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Most Youth Summer Camps Moving Online This Summer

Looking for 2021 activities? You can view them here.

In an effort to keep our region safe and healthy several youth programs, camps, and classes throughout the Valley have been canceled this summer.  However, a few organizations have found creative ways to hold them virtually. Often they are a great alternative to the original and designed to keep children engaged and entertained by providing educational content.

We’ve provided a list of STEM-based camps within the Valley. Please SHARE additional online STEM youth camps or programs with us: admin@svtc-va.org.

James Madison University’s Youth Programs and Camps

JMU Professional & Continuing Education is providing opportunities for online camps and learning for kids, many of which are STEM-based! Please take a look at the following camps and programs starting in June 2020.

  • Renewable Energy Camp | June 22 – 25, 2020 | Grades: Rising 4th – 12th
    During Renewable Energy Camp, kids will get a chance to harness the power of the wind and build a wind turbine as well as catch the sun and use it to power a village or even cook smores!  Over the week, we will learn about energy, renewable energy, energy conservation, wind energy, and solar energy.  At the end of the week, kids will have a chance to show off what they learned in a mini-science fair. Program Fee: $100.00. Renewable Energy Camp registration and more information
  • Science Explorers Camp
    Using JMU’s unique facilities such as the John C. Wells Planetarium, Science on a Sphere, among others, camp-goers will get to explore different areas of science, including biology, earth science, chemistry, forensic science, physics and astronomy and more! We seek to inspire and excite the next generation. Science Explorers Camp will touch on topics covered in the former Space Explorers Camp, while introducing new concepts, activities, and STEM challenges.
    Full Day Camp (rising 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grades):
    July 6-10, 2020  Program Fee: $80.00
    Full Day Camp (rising 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grades): July 13-17, 2020 Program Fee: $80.00
    Science Explorers Camp registration and more information
  • College for Kids | July 27-31, 2020 | Grades: Rising K-8th
    College for Kids provides an enriching, educational, and fun experience for children in grades K-8. Students work with JMU faculty and graduate students, as well as experts from the community, to explore and discover talents they never knew they had! Classes include STEM topics such as A Dino-Mite STEM AdventureUncovering the Mysteries of Science, and MORE!
    Registration Fees:
    1 Session (Am or PM) for the week $80.00,
    2 Sessions (AM & PM) for the week $160.00
    College for Kids registration, class details, and more information

To check out all Youth Programs, please visit https://www.jmu.edu/pce/programs/all/youth-programs/index.shtml


Blue Ridge Community College’s Learning Can Be Fun (LCBF) Program

Blue Ridge Community College’s popular Learning Can Be Fun (LCBF) summer youth program offers 85 classes, providing rising 3-12 grade students plenty of opportunities for virtual learning.  Due to COVID-19 concerns, all classes meet online, with real-time learning taking place live with an instructor and other students for a virtual bonding experience over a one-week period.  Each class is grouped by appropriate age levels, with class size kept to a minimum to allow for individual attention.

Classes include the following subjects:

  • Black Rocket Productions- 60 classes
    • Design
    • Coding
    • Video Game Creation
    • Sports Challenges
    • Minecraft
    • JavaScript & Python
    • YouTube Content Creators
  • Science and Technology – 2 classes
  • Culture, History, Language, and Literature – 10 classes
  • Art, Music, and Theatre – 7 classes

LCBF registration, class details, and additional information


Explore More Discovery Museum Summer Camps (Harrisonburg)

While most summer camps are moving online the Explore More Discovery Museum has decided to hold their summer camps in-person while taking health and safety precautions. They will hold in-person camps beginning June 29. During the first month of camp season, the museum will be closed to the public while camps are in session. The Discovery Museum will continue to evaluate and extend this closure as needed.

Junior Summer Camps: Ages 3 1/2 – 5
Full listing of camps and Junior Camp registration

Master Explorers: Ages 6 – 13
Full listing of camps and Master Explorers Camp registration

Half Day Camps
$135.00

(Members: $105.00)

Full Day Camps
$270.00
(Members: $210.00)


Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum Summer Camps (Winchester)

The SV Discovery Museum is also planning on holding in-person camps. Beginning June 29, the organization is planning to run physical, in-house camps. These camps will feature reduced camp sizes and are designed to follow current health and safety guidelines (e.g. masks, hand washing, social distancing, temperature checks, etc.). There are various camps, ranging from activities from Pre-K through Grade 8. Camps will run through the summer and end in August.

Discovery Museum members: $125 half-day
Non-members: $145 half-day
Discount for attending 3+ camps!

Camp registration, camp details, and additional information