Summer@IMSA – Aurora Campus

Check Out Our Summer 2026 Summer Camp Offerings Now!

The STEM-based curricula for these programs are created by IMSA Curriculum Specialists and are aligned with NGSS science and engineering standards and practices. Programs are taught by our SITE Interns, supported by IMSA STEMbassador students, and mentored by IMSA Curriculum Writer and Professional Development Specialists and Faculty. IMSA STEMbassadors work as group leaders in our programs to support learning and provide a near-peer learning model.

Registration for Summer Day Programs will open on Monday January 12 at 12:00pm. Register your child for the grade they will be entering in the 2026-2027 school year. Please visit the description page for the program in which you are interested. The following websites may be helpful when reviewing camp and registration information:

If you have questions regarding Summer@IMSA, contact our team at studentenrichment@imsa.edu or 630.907.5987.


Explore Day Camps by Week

5th & 6th Grade- Time Travelers: Medieval STEM Adventures

  • Travel back in time and uncover the brilliant inventions of the Middle Ages! In this hands-on summer camp, campers will discover the math, technology, and innovations that shaped the modern world. From investigating medieval food science and agricultural technology to experimenting with materials and tools, campers will tackle hands-on challenges and explore the clever inventions that helped people in medieval times thrive. Get ready for a week of exciting experiments, creative problem-solving, and epic discoveries where history comes alive!

7th & 8th Grade- Mars Explorers: Journey to the Red Planet

  •  Blast off on an interplanetary adventure to learn about Mars and prepare for the first manned mission to the Red Planet! Students will assemble their crew, set mission objectives, and analyze real Mars mission data to choose the best landing site. They’ll design and engineer spacecraft, build scale models, and tackle hands-on challenges to explore the Red Planet like real space scientists and engineers. Along the way, campers will learn about Mars’ terrain, climate, and resources, gaining the knowledge and skills that could one day help humans live and thrive on another planet. Prepare for a week of mission planning, discovery, and out-of-this-world teamwork. No space suit required!

1st & 2nd Grade- Storybook STEM: Adventures that Jump off the Page

  • Jump into a camp where books do more than just tell stories—they launch exciting STEM explorations! Every day, a fantastic fiction or nonfiction book becomes the starting point for creative, hands-on science and math fun. Students will test surprising scientific ideas, design and measure real-world projects, and solve clever problems just like real engineers and mathematicians. Campers will quickly discover that STEM is hidden in every type of book, waiting to be uncovered in characters, challenges, and facts on every page. With exciting experiments, imaginative builds, and plenty of "WOW" moments, Storybook STEM turns reading into an unforgettable adventure filled with discovery and creation!

3rd & 4th Grade- Climate Quest: Build, Discover, Save!

  • Become a planet-saving scientist this summer! This hands-on STEAM camp lets campers dive into the world of weather, energy, and our changing planet. Through experiments, investigations, and creative engineering challenges, campers will discover how climate works, uncover pressing environmental problems, and invent solutions to help the planet. This isn’t just a camp about facts, it’s a journey of discovery, creativity, and action. Get ready to explore, experiment, and engineer your way to a better future!

5th & 6th Grade- Sphero Heroes: Coding Adventures!

  • Get ready to level up your STEM skills! In this high-energy robotics camp, students become Sphero Heroes, tackling thrilling coding missions and challenges with their trusty Sphero BOLT robots. Working in teams, campers will think like engineers, solve tricky programming puzzles, and use creativity and teamwork to complete daring STEM missions. Along the way, students will learn key coding concepts, including variables, loops, functions, and conditional statements, while putting them to the test in hands-on challenges that make programming come alive. By the end of the week, campers will leave certified Sphero Heroes.

7th & 8th Grade- Engineering in the Modern World

  • Do you ever wonder how machines work? Do you like to design or build things? If so, join us for a week of engineering challenges. We will explore various fields of engineering; such as, civil, biomedical, manufacturing and environmental engineering. Activities may include designing road systems, recycling trucks, understanding arthroscopic techniques and the engineering involved in paint and building a battery. Let’s build knowledge by having fun and interacting with fellow camper-engineers. The world is changing every day and engineering is the key for us to change with it. 

1st & 2nd Grade- Full-Speed STEM: Discovering Things that Go

  • Get ready to zoom, fly, roll, and blast into a summer full of motion! In this action-packed STEM camp, students will explore all kinds of “things that go.” They will investigate what makes objects move, experiment with speed and force, and discover the science behind vehicles, animals, machines, and even a few surprising movers they never expected. Through hands-on activities, creative challenges, and plenty of tinkering, campers will learn how motion works in the world around them. By the end of the week, they’ll be racing through the world of motion, seeing just how many ways things can go!

3rd & 4th Grade- STEMphony of Art

  • Shimmy into a week of STEAM exploration intertwined with the magic of music and art! Campers will embark on a hands-on journey where they unravel the science behind sound, investigate the math in music, and create their own instruments. Along the way, they’ll explore the science and math concepts behind several art lessons, from patterns and symmetry to optical illusions, and use technology and creativity to compose original tunes and colorful designs. Get ready for a harmonious blend of art, music, science, and math!

5th & 6th- Manufacturing & Product Development

  • Innovation begins with imagination. In this hands-on program, students will transform their creative ideas into real, tangible prototypes of potential products or solutions. From identifying real-world problems to brainstorming, building, and testing their designs, participants will discover that invention thrives on experimentation, analysis, and continuous improvement.

7th & 8th- Agriculture Adventures: Innovation on the Farm

  • Step into the world of farming and discovery at our Agricultural STEM Summer Camp! Students will learn about the history of agriculture, explore what makes crops grow, and make real-life decisions that farmers face each year. Campers will design and build their own tractors, investigate soil and plant health, and tackle hands-on STEM challenges that put their problem-solving skills to the test. They’ll experiment with crop growth, discover the science behind farming technology, and work together to solve real-world agricultural puzzles. By the end of the week, students will see how science, engineering, and creativity come together to feed the world. 

Explore Day Camps by Grade Band