2026 SARSEF Summer Camps Inspire Creativity in Science and Engineering

In the summer of 2026, SARSEF engaged 165 campers across seven different camp sessions! Throughout those seven sessions, campers got to explore different themes in science and engineering at locations across Tucson that represent STEM in our community, ranging from topics in astrobiology to Sonoran Desert ecology. Each camp curriculum is designed to engage campers across a variety of STEM topics while incorporating crafts and storytelling. At the end of each week, campers showcase to their friends and families about what they have built, learned, and explored throughout the week.

STEM Moves Us: Pima Community College Northwest Campus

Campers got to experience being on a college campus with the PCC Northwest Campus location. During this camp, students got to explore how STEM “moves” us through transportation and infrastructure. Campers competed in small groups to create a bridge that could hold weight using limited materials, created magnet mazes, and raced LEGO-built cars on a derby track.

Campers also toured labs and facilities at PCC Northwest, where they got to see themselves in different career paths as a lab technician or biological scientist. Tucson Northwest Fire District brought fire trucks and an ambulance to the campus and gave the campers a tour of the trucks and the materials they use to hep keep people and themselves safe in the community when fighting fires or responding to medical emergencies.

Campers interacting with firefighters at PCC Northwest Campus.

STEM Inspires Us: University of Arizona Tech Parks Center

In the midst different industrial offices, campers investigated different career opportunities in STEM! Campers built their own harmonicas and cardboard instruments, dissected fake frogs with fake internal organs, and learned how to code with LEGO Spike Prime robots!

While at the University of Arizona Tech Parks Center, campers took a tour of IBM facilities and the University of Arizona Astrobiology College of Optics. A representative from the USDA came to talk to the campers about agricultural science and careers.

Campers coding a LEGO robot to perform a specific command.

STEM Surrounds Us: Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens

Surrounded by scents and sounds of the Sonoran Desert, campers got to explore a wealth of science behind desert ecology and biomimicry while at the Tohono Chul Gardens. Campers designed their own adaptation for a desert dweller, got hands-on with a basket weaving lesson, and took time to enjoy the gardens each morning.

Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society led campers through a cactus modeling activity and helped each camper plan saguaro cactuses to take home. The Tucson Herpetological Society brought a whole host of desert critters for campers to learn about and even (safely) hold!

Two campers looking at a rattle snake in a locked clear plastic box. Campers did not hold the rattle snakes, but could observe them up close and touch a real snake rattle.

STEM Launches Us: AZ Astrobiology Center, University of Arizona

In the center of the University of Arizona, campers got to explore the science of the solar system and stars beyond Earth. At this camp, each camper made a paper rocket, learned about the Mars rovers, and teamed up to create a totally unique planet with different extreme environments with the help of the Arizona Astrobiology Center.

Campers got to work with NOIRLab on a constellation identifying activity, and explored the grounds of the UA campus with some nature journaling.

A large piece of paper on a table is being drawn on with four different campers. — Campers work in teams to create a planet with an extreme environment.

STEM Grounds Us: Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, University of Arizona

For the first time this summer, campers got to explore the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research and stay onsite for the whole week! Campers learned about different kinds of trees and how they are useful in our environment, as well as toured the dendrochronology archives and the new MICADAS TIME Lab and learned about radiocarbon dating.

Representatives from Pima County Ecology and the USDA came to chat to the campers about ecological and agricultural science.

Campers and camp staff standing in front of a tree cross section. Photo courtesy of Pamela Pelletier.

SARSEF thanks every partner and donor who helped to make Summer STEM Camps possible, as well as the amazing camp counselors who dedicated eight weeks of their time to helping each child explore STEM.

Looking Back on a Second Year of MESCIT Summer Camps

This June, SARSEF partnered with Mentorship and Education in SCIence for Tucson (MESCIT), a University of Arizona mentorship and math tutoring program for Native American students in Tucson. For the second year in a row, SARSEF and MESCIT put on a STEM summer camp for Native American students. Campers were able to explore different STEM professions and careers through field trips, hands-on learning, and place-based science.

Two MESCIT campers using microscopes as part of a biomimicry lesson.

The MESCIT camp is an evolution of our ACES camp for girls. MESCIT and the University of Arizona approached SARSEF with the idea of putting on a similar camp to serve Native American students. SARSEF has extensive experience with camp management, support, and training. We saw direct mission alignment in helping to provide camp support to MESCIT students. The MESCIT camp serves a critical role in providing quality STEM education to underserved students in the Southern Arizona community. Through MESCIT, campers were able to explore STEM careers while seeing themselves reflected in the scientists and engineers they met.

SARSEF also provided new curriculum on biomimicry, which is the imitation of designs and processes found in nature. SARSEF worked with MESCIT leadership in making specific modifications to the curriculum to be more culturally responsive to the Native American students. Campers learned about habitat adaptation, explored 3D models of form and function in life, and tried their hand at nature journaling.

Campers got to explore the Sonoran Desert Museum as well as create and present their own biomimicry adaptation at the end-of-camp showcase to parents and other community members.

MESCIT Campers explore the Sonoran Desert Museum.

If you are interested in learning more about how to partner with SARSEF, reach out to director@sarsef.org and take a look at our 2026-2029 Strategic Planning Document.

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 4^th grade through exiting 8^th 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 18^th 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.”

SARSEF Summer STEM Camps 2025

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp Information

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

This summer, SARSEF invites campers, who are entering 4th grade through exiting 8th, to join us in exploring the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)! SARSEF Summer STEM Camps are hosted across Tucson and provide hands-on activities and the chance to explore STEM careers. Check our listing of camps below to learn about this year’s schedule and themes.  

Campers should bring a packed lunch each day that does not require refrigeration. Food allergies will be recorded in camp registration to ensure any snacks we provide are safe for your camper.  

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 
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

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp: STEM in Your Future – Full

Pima Community College – Northwest Campus: 7600 N. Shannon Rd, Tucson, AZ 85709  

Ever wonder what it might be like to be in a STEM career? How will you use STEM in your future? In partnership with Pima Community College, campers are invited to explore all the possibilities in science, technology, engineering, and math!  

Monday, June 9, 2025 – Friday, June 13, 2025, 9am-3pm:
Full- Grades 4-5
Full- Grades 6-8 

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp: STEM Takes You Places  – Full

Tech Parks Event Center: 9030 S. Rita Road, Tucson, AZ 85747 

Science, technology, engineering, and math move people around the planet. From rockets, boats, and paper airplanes, to pathways and opportunities. During this session, campers will explore the mechanics of movement and find out where STEM can take them.  

Full- Monday, June 16, 2025 – Friday, June 20, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 4-5 

Full- Monday, June 23, 2025 – Friday, June 27, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 6-8 

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp: STEM is All Around You- Full

Tucson Children’s Museum Education Center: 130 S Scott Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701

When you take the time to look around, STEM is everywhere. We rely on science, technology, engineering, and math to get through our everyday lives, and can use it in new ways to improve the future. Campers will learn to recognize all the ways that STEM plays a role in their daily lives and how they can harness it to make a difference.  

Full- Monday, July 7, 2025 – Friday, July 11, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 6-8 

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp: STEM in the Desert 

Tohono Chul: 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte, Tucson, AZ 85704  

The desert is a fascinating place full of things to discover. During this session, campers will make their own observations about the desert world around them and learn how humans have interacted with the desert for thousands of years through art, storytelling, engineering, and science. 

Monday, July 14, 2025 – Friday, July 18, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 4-5 

Full- Monday, July 21, 2025 – Friday, July 25, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 6-8

SARSEF Summer STEM Camp: STEM is Out of This World - Full

Sonett Space Sciences Building: 1541 E. University Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85721

Outer space holds the keys to the future and the past. The universe and the phenomena of space can teach us a lot, and also incite a lot of questions. In partnership with the Arizona Astrobiology Center, campers will discover ways STEM plays a role in how we learn about the universe.  

Full- Monday, July 28, 2025 – Friday, August 1, 2025, 9am-3pm: Grades 4-8 

For questions or more information please contact: camps@sarsef.org