Summer Learning at Camp Blodgett

What is STEM Academy?
Camp Blodgett's STEM Academy is a summer program for a select group of youth entering 6th-8th grades who are invited to attend four weeks of overnight summer camp. The focus of our program is to invite middle school youth who are at or below grade level in math and/or science to increase both their interest and abilities in STEM subjects.

Each day STEM Academy campers receive three hours of high-quality academic experiences in Science, Math & Engineering and Technology. The remainder of the day and night, STEM Academy campers participate in camp activities with the entire camp. Campers stay Monday-Friday each week and return home for the weekends.

Why STEM?
Science and math have always been important building blocks in a child’s education. Today, the skills and understanding developed while studying science, math, technology and engineering concepts are even more critical. Despite all we know about the importance of student success in these areas, youth in our communities consistently lack proficiency in both math & science - especially at the middle school level. Our goal in this program is to provide a fun, hands-on, challenging, and academically enriching opportunity for participants.

2024 Dates

Week 1: July 8 - 12
​Week 2: July 15 - 19
Week 3: July 22 - 26
Week 4: July 29 - Aug 2

Applicants must be entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in Fall 2024 and live in Kent or Ottawa Counties.

Tell Me More!
Experienced, certified, enthusiastic, and creative teachers and program assistants provide engaging and exciting programs in small groups of no more than 15 students. Students work in mixed-grade groups determined by the participants' academic abilities and social fit.

Utilizing the Next Generation Science Standards also used in local school districts, students will be introduced to new ideas, challenged to explore and  expand on what they have learned during the school year and given opportunities to build their confidence and try things that are new to them.

No matter what the science focus is for the summer, each season STEM Academy participants will: 

• Explore the camp environment, using the property and built environment in and around Camp Blodgett as our hands-on laboratory
• Study math with opportunities to develop and practice skills in fun, interactive games and activities as well as skill-building sessions
• Attend field trips and meet experts in the field

Applying to the Camp Blodgett STEM Academy

Applications are CLOSED for STEM Academy 2024.

Admission to STEM Academy is limited and requires an application. Not every child who applies will be accepted into the program.

STEM Academy students must attend all four weeks of the program. The program runs Monday morning through Friday afternoon each week; children return home for the weekends.

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additional  details  for  parents  &  applicants

Program Fees
The fee to attend STEM Academy is based on a sliding fee scale (below) for each family and is very affordable. The fee is based on household size and income.

• The fee includes all four weeks of the program experience, meals and snacks, overnight accommodations, classes, activities, and transportation to and from the Grand Rapids office, if needed.
• As an incentive for full program attendance, participation, and good behavior, all families whose participants successfully complete the 4-week program may receive a partial refund of the program fees.​

Make a Payment​​
​We accept payment in the form of debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express) online or over the phone. You may also mail or drop off a check or money order to our Grand Rapids office (528 Bridge St NW, Suite 6, Grand Rapids, MI 49504). Cash payments must be dropped off at our Grand Rapids office during open office hours.

​After acceptance into the program, a $10 deposit is required at the time of registration to hold your child's spot in STEM Academy. You can choose to pay the remaining balance in full during registration or choose an available payment plan.

IMPORTANT PAYMENT DUE DATE CHANGE: Full payment for all STEM Academy fees is due by MAY 24, 2024. Registrations without full payment by that date are NOT guaranteed! If you register for STEM Academy after this date, the entire balance is due upon registration.

Application Process
In addition to having the applicant's parent or legal guardian complete the online program application, each applicant will also need to provide the following:

• One (required) to two (if available) teacher recommendations forms completed by the student's homeroom teacher, science teacher, math teacher, or guidance counselor. These forms can be found online as part of the application process.
• A digital (preferred) or paper copy of the applicant's most recent report card. This should be a Semester 1 or Trimester 1 report card.
• A copy of the student's Fall 2023 or Winter 2024 NWEA / Map test scores, if applicable.

After you have submitted an application and all necessary student records, you will be required to schedule an interview for your child (link to schedule will be provided in your confirmation email). While parents are welcome to join, this interview is for the student and they must be present.

Once the interview is completed and after some consideration, you will be notified of our decision.

If accepted into our STEM Academy program, you will be directed to fill out required registration forms and make a payment ($10 deposit due at time of registration; remaining balance due no later than May 24, 2024).

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Our STEM programs are offered to youth free of charge or for a very reduced rate thanks to generous financial support from Heart of West Michigan United Way, Steelcase Foundation, Consumer's Energy Foundation, and Wege Foundation.