Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
RegionalK-12Day Camp
Largest science museum in Western Hemisphere since 1933.
Hyde Park
Highlights
- Western Hemisphere's largest
- Fab Lab with 3D printers
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STEM & Technology Camps in Chicago
From the Western Hemisphere's largest science museum to free multi-year STEM programs at IIT, Chicago offers exceptional STEM education.
7
Camps
4-18
Ages
Explore programs at Griffin MSI (Western Hemisphere's largest science museum), Northwestern CTD, and free SMASH Academy at IIT.
What to Expect at STEM & Technology Camp
Chicago STEM camps leverage extraordinary institutional resources—from the Western Hemisphere's largest science museum to a national particle physics laboratory. These aren't generic tech camps; they're programs rooted in world-class research facilities and educational institutions.
A Typical Day: STEM camps typically begin with a concept introduction—whether that's a coding principle, physics phenomenon, or engineering challenge. Hands-on project time follows, often consuming most of the day. Students might be 3D printing prototypes in Griffin MSI's Fab Lab, building VEX robots at iD Tech, debugging code at Northwestern CTD, or analyzing particle physics data at Fermilab. Afternoons often include iteration cycles where students refine their projects based on testing and feedback.
Program Approaches Vary: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry runs camps in their Wanger Family Fab Lab with 3D printers, laser cutters, and digital fabrication tools—programs have operated since 1933. Northwestern CTD offers gifted education with 68+ unique courses including residential options and college credit. iD Tech brings national curriculum with the official BattleBots education partnership. Camp Galileo uses Stanford research-backed pedagogy across 14 Chicagoland locations. Kids Science Labs was voted #1 science camp since 2011 by founders from Stanford, UMich, and UChicago.
Free and Paid Options: IIT SMASH Academy offers a FREE 5-week residential STEM program for underrepresented students—a genuinely transformative opportunity with a 3-year commitment. Fermilab SAGE Camp provides a $500 WEEKLY STIPEND to young women and non-binary students studying physics—you get paid to attend. At the other end, premium programs like Northwestern CTD and iD Tech offer intensive instruction at higher price points with financial aid available.
Project-Based Learning: Most Chicago STEM camps emphasize making things rather than passive instruction. Campers leave with projects they've built—whether that's a video game they coded, a robot they programmed, or a 3D-printed prototype they designed. This tangible output builds confidence and portfolio pieces.
The Chicago Advantage: Few cities offer STEM camp access comparable to Chicago's. Fermilab is literally where scientists discover fundamental particles. Griffin MSI's Fab Lab is professional-grade. Northwestern CTD serves gifted students at one of America's premier research universities. These connections to real science and technology give Chicago camps unusual depth.
STEM & Technology Camps
Northwestern CTD
NationalPreK-12Day & Overnight
Premier gifted education since 1982 with 68+ courses.
Northwestern Evanston, South Loop Chicago
Highlights
- Premier gifted education since 1982
- 68+ unique courses
IIT Elevate / SMASH Academy
NationalMiddle/High SchoolDay & Overnight
FREE 5-week SMASH residential for underrepresented students.
IIT Mies Campus, Rice Campus (Wheaton)
Highlights
- SMASH Academy FREE
- 5-week residential option
Fermilab SAGE Camp
RegionalGrades 9-12Day Camp
Women/non-binary physics with $500 weekly stipend.
Fermilab, Batavia
Highlights
- $500 WEEKLY STIPEND
- Women and non-binary focus
iD Tech Camps
NationalAges 7-17Day & Overnight
Official BattleBots partner with 1M+ alumni.
Loyola University, GEMS World Academy
Highlights
- Official BattleBots partner
- 1 million+ alumni
Camp Galileo
NationalK-10Day Camp
Stanford-backed STEAM at 14 Chicagoland locations.
14 Chicagoland sites
Highlights
- Stanford research-backed
- 14 locations
Kids Science Labs
LocalAges 4-14Day Camp
#1 Science Camp since 2011 with 100,000+ students.
South Loop, Roscoe Village, Northbrook
Highlights
- #1 Science Camp since 2011
- Stanford/UMich/UChicago founders
STEM & Technology Camp FAQs
Yes, IIT SMASH Academy is a completely FREE 5-week residential STEM program for underrepresented students. The program requires a 3-year commitment—students return each summer for progressively advanced training. SMASH targets students who might not otherwise have access to intensive STEM education due to economic, geographic, or social barriers. Housing, meals, and instruction are all provided at no cost. This is a genuinely transformative opportunity for students who qualify. The catch is competitiveness—admission is selective, targeting students with both aptitude and need. If your student is an underrepresented minority interested in STEM, this should be at the top of your list to explore.
Fermilab SAGE Camp actually PAYS students $500 per week to participate—you're not paying tuition, you're receiving compensation. The program is designed for young women and non-binary students in grades 9-12 interested in physics and aims to address gender disparities in physical sciences. Students work on hands-on projects inspired by actual Fermilab research at the national accelerator laboratory in Batavia. Beyond the stipend, students gain exposure to cutting-edge physics research that would be impossible to access anywhere else. This combination of compensation plus unique educational access makes SAGE one of Chicago's most exceptional STEM opportunities.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry's Wanger Family Fab Lab is a professional-grade digital fabrication facility featuring 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and other advanced manufacturing equipment. Summer camps in the Fab Lab give students hands-on experience with tools that are transforming how products are designed and made. Rather than just learning concepts, campers design and actually manufacture physical projects. MSI has operated educational programs since 1933—they pioneered hands-on science education before 'STEM' was even a term. The museum itself is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, so camp participants have access to extraordinary resources and exhibits beyond the Fab Lab itself.
Most Chicago tech camps offer beginner-friendly options. iD Tech specifically structures camps for different skill levels—your child won't be thrown into advanced coding without foundation. Camp Galileo's STEAM programming doesn't require prior technical experience. Northwestern CTD offers courses at multiple levels, clearly indicating prerequisites. Kids Science Labs focuses on hands-on science rather than intensive coding. That said, some programs do assume experience: advanced iD Tech courses, Northwestern CTD's most competitive offerings, and IIT's specialized engineering programs have prerequisites. When in doubt, contact the program directly—they want students to succeed and will recommend appropriate placements.
Northwestern CTD (Center for Talent Development) specifically serves gifted learners—students who need more challenge than typical grade-level instruction provides. Their 68+ course offerings include subjects you won't find elsewhere, from advanced mathematics to philosophy to specialized science topics. CTD offers both day and residential programs, with residential options providing immersive experiences on Northwestern's campus. Some courses offer actual college credit. Perhaps most significantly, CTD has operated since 1982 with proven pedagogy for high-ability students. If your child consistently finds school too easy or craves intellectual challenge beyond what typical camps provide, CTD is designed exactly for that population. Need-based financial aid and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation partnerships help make programs accessible.
Several Chicago programs specifically address gender disparities in STEM. Fermilab SAGE Camp exclusively serves young women and non-binary students with a $500 weekly stipend—this is physics education at a world-class research facility. IIT SMASH Academy targets underrepresented students including girls and provides three years of intensive free STEM education. Griffin MSI offers programs across all demographics but has strong commitment to inclusive science education. Camp Galileo emphasizes growth mindset and creative confidence that helps girls develop STEM identity. When evaluating any program, look at instructor diversity, marketing imagery, and whether they explicitly address creating welcoming environments for girls. The programs that actively work on inclusion tend to have better outcomes for all students.
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