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Every child. Thinking critically. Solving problems.

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SARSEF

Every child. Thinking critically. Solving problems.

Author: KatherineWPAdmin

2026 SARSEF Summer STEM Camps

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp Information

Registration is open and will close May 18. Camps will fill fast, then a limited waitlist for each session will be opened. 

This summer, SARSEF invites campers entering 4th grade through exiting 8th grade to explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)! SARSEF Summer STEM Camps are hosted across Tucson and provide hands-on activities, science and engineering exploration, and experiences from a variety of community partners. Check out the descriptions of our sessions below to learn about this year’s schedule, locations, and themes.  

Enrolled campers should bring a packed lunch each day that does not require refrigeration and are encouraged to bring a water bottle and mid-morning snack. Food allergies will be recorded in camp registration to ensure any snacks we offer are safe for your camper. 

If your plans change, please reach out to cancel by May 18th or a refund is not guaranteed.  

SARSEF Summer STEM Camps are offered under a pay-what-you-can model. We ask that you consider what a feasible cost is for you and to keep in mind that your registration payments help us keep SARSEF Summer STEM Camps available in Tucson for years to come.   

When registering your camper for one of our camp sessions, you will need the following information:  

  • Camper info such as demographics, allergies, and any special needs  
    • You may select the grade your camper is exiting or entering
  • Primary caregiver contact info as well as the names and phone numbers of other people approved to pick up your camper  
  • Emergency contact information  
  • Waiver agreements you will need to read and sign. We will ask for your camper’s health insurance information and preferred hospitals.  
  • Preorder for t-shirt (optional)  
  • Registration payment 

All Summer STEM Camps are 9am–3pm Monday–Thursday, and 9am–1pm Friday

For questions or more information please contact: camps@sarsef.org. SARSEF is not licensed under the laws of this state as a child care facility.

Other STEM Camps In Southern Arizona

Quantum Quest 

Central Arizona College: 8470 N Overfield Rd, Coolidge, AZ 85128

SARSEF is partnering with Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Qubit By Qubit, and University of Arizona Office of Societal Impact on this unique sleep-away camp.

Explore the Future with Our All-Girls Quantum Computing Camp! Teleportation, superposition, and entanglement aren’t just for science fiction—in the world of quantum physics, they are real phenomena. Join us for a unique summer experience designed specifically for high school girls to dive into the revolutionary field of quantum computing and become leaders in the technology of tomorrow! This overnight camp provides a fun, inviting, and supportive environment with no prior quantum knowledge required—only an eagerness to learn. Don’t miss this life-changing opportunity to get a head start in an exciting and essential field!

Monday, June 8th 2026 – Friday, June 12th 2026: Ages 14 – 17 MORE INFORMATION TO COME

Arizona Science Center’s Camp Innovation 

Multiple locations across the state including

Let your imagination run wild in Arizona Science Center’s series of 5-day camp sessions that spark curiosity in science through hands-on interactive programs that incorporate learning through high-energy challenges, building, and design. Camp Innovation will inspire, educate, and engage your curious mind through hands-on science. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for all camp sessions. Arizona Science Center helped SARSEF get camps up and running, so if you enjoy our camps, we know you’ll enjoy theirs, too! 

In one week increments June 2026 – July 2026: Grades 1-6 MORE INFORMATION TO COME

Arizona Young Birders Camp 

Southwestern Research Station: 2003 W. Cave Creek Rd, Portal, AZ 85632 

The Arizona Young Birders Camp is an annual event designed  to draw together young birders from around the state of Arizona to provide them with the opportunity  to learn about birds, ecology, and conservation. The camp provides educational opportunities through field trips, observing birds, engaging with the natural world and presentations. 

MORE INFORMATION TO COME

AABC Shared Their Space With Summer STEM Camps

The last week of STEM Camps was spent on the University of Arizona campus, at the Sonnet Space Sciences Building, in partnership with the Arizona Astrobiology Center (AABC). Campers spent the week exploring many space related topics like satellites, planets, aliens, Earth’s atmosphere, rockets and more. Several activities blurred the lines between science and art and truly embraced the interdisciplinary nature of STEM itself. Campers learned about terrestrial extremophiles and had the opportunity to design and sculpt their own extraterrestrial extremophile to live on a planet of their own creation. Within the confines of our own solar system, students worked together to create scale models of our eight planets. Each group got to discover what made their planet unique and negotiate how they were going to represent those traits in their model.

AABC provided their unique expertise to students so they could experience first hand ways Astrobiology is studied and shows up at the U of A. Campers had the chance to observe tardigrades through microscopes and learn about why the tiny “water bears” are used to learn about outer space. Campers were able to identify tardigrade anatomy and behavior on a microscopic level and draw what they observed. Getting outside campers were taken on an Astrobiology walking tour with landmarks and spaces that can connect us to the universe while our feet are planted firmly on the ground. Did you know the UA campus is home to a tree that grew from a seed that traveled to the moon?

On Friday we celebrated the end of the final session of STEM Camps. Families gathered in our classroom as students shared what they were proud of from the week. Families got to dig into Peter Piper Pizza together before the last weekend of summer vacation. After an out of this world week one camper looked to her dad and said “I want to do this again next summer!” I want to echo that sentiment as I already wait in anticipation of all the fun we can have in Summer 2026.

Thank you for your interest in SARSEF Summer STEM Camps 2025. In the words of camp counselor Ms. Jenny “I hope campers connect[ed] what it means to be a
scientist or engineer… and realize how they themselves are already
scientists and engineers.”

Early Childhood Programs 

Did you know that SARSEF has a full suite of Early Childhood specific outreach offerings? We have taken some of SARSEF’s most popular elementary school programs and redesigned them specifically to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills in Arizona’s youngest scientists and engineers. Bring the excitement of scientific exploration to your Preschool or Early Learning Center with SARSEF’s Early Childhood Programs.  

Family Science Night 

Planning a STEM night for preschoolers and their families? Invite SARSEF to be a part of it. We have a variety of science and engineering invitations designed specifically for early childhood families to engage in together. Collaborate with us to bring even more STEM to your family engagement night. 

Pre-K What Do We Wonder? 

Adapted from SARSEF’s K-8 Wonder program, preschoolers will engage in the engineering design process through guided small group centers. An early childhood educator will facilitate a series of four small group invitations where students will practice noticing and wondering, and design a solution to a real world problem.

Teacher Professional Development  

Using the inquiry-based learning model, SARSEF outreach professionals guide teachers on how to engage their students in quality science and engineering research projects. Learn how to identify developmentally appropriate challenges and interests that peak student curiosity. Preschool students and classrooms are eligible to compete in the annual SARSEF Fair, let us help you get started.    

For more information, please contact katherine@sarsef.org