The best science camps 2020 has to offer NYC kids

This hub of science and exploration hosts hour-and-a-half classes and hands-on workshops that encourage a range of STEM learning. In the fall, the Brooklyn Rangers course takes kids outdoors to help them become environmental experts, identifying plants and leaves, tracking animals, and finding out what owls eat for breakfast, among other critical questions. The Super Sleuths class turns moppets into detectives by teaching them about forensic evidence and secret-message encryption. The organization offers after-school pickups from some local schools. Ages 5–12.

Think NYC greenery is just about trees and some nice parks? The Staten Island Museum will prove you wrong. Perfect for adventurers who love science as much as they love the outdoors, this two-week experience takes young naturalists through the borough’s trails, wetlands, salt marshes, beaches and woodlands. After journeying through terra incognita, kids will participate in creative STEM activities to build their understanding of the environment. Ages 8–13.

Expect a lot of learning crammed into Tip-Top Brain’s five-week camp, especially considering that their 2020 themes are climate change and global warming. But this STEAM program isn’t just focused on math and science: It includes coloring, drawing and other artsy stuff for younger children. Older participants can do 3-D printing and other DIY activities, and they’re responsible for working on a summer- long project related to the topic at hand. Classes are small, with no more than 12 students per instructor. Plus, Tip-Top Brain understands that kids are kids and that a day camp must include time for outdoor play. Ages 4–13. 

Explore the galaxy, get an up-close- and-personal look at a Madagascar hissing cockroach and create a unique invention from scratch, all thanks to the New York Hall of Science’s Design-Make-Play Innovation Camps. Broken up according to age, children deep-dive into a particular area of science: animal adaptations (ages 6–7), astronomy (ages 8–9) and STEM (ages 10–13). Museum staffers guide youngsters through activities, exhibitions and projects throughout the session. Upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate and free NYHS student membership for six months—score! Ages 6–13.

Ever wonder exactly how our bodies function?Campers can explore the mind-blowing science of the human body during this weeklong session at the New York Hall of Science’s Design-Make-Play Innovation Camps. Your wee anatomists will learn about the digestive and respiratory systems—they’ll even make a model lung!—as well as how our immune system defends itself from infections. Ages 6–7. 

The summer immersion program from Girls Who Code—a national nonprofit that teaches young women the tech savvy they need to get ahead in the 21st century—is a seven-week session for students entering the 10th or 11th grades. Camp takes place at tech companies, where your young coder will acquire real-world skills. Applications are due March 13, 2020. Ages 15–17. 

If your youngsters are feeling inspired by their favorite shows on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, they can design a cool character of their very own! Launch Math teaches coding, offscreen animation and other tricks, so aspiring illustrators can make their visions a reality. Ages 5–6. 

Nothing is off limits for young girls with big dreams, and this summer program proves it. Curious Jane, the masterminds behind the eponymous DIY magazine, offers pint-size artists in the third through sixth grades the opportunity to select a theme for a weeklong program. “Kitchen Chemistry,” “Stop Motion,” “Sew Fun” and “Spy Science” are just a few of the offerings on the menu. Chances are, once the first session wraps up, your little camper will request a return ticket. Extended hours and discounts for families with multiple enrollments are available. Ages 7–12. 

Before daring kiddos vie for the top prize in KoKo NYC’s Derby race, they have to build their own cars from the ground up during the Soap-Box Workshop. After gathering materials, making calculations and building their speed machines, tech-savvy campers will test their inventions before the big race, learning STEM fundamentals along the way. On your mark, get set, go! Ages 7–14. 

Kids can tinker with new tools while exploring STEM and tech at Dazzling Discoveries. The sky's the limit this summer, and campers can choose from topics such as robotics, engineering, coding, science experiments and more. Programs are offered for a variety of ages, so all scientists can hone their skills. Ages 5–17.

NORY lets children's imagination flourish during its summer camp offerings. With the help of various themes and projects—game design, sports science, inventing for good, to name a few—the program encourages kiddos to try their hand at their own creations with STEM-based learning. Not only will they have the opportunity tackle inventions, but they'll have time to enjoy a few laps in the pool with the Swim & STEM camp or scrimmage against friends in Soccer & STEM. For 2019, NORY will open up three new locations and expand its weekly project offerings. Ages 3–12.

You’ll be seriously jealous of your tech-savvy kids after one of iD Tech’s crash courses in the latest computer skills and software. iD Tech's programs are held at over 100 campuses across the nation and run anywhere from one to four weeks. iD Tech also offers a small student-to-instructor ratio, which means your kiddos get plenty of attention in subjects like Minecraft modding, Java and C++, photography and robotics—buckle up for an epic summer! Ages 7-19.

Little brainiacs love the hands-on activities at this STEM-focused camp! They'll try out cool courses developed in conjunction with MIT, Raspberry Pi and the United States Naval Academy to learn about time and space, robotics and electronics and the human body. Ages 9–13.

Curious minds can explore new areas during this STEAM-themed program. Campers dive into robotics, building their own creations with sensors, motors and LEGO's WeDo software. They can also try out coding, video game creation and animation. Ages 3–12. 

If your tyke is the type who prefers beakers to beaches, consider a week of experimentation at Carmelo the Science Fellow. Each five-day session tackles a different science, so there’s something for every budding physician, astronaut or engineer. The emphasis on teaching lab lessons using the interests of kids—such as the chemistry of baking delicious treats or the physics of comic book superheroes—might encourage even classroom-averse children to enjoy the wonders of science.
 Ages 5–10. 

You don’t have to be an advanced engineer to build a robot—at this interactive camp, kids create bots that walk, dance and even swim. Campers will assemble robots of all kinds and test their creations in different environments, plus there are even a few girls-only camps Brooklyn Robot Foundry offers summer camps in various Brooklyn and Manhattan locations, so there's something for everyone. All ages.     

Mathematics might get a bad rep in school, but MoMath makes the subject a whole lot more interesting, especially when there’s no homework or tests! Campers are divided by grade level: the Epsilons (first to third grade) and Deltas (fourth to sixth grade). Throughout the week, they tackle creative projects and interactive programs while exploring new and unfamiliar areas of the field that often aren’t taught at school—Perplexing Puzzles and Game Theory, to name a few. When it’s time to refuel, the groups venture across the street to Madison Square Park for lunch, weather permitting. Ages 6–12.

Young New Yorkers who never cease to be amazed by skyscrapers can imagine and build their own models—after they’ve learned how to handle the design challenges of really tall structures. Similar five-day programs exist for treehouses and bridges, and other offerings allow future architects to study digital design using 3-D computer modeling or old-school freehand drawing. For the latter, campers explore the city to sketch various architectural wonders. In all sessions, participants take home the projects they create. Grades 3–12.

At this camp, kids will get a taste of college life a few years ahead of schedule. Manhattan College opens up its quaint campus to youngsters looking to explore new areas that might not necessarily be on their school’s syllabus. Educators across the Bronx gather for the summer to help campers tackle coding, moviemaking, photo editing and many more exciting subjects. For those who have science on the brain, prepare for a day filled with interactive experiments that will make kids better understand the scientific thinking and the fundamentals of different areas. Ages 6–12. 

The 200-acre camp is perfect for exploring the great outdoors. Kids get their hands dirty roaming and working in the farmland, gardens, fields and ponds—plus they master valuable farm skills such as harvesting crops and taking care of cute little chickens. Art projects, noncompetitive sports, hiking, music and a hilarious storyteller further round out the experience. Farm and Garden Days offer your children even more opportunities to help with the harvest and animal work. Ages 4–16.

Budding engineers will create, problem solve and make incredible memories along the way with McBurney Robotics Camp. Kids will get to dabble in science, technology, engineering and math, but that's not the only thing they'll get to enjoy. McBurney also offers fun traditional camp activities such as swimming and making crafts. Ages 6–8.

For a full day of screen time parents can feel good about, 
check out the state-of-the-art technology camps offered at
 Pixel Academy. With various locations and tools for exploring the new frontiers of computers
and programming, children can get hands-on experience working with 3-D printers, developing
and creating video games and learning about Volume, a cutting-edge virtual- reality experience that requires no goggles or headset. Campers can enjoy topics such as Minecraft creation, Roblox coding, mobile games and so much more.
 Ages 7–13.   

Nurture your little scientist with STEAM projects and topics during the summer at Marymount Manhattan. Kids can learn how science is an integral part of catching the bad guys during the CSI course or learn what surgeons deal with on a daily basis with the surgical technique course. There's a bit of everything for all interests: coding, biology, video animation, engineering and so much more. Field trips and swimming instruction are not included in science, engineer and design camps. Grades 4–8.