Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably seen the acronym ‘STEM.’  But what is STEM? What does it mean and why is it significant?

The term ‘STEM’ stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM education, in schools, programs and camps brings together all four of these subjects. It creates a student-centered learning approach, preparing kids for the future in many different ways. 

At STEM camps, students or campers inquire, discover and engineer solutions to problems. They build evidence-based explanations of what’s happening in the real world. Then they explain them to others. The best programs combine STEM education with a focus on kids’ social and emotional needs. Ideally, this happens through school, family and community partnerships. 

All across the United States, STEM careers outpace other career categories. They also offer higher starting salaries and more earning potential over the life of a typical career. Furthermore, most modern-day positions require some STEM skills. That’s only going to become more common in the future. 

Prepare Your Kids Now

Putting your kids in summer STEM camps while they’re young helps them get the basics they need to launch them into the future. It sets up a strong foundation for middle school, high school and beyond. 

STEM exposure also leads to higher grades in other subjects, including art, language arts and social studies. 

Finally, STEM studies improve basic learning, processing, literacy and communication skills. All are needed in every aspect of life as they get older. 

What Makes a STEM Camp?

A great STEM camp expands on the foundational concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. KidzToPros (KTP) does this by providing fun environments. Places where innovation and healthy competition thrive. 

Let’s explore what campers learn at STEM camps subject by subject. 

Science

Science opens up the physical world for kids, introducing them to all kinds of interesting things like: 

• Plants and animals
• Body parts
• Senses
• Seasons
• Weather
• Animal classifications
• Life cycles
• Oceans
• Continents
• Human body systems 
• Geology 
• Geography 
• Space and the solar system
• Logic and how to conduct experiments 
• Analyzing and displaying data
• Electricity and energy
• Biology
• Physiology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Weather

Technology 

In summer STEM camps, children learn to connect technology to learning. They employ basic computer skills and expand upon this knowledge as they get older and advance through school.

As they move into middle school, they become more skilled at both the act of gaming and creating games themselves. They also learn more about digital citizenship and the basics of robots and coding. 

Engineering 

Engineering education helps kids incorporate skills like planning, mechanics and creating models. Also, building prototypes, evaluating and reassessing. 

Educational engineering activities include:

• Building blocks and structures
• Making imaginative bridges, cities or communities 
• Creating new inventions 
• Building ramps 
• Drawing a plan for block structures before building it
• Creating new models out of household objects 
• Taking things apart and putting them back together

Mathematics

Math also integrates into STEM seamlessly. So it’s a natural part of the fun and learning every day. Some mathematical concepts your children expand upon at camp include: 

• Counting and recognizing numbers 
• Addition and subtraction
• Understanding math operations 
• Understanding fractions and measures
• Counting money and telling time 
• Solving number problems
• Multiplication, fractions and decimals 
• Weights and measures
• Using math in real-world problems
• Concepts from geometry and algebra 
• Collecting data and displaying it with graphs, charts and tables 
• Complex fractions, prime numbers and statistics

How Do STEM Camps Help Kids?

STEM camps help children in a variety of ways. Most importantly, they help children learn skills that prepare them for the future in our high-tech world.

Kids learn more when they’re having fun, and camp is a fun, stress-free environment. Campers explore and investigate for themselves. That also makes them more aware of the world around them. 

Some of the benefits your kids will experience through a KTP summer STEM camp include: 

Problem Solving

STEM programs challenge your kids to make sense of problems as they arise. They they work together with peers to suggest real and appropriate solutions.

Creativity

Each camper looks at things differently. Therefore, instructors teach them to see multiple perspectives and encourage them to try different approaches. Using creative and innovative solutions, students learn that failure isn’t anything to be afraid of. Rather, it’s an important part of the educational process. And trying again provides the opportunity to acquire deeper learning.

Inquiry

Campers enjoy hands-on, active participation in a KTP summer STEM camp. Our campers love asking questions, proposing ideas and testing answers. This helps them make decisions based on data, rather than assumptions.

Math & Science Skills

Get your kids used to, and excited by, the idea of learning outside of school. Mathematics and science skills prove vital throughout life. So they form the foundation of STEM at summer camp, as both subjects highlight connections between ideas and subject areas.

Engineering-Design Thinking

Campers identify a problem and research potential answers. Then they build, test, redesign and retest as needed. Each step in the process moves them closer to an exciting conclusion and a possible solution.

Critical Thinking

Watch your child evolve and grow while analyzing information and evaluating new ideas. As a result, they gain and learn to rely on, critical thinking abilities. This is also another important lifelong skill.

Collaboration

No matter what the future holds, or what career paths they choose, your children benefit from working collaboratively with their peers. STEM summer camps benefit campers by teaching them how to collaborate side by side with others.

KidzToPros’ Stellar Summer STEM Camps 

STEM camps teach students vital academic, social and emotional life skills that help equip them for the future. As parents, isn’t it our job to make sure that happens?

KTP offers many opportunities in STEM subjects like robotics, coding and also game design camps. Make great use of your child’s time this summer with summer STEM camps that put them ahead of the curve.

Find the best summer STEM camp near you and enroll your kids today.