UW-Stout welcomes students from Wisconsin, across the country, and around the world to explore their potential, build new friendships, and discover what a polytechnic education is all about. Students entering grades 6-8 are invited to experience a summer of creating, exploring, experimenting, and imagining through UW-Stout’s middle school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Math) Summer Camps. With guidance from enthusiastic instructors, campers develop skills, confidence, and connections while exploring fields that spark curiosity and inspire future learning.
Why Attend?
- Explore your interests through STEAM exploration camps or in specialized tracks in Art & Design, Engineering & Technology, and Science & Health.
- Join a welcoming, inclusive campus community where every learner belongs and is encouraged to grow.
- Collaborate with peers and supportive mentors to solve challenges creatively and think like innovators.
- Engage in hands-on, real-world projects in studios and labs equipped with industry-level tools and technology.
- Experience campus life with the residential option - stay in the dorms, enjoy meals in the dining centers, and participate in fun evening activities.
Camp Tuition and Scholarships
Unless otherwise noted, tuition for UW-Stout STEAM Summer Camps is:
- $395: commuter (day) camps
- $695: residential (overnight) camps
Thanks to funding from the Wisconsin DPI’s Precollege Scholarship Program Grant, UW-Stout is able to offer 500+ scholarships for Wisconsin students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
- Families who need financial assistance can apply for a scholarship using this link.
- Families who are able to support other students are invited to donate to the scholarship fund using this link.
More Information
- Visit Additional Camp Details to learn what camps include, what to bring, check-in and check-out times, available scholarships, and camp policies.
- Have more questions? See Camp Frequently Asked Questions.
- Domestic Students: continuinged@uwstout.edu
- International Students: globaled@uwstout.edu
Stay Tuned!
More camps are on the way! Visit again soon for the latest updates.
STEAM Exploration
Robotics-Inspired STEAM Exploration (RISE) Camp
RISE Camp empowers you to see yourself as a creator, an engineer, and an innovator - because the future of STEM needs your voice, your vision, and your imagination. Team up with fellow campers to design, build, and program a robot; customize it with 3D-printed parts; and craft a unique team identity through logo design and a webpage. Document your journey through photography and videography as you grow your technical skills and creative confidence. At the end of the week, put your robot to the test in friendly challenges that celebrate teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance. At RISE Camp, imagination transforms into innovation - and the future begins with your ideas.
Sessions:
- June 14-18
- June 21-25
Possible Session: June 7-11
- We may open this session if the other sessions fill. Join the interest list to be notified if this session opens.
STEAM Sampler Camp
Monday: Creative Coding: Code + Math = Art
Transform geometry and equations into dynamic digital art! Explore symmetry, repetition, motion, and randomness as you discover how math fuels creativity in coding. Use tools like p5.js to draw, animate, and interact with art, refining and personalizing your creations along the way. Collaborate, experiment, and watch your ideas come to life on the screen.
Tuesday: DNA Detectives: Investigating with DNA Fingerprinting
Become a molecular biologist for a day! Extract DNA, amplify it with PCR, cut it with restriction enzymes, and separate the fragments using gel electrophoresis to create your own DNA fingerprint. Along the way, discover how molecular biology helps solve mysteries, identify organisms, and uncover the patterns that make every living thing unique.
Wednesday: Cut-Paper Animation: Crafting Stories Frame by Frame
Ever wonder how paper shapes become animated worlds? Explore the art of cut-paper animation as you design, layer, and move handcrafted pieces to build a stop-motion story. Collaborate with your team to create characters, craft scenes, and animate motion using cameras and digital tools. Along the way, discover how timing and storytelling bring your paper creations to life - one frame at a time.
Thursday: Molded by Design: Exploring Plastics Engineering
Ever wonder how your phone case, water bottle, or sneakers are made? Step into the world of plastics engineering to discover how everyday products take shape. Try out injection molding, silicone mold making, epoxy casting, blow molding, and thermoforming, while creating your own take-home samples.
Sessions:
- June 14-18
- June 21-25
- July 12-16
- July 19-23
Art & Design
Stop-Motion Studio: Claymation Camp
Shape your imagination in clay and bring it to life - one frame at a time! Explore the art of claymation, a stop-motion animation technique that transforms sculpted clay characters and sets into lively, expressive stories. Collaborate in teams to design and sculpt characters, build miniature environments, and use digital cameras and editing software to animate your creations. Learn the fundamentals of movement, lighting, and storytelling as you produce your own short film. At the end of the week, premiere your animation at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!
Session:
- June 7-11
Comics Studio: From Idea to Print Camp
Discover how words and images work together to tell stories and share ideas. Start by brainstorming concepts and sketching layouts, then move into inking, coloring, and digital production techniques. Experiment with both traditional and digital tools as you create your own comic - whether you’re explaining how something works, capturing everyday moments, or imagining something completely new. End the week by preparing your final page for print and seeing it published in a class anthology produced in UW-Stout’s Digital Processing Lab.
Session:
- June 14-18
NextGen YouTubers Camp
Discover what it takes to be a real YouTuber! From first idea to final upload, learn how to bring your creative visions to life. Explore the art of storyboarding, planning shots, setting up lighting, capturing great footage, editing with style, and adding eye-catching graphics. The week wraps up with the premiere of your video at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!
Sessions:
- June 28 - July 2
- July 26-30
Storycraft: Roleplaying, Worldbuilding, and Storytelling Camp
Journey into the world of storytelling and imaginative play. Bring characters to life through immersive role-playing sessions, sketch thrilling story concepts, and design rich, captivating worlds. Expand and refine your creations through creative writing and narrative development exercises while assembling a portfolio of characters, narratives, and worlds that showcases your creativity and storytelling skills.
Session:
- July 19-23
Stop-Motion Studio: Become Part of the Animation with Pixilation Camp
Step in front of the camera and become part of the animation yourself! Explore pixilation - a stop-motion technique where people and objects move frame by frame to create imaginative, life-sized animations. Work in teams to plan, storyboard, and film your own short pixelation project using digital cameras and editing software. Experiment with timing, movement, and creative effects as you bring everyday scenes to life in unexpected ways. At the end of the week, premiere your animation at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!
Session:
- August 2-6
Upcycling & Fashion Innovation Camp
Give everyday clothes new life as stylish, one-of-a-kind creations through the art of upcycling. Learn fashion reconstruction techniques that blend creativity, sustainability, and sewing skills as you transform pre-loved garments into wearable art. Using donated and recycled textiles, sketch, drape, and design with methods like deconstruction, patchwork, and embellishment. Along the way, discover how upcycling is reshaping the fashion industry - and how young designers like you can help lead the movement toward sustainable design. The week culminates in a fashion presentation that showcases your innovative work for family and friends.
Session:
- August 9-13
Engineering & Technology
Hackerspace: Engineering Sound through Physical Computing Camp
Discover how sound, circuits, and code come together. Experiment with breadboards, sensors, and Arduino microcontrollers to engineer interactive audio projects - from LED sound visualizers to homemade microphones and speakers built with piezo discs. Use the engineering design process to iterate, troubleshoot, and refine your creations. Then, debut your projects at the Camper Showcase!
Session:
- July 26-30
Science & Health
Fin-tastic Fish Conservation Camp
Discover the importance of protecting our freshwater ecosystems in this immersive conservation camp! Explore the interconnected world of aquatic life, learn how human actions impact fisheries, and discover practical ways to support native fish species. Contribute to real habitat-restoration efforts, and practice identifying the fish you catch (bring your pole, or borrow one from us). Leave feeling confident, informed, and ready to make a positive impact on our natural resources.
Session:
- July 26-30
