Find your child or teen a STEM summer camp in the Los Angeles area by checking out this list of recommendations from the Undivided Research Team! These STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs provide opportunities for kids to learn coding, robotics, natural history, chemistry, Minecraft, and more through fun activities throughout the summer. Plus, each camp or program on this list welcomes kids with disabilities or is even specifically designed for kids like ours. We hope your family has a summer full of learning and exploring!
Website
1651 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 650-0919
admissions@asteme.com
Format: In-person programs
ASTEME is a non-profit program designed to enrich students’ understanding and enjoyment of math through real-world applications. Their goal is to help campers develop a life-long love of math and science. Offering full- and part-time curriculum throughout the year, ASTEME also offers nine weeks of summer programming. Each week focuses on a different theme and integrates math and science lessons into that theme. The students will be separated into six different groups based on grade levels. Each group will have an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Friend request groupings can be made one week prior to camp if the students are within one grade of each other.
Dates: June 12–August 9, 2024. Each session runs Monday to Friday.
Age range: Kindergarten to eighth grade
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Cost: $500 for the July 1–3 short week, $695 for regular weeks, and $825 for the Disneyland week.
Registration: The registration process begins here by creating an account. Early registration is encouraged as the program fills up quickly.
1:1 aide: 1:1 aides can be accommodated, but ASTEME will need to approve them on a case-by-case basis.
Website
13110 Bluff Creek Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90094
Manager of Environmental Education: Carolyn Everhart
(310) 306-5994
Format: In-person program
Ballona Discovery Nature Camp is an outdoor science day camp based out of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. During camp, children learn about the natural world while exploring Ballona, identifying plants and animals, and talking about environmental responsibility. Each week-long camp focuses on a different subject, and discounts are available for campers registering for multiple weeks or for families registering multiple campers for the same week.
Dates: There are four camp sessions in 2024, each of which runs for a week: June 17–21, June 24–28, July 8–12, and July 15–19.
Hours: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Age range: 8–11 years old
Cost: $350 per session. Scholarships available upon request.
Registration: Registration for individual weekly sessions can be found here.
1:1 aide: As much as possible, Ballona will work with a family to make sure a camper can participate in their summer camp, including allowing the presence of a 1:1 aide. Notifying Ballona of your camper’s needs prior to enrollment will ensure that the camp is capable of accommodating them.
Website
700 Exposition Park Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90037
(323) 724-3623
Format: In-person programs
Summer programming will cover multiple scientific disciplines from chemistry to earth science, with classes geared toward specific grade ranges. To learn more about the class offerings, you can review the 2024 schedules by grade level. Previous camps included interactive tours of exhibits, live demonstrations, and exclusive Q&A sessions with onsite scientists and animal care staff. Instructors are trained educators who hold degrees in science or education.
Dates: Each camp session runs for one week, Monday to Friday, June 17–August 9, with no camp the week of July 4.
Hours: Families can choose between morning, afternoon, and full-day options. Full-day classes run 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Age range: Pre-K through eighth grade. Campers should enroll in the class that represents the grade they will be entering after summer.
Cost:
Registration: You can register for their summer programming online here.
1:1 aide: The Science Center is happy to accommodate student aides as needed. They request that after enrolling, you contact them directly at educationprograms@californiasciencecenter.org to inform them of the details for the student and their aide, so they can make the appropriate preparations.
Website
Locations throughout California
(855) 446-4652
Format: In-person programs
Code Ninjas is a nationwide franchise dedicated to providing fun and educational computer programming and tech classes for kids. Summer curriculum has included week-long classes such as 3D Design and Print, Jr. Adventures in Game Design, Stop Motion Animation, Become a YouTuber, Intro to Roblox Development, Jr. STEM Discoveries, Robotics with Lego, Modding With Minecraft, and more. Class availability varies by location.
Location: Multiple locations throughout California. Find a camp near you and check out class schedules with their location finder.
Dates and times: Dates and times vary based on class and location.
Ages: 5–15 years old
Cost: Camps range in price based on location. The cost can possibly be covered under social-recreation funding through Regional Center.
Registration: Registration begins by selecting your preferred Code Ninjas facility and class through their website.
1:1 aides: Contact your selected Code Ninjas center to discuss the needs of your child and the possibility of accommodating aides in the classroom.
Website
Multiple locations
(657)255-7855
info@destinationscience.org
Format: In-person day camp
Destination Science is a nationwide franchise dedicated to providing fun and educational STEAM-themed camps for kids with hands-on science and social skills curriculum. 2024’s camp themes are DinoBot Builders & Crazy Chem Lab, Superhero Physics Fun Camp, and Space Base Astronaut Camp. If you’re unsure whether the camp is the best fit for your child’s specific needs, contact them directly to discuss accommodations.
Location: Multiple locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area. See the full list of locations online here.
Dates and times: 2024 dates vary by location. Camp is offered in three weekly sessions that meet Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Ages: 5–11 years old
Cost: Costs vary depending on the camp you choose.
Registration: Select your location and camp to find the registration link.
1:1 aides: Destination Science allows campers to attend with an aide. Read their Policy and Procedure Form for Aides for more information.
Brentwood Learning Center
11777 San Vicente Blvd., Ste. 129
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 571-1176
Newport Beach Learning Center
1151 Dove Street, Ste. 140
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 381-7400
Format: In-person and online programs
Franklin tutoring services provide individualized academic support for students with learning and behavioral differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, executive functioning difficulties, autism, and auditory and visual processing difficulties. In addition to tutoring and educational therapy, they have also offered in prior summers small group or 1:1 sessions covering a variety of topics, such as arts and crafts, music, drama, journalism, creative writing, foreign languages, STEM, and more. While the details of this year’s camp are still being finalized at the time of writing this guide, Clinical Director Daniel Franklin states that they intend to continue with previous programs.
Summer camp details coming soon! Contact Franklin directly for more information, or check back here for updates as information becomes available.
Dates and times: TBD
Age range: 5 years old and up
Cost: On average, small group online classes start at $30 a class. 1:1 online instruction starts at $50 a class. In-home instruction starts at $135 an hour for one student, plus $25 for each additional student.
Registration: Registration is not yet available, but Franklin encourages parents to call or visit their website for more information.
1:1 aide: Yes, 1:1 aides can be accommodated.
West Los Angeles location:
1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 100
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 445-2516
Los Angeles Miracle Mile location:
5757 Wilshire Blvd., Promenade One
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 692-0603
Format: For-credit summer courses are offered in-person; themed camps are offered virtually.
Fusion Academy offers in-person summer courses at two different campuses in Los Angeles. Kids can also participate in virtual themed summer camps featuring hands-on group assignments and creative projects. Campers can choose from themes like Game Design, Digital Media Arts, Social Entrepreneurship, and College Prep. The staff works with kids who have ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and autism with few support needs. The Director of Outreach emphasizes that Fusion Academy is not specifically a special education school. However, if a student has some “slight learning challenges,” the school can accommodate them with a special education lead.
Dates: Vary by location and area of interest.
Age range: Sixth to twelfth grade
Hours: Summer courses are either two hours in the morning or two hours in the afternoon.
Cost:
Registration: To learn more about online camps, complete the inquiry form and select your location.
1:1 aide: Yes, 1:1 aides can be accommodated. Classes have 1:1 instruction. Online camps include small groups of three to six students with a 1:3 teacher-to-student ratio.
Headquarters:
1021 3rd St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(800) 854-3684
Format: In-person programs
Galileo encourages children to think like innovators by creating new crafts, building, or inventing something every week, sparking their curiosity and imagination. This summer, Galileo is offering six themed camps: Theme Park Rides, Dino Excavation, Castles and Catapults, Traveling Circus, Dinosaur Disguises, and Royal Celebration. The curriculum of each camp is adjusted based on the age range of the campers.
Location: There are Galileo Camps locations throughout California.
Dates and times: Weekly sessions are Monday through Friday. Dates in 2024 vary by location. Camps run 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. with extended care 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. for an additional fee.
Ages: Pre-K to eighth grade
Cost:
Registration: Registration for summer 2024 camps begins here.
1:1 aides: Aides are generally accepted, subject to approval by Galileo Camps. Camps have a 12:1 camper-to-staff ratio.
Website
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-3466
info@nhm.org
Format: In-person programs
Please note: As of February 2024, the summer camps page has not been updated for summer 2024. Please check back for 2024’s dates and registration information. In the meantime, you can review the information below from 2023’s camp to get an idea of the program!
For the last 30 years, the Natural History Museum has offered seasonal day camps for students to explore dinosaurs and nature in new ways. Campers are given hands-on experiences and up-close access to 4.5 billion years of life on Earth. Through the use of the research and collections of the museum, campers have “jumping off point for exploration and adventure.” The instructors and counselors are professional educators with experience in teaching and science.
Dates: Adventures in Nature day camps run June through August.
Age range: Kindergarten through eighth grade
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Cost: TBD
Registration: Registration is expected to open in mid-March. For more information, email info@nhm.org or call (213) 763-3466.
1:1 aide: This information was unavailable at the time of this writeup as the details of this year’s camp are still being determined. The camp’s staff-to-child ratio is designed to provide the best experience for campers.
Website
Multiple locations
info@planetbravo.com
Format: In-person program
Planet Bravo is considered LA’s leader in K–8 technology education and offers an award-winning summer computer camp for kids. Camps offer opportunities for learning to code, making movies, modding Minecraft, or building robots. Each day, campers can participate in fun group activities, indoor learning, and games outdoors. The project-based curriculum is designed to be engaging for all students. Check out the Camp Courses to see all of the offerings by grade level.
Location: Multiple locations in Southern California including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Encino, Eagle Rock, Irvine, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Westchester, and Westwood
Dates and times: One-week sessions between June 24 and August 2, 2024. Each day runs 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Ages: Kindergarten to ninth grade
Cost: $360-$549 per week. Rates vary by registration dates.
Registration: You can browse by location to register for your desired camp.
1:1 aides: Yes, 1:1 aides can be accommodated. Camps have an 8:1 student-to-staff ratio.
Website
2951 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(888) 762-6808
Format: In-person day programs
A group of aerospace engineers who love robots started Rolling Robots to give all kids the chance to discover their inner scientists. They have multiple locations and offer classes from beginner to advanced in robot-making, Roblox, Minecraft, coding, and 3D printing. No prior experience is necessary. Rolling Robots teaches children of all learning backgrounds the core concepts of STEM, robotics, and coding. Each camp lasts one week, and campers will have different themes to choose from, including Game Design, Python Coding, 3D Design, LEGO Robot Build and Code, Artificial Intelligence, Minecraft Mods, and more.
Dates: Week-long camp sessions from June to August
Age range: 5–15 years old (classes are broken into appropriate age groups)
Hours:
Cost: Weekly camps range cost $329-$475 for half-day sessions. Full-day sessions are $775.
Registration: Select a specific location in order to review camp course offerings and registration.
1:1 aide: Yes, 1:1 aides can be accommodated. They aim for six to eight students per instructor.
Website
Santa Monica, CA
(424) 835-5324
sam@youngscholarsacademy.org
Format: Online programs
Young Scholars Academy is a virtual enrichment program designed to supplement and enhance neurodiverse students’ learning experience through small-group online courses. This summer, Young Scholars Academy is hosting eight weeks of summer classes with themes like D&D, Improv, Cryptology, and Digital Art. Students can enroll in a single summer class or, for a discount, enroll in an entire week of classes. There are STEM and Humanities tracks of classes that group together course types to make sure each student can enroll in classes that speak to their unique interests. The staff members at Young Scholars Academy have experience serving 2E children with autism, ADHD, or learning disorders.
Dates and times: Summer camp consists of daily sessions Monday through Friday from June to August. Hours vary depending on the camp you sign up for.
Ages: Three age groups: 5-7, 8-12, and 13-18
Cost: $220–$295 per week. They aim to create whole-week experiences where families can bundle classes for a more engaging experience.
Registration: You can see a full list of camp themes and register on their website.
1:1 aides: Aides and parents are welcome to be present during camp sessions. The average teacher-to-student ratio is 1:6.
Does your family have any experience with one of these summer camps in past years? We'd love to hear about it in our private Facebook group for parents!
Looking for accessible summer camps elsewhere in California? Find our full list here.
