High School STEAM Summer Camps

College Ready @ Stout: The Polytechnic Advantage Camp for Credit

Rising high school juniors and seniors - prepare for your college journey with this camp-for-credit experience that builds confidence, community, and the skills needed to succeed. Earn one general education college credit (First-Year Polytechnic Seminar, TRDIS-102) as you discover UW-Stout’s polytechnic advantage, connect with the Stout community, and develop solid foundations in time management, goal setting, academic and career planning, wellbeing, and financial wellness.

Session:

• June 21-25

Special Camp Tuition:

• Contact Tiffany Hoage at hoaget@uwstout.edu for more information and to apply to this camp.

Robotics-Inspired STEAM Exploration (RISE) Camp

RISE Camp empowers you to see yourself as a creator, an engineer, and an innovator - because the future of STEM needs your voice, your vision, and your imagination. Team up with fellow campers to design, build, and program a robot; customize it with 3D-printed parts; and craft a unique team identity through logo design and a webpage. Document your journey through photography and videography as you grow your technical skills and creative confidence. At the end of the week, put your robot to the test in friendly challenges that celebrate teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance. At RISE Camp, imagination transforms into innovation - and the future begins with your ideas.

Session:

• June 28 - July 2

Comics Studio: From Idea to Print Camp

Discover how words and images work together to tell stories and share ideas. Start by brainstorming concepts and sketching layouts, then move into inking, coloring, and digital production techniques. Experiment with both traditional and digital tools as you create your own comic - whether you’re explaining how something works, capturing everyday moments, or imagining something completely new. End the week by preparing your final page for print and seeing it published in a class anthology produced in UW-Stout’s Digital Processing Lab.

Session:

• June 7-11

Unspooled Cinema Camp

Whether you dream of launching a filmmaking career or simply want to explore your creativity through film, this camp equips you with the tools, techniques, and inspiration to bring your story to life. By the end of the camp, walk away with both a deeper understanding of filmmaking and a completed short film to showcase your talent!

Session:

• June 7-11

Possible Session: June 14-18

We may open this session if the above session fills. Join the interest list to be notified if this session opens.

Upcycling & Fashion Innovation Camp

Give everyday clothes new life as stylish, one-of-a-kind creations through the art of upcycling. Learn fashion reconstruction techniques that blend creativity, sustainability, and sewing skills as you transform pre-loved garments into wearable art. Using donated and recycled textiles, sketch, drape, and design with methods like deconstruction, patchwork, and embellishment. Along the way, discover how upcycling is reshaping the fashion industry - and how young designers like you can help lead the movement toward sustainable design. The week culminates in a fashion presentation that showcases your innovative work for family and friends.

Session:

• June 7-11

Interior Design: Creating Spaces That Inspire Camp

Discover how design influences the way people live, work, and connect. Learn the art and science of creating inspiring spaces through concept development, sketching, space planning, color, and lighting. Explore both residential and commercial interiors while gaining insight into the many exciting career paths in interior design. At the end of the week, inspire family and friends with your designs at the Camper Showcase.

Session:

• June 14-18

Stop-Motion Studio: Claymation Camp

Shape your imagination in clay and bring it to life - one frame at a time! Explore the art of claymation, a stop-motion animation technique that transforms sculpted clay characters and sets into lively, expressive stories. Collaborate in teams to design and sculpt characters, build miniature environments, and use digital cameras and editing software to animate your creations. Learn the fundamentals of movement, lighting, and storytelling as you produce your own short film. At the end of the week, premiere your animation at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!

Session:

• June 28-July 2

Storycraft: Roleplaying, Worldbuilding, and Storytelling Camp

Journey into the world of storytelling and imaginative play. Bring characters to life through immersive role-playing sessions, sketch thrilling story concepts, and design rich, captivating worlds. Expand and refine your creations through creative writing and narrative development exercises while assembling a portfolio of characters, narratives, and worlds that showcases your creativity and storytelling skills.

Session:

• July 12-16

Studio Foundations: Drawing, Color, and Creativity Camp

Enter the artist’s studio and discover the essential skills that bring drawings to life! Build a strong foundation as you explore line, value, and proportion through guided still-life exercises. Learn how shading and blending add depth and realism to your work, making your subjects truly come alive. Then dive into color theory to see how hue, contrast, and harmony shape mood and meaning. Finish by creating a personal mandala that brings together precision, creativity, and thoughtful color choices - a perfect showcase of your artistic growth and imagination.

Session:

• July 12-16

NextGen YouTubers Camp

Discover what it takes to be a real YouTuber! From first idea to final upload, learn how to bring your creative visions to life. Explore the art of storyboarding, planning shots, setting up lighting, capturing great footage, editing with style, and adding eye-catching graphics. The week wraps up with the premiere of your video at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!

Session:

• June 21-25

Possible Session: July 19-23

• We may open this session if the above session fills. Join the interest list to be notified if this session opens.

Media Remix: Video Essays & Creative Persuasion Camp

Look closer at the media that shapes the world around you and learn how to reshape it yourself. Explore media literacy by breaking down how videos, ads, and social content use storytelling, imagery, and editing to influence audiences. Then, think critically and creatively as you develop your own persuasive message on a topic you care about. Using existing media and your own footage, plan, script, and edit a short video essay that allows viewers to see something from a new perspective.

Session:

• TBD

Stop-Motion Studio: Become Part of the Animation with Pixilation Camp

Step in front of the camera and become part of the animation yourself! Explore pixilation - a stop-motion technique where people and objects move frame by frame to create imaginative, life-sized animations. Work in teams to plan, storyboard, and film your own short pixelation project using digital cameras and editing software. Experiment with timing, movement, and creative effects as you bring everyday scenes to life in unexpected ways. At the end of the week, premiere your animation at the Camper Showcase, where family and friends can see your creativity on the big screen!

Session:

• July 26-30

Wearable Electronics Camp

Spark your imagination at the intersection of fashion, technology, and design! Explore how light, sensors, and simple circuitry can enhance clothing and accessories in creative ways. Learn the basics of electronic components and discover how they can be safely and thoughtfully integrated into wearable pieces. Then, design and build your own illuminated or interactive accessory using conductive materials, LEDs, and microcontrollers. Finish the week by presenting your custom creation during the Camper Showcase.

Session:

• TBD

Hats and Wearable Culture: Recycled Fashion Camp

Unleash your creativity through fashion and design! Discover how hats have reflected culture and style across different periods in history. Then, put your own twist on tradition by upcycling materials to create a unique hat and matching wearable piece. Wrap up the week by showcasing your creations in a fun, end-of-camp fashion show celebrating your imagination and design skills!

Session:

• August 2-6

AR/VR Design & 3D Character Creation Camp

Ready to step into new worlds and create a character of your own? Explore the future of immersive technology as you interact with virtual environments and uncover what makes an experience truly captivating. Bring your ideas to life by designing and building your own virtual character. Then, take it from the screen to the physical world by 3D-printing your creation to bring home. Whether you love creating, problem-solving, storytelling, or exploring new technology, this camp gives you the tools - and the worlds - to imagine bigger than ever!

Session:

• June 14-18

3D Printing: Race to Create Camp

Ready to design, build, and race your own 3D-printed car? Step into the fast lane of engineering innovation with this high-energy camp that combines creativity, competition, and cutting-edge technology. Using CAD software and professional-grade 3D printers, bring your ideas from screen to track - experimenting with different materials and printing methods like FDM, SLA, PolyJet, and even metal 3D printing. Learn how engineers prototype, test, and refine designs for performance and precision. Then, cap off the week with a head-to-head drag race to see whose creation has the ultimate speed and style. Whether you’re into cars, design, or high-tech fabrication, this camp puts the power of modern manufacturing in your hands!

Session:

• July 19-23

Packaging Engineering: From Sketch to Shelf Camp

Imagine designing a package that’s strong, environmentally friendly, and ready for store shelves. Where would you begin? Go behind the scenes on field trips to local packaging companies to discover how engineers and graphic designers collaborate to create products that are functional, visually appealing, and sustainable. Back on campus, explore how packaging shapes consumer experience and impacts the environment - from material choices to recyclability and disposal. Then, design and prototype your own package and see how it stacks up in tests of strength, usability, and shelf appeal.

Full-tuition scholarships are available thanks to funding from an NSF ExLENT Grant (Award # 2347352). Submit this form to apply for a camp scholarship.

Session:

• July 26-30

Molded by Design: Exploring Plastics and Product Engineering Camp

Ever wonder how your phone case, water bottle, or sneakers are made? Step into the world of manufacturing and plastics engineering to discover how everyday products go from digital concept to physical form. Start by using SolidWorks to model ideas in 3D, then investigate how design decisions and material choices impact durability, flexibility, and performance. Try out injection molding, silicone mold making, epoxy casting, blow molding, and thermoforming, while creating your own take-home samples.

Session:

• August 9-13

Freshwater Science Field Experience

Explore western Wisconsin’s lakes, streams, and groundwater - some of our region’s most vital natural resources - through this immersive summer field experience. Work alongside faculty and students from UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-River Falls as you conduct meaningful freshwater research and gain real insight into environmental science in action. Along the way, discover college majors and career paths that can transform your passion for the environment into a lifelong purpose.

Full-tuition scholarships are available thanks to funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. Submit this form to apply for a camp scholarship.

Session:

• June 21-25

Molecular Ecology: Field and Lab Investigations Camp

Experience molecular ecology through a blend of field exploration and advanced laboratory methods, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing. Investigate real-world environmental questions - from tracking pathogens to detecting species in local ecosystems - and discover how genetics and ecology come together to solve environmental mysteries.

Session:

• June 28-July 2

Inside the Mind: A Journey into Psychology Camp

Explore the fascinating world of the human mind through experiments, interactive activities, and thought-provoking discussions. Learn how psychologists study behavior, emotion, learning, and social interaction while uncovering the science behind what makes people think and act the way they do. Work with UW-Stout Psychology faculty and student mentors to design mini research projects, analyze real data, and apply psychological concepts to everyday life. Along the way, discover how psychology connects to careers in health, business, education, and beyond.

Session:

• July 12-16

Human Anatomy Exploration Camp

Curious about what’s happening beneath your skin? Explore human anatomy through an in-depth investigation of the body’s major systems. Examine organs, tissues, and cells using anatomical models and real specimens, and participate in guided physiological activities to observe processes like circulation, respiration, and muscle activation in action. Gain a deeper appreciation for the complex systems that work together to keep the human body functioning every moment of the day.

Session:

• August 9-13