gallery.

It's all about bees in this camp! Become a bee, find the flowers, suck the nectar and carry it back to the hive. Transfer pollen to help plans grow. We'll even learn a bee dance!

What discoveries can you make in your own backyard? Join us for a backyard safari, where we'll investigate the world around us, including the plants and animals right outside your door.

Welcome to the construction site! Learn about the tools and materials construction engineers use, and take a trip to see a real work site in action.

Use your superhuman abilities to save the day! Using force, magnets and gravity, you will discover the science behind your favorite superheroes!

Beep, beep, boop! Explore the world of coding and the basics of electricity to build your own robot in this technology-focused camp.

Get cooking in this camp that explores the ins and out of the kitchen. Discover how fruits and vegetables grow, explore kitchen tools and gadgets, and take a trip to The Berry Patch Farm in Nevada.

Who doesn't love making a mess? Get messy as you explore the three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Don't worry, we'll handle cleanup!

Get moving in this body boot camp! Explore yoga, martial arts, racquet sports and more as you learn how exercise strengthens your heart, lungs and muscles.

Let your imagination run wild in this camp designed around creativity and creation! We'll use tools and learn techniques to take your tinkering to the next level.

Rewrite your favorite fairytales by using science, technology, engineering and math to help the characters find solutions to their problems!