College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Students presenting

Science and Engineering Camps


Summer of 2026 Science and Engineering Camps

Come join our staff for a week of experiential learning and fun with science and engineering in July 2026. Kids will have access to our facilities and will spend time with our staff exploring age-appropriate, science and engineering-related challenges. These day camps will be action-packed and mind-exercising for our area kids!

Elementary (grades 3-5) and middle school (grades 6-8) camps will be held July 20 to 23. A second session of both camps will be held July 27 to 30. 

Registration

Registration for 2026 will open soon. The cost for the elementary camp (Float, Fly, and Lift!) is $100. The cost for the middle school camp (Design It, Build It - Middle School Edition) is $200. Financial assistance is available for those with demonstrated need. Contact Matt Cavalli for more information. Registrations cancelled prior to June 15, 2026 will receive a refund less a 10% processing fee. Registrations cancelled after June 15 are non-refundable. Each participant will receive a camp t-shirt. Daily snacks will also be provided – please indicate any dietary restrictions when registering.

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5314 USA
(269) 276-3253

Camps

For summer of 2026, we are excited to offer two different camp options--Float, Fly and Lift! for grades 3-5 and Design It, Build It - Middle School Edition for grades 6-8. Float, Fly and Lift! will run from 9 a.m. to noon and Design It, Build It will run from 1 to 4 p.m. each day. For previous camp participants, note that the Float, Fly, and Lift! (elementary) topics will remain largely the same. 

Participants will explore the concepts of buoyancy, density, aerodynamics, energy and motion through a series of hands-on, design-build-test activities. Events will include harnessing wind power on both square-rigged and Bermuda-rigged boats, maximizing drag to slow a descent, building and launching water bottle rockets, and building a small hot air balloon. Most activities will be modeled after elementary-school-level Science Olympiad competitions. Participants will experience Floyd Hall and the surrounding parkland of the WMU Parkview Campus and explore WMU’s main campus in Kalamazoo. 

Participants will learn about concepts like structural design, aerodynamics and manufacturing. They will put their knowledge into practice by completing hands-on design/build challenges in team-based settings. Activities will make use of various laboratory and production facilities in Floyd Hall on the WMU Parkview Campus.