This summer’s middle school camps offered hands-on STEM experiences that combined fun, learning, and real-world career exploration. With two unique themes, Aerospace and STEM Adventure, students met industry professionals, tackled exciting challenges, and experienced science in action. 

Reaching New Heights with Aerospace

Campers spent the week launching rockets, testing flight designs, and experimenting with all things flight.

From building gliders to exploring how planes and satellites work, the week was packed with high-energy and creative problem-solving. Along the way, they also discovered how science, engineering, and curiosity all come together in the world of aerospace. 

Something New Every Day 

Our STEM Adventure Camp gave students a full week of hands-on exploration across science, technology, engineering, and math. Thanks to visits from local professionals, campers got to try real tools and learn how STEM shows up in everyday life. Whether they were coding or mixing up experiments, students were moving, creating, and exploring curiosities from start to finish. 

Each day brought something new, including: 

• Designing buildings
• Building robots
• Testing weather tools
• Experimenting with energy
• Exploring the environment

The River, Real Tools, and a Curious Turtle 

One of the week’s favorite adventures took us down to the Missouri River with our friends from NDSU Extension and local Soil Conservation Districts. Campers got hands-on with the same water sampling tools used by professionals and tested the health of the river right from the dock. 

While collecting water samples, campers noticed a turtle nearby who stuck around the whole time. It became a memorable highlight of the river day. 

Where Curiosity Runs the Show 

Summer is the perfect time for students to explore new interests, take on challenges, and have fun while learning. These camps give middle schoolers the freedom to be curious, creative, and collaborative—without the pressure of a classroom. 

At Gateway to Science, we design our summer programs to spark excitement, build confidence, and help students see themselves as problem-solvers, explorers, and inventors. 

Camp Returns Next Summer — Stay Tuned

If you have a middle schooler who loves to ask questions, build things, or just get their hands dirty, or you’re simply looking to create more opportunities for that in the summer, keep an eye out for next year’s camps.

Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when registration opens. Pro tip: summer camp registration opens early (and with discounts) for members.