Summer Camps
Ages 10–11

Cinematic Science

Take your filmmaking skills to the next level! Discover the secrets of stop motion, then investigate the world of foley effects. With a film crew, create traditional and digital animated shorts, design your own backdrops and characters, and then write, film, and edit a short of your very own creation! Finish the week with a viewing of your film in The Rangos Giant Cinema.

Brick By Design

Discover the science of simple and powered machines with a week of LEGO^® engineering challenges. Explore modern and ancient architecture, construct a working lock box made entirely of bricks, then design everything from motorized cranes and self-propelled cars to walking animals and windmills.

Explore Pittsburgh – New locations added!

See the city you know and love through a whole new lens! Buckle in to explore with Molly’s Trolleys and visit our neighbors at Point State Park, the National Aviary, and more! Study the life that calls our rivers and city home and explore the science behind it all as you prepare to complete your own city highlight reel using everything you’ve seen. Tech 25 joins us as a special guest!

Please note: Campers should be prepared for the unpredictability of Pittsburgh weather.

CSI: Science Investigators

Put your detective skills to the test as you analyze evidence and solve mysteries. Hone your powers of observation and deductive skills, and then step into our brand-new laboratory to carry out chemical tests, identify microscopic clues, and perform DNA analysis to solve mysteries.

Computer Science

Discover the inner world of computers at Computer Science camp. Perfect for budding tech enthusiasts, this camp dives into computers, from hardware to software. You will explore coding, debugging, artificial intelligence, and the fascinating mechanics of the internet. Hands-on projects and engaging activities make complex concepts accessible and fun.

Robots of the Round Table

Hear ye, hear ye! Dive into the world of robotics as you build and design rovers with a medieval twist. Using LEGO^® Education’s EV3 software and technology, incorporate motors, gears, and sensors to program robots that can climb ramps, batter down castle walls, and joust against other robotic knights.

Kennywood Camp

Explore the science of amusement parks as you discover the physics of your favorite rides and the math behind carnival games. Put that knowledge to good use as you conclude the week with a field trip to Kennywood.

Galaxy Quest

Step into the shoes of an astronomer as you explore the universe from our own Solar System to the farthest reaches of outer space. Search for nearby habitable planets, explore the past, present, and future of space travel, and discover how astrophysicists identify celestial bodies billions of light years away.

Video Game Design, Level 1

Campers will run, jump, and explore a pixelated world of their own making. This revamped beginner’s camp will explore every element and step of the videogame design process from character design and level layouts to scripts and debugging. Students will leave this camp with the beginnings of their own game to build on at home.

Electronic Maker

Build electrifying projects in BNY Fab Lab! Delve into the world of components like LEDs, buzzers, displays, switches, and more with a curated microcontroller kit. Participants in this hands-on camp will work with digital and physical circuits, hardware components, and programming, setting themselves up for an adventure into the world of electronics and robotic engineering. At the end of the week, campers will go home with knowledge and their electronics kit to continue exploring the exciting world of electronics.

Fashion Maker

Unleash your inner fashion designer in Fashion Maker camp! Join us at BNY Fab Lab, where campers will dive into the world of wearable creations, transforming imaginative ideas into reality. Throughout the week, campers will explore the exciting field of fashion design while mastering state-of-the-art machines, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and vinyl cutters. From crafting unique accessories to designing eye-catching apparel, our camp offers an immersive hands-on experience. Campers will gain valuable insights into the creative process, learning the skills needed to bring their fashionable visions to life!

Maker Camp

Experience firsthand all the latest technologies in digital fabrication at BNY Fab Lab: 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and other CNC machines. Learn the design software for both 2D and 3D machines and make daily projects to take with you! Perfect for campers who have never been to the Fab Lab before, as well as those with prior experience.

Pixel Maker

Use Blender, a powerful, open-source design software, to design a creature and bring them to life at the BNY Fab Lab! Explore lighting and camera effects to create a new world for them. Get hands-on with 3D design and printing, boosting your creativity and technology skills.

NEW! Adventure Maker

Combine digital fabrication with your favorite tabletop roleplaying game at the BNY Fab Lab! Roll up a character, create a 3D model, then help design and build a fantasy world for your characters to explore. Form a party, solve puzzles, defeat monsters, and overcome challenges! Participants will create a customized dice tower for truly random rolling, as well as 3D printed and laser-cut miniatures and game accessories.