For kids and teens, the benefits of attending summer camp are endless. There’s the opportunity to spend hours outdoors exploring novel passions, meet new people, and learn practical skills along the way. And while every summer camp is special, if your child is interested in the sciences, technology, engineering, and/or math, a STEM program may be even more beneficial for them during the long break.
Let’s explore in more detail some of the benefits of sending your child to a STEM summer camp this year.
1. Independent Exploration
One of the benefits of STEM education during the summer is that students can take ownership of topics they are interested in. According to The National Inventors Hall of Fame, STEM programs encourage student-centered learning, which gives kids the agency and freedom to learn on their own terms about subjects they’re passionate about.
As campers learn, they also realize that there’s no one correct way to solve a problem. This helps them adopt creative mindsets and try new things that may be outside their comfort zone (which are all skills that can also help them during the school year).
2. Learn Basic and Contemporary Skills
Of course, the focus of a STEM summer program is to teach kids about science, technology, engineering, and math through fun activities and hands-on lessons. Campers apply everything they learn as they work together or independently to solve problems and real-life scenarios. And while these are broad skills, campers can also explore niche subjects, such as computer coding, in more detail during these sessions.
At the same time, they’re also developing important skills that are relevant to everyday life, such as communication, critical thinking, and analytical problem-solving. These skills are something that will help campers throughout their life, at school, and even in a future career.
3. Avoid the Summer Brain Drain
Another benefit of STEM summer programs is that they can help keep your child’s mind active during the months they aren’t in school. Unfortunately, it can be easy for kids to forget some of what they learned in school over the summer break if they’re not being mentally stimulated. Today explained that STEM programs are designed to be engaging and creative, and prompt your student’s minds to stay active and excited about learning into the summer.
Campers continue to exercise their problem-solving skills at these camps, which can help make the back-to-school transition much easier.
4. Understand the Value of Innovation
Innovation is emphasized in STEM summer camps. And the ability to think critically and challenge standards is the basis of innovation, according to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. For kids, this mindset helps them learn from a young age that they have the potential to change the world and make an impact through their actions and careers. In the grand scheme of things, this also helps kids understand that the movers and shakers in the world are important for advancing communities.
Whether it’s through a hands-on project or a guest speaker who works in STEM, campers learn the value of innovation that can stick with them for life.
5. Build Confidence
Yet another benefit of STEM education is that it helps kids build confidence. While this is also true of summer camp in general, a focus on the sciences and math gives campers confidence through both tangible and intangible skills. For example, campers work with their hands and their mind to complete projects and solve problems. This balance of skills is easily transferable to the classroom.
Additionally, STEM summer camps also give students of all backgrounds an introduction to engineering and science who may not explore these subjects in school. It’s no secret that STEM is still a male-dominated field. A specialized summer camp helps boys and girls explore their passion for STEM and empowers them to continue with their education even after the summer ends.
6. Consider Different Careers
STEM summer camp can also be the first time students are introduced to the many different career paths in the field. Kids may associate STEM with scientists, astronauts, and mathematicians, but there are truly endless opportunities in the field to explore.
Many summer camps encourage role play that allows kids to play the part of a STEM professional as they develop a computer program or build their own rocket. Through this play, they learn about different STEM careers and how jobs can range from everything from video game developers to mechanical engineers and everything in between.
7. Enhance Collaboration
While campers are in charge of their own path at STEM summer camp, they are always working with others along the way. A vital point of STEM education is collaboration, and at camp, kids work with teams to overcome obstacles and solve problems. By the end of the summer, they learn that their skills can be complemented by those of others and the value of teamwork. On the same note, kids also work to develop their communication and leadership skills in a safe, fun environment.
Consider STEM Summer Camp This Year
Summer at Buckingham Browne & Nichols Schools offers students of all ages an opportunity to learn more about coding, math, podcasts, and more through specialized summer camp programs.
Our Specialty Camps for students in grades 5 through 12 are dedicated to a specific academically inspired activity for a week of focused learning with some of our own BB&N faculty. Summer camp is incredibly engaging, as we use interactive and fun games to help students learn about STEM while making new friends!
Contact our team today to learn more about our summer camp programs for children of all ages.