Here’s the second installment of our list of entrepreneurial camps and programs for kids, brought to our readers a bit earlier this year so they actually have time to sign up. (Can you tell we at ExitEvent don’t have kids yet??)
Our community is developing a real passion around building the pipeline of entrepreneurs in the Triangle, and the many offerings for kids of all ages is proof. If your kids are already curious about coding and science or you want to introduce them to these and other entrepreneurial skills, these programs might be a good fit.
The programs are organized by the age groups they target, with those open to a wider set of ages at the bottom. We used last year’s list along with our own research to find as many opportunities as we could, but if we miss one, please email caitlin@exitevent.com with the details.
Our final ask is that you share this list with fellow parents, as well as any kids interested in a creative, hands-on summer.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
Where: Duke University
When: July 13-17, 2016
What it is: At the Audacious Summer @Duke University, rising 9th through 12th graders learn and apply design thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation to address real-world challenges with a small team of peers. This program is set up like a startup accelerator, where students work in small groups to brainstorm ideas, learn new skills to bring them to life, and engage in real world entrepreneurship.The founder has an MBA from Duke but lives in Atlanta, and the program is based on work by the Duke University Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.
Ages: 9-12th graders
Cost: $545 before May 1st; $595 after
Where it’s located: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
When it meets or happens: Weeklong Programs all summer
What it is: 10 different camps run many weeks throughout the summer providing instruction on topics like Java and C++ Programming, Game Programming and Robotics Engineering, 3D Level and Game Design and 3D Modeling and Film Production. Instruction is personalized to the student and project-based, and provided by students and graduates of top universities around the nation.
Cost: Day Camp: ~$900 Overnight: ~$1,500 but very few spots are left
Ages: 7-18
Where it’s located: Raleigh & Durham
When it meets or happens: Various weeks throughout the summer
What it is: A summer computer science experience held at startup hubs in North Carolina and Virginia, in which high school students are partnered with entrepreneurs to work on technology-based entrepreneurial projects.
Ages: High school students
Cost: Free
Where it’s located: Wake Tech Community College Main Campus
When it meets or happens: Weeklong camps from June 15-August 3
What it is: More than a dozen weeklong camps include topics like Video Game Design, Level Design and 2D and 3D Animation, Build a Computer, Engineering Technology. Robotics, STEM Fun, Creating Cool Websites, Math and Youth Entrepreneurship.
Ages: 11-18
Cost: $300/week
Where it’s located: Wade Edwards Learning Lab, 714 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh NC 27605
When it meets or happens: During the school year, in six-week Saturday sessions. During the summer, over weeklong half-day sessions June 22-July 30
What it is: Workshops or classes to teach students to design, build and code websites, computer or mobile applications and games.
Ages: above 8th grade
Cost: $35 per workshop
Where it’s located: 715 Barbour Dr. Raleigh NC, 27603
When it meets or happens: Traditional school year schedule
What it is: The Wake NC State STEM Early College High School is a joint project between the Wake County Public School System, NC State University and the NC New Schools Project. Early college means students take college courses at NCSU as well as the courses required to earn a high school diploma over a five year period. But classes at this high school all involve elements of science, technology, engineering and math, and the curriculum encourages students to take on 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering, including making solar energy economical, providing access to clean water, improving urban infrastructure, securing cyberspace and enhancing virtual reality.
How to Apply: Applications for the 2016-2017 have closed. For next year’s application dates, visit the website.
Where it’s located: 10 Park Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
When it meets or happens: Traditional school year schedule
What it is: An independent public charter school with the mission to increase access to globally competitive science, technology, engineering, and math education for students and teachers and by incubating, proving and scaling innovative models of teaching and learning.
Ages: 14-18
Where it’s located: Six different locations across the Triangle, including the company’s Chapel Hill headquarters
When it meets or happens: Almost every week throughout the summer, locations vary.
What it is: Youth Digital teaches kids coding, technology and design skills using software programs that are “stepping stones” to professional tools. Youth Digital is best known nationally for its online courses, but those are based on its in-person camps and programs, as well as an After School program during the school year.
Cost: $330-400 for summer camps
Ages: 8-15
Where it’s located: 3716 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705
When it meets or happens: 7 weeks throughout the summer
What it is (short description): 3D Animation, Strategic Gaming and Maker Camp are three programs at the Duke School aimed to train middle and high school students in technology and entrepreneurship skills this summer. Duke School is a private independent school for preschool to 8th grade started as a lab for students in the university’s departments of psychology and education in 1947.
Ages: 8-15
Cost: $320-410
Where it’s located: Neal Middle School, 201 Baptist Road, Durham, NC 27704
When it meets or happens: Duration of each school year
What it is: Citizen Schools partners with urban public schools to expand the middle school day to include academic support around homework, math or literacy and apprenticeships in the area of business, law, science, architecture, cooking and more. According to Citizen Schools, 80 percent of students in the program report interest in pursuing a STEM career.
Ages: 11-14
Where it’s located: Various locations
When it meets or happens: Workshops every two months (Next is May 25 and focused on infographics & July 14-15 mini-camp)
What it is: A Philadelphia-headquartered organization that introduces tween girls to a variety of technology skills and careers through interactive workshops like Designing a Website, Creating mobile apps, Beginner and Intermediate Javascript, HTML, Game Development, User interface design and PhotoShop, as well as hardware and Internet of Things workshops like Robotics and Python, Makey Makey and littlebits. The mission is to get girls interested in technology careers before ninth grade, the year many decide technology is not for them. Here’s an ExitEvent story from when the Triangle chapter began in 2014.
Ages: 10-13
Cost: Free
Where it’s located: Durham, NC
When: Numerous weeks throughout the summer
What it is: There are two programs, the Early Accelerator and the Accelerator program, participation in which is based on age. Participants will experience hands-on learning in STEM areas. Programs themes vary from forensic science, disease exploration, to robotics and engineering. There is an online element for the Accelerator program and the programs are last a week.
Ages: 7th-12th graders
Cost: Early Accelerator is $1,495, with a $1,320 day-only option. Accelerator is $1,925, with a $1,750 day-only option.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Where: Various locations throughout the Triangle
When: Numerous weeks throughout the summer, just depends on location
What is it: Camp Invention reinvents summer fun. Local educators lead a week of hands-on activities created for elementary students. Lessons explore connections between science, technology, engineering, and innovation.
Cost: $245/week
Where it’s located: Select Durham elementary schools
When it meets or happens: See website for specific days and times at each school location
What it is: FEMMES is a student-led organization at Duke University that provides mentorship and programming around science, engineering and math to girls in 4th-6th-grade girls at local elementary schools. Student volunteers teach fundamental concepts in an engaging, hands-on manner. Activities include designing egg-drop parachutes and trebuchets (Physics and Engineering), performing ink chromatography (Chemistry), and making respiratory system models (Biology).
Ages: 4th-6th-grade girls
Check the website for Fall application dates.
Where it’s located: Duke West Campus
When it meets or happens: Saturdays during college semesters
What it is: The Saturday series integrates science, math, and engineering activities from the after-school program, but is held on Duke’s West Campus. Each semester, FEMMES host 60 local 4th-6th graders who don’t attend the elementary schools with after-school programs, helping the group expand its reach. Ages: 4th-6th-grade girls
Check the website for Fall application dates.
Where it’s located: All over the Triangle area
When it’s happening: Multiple weeks all summer
What it is: Using LEGOs, participants will go through various programs teaching engineering concepts to children.
Ages: 5-12
Cost: $110
Where it’s located: American Underground on the American Tobacco Campus
When it meets or happens: Sign up for the Raleigh-Durham mailing list to learn of upcoming classes.
What it is: Introductory coding classes for kids, based on Scratch, HTML or CSS.
Ages: All ages, but children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Cost: Free
Where it’s located: Morrisville, NC
When it’s happening: Various weeks throughout the summer
What it is: These summer camps are designed to help walk kids through various engineering occupations. Each week follows a special theme such as “Out of this world” focusing on engineering in space and “Momentum Madness”, which walks kids through automobile engineering.
Ages: 6-11
Cost: $245/Full day $149/Half-day
Where it’s located: Chapel Hill, NC
When it’s happening: Various weeks throughout the summer
What it is: There are different programs for parents to choose from for their children, primarily focused on the various occupations in engineering. Some programs even include learning hands on with LEGOS.
Ages: 5-11
Cost: $195-$390
MISC.
Where it’s located: TBD
When it meets or happens: July 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sold out, but sign-up for the newsletter to get details about other summer events.)
What it is: The inaugural workshop of the Raleigh-Durham chapter of Black Girls Code will teach girls of color to build their own webpages using fun games and activities to introduce HTML, CSS, and basic web structure.
Ages: 7-17
Cost: $36.87 but scholarships are available
Where it’s located: 800 N. Mangum Street, Durham, NC
When it meets or happens: Open 24/7 for members but weekly meetups happen Tuesdays at 7:00pm
What it is: Previously known as Durham Makerspace, Splat Space is a nonprofit and member-funded workshop and hackerspace in Downtown Durham. Crafters, engineers, mad scientists, artists, programmers, tinkerers, and makers of all kinds are welcomed to join the organization and use the space to work on personal hobbies or projects or to collaborate with others. Members get access to workshops and classes, from crochet to basic circuitry.
Ages: All ages
Cost: Full Membership: $50/month, Student Membership: $35/month, Associate Membership: $20/month
Where it’s located: Trinity Academy in North Raleigh, Christ UMCin Chapel Hill, and Cary Academy
When it meets or happens: Days and times depend on location
What it is: Programs include Math Enrichment, Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics, Electronics, University-Level Computer Science (for high school students), and University-level Logic for Mathematics (for high school students). These programs are for high-achieving kids or those interested in developing skills in computer science or technology before college. There are summer camp opportunities for all ages as well.
Admission Process: 1 hour placement class provided by IMACS
Ages: Grades 1-12
Cost: Varies based on program
Where it’s located: The Frontier at Research Triangle Park and various locations around the Triangle
When it meets or happens: Set by partner organizations
What it is: A mentorship organization that pairs STEM professionals with underrepresented minority, girls and low-income students in Durham and Wake counties. The organization partners with nonprofits, schools and universities to match mentors with students. A list of partners is located on the website, but you can also become a US2020 member to find mentorship opportunities near you.
Ages: K-16
Cost: Free
Where it’s located: Chapel Hill, NC
When it’s happening: Every week all summer
What it is: Science is an adventure – an amazing opportunity to explore the world around us. Children naturally love to explore our world, and Summer Science Camps at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center are the perfect way to encourage your child’s curiosity and intellectual growth in a fun, nurturing environment. Participants will explore dinosaurs, aquatic life, and there is even a Magic Tree House themed program.
Ages: k-8th grade
Cost: $160/program
Where it’s located: Apex, NC
When it’s happening: June 13-17, August 8-12
What it is: Based on an international robotics competition FIRST® LEGO® League, students will work in groups of six on three equally weighted components from the 2015 TRASH TREK challenge: robot design, construction and programming; research and innovation; FLL Core Values and teamwork. For context, here’s our story on The Forge.
Ages: 9-14
Cost: $200-$230
