Summer Camps
Ages 12–14

Alchemy Academy

Put on your lab coat and safety goggles and get ready for some combustive chemistry. Create colorful and fizzy reactions, turn a penny gold, see the effects of liquid nitrogen in action, and more!

Laboratory Lockdown

Do you love solving puzzles and deciphering codes? Challenge yourself to solve a series of puzzle boxes and mini escape rooms while learning about astronomy, chemistry, biology, and more. Discover different ways to make creative puzzles with anything from ciphers to circuits, and then design your own science-themed escape room to test your fellow campers.

Kennywood Camp

Explore the science of amusement parks as you discover the physics and engineering 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.

NEW! Cooking Up Science

Don your apron and get your taste buds ready as you explore the science behind some of your favorite dishes. Learn safe knife techniques, how to make bread, cheese, ice cream and other delicious eats, and dip your toe into the world of molecular gastronomy. Finish off the week exploring the world of chocolate!

Note: While campers will be sampling the “fruits” of their labor, they must bring a bagged lunch each day. Campers must wear closed toe shoes.

Allergens: eggs, flour, dairy. A complete ingredient list will be sent one week prior to the start of camp. Campers can skip sampling, but please be aware that we cannot accommodate recipe modifications at this time. All recipes are vegetarian and nut-free.

NEW! Camp Cryptid

For generations, mysterious creatures of unknown origin, cryptids, have haunted our imaginations and dreams. In this camp, we look at the science of fear and the technology used to spark terror in others. Explore monster movie magic, robots, costume making, and psychology to create your own dreaded creature of the night.

Video Game Design, Level 2

Level up your creativity at Video Game Design, Level 2! Bring your video game ideas to life through engaging gameplay and visuals, while perfecting mechanics and level design in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Campers will leave this camp with the beginnings of their own game to build on at home. This camp is ideal for campers looking to take their game design to the next level.

Survivor’s Guide: After the Apocalypse

A zombie apocalypse has occurred and has sent civilization back to a world without modern conveniences. Learn how the zombie disease is spreading and how to avoid being infected. Figure out how to survive in the new world by navigating without GPS, finding clean food and water, and engineering helpful tools.

STEMology

Explore the science of STEM! Use Vernier sensors to gather data and measure environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, pH, and acidity. Dig into geology, navigate watersheds, and examine extreme weather. Finally, explore renewable energy sources by constructing and testing working windmills and investigating nuclear power.

Robot Engineers

Explore the fascinating world of robotics as you design and program robots to carry out a variety of tasks, from fetching items and playing games to creating music and even watering plants. Use LEGO^® Mindstorms EV3’s and Hummingbird Robotics Kits to solve problems and have fun, all while learning essential computer programming and engineering skills.

Pixel Maker

Use Blender, a powerful, open-source design software, to design a creature and bring them to life at 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.

Maker Camp

Experience firsthand all the latest technologies in digital fabrication at the 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.

NEW! MindCraft: Making Wellness

Digital fabrication meets human-centered engineering design in this camp at the BNY Fab Lab. Participants will explore the tools and techniques that are used to help individuals with mental illness, and how to use the laser cutter, vinyl cutter, and 3D printer to help improve the lives of people in their community. Campers will take a deep dive into an individual case study and create a prototype to help that individual.

NEW! Artisan Maker

Embark on a creative adventure in Artisan Maker camp! Hosted at BNY Fab Lab, this camp offers a unique opportunity for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs to learn the ins and outs of digital fabrication. Campers will learn valuable insights into running a small art business and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and vinyl cutters. They’ll also explore the essentials of starting their own small business, from design and production to branding and marketing. Your journey to becoming an artisan entrepreneur starts with us this summer!

Electronic Maker

Create a vehicle that can back up, a guessing game, and more with a curated Arduino microcontroller kit. Participants in this hands-on camp will work with both 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 Arduino kit to continue exploring the exciting world of electronics.