Location: All Kanawha County Summer Camps will be at the University of Charleston.
Ages: Grades listed include the grade the student will be during the 2023-2024 school year.
Camps are supported through a collaborative network including: West Virginia Science Adventures, National Youth Science Foundation, and the Division of Science, Technology, and Research, WV Higher Education Policy Commission.
Camp costs: All camps at this location are all full day (9:00-4:00) Monday-Friday camps with snacks and lunch provided. These camps are possible due to generous support from the National Youth Science Foundation so there is no tuition for these. If you get into one of these camps we will email you and ask for a $25 registration fee due within 2 weeks of the email to hold your child’s seat. If you qualify for a full scholarship (see scholarship tab) your registration fee will be refunded on the last day of the camp if your child attended the entire camp.
During registration for these camps please rank your children’s camp picks if they are interested in more than one (we will try to give top pick, but these are first come/first served so this may not always be possible). Typically we give two full scholarships per child and if there are remaining seats after our May 16th deadline we may award additional camps.
Registration: Click here to register! Please read the descriptions below for details on the camps and the notes on the registration link. Please reach out via email for any additional questions.
Registration is open, click the purple link above.
June 5-9
Amazing Microbiology
Grades 7th-10th
Explore the unseen world of microorganisms. You will work in a real science lab to collect, culture, and observe bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Spend the week doing fun, hands on experiments in microbiology. This will be a great introduction to biomedical and health-related science. If you have an interest in becoming a doctor, veterinarian or research scientist, this camp is for you. This class will be taught by Marshall Professor (and mom) Dr. Wendy Trzyna in the Microbiology lab. Rigorous and fun!!
June 12-16
Animating Japan
Grades 4t-9th
Travel to Japan without leaving WV! Language immersion camp with emphasis on Japanese comics, animation, and coding. Campers will be creating comic panels and learning coding using Scratch that can animate those panels! Leader educators will be Terry Dillman, a MU College of Science graduate and current teacher at the STEM+M High School and Marshall University Japanese professor Dr. Zeli Rivas.
No Camps in Charleston June 19-June 23
June 26-30
Animal Colors and Patterns
Grades 4th-8th
The unique colors and patterns of animals have inspired many outfits in the fashion industry to the creation of a display screen of e-readers. In this camp students will learn how different animals see color and use color to survive and communicate with other animals in their ecosystem. Students will learn concepts by using light experiments, art projects, reviewing nature documentaries, and designing a prototype using colors and patterns to solve an issue in their community. Also meet some new animal friends that will visit. If you love animals or want to be a vet this camp is for you! This class will be taught by long-time educator and veteran Jim Meers, and long-time WVSA staff, Jordan Holman!
No camps the week of July 4th
July 10-14
LEGO Extravaganza
Grades 4th-8th
Love building with LEGOs and learning LEGO robotics? Then join this camp for open play, daily building challenges, and learn about coding and robotics. You will also make an adventure movie from your LEGO builds with stop motion animation. Leader educator will be Jordan Holman, who is now in his 5th year of teaching our LEGO camps.
July 17-21
Our Amazing Earth: Rock, Fossils, & More!
Grades 5th-8th
Planet Earth is our home- like any home, it is loaded with complexity, wonder and charm! Spend a week familiarizing yourself with all the amazing components of the Earth system- from the vastness of geologic time, to the amazing creatures that have roamed our planet’s surface throughout its history, to the interactions of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, and the many ways in which humans have impacted our natural environment. Through a combination of hands-on activities, visits to local sites of natural wonder, and creative projects, participants will develop a lifelong appreciation for the Earth system and our place within it! This camp is taught by geology professor Dr. Ryan Sincavage.
July 24-28
Builders Lab!
Let’s have fun building your own car, bridge, catapult, and more! We will design, build, test, and improve our creations using engineering principles. Get ready for an exciting ride! Learn about the different subfields of engineering which having hands-on fun. This class is taught by David Cartwright, educator, life-long learner, and devoted father. David has a BS and MS in mechanical engineering and is a research associate at Marshall University.