WMU Summer Camp Opportunities

During the summer, Western Michigan University offers a wide variety of camps geared toward students of all ages. Our camps range from academic to sports, with a little bit of everything in between. Camps vary in cost based on requirements. Some camps will offer scholarships; see their website for details. For more information on any of our exciting camps, please click on the links below for each specific camp. General questions about this web page can be directed to PreCollege Programming at em-precollegeprogramming@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2773, however, we don't have any information about the specific camps.

As camp information becomes available, it will be posted here. To add your WMU camp to this webpage, fill in your information on the webform.

  • Writing the College Admission Essay - ATYP - multiple offerings, online and in-person if possible

    We will be offering a Writing Your College Admissions Essay camp for students entering their senior year (2021-22). There will be at least four separate sessions of this class - two online and two in-person (if possible). To see the dates, click on Register Now.

  • Aviation Summer Camp - Monday, July 19th - Friday, July 23rd - Virtual

    Aviation Summer Camps are an awesome opportunity for high school students (rising 9th graders - 12th) to experience many aspects of aviation. After working closely with university leadership and health professionals to determine the best outcome for our summer campers and campus community, we will be hosting a virtual summer camp. Camp will be held Monday, July 19th - Friday, July 23rd. Cost: $150.  More information.

  • Dollars and Sense - multiple offerings - virtual

    The Dollars & Sense summer camp is designed to help young people learn and apply positive personal financial habits.  The camp covers a variety of topics including:

    • Budgeting
    • Saving 
    • Banking
    • Borrowing
    • Credit
    • Investing
    • College Planning
    • Insurance
    • Behavioral Finance
    • And more

    During the camp students will interact with professionals in the finance, banking, insurance, and higher education fields.  Students will be presented topics in a fun and interactive way with investing, budgeting, and borrowing games.  The culmination of the camp is the students presenting a life cycle plan to financial professionals and receiving constructive feedback.

    Overall, the camp is designed to help students prepare for their future after high school and beyond.  Help your child start off on the right financial foot, enroll them in the 2021 Dollars & Sense camp today.

    Two opportunities:

    • August 9 - 13, 2021, Grades 11 - 12, Cost: $99
    • August 16 - 20, 2021, Grades 8 - 10, Cost: $99

    For more information check out their website.

  • Intro to Vet Science - June 21-25, 9 a.m.-noon (in person if possible)

    Join a local veterinarian and dip your toes into the fascinating world of veterinary medicine! Our focus will be hands-on exploration of veterinary medicine, including animal behavior and handling, species differences in anatomy and physiology, laboratory procedures, careers, guest speakers, plenty of time for real-life case discussions and questions, and a wrap-up celebration! If you’ve ever considered being a veterinarian, or just love animals and science, this camp is for you! Led by Noreen Heikes. Grades 7-9, June 21-25, 9 a.m.-noon. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • Graphic Novels - July 12-16, 9 a.m.-noon (in person if possible)

    Learn how to take your ideas from sketchbooks to real books (including character development and refinement, portfolio reviews, and critiques) through the art of the graphic novel. Learn how to progress from concept to art to final product, and how to work with programs such as Photo-Shop and Manga-Studio to create comic pages. Bring your own work in progress, and come to class ready to draw and sketch along as you investigate the power of graphic visual language! Led by Paul Sizer. Grades 6-9, July 12-16, 9 a.m.-noon. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • Code Breaking - June 21-25, 1-4 p.m. (in person if possible)

    Students discover the origins of encoding in classic codes as they create new codes and decode the projects of their fellow students. Using basic mathematics and modular arithmetic, participants raise the level of their math skills and math reasoning. Led by Marty Trautman. Grades 6-9, June 21-25, 1-4 p.m. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • New Media and Digital Theater - July 12-16, 9 a.m.-noon. Virtual

    Explore the creative benefits and possibilities of virtual spaces! In this camp, we’re going to work together to make a theater performance to explore what it means to make theater that is entirely virtual. To this end, we will do writing and theater games and exercises to find artistic and creative possibilities through genres including site specific theater, podcast and audio dramas, and documentary theater. Led by Amber Palmer. Grades 7-9, July 12-16, 9 a.m.-noon. Virtual. Registration is open.

  • SurvivalCraft - July 12-16, 1-4 p.m. Virtual

    Can you survive mobs of zombies and creepers? Test your building skills with daily survival challenges using items from home and identifying resources in your neighborhood. Design and build shelters, create campfires, produce and gather food and fresh water. Virtually team up with local villagers and earn achievements to complete a quest and beat the boss. Time is ticking. Led by Jenny Metz Brenneman. Grades 6-9, July 12-16, 1-4 p.m. Virtual. Registration is open.

  • Faucet to Flush - June 28-July 2, 1-4 p.m. (in person if possible)

    WATER IN, WATER OUT: WHERE DOES YOUR WATER GO WHEN YOU FLUSH? Have you ever wondered where your water comes from, or where it goes after you flush? Come explore water sources and discover different methods to clean water. Camp will include designing and building water treatment models, as well as indoor and outdoor field trips to learn about ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle your “waste.” Grades 6-9, June 28-July 2, 1-4 p.m. Water camps led by Pathways to Science Teaching program (in person if possible). Registration is open.

  • What's in Your Water? - June 28-July 2, 9 a.m.-noon (in person if possible)

    What makes water clean enough to drink, wash, or play with? Get ready to explore what pollution is in your water and how water goes from dirty to clean! Camp will feature outdoor field trips, collecting and testing indoor and outdoor water, studying bugs and other critters found in water, and maybe even getting muddy and wet! Grades 6-9, June 28-July 2, 9 a.m.-noon. Water camps are led by the Pathways to Science Teaching program. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • Digital Storytelling - June 14-18, 1-4 p.m. Virtual

    You write the story, and once your fictional world exists, use Alice software to turn that story into an interactive text adventure that can be played on computers, tablets, and smartphones! Led by Marty Trautman. Grades 6-9. June 14-18, 1-4 p.m. Virtual. Registration is open.

  • Intro to Theater - June 28-July 2, 9 a.m.-noon. Virtual

    Want to have fun on the stage but don't know where to begin? This is the place to start. We will learn fun theater games, get to practice what it is like at an audition, work on monologues, the basics of theater and terminology, plus get to do a staged reading together of a play at the end of the week! All from the comfort and safety of your own homes. Led by Nikki Dobos. Grades 6-9, June 28-July 2, 9 a.m.-noon. Virtual. Registration is open.

  • Virtual Reality - June 28-July 2, 1-4 p.m. (in person if possible)

    Students are introduced to the basics of building virtual reality worlds using HTML and the A-Frame JavaScript Library. Through this course, students will build virtual environments that are compatible with VR devices, including smart-phone VR headsets! Emphasis will be on understanding how to create, place, and manipulate objects using computer programs and groups of coding provided by the instructor. Led by Marty Trautman. Grades 6-9, June 28-July 2, 1-4 p.m. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • Scratch Multimedia Games - July 12-16, 1-4 p.m. (in person if possible)

    Scratch is a computer program that uses block-like puzzle pieces to enhance learning the core concepts of computer programming. Utilize a programming language designed to produce rich, interactive media while developing important 21st century skills. Work at your own pace to create an original game. Led by Marty Trautman. Grades 6-9. July 20-24, 1-4 p.m. In person if possible. Registration is open.

  • Michigan GEAR UP Summer Camp: Session 2 Camp Beginning Date: July 14, 2021 Camp Ending Date: July 16, 2021 Camp Cost: $0

    Michigan GEAR UP summer camp sessions expose students to the importance of being a good student now to prepare for higher education in the future.

    Students will participate in educational and fun activities online and in-person on WMU's campus. Students will be exposed to many possible careers; expanding their horizons and fostering a desire for higher education. The program is free to participating students in GEAR UP target schools.

    Students who qualify for SUMMER CAMP SESSION 1: current 7th grades (OR 8th grade for 2021-2022) in Fairplain Middle School, Hillside Middle School and Linden Grove Middle School.

    Students who qualify for SUMMER CAMP SESSION 2: current 7th grades (OR 8th grade for 2021-2022) in Hartford Middle School, and Fennville Middle School.

    For more information, check out their website!

  • 1/2 day Summer Tennis Camps

    The tennis camp at West Hills is a perfect choice! And we’re not just tennis. Our tennis pros will provide your child with a daily tennis lesson, followed by a snack break and then a different game each day. Age-appropriate games (ages 6-11) will include wiffle ball, pickleball, dodgeball, obstacle courses, tag, and more! Guaranteed FUN for all.

    • June 28–July 1
    • July 5–8
    • July 12–15
    • July 19–22
    • July 26-29
    • Aug. 2–5
    • Aug. 9–12
    • Aug. 16–19
    • Aug. 23–26
    • Aug. 30–Sept. 2