December 2026 & January 2027
December 21-23, 28-30 & January 4
Monday, December 21, 2026
Chemistry of Carbohydrates
5th-7th grades
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
Welcome, chemical chefs, new and old, to the delicious Explora Kitchen! Today, we will learn about sugars and experiment with how to determine which foods contain carbohydrates and how to make the perfect loaf of bread.
X Studio: AI and Humans: How are we different?
Become AI explorers as you discover how computers learn, make predictions, and sometimes get things totally wrong. Explore questions like: What does it mean to be human? How human-like could machines become? How do our values shape what AI is becoming? Through games, experiments, coding challenges, and hands-on design, learners will explore basic AI concepts and learn how our human brains work. By the end of camp, you won’t just know how to use AI—but know how to question it, test it, create with it, and use it safely.
Ages: 13 - 15
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
Materials fee only camp: $15 for members/$25 for non-members
Session 1: Games and Activities about and with AI
Get introduced to AI through games, hands-on experiments, and a teachable robot, to explore what makes us uniquely human. Explore consciousness and how our brains work, then try to outsmart an AI chatbot with data challenges while learning how to use AI or train a computer to recognize emotions. See how AI uses data, sees patterns, and makes decisions with chatbots and machine learning.
Presented in partnership with BSCS Science Learning and the NISE Network, with support from the National Science Foundation Award 2053160.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Code Cracking: Mastering DNA
5th-7th grades
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
How are traits passed from parent to offspring? What gives DNA its helical shape? What kinds of vegetables do you prefer to eat? All of these answers are in your genes! Investigate the role of DNA and genes in making you the person you are.
X Studio: AI and Humans: How are we different?
Become AI explorers as you discover how computers learn, make predictions, and sometimes get things totally wrong. Explore questions like: What does it mean to be human? How human-like could machines become? How do our values shape what AI is becoming? Through games, experiments, coding challenges, and hands-on design, learners will explore basic AI concepts and learn how our human brains work. By the end of camp, you won’t just know how to use AI—but know how to question it, test it, create with it, and use it safely.
Ages: 13-15
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
Materials fee only camp: $15 for members/$25 for non-members
Session 2: Coding, Designing, and Making with AI
Dive into AI and machine learning through making and coding with a BBC micro:bit and sensors. Design wearable tech that shows off your style and reacts to every move you make, using the help of an AI assistant and craft materials. Test the limits of whether AI can help you be a better designer and coder. No prior experience with coding, radio communications, or BBC micro:bits needed.
Presented in partnership with BSCS Science Learning and the NISE Network, with support from the National Science Foundation Award 2053160.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Monday, December 28, 2026
Tuesday, December 29, 2026
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
X Studio: Radio Explorers: HAM Radio & Space Science
Grades 5th-8th
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
Materials fee only camp: $15 for members/$25 for non-members
Explore the science of radio waves, electronics, and space communication in this hands-on STEM camp! Participants will work with experienced HAM radio operators to build and operate a radio transmitter/receiver, learn Morse code, experiment with antennas, and practice tracking signals through a FOX HUNT. Campers will also operate handheld and base-station radios, explore different radio communication modes, learn about communicating through the International Space Station, and discover how to earn an Amateur Radio License.
Monday, January 4, 2027
X Studio: New Dimensions
Grades 5th-8th
Full-day camp; 9 am-4 pm
Become a sculptor and explore the world of 3D art! Campers will explore sculptures, create clay models, make plaster impressions, and transform everyday objects into oversized wire sculptures. Through hands-on artmaking and a gallery walk, campers will experiment with shape, texture, proportion, and perspective while discovering new ways to see and create art.







