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.

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