Registration for our 2025 STEM Summer Camps will open by March 2025!

At McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, each week holds a new opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and math! From rockets to weather, ecology to dinosaurs—every camp has a different theme, designed by our educators for specific age groups to learn while having fun!

To reserve your camper’s spot, download the registration form below and return it to the Discovery Center—either by sending a digital copy to Kellee Duckworth, Director of Visitor Services, at kduckworth@starhop.com or by mailing a paper copy to us at 2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

Questions? Send them to Kellee at the above email address or call 603-271-7827 x116.

download the registration form

Date: June 24 – June 28
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Ages: 5-7 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: Spend time exploring the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth at this prehistorically themed camp! Discover the many different types of dinosaurs, fossils, and the methods paleontologists use to learn about them. Campers will uncover fossils, watch the continents move over millions of years, and do an experiment to create a mass extinction!
Date: July 1 - July 3*
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Ages: 8 - 11years
Cost: $210; Additional child from same family: $190
Description: Let’s dig deep and uncover the secrets hidden within the world around us. Ecosystems, weather, and everything beneath our feet will be explored during this week of environmental science fun! Join us to explore the earth we walk on and our place in it!
*This camp is Monday – Wednesday to accommodate the holiday
*If you would like to be added to the waitlist for this camp, please e-mail Kellee Duckworth- kduckworth@starhop.com
Date: July 8 - July 12
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Ages: 8-11 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: Launch into the stars with a summer camp that brings out the rocket scientist in all of us. Build and modify different types of rockets each day including model rockets and air rockets. How far and high can you make your rocket go?
Date: July 15 - July 19
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Ages: 5-7 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: What makes a rocket fly? In this camp we will explore aerodynamics, flight, and even rocket design. Join us as we leave Earth, travel through the solar system, and discover more about the Sun and planets along the way. Believe us when we say: this camp is out of this world!
Date: July 22 – July 26
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Ages: 8-11 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: Become an amateur astronomer in this fun-filled adventure through the universe! Learn about what makes up our solar system and everything beyond it. Use real telescopes to learn how astronomers are unraveling the mysteries of the universe every day and see what you can spy in the sky. Explore planets, moons, stars, nebulae, and more!
Date: July 29 - August 2
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Ages: 11-14 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: Ever wondered what it would be like to work with robots, coding, and programming? Come to Codename: Robot Camp and learn all the fundamentals. We will get to work with different types of coding and programming and complete fun daily challenges that put our minds to the test!
Date: August 5 – August 9
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Ages: 5 - 7 years
Cost: $345; Additional child from same family: $320
Description: Have you ever wanted to experience all the jobs of an astronaut? During this intensive week, you will learn how they live, work, and play in space. You will find out all the tricks of the trade of becoming an astronaut and even listen to some experts!

What to Know:

2024 STEM Summer Camp will be hosted on-site at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH)
Camp takes place from Monday – Friday, apart from “The Earth We Walk On”, which is a Monday – Wednesday to account for the holiday.
Drop-off is at 9am and pick up is 2pm or 3pm (depending on the camp.) Adults can park in the parking lot and walk campers to drop-off area by the School Entrance.
Campers are expected to bring a lunch, a snack and water bottle with them each day.
The registration fee is due at time of sign up. The preferred payment method is via check made payable to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

We are pleased to once again be a participating summer camp in the NH Department of Education’s ReKindling Curiosity program! Click here for more information on the program and to see if you qualify for a scholarship to cover camp fees. If eligible, please submit your completed registration form prior to requesting an invoice.

About our 2024 STEM Summer Camp Interns

Holly Wingren is a first year Master of Education student in Curriculum & Instruction - Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She recently graduated in May 2024 with dual degrees in Physics (BS) and Astronomy (BLAS) and a minor in Statistics from UIUC. This summer, Ms. Wingren is excited to be working as one of the STEM Summer Camp Interns at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Her interests in outreach and education stem from her goal of communicating the importance of science to a large audience. She was involved in numerous organizations during her time as an undergraduate student, most notably being the Marching Illini and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Campus Center. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, and spending time with loved ones.

Sydney Currie Wrye is a rising senior studying Astronomy and Geosciences at Smith College in Western Massachusetts, though born and raised in South Alabama. This summer, Sydney is super excited to be one of the interns at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center and learn all about New Hampshire in the process. She loves working with making science more accessible, previously interning as a planetarium presenter at the Museum of Science, Boston. As an undergraduate student, she does research in detecting exoplanets, plays in her college’s orchestra and jazz ensembles, and serves on her house and student councils. For fun, you can catch Sydney exploring new places in New England, hanging out with friends, and playing a little banjo on the side!

Gender Inclusion Policy:
At McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, we are committed to providing a secure and enabling camp/ educational environment, a place that is gender sensitive and recognizes all people. We foster a social, physical and psychological environment that will enable all children to work and play productively. We strive for gender justice at both institutional and programmatic levels.

Summer Staff Health Policy:
We do not collect the personal health information of our summer camp staff.