Middle school camps
The middle school camps go on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are for students in fifth through eighth grades. They’re offered in partnership with the National Youth Science Academy. Cost is $150, with lunch and snacks included, and need-based scholarships are available. Contact Holly Cyphert at damron40@marshall.edu for more information.
The schedule for the middle school camps is as follows:
June 1-5: Builders/Robotics Camp — This hands-on builders camp is designed for creative minds ages 10–14. Campers will build their own 3D model cars, craft musical music boxes, fold stunning origami creations, and design a variety of imaginative models. Whether they love engineering, art or just creating cool things, campers will develop new skills, discover their talents and bring their ideas to life in a supportive, high-energy environment.
June 15-19: Physiology and Chemistry — Using fruit flies and tardigrades to understand the world around us, campers will discover the ways animals and microbes acquire nutrition from their environment and how they cohabitate with each other. They’ll perform experiments and observations in the lab with the tiny but mighty fruit fly and get hands-on experience recording quantitative and qualitative data. Campers will also discover chemistry and tardigrades in this weeklong adventure.
July 7-10: Water Explorers STEAM Day Camp (This camp is four days and costs only $20, due to partnership) — This camp is for all kids drawn to streams, rivers and creeks. They’ll explore Earth’s most precious resource, water. From getting close-up looks at aquatic bugs and fish to learning how water is woven into all aspects of our life, this camp has it covered. Campers will also get introduced to mysterious wetlands and the plants and creatures who live there. This camp will be led by Tomi Bergstrom, West Virginia Project WET coordinator at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, with guest field trip leaders from state and federal agencies, as well as local municipalities.
July 13-17: Crime Science Summer Camp — Sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensic Sciences, this camp delves into the fascinating world behind solving crimes and understanding the justice system. Campers will step into the roles of investigators, analysts and problem-solvers, exploring real-world criminal justice topics in an age-appropriate, interactive setting. Through guided activities and simulations, campers will learn how evidence is identified, documented and collected. They’ll learn how digital investigators track down criminals in the online world and will uncover hidden data, recover deleted files, analyze real digital evidence and discover how cyber skills are used to fight crime, protect national security and power some of the fastest-growing careers in the world. They’ll also explore criminal justice and legal ethics, have a mock trial and learn the role of science and critical thinking in the justice system.
July 20-24: Numbers Explosion: Exploring Physics and Math — Campers will explore math in patterns, shapes and games. They’ll learn how addition and triangles are related, how to order exactly the right number of chicken nuggets, what shapes a bubble can take, how to guard an art gallery, how to pick the right door in a game show, how to beat your friends at the game NIM and more. They’ll also explore physics and use creativity, problem-solving and teamwork to see how math can appear in surprising places.
Register at https://www.marshall.edu/sciencecamps/middle-school-mu-camps/.
K-5 Camps
Summer science camps for children in grades kindergarten through second grade are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and camps for children in third through fifth grades are from 1 to 4 p.m. The weekly camp cost is $130, with snacks included. Need-based scholarships are available. Contact Holly Cyphert at damron40@marshall.edu for more information.
The schedule for the K-5 camps is as follows:
June 15-19: LEGO & Minecraft — This is the perfect week for K–5 kids who love to build, create and explore. Campers will design epic LEGO cities, construct Minecraft-inspired worlds, tackle fun engineering challenges and work together on imaginative team projects. Each day is packed with hands-on building activities, creative problem-solving and exciting challenges that spark imagination and boost STEM skills — all in a fun, supportive environment.
June 22-26: Nature Navigators — Step into the wild and become a true explorer at this hands-on camp, designed for curious kids. Campers will dive into the wonders of ecology and animal discovery, exploring local habitats, learning how ecosystems work, tracking animal signs and discovering the fascinating connections between plants, wildlife and the environment. Through outdoor exploration, interactive games, creative projects and up-close animal investigations, children will build observation skills, scientific curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
July 13-17: Mad Science — This is the perfect week for inquisitive kids who love asking, “Why?” and “How?” This high-energy camp takes kids on a wild ride through the amazing world of science. They’ll dive into physiology to discover how our bodies work, explore the forces of physics that make things move, mix up colorful reactions in chemistry and investigate the living world through hands-on biology experiments. Each day features interactive experiments, jaw-dropping demonstrations and creative challenges designed to spark curiosity and critical thinking. From bubbling potions to gravity-defying fun, campers won’t just learn science — they’ll experience it.
An email will go out the week prior to camp to guide campers on room locations and other camp details. Register at https://www.marshall.edu/sciencecamps/k-5-camps/.