Summer Camps

STEAM Discovery Summer Camps


Our young campers EXPLORE with professional educators that EDUCATE using the hands-on SDDC Learning Pathways curriculum to EMPOWER a confident, curious science identity that prepares young people for the future.

The STEAM Discovery Summer Camps provide an experience beyond an at-home Pinterest activity and get campers ready for a possible science career!

Find PreK-8 camps all summer long below!





We are so excited to be able to offer scholarships for our 2023 summer camps to families in need of financial assistance to give their children hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) opportunities. 

All camps have 2 scholarships available, enter the code #learningpathways in the Discount Code box when you register, and because of our amazing sponsor Mr. Geek Consulting, our June 12-15 Coder Camp has 9 scholarships available (enter the code #mrgeek when you register). 

If a code comes back as unavailable, please email info@sd-discovery.org, and we will see what we can do! There is more information about our efforts to provide equity in education at the bottom of this webpage.

Jun
5

CANCELED | Horticulturist (Saplings: 6th-8th)

Winter is Coming! Learn how to prepare a garden for the following spring by starting...
Jun
6

Think Like An Engineer (Seedlings: Pre-K)

We need innovators! Kids love to explore and figure out how things work. In this...
Jun
12

Coder (Sprouts: K-2nd)

I.Am.A.Robot! Participants will learn how robots are used in medicine, space travel,...
Jun
13

Think Like An Engineer (Seedlings: Pre-K)

We need innovators! Kids love to explore and figure out how things work. In this...
Jun
19

Wildlife Biologist (Shoots: 3rd-5th)

Do you know your neighbors? Not just the people that live in the house next door....
Jun
20

Think Like An Engineer (Seedlings: Pre-K)

We need innovators! Kids love to explore and figure out how things work. In this...
Jun
26

Astrophysicist (Saplings: 6th-8th)

Join the Astrophysicist Camp and complete a set of out-of-this-world science missions...
Jun
27

Think Like An Engineer (Seedlings: Pre-K)

We need innovators! Kids love to explore and figure out how things work. In this...
Jul
10

Biologist (Sprouts: K-2nd)

On Guard! Learn about how animals use different strategies to protect themselves...
Jul
10

Emergency Responder (Saplings: 6th-8th)

Emergency! Emergency! A boat has capsized on Lake. Your neighbor has fallen and broken...
Jul
11

Growing Up Healthy (Seedlings: Pre-K)

Get up and get moving! Seedlings can learn how to grow healthy! Growing up healthy...
Jul
17

Aeronautical Engineer (Shoots: 3rd-5th)

Up! Up! And Away! We need engineers to build rockets and vessels for space flight....
Jul
18

Growing Up Healthy (Seedlings: Pre-K)

Get up and get moving! Seedlings can learn how to grow healthy! Growing up healthy...
Jul
24

Electrical Engineer (Saplings: 6th-8th)

Warning! Warning! Sensor Alert! What if a sensor beeped at you every time you left...
Jul
25

Growing Up Healthy (Seedlings: Pre-K)

Get up and get moving! Seedlings can learn how to grow healthy! Growing up healthy...
Jul
31

Forager (Sprouts: K-2nd)

Can I have a snack?! How often do kids ask this question? Participants in this program...
Aug
1

Growing Up Healthy (Seedlings: Pre-K)

Get up and get moving! Seedlings can learn how to grow healthy! Growing up healthy...
Aug
7

Special Effects Artist (Shoots: 3rd-5th)

Is everything you see in a movie real? Fake blood, swords, spacecraft, castles, and...
Teaching Mission

All SD Discovery Center programs deliver fun, hands-on exploration that builds passion for and knowledge of science across generations; students, teachers, families, citizens.

Our Teaching Framework: The Learning Pathways

Our teaching framework ensures a high-quality class standard that focuses on lasting effects to help students find their path and hone their talents beyond school while developing college and/or career readiness skills (collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking) to grow a STEM workforce for South Dakota.

STEAM Discovery Summer Camps utilizes Learning Pathways aligned with our teaching framework that facilitate individual growth of students in different topics and specialty tracks. Classes are available from ages PreK through 8th grade, and real-world applications (such as leadership and volunteer opportunities, internships or citizen science projects) for high schoolers.

Our camps are divided into the following age levels:

  • Seedlings (PreK)
  • Sprouts (K-2nd grade)
  • Shoots (3-5th grade)
  • Saplings (6-8th grade)
  • Canopy (9th-12th grade interns & SDDC Educators)

Camps are offered in specialty tracks for every age level with specific camp availability rotating on a three-year cycle, allowing for age-appropriate lessons that build upon each other. Our campers can become experts in a real STEM field by taking a different class within a specialty every year.

Our Learning pathways tracks and specialties are:

  • EXPLORE: Naturalist, Storytelling, Environment
  • SCIENCE: Life Science, Physical Science, Space Science
  • TECH: Engineering, Coding, Entertainment 
  • HEALTH: Fitness, Cooking, Gardening

Equity in Education

We believe every child deserves access to hands-on science education! 

Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, we can provide scholarships and reduced fees for families in need. 


For our 2023 STEAM Discovery Summer Camps, we are able to provide 2 scholarships for every PreK-8th grade camp! Use the code #learningpathways23 in the Discount Code box when you register! If the code comes back as unavailable, please email info@sd-discovery.org, and we will see what we can do!


Because an amazing sponsor, Mr. Geek Consulting, our Coder Camp, June 12-15, 2023, has 9 scholarships available! Use the code #mrgeek in the Discount Code box when you register! If the code comes back as unavailable, please email info@sd-discovery.org, and we will see what we can do!


If you are a SNAP, TANF, or WIC recipient, simply use the discount codes: SNAP, TANF, or WIC during the registration for a 50% discount. 

Our 2023 Canopy!

Kristine Heine, SDDC Museum Educator

Reagan Kleinpeter, SDDC Museum Educator

Jan Martin, SDDC Early Childhood Specialist / Volunteer

Chloe Bowers, SDDC Summer Intern, Riggs High School Sophomore

Jasie Smith, SDDC Summer Intern, Riggs High School Senior

Henry Thronson, SDDC Summer Intern, Riggs High School Senior

Patrick Valentine, SDDC Summer Intern, Augustana University Freshman