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Child & Family Studies Laboratory

Stem 2024

Registration for our 2024 STEM Camps is now closed.

The following are procedures for our 2024 STEM camps.

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory offers week-long summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) enrichment camps for children entering kindergarten through 5th grade in the fall (unless otherwise noted).

Registration Procedures:

  • All sessions are offered from 8:30 – 11:00am and duplicated in the afternoon from 12:00 – 2:30pm.
  • Classes are capped at 20 children under the direction of a master teacher and 3-4 BYU college students.
  • Each camp operates Monday – Friday (unless otherwise noted due to various holidays).
  • Full payment for each camp must be received at the time of registration to officially enroll.

Waiting Lists:

  • Waiting lists are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Click on the above link to select which camps you would like to be wait listed for under the ‘waiting list’ section.
  • An email will be sent within 1-2 business days with your exact placement on the waiting list(s) you select.

Payment Procedures:

Due to the financial dependency of the lab school on tuition to pay teachers, we kindly request your assistance in registering for those sessions you are certain you can attend.
As the start date of each session approaches, it becomes increasingly difficult to fill any open spots if a child withdraws.

  • Payment must be made immediately following the registration process.
  • Please do not pay for camps for which you have not registered. All excess monies will be refunded to you. 
  • The University will send a receipt immediately upon completion of your payment. 
  • Additional information on your specific STEM camp(s) will be sent to you from the CFSL office within 1-2 business days to finalize your enrollment in our STEM program(s).

Refund Policy:

We understand that sometimes plans change and you may need to cancel your registration for our STEM camp(s). To provide fair and consistent treatment to all our participants, we have established the following refund policy:

  • Notice of Cancellation: To be eligible for a refund, you must provide written notice of your cancellation at least two weeks prior to the start of the camp. Email the CFSL office at cfsl@byu.edu with your written notice.
  • Refund Amount: If you withdraw from a camp prior to two weeks before the start, we will issue a full refund of tuition, minus a $25 processing fee (per camp).  
  • No Refunds for Late Cancellations: If you do not provide written notice of cancellation at least two weeks prior to the start of a camp, no refund will be given.
  • Medical Emergencies: In the event of a medical emergency, we will make every effort to accommodate your needs and may provide a full or pro-rated refund based on your specific situation.

2024 STEM Camps

Please note Sessions 3 & 6 are only for children who are entering grades 2 through 5 in August 2024.

Session 1 – Things That Move: June 10 – June 14 ($175)

Rolling, floating, and flying! In this camp, students will investigate why we use simple machines to make the world go round! Speed, accuracy, and durability of everyday materials will be considered and examined as students create the most efficient design for boats, planes, catapults, parachutes, and rockets. Students will explore and experiment with levers, pulleys, ramps, gears, wheels, and axles as they solve a variety of real-world problems. From brainstorming to designing to doing test runs and races, students will learn how to move over any obstacle to accomplish their final mission: The Rube Goldberg Machine!

Session 2 – Investigate and Explore Chemical and Physical Changes: June 17 – June 21 ($150)

· No school on Wednesday, June 19th for Juneteenth – 4-day camp

Children will become scientists as they experiment every day with different types of physical and chemical changes! Students will learn about physical and chemical properties, reversible and permanent changes, and the different types of acids and bases we use every day. Children will experiment with different types of foods, metals, ooblick, and slime as they perform their own chemical experiments (safely, of course!). Further, students will explore how chemical and physical changes work together in our everyday world to build things such as bath bombs, balloons filled with baking soda, lemon volcanoes, and soda rockets! Come prepared to investigate, make messes, and have fun as we learn the science behind chemical and physical changes!

Session 3 – Coding, Little Bits, and LEGO WeDo: June 24 – June 28 ($175)

· For children who are entering grades 2-5.

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of coding with our Level 1 introduction class! Using the LEGO WeDo system, each day will bring a new adventure as students build and program their very own robots. Together, we'll master basic programming skills, explore simple engineering concepts, and tackle fun challenges like navigating mazes or racing through obstacles. But that's not all – students will also get hands-on with Little Bits, unleashing their creativity with magnetic circuits that power everything from fans to voice-activated appliances. Throughout the week, teamwork will be key as we brainstorm, problem-solve, and bring our ideas to life with a new creation or project every single day!
 

Session 4 - Construction and Design: July 1 – July 5 ($150)

· No school on Thursday, July 4th – 4-day camp

Students will put basic construction and design principles into action as they build different creations to fit specific challenges. They will discover how to build the best towers for a given height, bridges that bear the most weight, boats that float (or don’t!) and houses that can survive an earthquake! Children will learn about erosion and the impact of weather on their construction creations! They will study basic geometry and other tools civil engineers use to determine the best design for their project before implementing these construction principles in their own creations! Throughout the week, they will draw on the world around them to see how construction impacts and shapes their everyday lives!

Session 5 - Kitchen STEM: July 8 – July 12 ($200)

This camp is for the kitchen scientist who wants to know “what if?” or how playing with food can teach us about key scientific principles! Students will learn how different foods like citrus, candy, or various baked goods are impacted by temperature, the type of tool used to cook them, or how it interacts with other food items to create something amazing – or not! Students will investigate yeast’s impact on baked goods by using it in different amounts and by combining it with a variety of ingredients to see just how important it is to get it right! We will look at how food changes when frozen or cooked – all the while learning the ‘what’, ‘why’, and ‘how’ behind the science of cooking!

Session 6 – Space is Out of this World: July 15 – July 19 ($175)

Prepare for an astronomical journey like no other! Calling all budding astronauts and astronomers, join us as we embark on a thrilling expedition to the far reaches of space. Dive headfirst into the cosmos through a variety of interactive activities designed to ignite curiosity and fuel imagination, setting the stage for liftoff! Throughout this camp, students will delve into the mysteries of our solar system, unravel the forces of gravity and inertia, and chart the course of past space explorations while setting our sights on the boundless possibilities of the future. Assemble as a dynamic crew of explorers, primed to tackle any mission with curiosity. Prepare to launch into an unforgettable adventure where science truly is out of this world!

Session 7 – Film Making and Digital Media: July 22 – July 26 ($150)

· No school on Wednesday, July 24th for Pioneer Day – 4-day camp

Over the week, children will learn about and become the film crew, writers, directors, producers, and actors as they explore photography, stop motion, animation, and green screens! In this camp, students will be given challenges such as deciding between animation vs. live action; how best to use lighting or sound effects; the effects of sequencing; and which editing tools are most effective for the challenge given. Children will learn about good storytelling principles, the different genres of film, and how sound effects and music enrich the story! Throughout the week, children will write their own scripts and then work with their friends to create a digital product and see their ingenious ideas come to life!

If you have any questions, please contact the CFSL Receptionist at cfsl@byu.edu.