This summer, the museum is very excited to be hosting STEAM summer camps for children ages 6 – 12. Camps combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math along with local history. This year, there are twice the number of camp themes available! All camps include hands-on activities and experiments, behind-the-scenes tours, time to explore the museum’s collection and exhibits, and rides on several fully restored antique trolleys. Also, members receive a discount on camp prices, as well as receiving early access to summer camp registration before it opens to the public! Camps are packed full of educational content, hands-on activities, and loads of fun! These programs provide youth with opportunities to discover new STEAM-focused interests, meet new friends, and make exciting memories.

LEGO® Camp

To kick off the summer, check out LEGO® Camp! It’s a week of LEGO® themed building challenges and fun for children ages 6, 7, and 8 happening June 12^th – 16th! Campers will be able to identify different LEGO® pieces, including the difference between plates, tiles, and even SNOT bricks and design murals, mosaics, and even a self-portrait made entirely of bricks. Learn about the world of engineering while investigating different modes of transportation. Construct simple machines, build catapults and cable cars, then plan and design a LEGO® Town and Trolley Park.

LEGO® Engineering Camp

Following right behind is a LEGO®-themed camp for older students: LEGO® Engineering Camp! It’s a week of LEGO® themed building challenges and fun for children ages 9, 10, 11, and 12, happening June 20^th – 23^rd (no camp in Monday). Campers will explore the forces of tension and compression and investigate the world of engineering and architecture as they work to build the tallest towers, longest bridges, and trolley waiting platforms that have to be able to stand up to the weight and pressure of streetcars, passengers, and freight! Design a paper airplane launcher, construct a rubber band powered car, and end the week by designing a full-camp epic chain reaction contraption.

STEAM Camp

STEAM Camp is a week dedicated to all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math! This camp runs June 26^th – 30^th and is for children ages 6, 7, or 8. Conduct hair-raising science experiments by investigating different kinds of energy and discovering the difference between static and current electricity. Explore the history of transportation, then check out the psychedelic colors of trolleys and streetcars and then turn a trolley down pocket size using shrink art!

Transportation Station

Next stop, Transportation Station! From trolleys and trains to boats, cars, and planes, campers between the ages of 6-8 will have a blast exploring every mode of transit and transportation there is.  This camp runs from July 10^th – 14^th. Campers will investigate the motion and physics of how things move, test different kinds of floating and flying contraptions, and design racecars. Can campers also design a barge that can successfully carry a heavy load and an insulated “refrigerator” trolley car that can keep ice from melting on a hot summer day? Celebrate the end of the week with a colorful rocket launch!

Engineers of Tomorrow

In Engineers of Tomorrow, happening July 31sts – August 4^th, campers between the ages of 9 – 12 will have the opportunity to combine history, science, and technology as they explore the past and plan for the future! Explore the world of engineering and test the conductivity of materials, investigate renewable energy sources, and construct working circuits to build a light dimmer, burglar alarm, and an electromagnet.  Investigate computer programming and code with Sphero Robotics to program automated transit routes, explore smart transit systems from around the world, and design and race robot-powered horsecars.

For more information and to register, please visit our Summer Camps page on the website. If you have not yet already done so, please join our email list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other exciting PTM news! By joining our mailing list, you will be among the first ones to receive updates about summer camps and other educational opportunities.