Sometimes our partner content from STEM Kids Chicago is too good to keep over there. So I’m sharing our updated guide to STEM Camps for Girls. Although several of the locations are Chicago-specific, some of the camps, like those from our sponsor, Girls Who Code Campus, are offered nationally.
I know that some parents prefer an all-girls environment for their daughters and I want to help those parents find the right girls-only option. Most of these camps are offered on a limited basis and book up quickly. be sure to secure your child’s spot soon.
Girls Who Code Campus offers beginner to advanced courses for middle and high school girls in a condensed 2-week timeline to accommodate busy summer schedules. In our Campus programs, girls will connect coding to their interests, learn more about careers and women in tech, and join a supportive sisterhood of girls who code all across the US! Readers can use the code “MAKER” to save $100 on tuition.
Why Choose an All-Girls STEM Camp?
If your girl is enthused about STEM, there’s no doubt summer camp is a great place to build her skills and knowledge alongside like-minded peers in a fun setting. But just as women are under-represented in technology and other areas of STEM, so too, girls tend to be under-represented at STEM camps. Being one of only a handful of girls in a larger program might not be a concern for you or your daughter, but some girls will speak up, participate and take the lead more in a single-sex environment. This not only has to do with a given girl’s comfort level but also how skilled a counselor is at giving all campers a chance to share their voice and excel.
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2018 Guide to STEM Camps for Girls
Alexa Café This summer, encourage the awesome in your daughter. At Alexa Café, girls ages 10-15 discover technology in a unique environment that celebrates creativity, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. Girls learn engineering principles, code games, design websites, model and print 3D objects, and more. These week-long summer programs are held at prestigious campuses nationwide, including Lake Forest.
Computer Discovery Camp at Illinois Tech A single two-week session for middle-school girls entering grades 7 – 9 in fall or a returning student of any grade level.
Digital Youth Divas They haven’t announced a 2018 camp (yet). Bookmark them for fun, informal STEM ed during the school year.
GAMES: Girls’ Adventures in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Held at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, there are several specialty weeklong residential engineering camps for girls in high school and a couple of day camp options for middle school girls.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Click and then scroll to the bottom of the page to review or download their summer camp guide. Explore nature, science and more.
Girls Who Code Campus Campus offers beginner to advanced courses for middle and high school girls in a condensed 2-week timeline for busy summer schedules. In our Campus programs, girls will connect coding to their interests, learn more about careers and women in tech, and join a supportive sisterhood of girls who code all across the US! Readers can use the code “MAKER” to save $100 on tuition.
Made By Girls Full day summer camps for girls ages 8-17 in topics such as programming, game design, and wearable technology.
Northern Illinois University STEM Summer Camps The four-day STEM Divas program for girls in grades 2-5 will only be offered once. The program seeks to develop confidence and “who embrace femininity while using hands-on activities to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).” Projects include woodworking with hand tools and soldering an electronics project.
Pollen Power This is down in Champaign-Urbana, but worth the trip for this day camp for girls in grades 6 – 8 who are interested in an up close look at biological sciences.
Triton College Summer camps for tweens and teens GADgET Girls introduces girls 10-14 to the world of high-tech manufacturing with field trips, CAD skills, and hands-on projects.
We hope you found our guide to STEM Camps for Girls in Chicago helpful! If none of these camps meets your needs, check out the co-ed camps in our general Chicago STEM Camp Guide.
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