Summer Camps
Below is the schedule of Challenger’s Summer Camps 2024. Registration for summer camps will begin on February 1 at 6 PM.
For the 2024 season: Camps for entering grades 1-2 will be two day/ half day camp sessions. All other camps will be four day/full day camp sessions.
There are multiple scholarship opportunities for Challenger summer camps. Only 1 summer scholarship [full or partial] camp opportunity will be award per student.
| Week | Camp Name | Grade level entering Fall 2024 | ||
| June 17-18 | Becoming a Scientist Session 1: A | 1-2 | Waitlist status | |
| June 20-21 | Becoming a Scientist Session 1: B | 1-2 | Registration open | |
| June 24-25 | Becoming a Scientist Session 2: B | 1-2 | Registration open | |
| June 27-28 | Becoming a Scientist Session 2: A | 1-2 | Registration open | |
| June 24-27 | STEM of Transportation Camp | 6-8 | Registration open | |
| July 1-5 | No Camp | No Camp | ||
| July 8-11 | Astronaut Academy Session 1 | 5-8 | Waitlist status | |
| July 15-18 | Robot Tech Session 1 | 2-4 | Waitlist status | |
| July 22-25 | Astronaut Academy Session 2 | 5-8 | Waitlist status | |
| July 29-Aug 1 | Robot Tech Session 2 | 2-4 | Waitlist status | |
| Aug 5-8 | Expedition Earth Session 1 | 3-5 | Waitlist status | |
| Aug 12-15 | Expedition Earth Session 2 | 3-5 | Waitlist status |
Camp Descriptions
STEM of Transportation Camp
Entering grades 6-8 Fall 2024
new FREE camp in partnership with the Cole Land Transportation Museum
June 24-27
Half day camp
Overview:
4-Day afternoon program—-Challenger Maine is excited to announce a new camp experience this year in partnership with The Cole Land Transportation Museum! We would love your middle school student (entering grades 6-8th in the 2024-2025 school year) to join us for this unique half day camp experience. Taking place at the Cole Land Transportation Museum here in Bangor, Challenger and Cole staff will be partnering to explore the science and technology behind the history of some of their most iconic vehicles! Each day will explore a new topic through hands-on engineering and a deeper look into the museum than available to the public!
Topics include:
-Robotics & Electronics
-Engines
-Physics with LEGOs
-Historic cars, trucks, trains and more
16 students max will be accepted for this camp week.
Location: This camp will take place at the Cole Land Transportation museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME.
Drop off: 12:30-1:00 PM
Pick up: 4:00 PM
Cost: FREE
Through generous funding from the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, ME, we are proud to offer FULL camp scholarships to students interested in attending this new camp. During registration, parents will be asked to briefly describe what attending this camp would mean to you or your student.
Campers will be required to bring snacks and a water bottle. T-shirt and NASA giveaways are included.
Please review the code of conduct requirement for all camps.
Astronaut Academy
Entering grades 5-8 Fall 2024
same camp, offered 2 different weeks
Session 1: July 8-11
Session 2: July 22-25
Overview: 4-day program gives campers the opportunity to explore many aspects of astronaut training. They will use teamwork to test mental agility, plan meals suitable for off-planet consumption, and try their hand at a mission aboard the ISS using VR software. Campers will also construct a Mars habitat prototype and re-create the Apollo 13 engineering challenge. Campers will also get to “fly” two missions in Challenger Maine’s exclusive Mission Control, Transporter and Space Lab simulators. This camp also includes a field trip to the Cole Land Transportation museum. Don’t let your middle school student miss out on this phenomenal camp experience! Challenger will be accepting 16 students max per camp week.
Drop off: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick up: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $420
Full Camp Scholarships: scholarship opportunities for Maine students. Totman Strong
Please note: full payment is required to secure reservation.
5% Military Discount (parent/guardians currently serving)
Military Discount Code: MILITARY24
Campers will be required to bring snacks and bag lunches. T-shirt and NASA giveaways are included.
Please review the code of conduct requirement for all camps.
Expedition Earth Camp
Entering grades 3-5 Fall 2024
same camp, offered 2 different weeks
Session 1: Aug 5-8
Session 2: Aug 12-15
Overview:
4-Day program presents the chance to work with all things STEM. Each day is filled with hands-on experiments that cover the different sciences, engineering, technology and math concepts. Campers will explore STEM here on earth and beyond as they dive into their owl pellet dissection, test a working wind turbine, recreate a ISS life science experiment and far more! Campers will also get to take a ride to space with Challenger’s mission control, transporter, and space lab simulators. This camp also includes a field trip to the Cole Land Transportation Museum. Challenger will be accepting 16 students max per camp week.
Drop off: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick up: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $350
Please note: full payment is required to secure reservation.
Full and Partial Camp Scholarships click here for scholarship opportunities for Maine students.
5% Military Discount (parent/guardians currently serving)
Military Discount Code: MILITARY24
Campers will be required to bring snacks and bag lunches and a water bottle. T-shirt and NASA giveaways are included.
Please review the code of conduct requirement for all camps.
Robot Tech Camp
Entering grades 2-4 Fall 2024
same camp, offered 2 different weeks
Session 1: July 15-18
Session 2: July 29-Aug 1
Overview:
4-Day program presents the chance to work with robots, rovers, and circuits, while conducting exciting engineering challenges — including one that features Mars! Campers will learn to build and program a LEGO WeDo Robot, learn about 3D printing and learn the basics of coding. This is a great opportunity for young children to begin learning about the fun world of technology. Campers will also get to take a ride to space with Challenger’s mission control, transporter, and space lab simulators. This camp also includes a field trip to the Cole Land Transportation Museum. Challenger will be accepting 16 students max per camp week.
Drop off: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick up: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $350
Please note: full payment is required to secure reservation.
Full and Partial Camp Scholarships click here for scholarship opportunities for Maine students.
5% Military Discount (parent/guardians currently serving)
Military Discount Code: MILITARY24
Campers will be required to bring snacks and bag lunches and a water bottle. T-shirt and NASA giveaways are included.
Please review the code of conduct requirement for all camps.
Becoming a Scientist
Entering grades 1-2 Fall 2024
Two different camps: A & B, offered 2 different weeks. (For example, Session A content is different than Session B content. Session A is offered twice.)
Half-day camp
Becoming a Scientist Camp Session 1:A, June 17-18
Becoming a Scientist Camp Session 1:B, June 20-21
Becoming a Scientist Camp Session 2:B, June 24-25
Becoming a Scientist Camp Session 2:A, June 27-28
Overview:
2 day, half-day program presents the chance for young scientists to explore different activities in STEM. Use summer vacation to become immersed in the fun of science learning! Campers will be challenged to ask “why?” while exploring topics that are age appropriate, with a focus on hands-on learning. Campers will also have the opportunity to take a journey to space using Challenger’s mission control, transporter, and space lab simulators. Challenger will be accepting 16 students max per camp session.
Session A is different content than Session B
Session 1A and 2A will be the same content repeated.
Session 1B and 2B will be the same content repeated.
Drop off: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick up: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Cost:
June 17-18: $50
June 20-21: $50
June 24-25: $50
June 27-28: $50
Please note: full payment is required to secure reservation.
5% Military Discount (parent/guardians currently serving)
Military Discount Code: MILITARY24
Campers will be required to bring a morning snack and water bottle. Campers will NOT eat lunch at Challenger during this camp. T-shirt and NASA giveaways are included.
Please review the code of conduct requirement for all camps.
First time camper to Challenger?
Camp at Challenger Maine is a unique camp experience that promotes group work, hands-on challenges, and deeper exploration and appreciation for STEM topics. Due to this, our camp style is often similar to a classroom in some ways, ie your camper may be asked to work in a team, raise hand to share, follow activity instructions, and so on.
Should you have any questions, or would like to discuss further to decide if this camp is a good fit for your camper, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or call us at 207-990-2900 ext.1
Camp Cancellation Policies
Challenger Learning Center of Maine Registration &
Cancellation Information and Policies
- Fees are based on enrollment, not attendance.
- Following acceptance of an application, full payment is required to complete reservation.
- If changes are requested after reservation is complete, Challenger reserves the right to charge $10 administration fees to accommodate each change.
- Credit may be offered if we are able to fill a vacancy, and only when change is requested prior to the registration closure date. In-person registration will close 1 week prior to the first day of camp.
- Refunds are only issued if a program is cancelled by Challenger.
Reach out to Challenger at 207-990-2900 or [email protected] with any questions.