NERD Lab

06/15/2026

Still Thinking About Future Engineers Bootcamp: Build Your Own Lightsaber (BYOL)?

Last year’s bootcamp gave students a real look inside engineering—electronics, soldering, programming, troubleshooting, and building something they could actually take home.

This year, BYOL is back as a 2-week experience, giving students more time to build, test, customize, and learn real engineering skills.

Check out these photos from last summer and picture your student here next. 👀

⚡ Future Engineers Bootcamp: BYOL
📅 July 13–24
⏰ 3–7 PM
🎓 Grades 9–12
🔗 Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-camps

06/14/2026

06/10/2026

TINY TOTS Labs = big STEM fun for little learners! 🧪🚗🍦

This summer, kids will mix, build, wiggle, explore, and create through hands-on STEM activities made just for VPK–2nd Graders.

📅 STEM WEEKDAYS
June 12 – Ooey Gooey Science
July 24 – Jiggling Bots
July 31 – Kaleidoscope Magic
Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-weekdays

📅 STEM SATURDAYS
June 13 – Balloon Car Engineering Challenge
July 11 – Ice Cream Science
Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-saturdays

Spots are limited!

06/08/2026

Crime Scene Science was a mystery worth solving. 🔍

Students used real science methods to investigate who stole the VSTAR Mewtwo Pokémon card—fingerprints, footprint measurements, ink chromatography, and blood typing to follow the evidence. 👣🕵️‍♀️

The final clue? A surprise suspect!

Hands-on science + critical thinking + a little mystery = a great STEM Saturday at NERD Lab. 🧪

Next up:
6/13: Father’s Day STEM: Metal Sand Casting
6/13: TINY TOTS: Balloon Race Cars
7/11 TINY TOTS: Ice Cream Science
7/25 Paddle Boat Engineering Challenge

Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-saturdays

06/03/2026

Weekend plans? We’ve got a mystery to solve.

Students will use science to investigate a mystery, examine clues, compare evidence, and figure out what happened. It’s part detective work, part STEM challenge, and a fun way for curious kids to spend Saturday morning.

🔎 Recommended Grades: 3–5
📅 Date: Saturday, June 6
⏰ Time: 10:00–11:30 AM
🔗 Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-saturdays

06/01/2026

🔬 What a year of discovery at NERD Lab!

Students explored biology, chemistry, and physics through hands-on labs and investigations designed to bring science concepts to life. From collecting data and conducting experiments to making observations and testing ideas, students had opportunities to apply what they’re learning and see science in action.

✨ Our 2026-2027 Science Labs series features an all-new lineup of topics for elementary and middle school students.

Registration is now open!

Elementary: nerd-lab.com/science-labs-es-1
Middle School: nerd-lab.com/science-labs-ms

05/31/2026

🔬⚙️ Looking for something fun, hands-on, and educational this summer?

Join us for STEM SATURDAYS at NERD Lab!

From solving mysteries and creating metal castings to building balloon-powered cars, making ice cream, and engineering paddle boats, each session is packed with interactive STEM challenges designed to get kids thinking, creating, and exploring.

📅 June–July Series
🧪 Hands-on STEM Activities
🎓 Scholarships Accepted

Register today: nerd-lab.com/stem-saturdays

05/31/2026

🤖 Still looking for a summer activity for your child?

Our 3-Day Sphero Robotics Camp is a fun, hands-on way for students to explore coding and robotics this summer. Whether your child is brand new to coding or already loves robots, they'll spend three days programming Sphero robots and tackling a different challenge each day.

🏁 DAY 1: Maze Challenge – Program a robot to navigate a maze.
🏎️ DAY 2: Chariot Race Challenge – Build and race a robot-powered chariot.
🎵 DAY 3: Robot Dance Party – Create a synchronized robot dance routine using lights, movement, and music.

Students will learn block-based coding, test their ideas, solve problems, and put their skills to work through exciting robotics challenges and competitions.

📅 3-Day Robotics Camp
💻 Learn Block-Based Coding
🤖 Program a Sphero Robot
🏆 A New Challenge Every Day

Register today: nerd-lab.com/stem-camps

05/28/2026

⛏️ Archaeology Site Dig = history, science, and discovery in action! 🏺🔍

Students excavated a simulated dig site — just like real scientists uncovering clues from the past.

From gold nuggets and coins to pottery, tools, and toys, each discovery helped students investigate how scientists learn about culture, technology, and everyday life. 🏺🪙

We also reconstructed broken pottery fragments to piece together ancient discoveries — a hands-on look at how researchers analyze and preserve history. 🧩

The day wrapped up with a sweet excavation challenge: carefully uncovering chocolate chips and M&Ms from cookies while accurately mapping where each item was found. 🍪🍫

Real-world science. Hands-on discovery. That’s how we do STEM at NERD Lab!

05/25/2026

⚙️Future Engineers Bootcamp: BYOL⚙️

Build the lightsaber. Learn the skills.

This isn’t just a STEM camp — it’s an engineering-intensive experience for high school students ready for real tools, real troubleshooting, and real hands-on technical work.

Students will work directly with professional engineers as they assemble electronics, solder components, troubleshoot systems, and build their own custom lightsaber. 💡🔧⚡

Come for the lightsaber. Stay for the skills. Leave feeling like a Jedi—with a future in STEM.

Register: nerd-lab.com/stem-camps