43 summer camps where kids can have fun, exercise and even learn something in Pittsburgh

With titles like Fizz Bang Boom, Eureka!, Red Hot Robots, Yuckology and Secret Agent Lab, Mad Science summer camp sessions have us intrigued. Workshops, held at 15 area locations, are geared to kids from kindergarten through 6th grade, giving them the chance to be junior scientists for the summer. Register here for your choice of location and camp.

24. Fern Hollow Nature Center

The Fern Hollow Nature Center returns to its fun schedule of outdoor nature-themed camps. Kids ages 3-11 will enjoy fresh-air learning and hands-on challenges. The youngest campers might pick berries and vegetables, dig for fossils and build fairy houses. Older kids might practice archery, learn to be eco-warriors or master outdoor survival skills. Watch here for the summer camp lineup to be announced soon. Full and partial scholarships are offered.

25. Luminari’s Camp Delicious

Aspiring teen chefs will find culinary confidence at this five-day Luminari camp. Teens will participate in tastings and learn about food sourcing and preparation under the guidance of some of Pittsburgh’s most prominent chefs and nutritionists. By the end of camp, kids should have the ability to create scrumptious meals at home.

26. Camp Invention

Camp Invention offers an inspiring, action-packed experience for kids in grades K-6. The STEM summer program helps kids develop innovative thinking and problem-solving skills and encourages collaboration. Camps are held in schools around Pittsburgh. Find a program location and register here.

27. University of Pittsburgh Gene Team

Science-minded teens from Pittsburgh’s urban high schools with an interest in biology are invited to apply for a position in the five-week Gene Team program. Pitt Biology Outreach will provide state-of-the-art laboratory training to collect data for a current research project. Bus passes will be supplied and participants will receive a stipend at the end of the program. Sessions will include a focus on strategies and skills that will help with college applications. To be eligible, kids must have completed one year of high school biology. Stay tuned for the 2022 dates and application information.

28. Switch and Signal Skatepark

Skate Camp returns to Switch and Signal Skatepark this year with full-day camps running from June 13 to Aug. 19. Choose a week or sign up for the entire summer. Kids from ages 5-13 in all skill levels are welcome to get started or develop more advanced expertise. Learn about skate components, make skate art and work on a group skate video to take home at the end of the week. Register here.

29. Blue Ribbon Farms

Kids get a total fresh air farm experience at Blue Ribbon Farms’ Little Farmers Day Camp. Hands-on experiences include bottle feeding a newborn calf, caring for goats and piglets or riding a pony. Kids learn about growing food in the expansive garden and collect fresh eggs, then help prepare dishes from food harvested on the farm. Crafts, nature walks and games are part of the fun. The three-day camps are geared to kids ages 4-13. Register here.

30. Glade Run Lutheran Services

Looking for summer camps around Pittsburgh that focus on social-emotional skills? Glade Run’s Specialized Adventures Camp is a two-week social skills development course specifically designed for kids with moderate to high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. But any kids ages 8-18 who need help with social skill development will be considered. Activities include horseback riding, trail and stream exploration and gardening. View the brochure for details.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available through the Glade Run Foundation. Call 724-452-4453, ext. 1244, or email.

31. Little Lake Theatre

Budding theater stars ages 6-18 will take the stage during in-person summer camps at Little Lake Theatre. Kids with a flair for the dramatic will study improv character movement and audition skills in Acting Camp. Musical Theater campers will rehearse and perform roles in “Disney’s The Descendants: The Musical.” Be A Star Camp is offered in two sessions – Great American Road Trip and Around the World in 5 Days. Learn more and register here.

32. Steeltown Film Academy Summer Intensive

Steeltown’s Film Academy is a youth education program in digital media arts and filmmaking. The Academy is open to all high schoolers, from rising 9th graders up through recent 12th-grade grads. Teaching artists and professional mentors will offer a curriculum covering all aspects of digital media production, including storytelling, camera, audio, lighting and editing. This in-person summer program runs from June 27-July 28, four days per week (Mon-Thurs, except Mon. July 4) from 10 a.m.-3pm at WQED. Lunch will be provided each day. Register here, and contact program director Mary Ann McBride-Tackett with questions.

33. Horses Unlimited Stables

Kids who are giddy with pony love will be positively smitten with the two Pony Camps at Horses Unlimited Stables. Beginners receive an introduction to Western and English riding in the weeklong sessions. Kids will learn horse care methods, including a hands-on pony bath to safely clean off the mud. Expect horse-themed crafts and games, too. Find more information here or call 412-835-7726.

34. Pittsburgh Glass Center

Teens in grades 6–12 take over Pittsburgh Glass Center from July 11-15 for the intensive SiO2 teen boot camp. This one-week summer day camp introduces the science and art of glass, offering hands-on experience with glass-making at one of the top facilities in the country. Sessions include glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming, and coldworking. At lunchtime, campers will gather for discussions with instructors and fellow students. Scholarships are available. Learn more and register here (apply by June 1).

35.  The Hillman Academy

The Hillman Academy provides authentic research experiences and mentorship to high school students. Participants work in labs on a cancer research project alongside a Pitt faculty member, graduate student, or post-doc. Great for students interested in STEM, biomedicine, or research! The program runs June 20 – Aug. 5. Applications are being accepted now through mid-February from all high school students (preference given to rising juniors and seniors). Read more about eligibility. The program offers 34+ stipends of $2,400 to students from underrepresented groups.

36. Readiness Institute Summer Program

This six-week paid experience for rising high school seniors helps them become community and future-ready. Participants will build relationships and rituals, participate in essential skill workshops, complete projects that address real-world problems, and create personalized road maps for future success. Participants will gain an improved sense of self and be better able to answer these questions: Who am I? Who do I want to become? How do I get there? How will I continue to learn? How will I give back to my community? Program runs June 27 – Aug. 4, with applications accepted now through April 1. A maximum of 45 campers will be accepted and will receive a stipend of $2,000, use of a laptop while enrolled and transportation as needed. Open to rising high school seniors with preference given to those attending high school in Allegheny County.

37. University of Pittsburgh Architectural Studies Program Summer Studio

Also known as the Experiencing Architecture program, this four-week experience immerses high school students in the various facets of architecture and design. Participants develop foundational skills for architecture – including sketching, drawing, and model making – while working on design projects and using Pitt’s architecture studios and maker spaces. Students get a sense of what it’s like to study and practice architecture and related professions through office tours, construction site visits, and walking tours of notable buildings in and around the city. Applications are open now for this July camp, and applicants will receive a status update by mid-April. Questions? Email Sara Pettit. Students in grades nine through 12 from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they have a strong interest in pursuing architecture or design beyond high school.

38. Readiness Institute Summer Program

This six-week paid experience for rising high school seniors helps them become community and future-ready. Participants will build relationships and rituals, participate in essential skill workshops, complete projects that address real-world problems, and create personalized road maps for future success. Participants will gain an improved sense of self and be better able to answer these questions: Who am I? Who do I want to become? How do I get there? How will I continue to learn? How will I give back to my community? Program runs June 27 – Aug. 4, with applications accepted now through April 1. A maximum of 45 campers will be accepted and will receive a stipend of $2,000, use of a laptop while enrolled and transportation as needed. Open to rising high school seniors with preference given to those attending high school in Allegheny County.

39. ICE-T Project

In this initiative of The Citizen Science Lab, Black youth will explore the computational and experimental techniques required to examine the physiology, biochemistry, and voltage potential of microbial fuel cells (MFC), a living battery powered by bacteria. After learning basic concepts, students will build and create a device powered by these living batteries. Application details are coming soon for this summer program open to all Black high schoolers. Check here or follow The Citizen Science Lab on their social media channels for program updates.

40. Startable PGH

Startable teaches students 13- to 18-years-old entrepreneurial and engineering skills through the design and commercialization of hardware products. Participants build their own business, keep profits from their products, and pitch for prize money at a final event. Startable will offer their 2022 program in a hybrid model: Some cohorts will meet virtually, and others in person. Program dates will depend on the cohort schedule and end on Aug. 5. Applications will be available in May at startablepgh.org. This program is for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, technology or skill-building in related areas.

41. Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code summer programs teach girls and non-binary students the computer science skills they need to drive community impact and prepare for a tech career. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs, meet women in tech careers, and join a supportive sisterhood of girls in tech. The program is available as a 2-week intensive immersion or a 6-week self-paced program and offers a $300 needs-based stipend for eligible students in the United States. Program dates and application details for this immersion program for rising 10th-12th grade girls or current 9th-11th grade girls are coming soon. Complete this interest form to get updates.

42. Girls on the Run: Camp GOTR

Camp GOTR is for girls in 3rd through 5th grades and takes place during the summer months. Registration dates and specific camp sites are yet to be announced, but GOTR serves all of Allegheny County and surrounding areas. Girls spend a week building friendships, exploring their creativity and playing fun games that keep them moving. Caring and qualified Girls on the Run coaches lead structured lessons to help girls build confidence and unleash creativity in a safe and inclusive environment. Email Karen Baker for more information and keep an eye on the website.

43. Bright Horizons at Southside Works 

Bright Horizons tells us they’re planning action-packed summer days that put a seasonal spin on science, technology, creative arts, learning about nature and more. Weekly themes for 3-year-olds through 5-year-olds will include Game Time!, Adventures in Art, Great Inventors, and Fitness Fanatics. Learn more here.