SUU BZI Youth Engineering Academy Calendar
Adventure Awaits!
Get ready for a summer of adventure with the SUU/BZI Youth Engineering Academy (YEA)! Our hands-on camps at Southern Utah University and Southwest Tech invite K-12 students to dive into exciting projects while expanding into all of STEM—turning curiosity into creativity and problem-solving power. From building wild contraptions to exploring future-ready technologies, YEA makes STEM exciting, accessible, and fun for every learner. Registration opens in January, so mark your calendar and join us for an unforgettable journey into science, engineering, and innovation!
Camps
Camps are offered in four age groups: 6–9, 9–12, 12–15, and 15–18. Some overlap is included since kids grow at different rates. If your child is 9, 12, or 15, pick the group that feels like the best fit.
YEA Camp Calendar
All of our summer camps are listed on this calendar to help you plan ahead. Registration for each camp will close once it fills or about two weeks before the camp begins, so we recommend signing up early if a camp catches your eye. Once a camp is full, it will no longer appear on the registration system’s product screen.
If you have any questions or would like to be added to the waitlist for a specific camp, please don’t hesitate to email us at stemsummercamps@suu.edu—we’re always happy to help.
To view events directly, visit the YEA camps google calendar and go to June/July.
We’re excited to learn, build, and explore STEM with your kids this summer!
Ages 6-9
June 8-11, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Build it Strong! A 3 Little Pigs Adventure
Students join the pigs on an exciting quest to outsmart the Big Bad Wolf. Young builders will test straw, sticks, and bricks in daring hands-on challenges, discovering which materials can stand up to the wolf’s huffing and puffing. Each day is a new adventure in creativity, teamwork, and construction as campers design and build their way to victory!
June 8-11, 1:00 - 4:00 PM - Billy Goats Build!
Billy Goats Gruff becomes an engineering adventure packed with building, splashing, and testing! Campers become engineers as they design bridges strong enough for goats and boats that float. They experiment with materials, try wild ideas, and fix what doesn’t work. Through teamwork, hands-on challenges, and plenty of fun, students discover that engineering is all about creativity, curiosity, and having fun while solving problems.
June 12, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Engineering the Rainbow
Engineering the Rainbow is a colorful, hands-on STEM camp for ages 6–9. Campers explore light, color, and reflection as they design and build their own working kaleidoscope. Through simple experiments and creative engineering, students discover how patterns form and how everyday materials can create something amazing. Each child leaves with a personalized kaleidoscope and a new curiosity for how light and color work.
Ages 9-12
June 8-11, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Castles & Catapults
Enter the medieval world of physics and engineering! Design and test your own catapults, towers, and fortresses to learn the science behind siege machines and structure strength.
June 8-11, 1:00 - 4:00 PM - Wavemakers: Engineering on the Water
Dive into the world of water engineering! Students ages 9–12 will design, build, and test boats and bridges while learning about buoyancy, stability, and structural forces. Through hands-on challenges and teamwork, campers explore real-world engineering concepts and see their creations come to life on—and over—the water.
June 12, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Engineering Nature’s Flyers
Engineering Nature’s Flyers is a hands-on camp for ages 9–12 where students explore how birds fly by investigating wing shapes, feathers, lift, and motion, then apply those ideas to engineering their own bird models. Through interactive experiments, building, testing, and redesign, campers compare natural bird adaptations to human flight technology while practicing real engineering skills like problem-solving and iteration.
Ages 6-9
June 16-19, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Desert Discovery
Explore the wonders of desert science! Investigate how plants, animals, and people adapt to extreme conditions while creating your own desert-inspired designs.
June 16-19, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Secrets of the Rainforest
Campers explore the science and engineering of rainforest ecosystems through experiments, creative building, and collaborative challenges. They investigate rainforest layers, biodiversity, and plant and animal adaptations. Campers design and construct a layered rainforest model, and solve nature-inspired engineering challenges, fostering curiosity, teamwork, and real-world STEM thinking.
Ages 9-12
June 16-19, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Science in the Savanna
Students explore the African savanna through science, engineering, art, and imaginative play. Campers learn about animals, habitats, and camouflage. Students participate in action games, virtual field trips, and storytelling to deepen understanding, culminating in a celebratory safari showcase that builds curiosity, teamwork, and a love of learning about the natural world.
June 16-19, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Secrets of the Rainforest
Campers explore the science and engineering of rainforest ecosystems through experiments, creative building, and collaborative challenges. They investigate rainforest layers, biodiversity, and plant and animal adaptations. Campers design and construct a layered rainforest model, and solve nature-inspired engineering challenges, fostering curiosity, teamwork, and real-world STEM thinking.
Ages 6-9
June 22-25, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - The Secret Mission
The Secret Mission transforms young learners into secret agents who use science to solve mysteries and complete exciting missions. Through hands-on spy-themed activities, campers explore observation, engineering design, and problem-solving as they create disguises, decode secret messages, and tackle challenges. The camp blends imagination and STEM learning to build curiosity, confidence, and teamwork in a fun, high-energy environment.
June 22-25, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Rocks & Roars
Campers step into the role of paleontologists and explore Earth’s ancient past through hands-on STEM discovery. Students dig for fossils, study dinosaur anatomy, build and test their own prehistoric creatures. Through excavation simulations, model-building, and interactive challenges, campers develop early science and engineering skills while uncovering how dinosaurs lived and shaped our planet.
June 26, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Mad Artist’s Laboratory
The Mad Artist’s Laboratory is a playful, hands-on summer camp that blends science experiments with creative art-making. Young “scientist-artists” explore color mixing, bubbling chemical reactions, glowing effects, and mixed-media techniques as they transform experiments into bold works of art. Through guided exploration, prediction, and reflection, campers discover that science is messy, exciting, and full of surprises—just like art.
Ages 9-12
June 22-25, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - The Great Summer Mystery
The Great Summer Mystery invites kids to become secret agents who use science to solve exciting missions. Through hands-on activities inspired by real spy tools and techniques, campers explore observation, engineering design, and problem-solving. From decoding secret messages to lifting fingerprints and completing mystery challenges, students build foundational STEM skills while having fun and working as a team.
June 22-25, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Dinosaur Detectives
Dinosaur Detectives is a hands-on STEM camp for ages 9–12 where students investigate Earth’s prehistoric past. Campers explore fossil formation, excavation techniques, dinosaur anatomy, and ancient ecosystems through experiments, engineering challenges, and creative projects. By digging and building students learn how scientists reconstruct the world of dinosaurs using evidence, teamwork, and critical thinking.
June 22-25, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Life Lab Artists
Life Lab Artists invites students to explore insects and pollinators through hands-on art and engineering. Using natural materials like leaves, flowers, sticks, and stones, students design mosaics and insect-inspired artworks while learning about nature. By following the engineering design process, participants blend creativity with scientific observation, discovering how nature inspires both art and engineering.
Ages 6-9
July 29 - July 2, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Wild West Wonders
Wild West Wonders invites young adventurers to travel back to the Old West, where wagons roll, symbols tell stories, and rocks become works of art! Campers race across the frontier, hunt for hidden symbols, paint colorful “petroglyphs,” and dig for gold.. It’s a playful mix of imagination, hands-on building, and creative storytelling that turns history into an exciting, kid-sized adventure.
July 29 - July 2, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Galactic Sphero Quest
Blast off into a Galactic Sphero Quest where campers become astronauts, engineers, and mission commanders! Using Sphero robots as their “rovers,” students code their way across alien planets, dodge space hazards, and complete exciting missions. With every challenge, campers experiment, collaborate, and problem-solve—turning coding and robotics into an out-of-this-world adventure full of creativity, teamwork, and cosmic fun.
Ages 9-12
June 29 - July 2, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Cosmic Quest
Cosmic Quest is a high-energy, hands-on STEM adventure where students blast off into space using logic, gravity, and creativity—no screens required! Campers tackle space-themed missions. Each day brings new challenges, from navigating asteroid fields to sending signals back to Earth, all while learning how real engineers use problem-solving and systems thinking to explore space.
June 29 - July 2, 12:00 - 4:00 PM - Art & Innovation in the Old West
Students jump into a hands-on adventure inspired by the Wild West, where creativity and engineering go hand in hand. Working in teams, they build and test craft-stick bridges to see which designs can conquer the canyon, and mix their own earthy paints to create a bold rock wall mural. They will discover how art, engineering, and teamwork help people tell stories and solve problems.
Ages 12-15
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
June 29 - July 30, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Build It. Perform It. Film It.
Build it. Perform it. Film it. In this creative mash-up of theater and engineering, students design puppets and props, experiment with movement and mechanics, and turn their ideas into a fully staged skit. Working in teams, participants take a story from concept to performance—then record it to share with friends and family.
July 1 - July 2, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - LaserCut Pocket Arcade
LaserCut Pocket Arcade is a hands-on maker class where students design and build their own retro-style handheld game system model. Using CAD software and laser cutters, students create a custom wooden or acrylic pocket arcade with engraved designs and swappable game cartridges. Along the way, they learn how real designers turn ideas into physical objects while building skills in creativity, problem-solving, and digital design. This class blends engineering, art, and retro gaming vibes into a fun, modern maker experience—no prior experience needed!
Note: The pocket arcade is a display model and does not play games.
Ages 15-18
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
June 29 - July 30, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Build It. Perform It. Film It.
Build it. Perform it. Film it. In this creative mash-up of theater and engineering, students design puppets and props, experiment with movement and mechanics, and turn their ideas into a fully staged skit. Working in teams, participants take a story from concept to performance—then record it to share with friends and family.
July 1 - July 2, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - LaserCut Pocket Arcade
LaserCut Pocket Arcade is a hands-on maker class where students design and build their own retro-style handheld game system model. Using CAD software and laser cutters, students create a custom wooden or acrylic pocket arcade with engraved designs and swappable game cartridges. Along the way, they learn how real designers turn ideas into physical objects while building skills in creativity, problem-solving, and digital design. This class blends engineering, art, and retro gaming vibes into a fun, modern maker experience—no prior experience needed!
Note: The pocket arcade is a display model and does not play games.
Ages 6-9
July 6-9, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Goldlocks & the Just-Right Designs
This all-day camp is a playful mash-up of theater and STEM where kids help the Three Bears fix their house! Campers act, build, test, and perform as they test the perfect porridge, repair wobbly chairs, build cozy beds, and invent clever door locks—all while preparing a mini fractured fairy-tale performance. With imagination leading the way, students discover that engineering is about creativity, teamwork, and finding solutions that are just right.
July 10, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - BioArt Explorers
BioArt Explorers invites young artists and scientists to turn plants into amazing art tools! Campers explore, squish, stamp, and swirl paint with real plants as they test colors, textures, and patterns like true nature scientists. Through hands-on experiments and plenty of messy fun, students discover that every plant part tells a different story—and that science and art are even better when mixed together.
Ages 9-12
June 6-9 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Fractured Fairy Tale Fixes
Fractured Fairy Tale Fixes turns classic stories upside down! When fairy-tale plans fall apart, campers build, test, laugh, and act their way to better endings. With a mix of hands-on engineering challenges and playful theater, students design clever solutions, write mini-scripts, and perform their fixed-up fairy tales on stage, proving that science, creativity, and imagination make the best happily-ever-afters.
July 10, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Chemical Creations Art Studio
This Chemistry + Art Camp turns fizzing, bubbling reactions into colorful masterpieces! Campers mix baking soda and vinegar to inflate balloons, create swirling fizzy paintings, and experiment like real scientists while thinking like artists. With pops of color, exciting reactions, and hands-on challenges, students discover that chemistry isn’t just something you study—it’s something you can see, hear, and create.
Ages 12-15
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
July 6-7, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - D&D Creatures & Chronicles
Roll for creativity! In this D&D Camp, students dive into the magical world of tabletop role-playing, where they invent fantastical creatures, craft unique characters, and explore storytelling like true adventurers. Over the camp, campers design abilities, personalities, and backstories before putting them to the test in an epic Dungeons & Dragons game, where teamwork, imagination, and strategy bring their creations to life.
July 8-9, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - D&D Tactics & Tales
Roll for adventure! In D&D Tactics & Tales, students dive into the world of dragons, dungeons, and dice while exploring statistics, probability, and strategy through creating characters, planning quests, and making dice-driven decisions. Every roll of the die becomes a lesson in chance, strategy, and problem-solving as students collaborate to complete epic adventures and emerge as heroes—both in-game and in STEM skills!
Ages 15-18
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
July 6-7, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - D&D Creatures & Chronicles
Roll for creativity! In this D&D Camp, students dive into the magical world of tabletop role-playing, where they invent fantastical creatures, craft unique characters, and explore storytelling like true adventurers. Over the camp, campers design abilities, personalities, and backstories before putting them to the test in an epic Dungeons & Dragons game, where teamwork, imagination, and strategy bring their creations to life.
July 8-9, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - D&D Tactics & Tales
Roll for adventure! In D&D Tactics & Tales, students dive into the world of dragons, dungeons, and dice while exploring statistics, probability, and strategy through creating characters, planning quests, and making dice-driven decisions. Every roll of the die becomes a lesson in chance, strategy, and problem-solving as students collaborate to complete epic adventures and emerge as heroes—both in-game and in STEM skills!
Ages 6-9
July 17, 1:00 - 3:00 PM - Summer Camp Celebration
Join us for the SUU BZI YEA Summer Camp Celebration, open to all students who participated in at least one YEA camp this summer and their families! Enjoy hands-on STEM games and activities, snacks, and time to meet and visit with our YEA teachers. We’ll also take a moment to thank the generous sponsors who help keep our camp registration costs affordable for families. We hope you’ll celebrate a great summer of learning with us!
Ages 9-12
July 17, 1:00 - 3:00 PM - Summer Camp Celebration
Join us for the SUU BZI YEA Summer Camp Celebration, open to all students who participated in at least one YEA camp this summer and their families! Enjoy hands-on STEM games and activities, snacks, and time to meet and visit with our YEA teachers. We’ll also take a moment to thank the generous sponsors who help keep our camp registration costs affordable for families. We hope you’ll celebrate a great summer of learning with us!
Ages 12-15
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
July 13-14, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Art x Engineering Innovation Studio
Welcome to the Art × Engineering Innovation Studio, where creativity meets engineering! Teens become design engineers and artists at the same time, building freestanding sculptures, kinetic machines, and interactive installations. Over two days, they experiment with materials and motion while learning how to plan, test, iterate, and communicate their ideas.
July 13-14, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Mission Io
Students tackle story-driven engineering, coding, and science challenges—like saving a stranded robot crew or designing a sustainable habitat—by analyzing data, testing ideas, and making decisions together. Along the way, they practice real-world skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, all while applying math, science, and tech concepts in a way that feels like a live space mission.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - AI and Cyber and Me (Oh My)
Students learn to stay safe online, spot phishing, and work together in Capture-the-Flag challenges. Campers explore AI tools, evaluate deepfakes and misinformation, and create AI-assisted projects like stories, art, or chatbots. Hands-on activities, teamwork, and ethical decision-making make cybersecurity and AI an exciting, real-world STEM adventure.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Power Quest
YEA campers race around the world—well, around the camp!—in our Amazing Race: Power Quest camp, investigating the secrets of energy. Students tackle this Amazing Race style event powered by multiple forms of energy, racing from one hands-on STEM challenge to the next. With teamwork, problem-solving, and a spirit of friendly competition, campers learn the science behind energy while having a blast.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - STEMpressions: Art and Science
This camp is a whirlwind of creativity and discovery! Over 12 hours, students experiment with chemistry, physics, and biology to make art come alive. Campers mix science and imagination to explore how materials, reactions, and design all work together, turning experiments into visual masterpieces.
July 17, 1:00 - 3:00 PM - Summer Camp Celebration
Join us for the SUU BZI YEA Summer Camp Celebration, open to all students who participated in at least one YEA camp this summer and their families! Enjoy hands-on STEM games and activities, snacks, and time to meet and visit with our YEA teachers. We’ll also take a moment to thank the generous sponsors who help keep our camp registration costs affordable for families. We hope you’ll celebrate a great summer of learning with us!
Ages 15-18
Some camps for ages 12–15 and 15–18 are taught at the same time. If enrollment in one group is low, we may adjust enrollment so younger students are in one group and older students are in another. Parents will be notified if this occurs. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning experience while keeping age-appropriate activities and instruction in place.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re happy to help!
July 13-14, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Art x Engineering Innovation Studio
Welcome to the Art × Engineering Innovation Studio, where creativity meets engineering! Teens become design engineers and artists at the same time, building freestanding sculptures, kinetic machines, and interactive installations. Over two days, they experiment with materials and motion while learning how to plan, test, iterate, and communicate their ideas.
July 13-14, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Mission IO
Students tackle story-driven engineering, coding, and science challenges—like saving a stranded robot crew or designing a sustainable habitat—by analyzing data, testing ideas, and making decisions together. Along the way, they practice real-world skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, all while applying math, science, and tech concepts in a way that feels like a live space mission.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - AI and Cyber and Me (Oh My)
Students learn to stay safe online, spot phishing, and work together in Capture-the-Flag challenges. Campers explore AI tools, evaluate deepfakes and misinformation, and create AI-assisted projects like stories, art, or chatbots. Hands-on activities, teamwork, and ethical decision-making make cybersecurity and AI an exciting, real-world STEM adventure.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Power Quest
YEA campers race around the world—well, around the camp!—in our Amazing Race: Power Quest camp, investigating the secrets of energy. Students tackle this Amazing Race style event powered by multiple forms of energy, racing from one hands-on STEM challenge to the next. With teamwork, problem-solving, and a spirit of friendly competition, campers learn the science behind energy while having a blast.
July 15-16, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - STEMpressions: Art and Science
This camp is a whirlwind of creativity and discovery! Over 12 hours, students experiment with chemistry, physics, and biology to make art come alive. Campers mix science and imagination to explore how materials, reactions, and design all work together, turning experiments into visual masterpieces.
July 17, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Summer Camp Celebration
Join us for the SUU BZI YEA Summer Camp Celebration, open to all students who participated in at least one YEA camp this summer and their families! Enjoy hands-on STEM games and activities, snacks, and time to meet and visit with our YEA teachers. We’ll also take a moment to thank the generous sponsors who help keep our camp registration costs affordable for families. We hope you’ll celebrate a great summer of learning with us!
Ages 12-15
July 20-23, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Expedition X at Southwest Tech
This year, students attending the YEA Summer Camp at Southwest Tech will get hands-on experience in every program! Each day of camp will spotlight a different area—welding, automotive, public safety, and culinary—giving you the chance to explore, try new skills, and discover what excites you most. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer sense of which path fits your interests and future goals best.
Ages 15-18
July 20-23, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Pathfinder: Adventures in Life at Southwest Tech
This year, students attending the YEA Summer Camp at Southwest Tech will get hands-on experience in every program! Each day of camp will spotlight a different area—welding, automotive, public safety, and culinary—giving you the chance to explore, try new skills, and discover what excites you most. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer sense of which path fits your interests and future goals best.
Ages 12-15
July 27-30, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Expedition X at Southwest Tech
This year, students attending the YEA Summer Camp at Southwest Tech will get hands-on experience in every program! Each day of camp will spotlight a different area—welding, automotive, public safety, and culinary—giving you the chance to explore, try new skills, and discover what excites you most. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer sense of which path fits your interests and future goals best.
Ages 15-18
July 27-30, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Pathfinder: Adventures in Life at Southwest Tech
This year, students attending the YEA Summer Camp at Southwest Tech will get hands-on experience in every program! Each day of camp will spotlight a different area—welding, automotive, public safety, and culinary—giving you the chance to explore, try new skills, and discover what excites you most. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer sense of which path fits your interests and future goals best.
