If you’re stuck at home this summer, why not try to do your own at-home science camp activities!
Summer camps are a lot of fun, but paying for an entire summer’s worth of activities is out of the price range of most families.
If you need DIY summer camp ideas, look no further. First on the list is one of our favorite camps: at-home science camp! This camp is filled with STEM activities and science experiments for kids!
Science STEM Camp At Home Activity Plan
This science summer camp is designed with five separate sessions. You can choose to do one session per day for an intensive summer science camp, or one session a week for an entire summer of science fun. Use the activity ideas listed below to set up a simple, low-prep science camp for your kids (and any friends that happen to be over that day).
You’ll also want to check out the ultimate list of summer STEM activities and the ultimate list of summer science experiments.
Sample Home Summer Camp Schedule
- Hour 1: Lesson and activity demonstration
- Hour 2: Snack and free play
- Hour 3: Craft
Make all snacks ahead of time and have them ready-to-go when the kids arrive.
Print all lesson plans in advance and have all activity supplies gathered in one central location before starting summer science camp.
Give kids a simple activity to work on (like a coloring page) while the other children arrive if you invite other families to your home summer camp.
Let the children explore the activity fully, even if things get a little messy. Exploration leads to further discovery!
Summer Camp Science Activities Day 1: The Water Cycle
Lesson
Learn about the water cycle.
Activity
Conduct a demonstration of how clouds collect and release water.
Snack
Make cloud cupcakes.
Craft
Puff paint cloud craft.
Science Camp Ideas Day 2: Polymers
Lesson
Learn about the science of polymers.
Activity
Make your own slime.
Snack
Edible taffy slime.
Craft
Make a container for the slime.
Science Summer Camp Ideas Day 3: Nucleation
Lesson
Learn about nucleation and how crystals form.
Activity
Make Epsom salt crystals.
Snack
Rock candy.
Craft
Crystal Stars.
Note: These crystals will take several days to fully form, children can collect the crystals at the end of the DIY summer camp).
At Home Science Camp Day 4: Separating Molecules
Lesson
Learn about the separation of fat molecules from water when cream is shaken.
Activity
Making butter.
Snack
Toaster Strudels made with puff pastry (which is full of butter).
Craft
Make a cute storage container to hold the homemade butter.
Backyard Science Camp Day 5: Endothermic Reactions
Lesson
Learn about the science of volcanic eruptions.
Lesson plan.
Activity
Build a baking soda and vinegar volcano.
Snack
Volcano lava cake.
Craft
Paper volcanoes.
More At-Home Summer Camp Ideas
Colors Summer Camp for Preschoolers
