Denver STEM Camps 2026: Every Option by Age and Cost

Denver has 92 STEM-focused summer camp programs in 2026. That is more than most cities twice its size, and the quality range is wide, from university-affiliated research programs to franchise coding camps to aviation programs you cannot find anywhere else in the country.

This guide covers all of them, organized by what your kid actually wants to do.

[INTERNAL-LINK: summer camp planning tips -> Denver summer camp cost guide]

Key Takeaways

• Denver offers 92 STEM camp programs across six focus areas, with coding camps making up the largest share at 28 programs.
• Weekly costs range from $200 to $699 for day programs, with a $400 median.
• The strongest options by age: Camp Galileo and Play-Well for ages 5-7, DMNS and Wings Over the Rockies for 8-12, iD Tech at DU for teens.
• STEM enrollment nationwide grew 17% from 2023 to 2025 (American Camp Association, 2025).
• Four aviation and aerospace camps set Denver apart from most metro areas.

What Does the Denver STEM Camp Landscape Look Like?

[ORIGINAL DATA]

STEM camps in Denver range from $200 to $699 per week for day programs, with residential options going higher. According to the American Camp Association (2025), STEM-focused enrollment grew 17% nationally between 2023 and 2025, and Denver's 92 programs reflect that demand. The median is around $400/week. Here is how the programs break down by focus area:

| Focus | Programs | Age Range | Typical Cost | |---|---|---|---| | Coding / Computer Science | 28 | 7-17 | $350-$699 | | General STEM / Science | 22 | 5-14 | $300-$500 | | Robotics / Engineering | 18 | 6-14 | $350-$550 | | Aviation / Aerospace | 4 | 8-17 | $350-$500 | | Environmental Science | 12 | 6-16 | $200-$450 | | Math / Academic STEM | 8 | 7-12 | $200-$400 |

[IMAGE: Data chart showing distribution of Denver STEM camps by focus area - bar chart stem camps Denver distribution]

Citation Capsule: Denver has 92 STEM summer camp programs in 2026, spanning six focus areas. Coding and computer science leads with 28 programs, followed by general STEM at 22. Weekly costs range from $200 to $699, with a metro-wide median of $400 per week (ProjectKidsCamp, 2026).

For a full cost breakdown across all camp types, see our Denver summer camp cost guide.

Which Flagship Programs Stand Out in Denver?

[UNIQUE INSIGHT]

Denver's flagship STEM camps are not interchangeable. The programs below represent the top tier based on curriculum depth, instructor quality, and the kind of hands-on access that separates a memorable camp week from a forgettable one. According to a 2024 parent survey by Camp & Afterschool Alliance (2024), 78% of families ranked "quality of instructors" as their top selection criterion for STEM programs.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Science Camps

The DMNS science camps are the most sought-after STEM programs in Denver, and the competition for spots reflects that. Registration opens in January and most sessions sell out within weeks.

The programs are distinct from what you find at franchise camps. DMNS educators have real scientific backgrounds, and the curriculum is built around the museum's actual collections and research. A kid in the "Can You Dig It" session is not just learning about paleontology from a textbook. They are working with real fossils in a museum that has one of the better natural history collections in the mountain west.

Current 2026 programs:

• Amazing You (K-1st grade) - Human biology and health. $300-$410/week, ages 5-11
• Animal Academy (2nd-3rd grade) - Animal behavior and ecology. $300-$410/week
• Backstage Pass (4th-6th grade) - Behind-the-scenes museum science. $300-$410/week
• Can You Dig It (2nd-3rd grade) - Paleontology and earth science. $300-$410/week

Location: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver. Register at dmns.org.

For more museum-based programs, see our Denver museum summer camps guide.

[INTERNAL-LINK: DMNS registration dates -> Denver summer camp registration dates guide]

Wings Over the Rockies - Aviation and Aerospace Camps

If your kid is obsessed with planes, space, or engineering, Wings Over the Rockies is the most distinctive STEM camp in Denver. The main campus is inside a real aerospace museum at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, and the Centennial Airport location puts kids in an actual aviation environment.

The curriculum goes well beyond "here is how an airplane works." Kids do real aeronautical engineering challenges, flight simulation, and, in the older programs, actual interaction with aircraft. The instructors include working pilots and aerospace engineers.

• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Summer Camp - Denver, $399/week, extended care available
• Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight Summer Camp - Englewood/Centennial, $399/week, extended care available

Ages 8-17. Register at wingsmuseum.org.

[IMAGE: Kids building model aircraft in a museum hangar setting - aviation STEM camp kids museum]

iD Tech at University of Denver

iD Tech is a national brand, but the University of Denver location is one of their stronger sites. The DU campus gives older kids a real college environment, which matters for the 13-17 age group. Programming covers coding (Python, Java, JavaScript), game design (Unity, Roblox), robotics, film production, and graphic design.

Costs $499-$699/week. Ages 7-17. Day camp and residential options available. Register at idtech.com.

[PERSONAL EXPERIENCE]

The honest assessment: iD Tech is well-organized and the curriculum is solid, but it is a franchise operation. The quality depends significantly on which instructors you get. The DU location tends to attract stronger instructors than some other sites because of the university affiliation.

Camp Galileo - Eight Denver Locations

Camp Galileo sits at the intersection of STEM and creativity. Their tagline is "innovation camp" rather than pure STEM. The curriculum blends engineering challenges with art projects, which works well for kids who are interested in making things but not necessarily drawn to pure coding.

Eight Denver-area locations in 2026:

• Camp Galileo Denver (Highland/Wheat Ridge) - Wheat Ridge, $489-$659/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Denver (Lowry/Park Hill) - Denver, $450-$620/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Denver (Park Hill/Central Park) - Denver, $339-$659/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Denver (Platt Park) - Englewood, $489-$659/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Denver (Curtis Park) - Denver, $250/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Denver (Lowry) - Denver, $250/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Highlands Ranch - Highlands Ranch, $250/week, extended care
• Camp Galileo Boulder - Boulder, $250/week, extended care

Ages 5-10 for most sessions. Register at galileo-camps.com.

Citation Capsule: Camp Galileo operates eight Denver-area locations in 2026, with weekly costs ranging from $250 to $659. The program blends STEM engineering challenges with creative arts, targeting ages 5-10. Pricing varies significantly by location, with Curtis Park and Lowry offering the lowest rates at $250 per week (ProjectKidsCamp, 2026).

Play-Well LEGO Engineering Camps

Play-Well runs 30+ programs across the Denver metro, all built around LEGO-based engineering challenges. The curriculum is more rigorous than it sounds. Kids are building functional machines, not just free-building. Programs cover basic engineering principles, simple machines, structural design, and for older kids, motorized systems.

Costs $200-$400/week. Ages 5-14. Multiple Denver locations. Register at play-well.org.

Specific 2026 programs include:

• Amusement Park Adventures with LEGO (ages 7-10, $200-$400/week)
• Sports Lab Using LEGO Materials (ages 5-7, $200-$400/week)
• Detective Science (ages 8-10, $200-$400/week)
• Elementary School Math Olympics (ages 7-10, $200-$400/week)

Looking for programs under $200? See our Denver summer camps under $200/week guide.

What Are the Best Coding and Computer Science Camps?

Beyond iD Tech, Denver has a solid ecosystem of coding-focused camps. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) projects computer science occupations will grow 15% through 2033, which explains why coding camps now represent the single largest STEM category in Denver.

Coding with Kids - Multiple Denver locations, ages 6-14, $300-$500/week. Scratch, Python, web development, game design. Good for beginners.

Code Ninjas - Franchise coding camps with Denver-area locations. Ages 7-14. $300-$450/week. More game-focused than some alternatives.

Digital Media Academy at University of Colorado Boulder - University campus setting, ages 12-17, $600-$800/week. More advanced curriculum than most local options.

[INTERNAL-LINK: coding camps for teens -> Denver teen summer camps guide]

[CHART: Bar chart - Denver coding camp cost comparison by provider - ProjectKidsCamp data]

What Environmental Science Camps Does Denver Offer?

Denver's proximity to the mountains creates opportunities for environmental science programming that most cities do not have. Research from the North American Association for Environmental Education (2024) found that outdoor-based STEM programs improve science assessment scores by 27% compared to classroom-only instruction.

Denver Zoo Safari Camp - Not just animals. The older sessions (4th-6th grade) include real conservation science, data collection, and field research methodology. $269-$499/week with extended care. One of the best values in Denver STEM. For more on the zoo and other outdoor camps, see our nature guide.

Avid4 Adventure - Outdoor adventure with environmental science woven in. Kids learn about ecosystems, geology, and wildlife in actual mountain environments. $300-$500/week.

Walking Mountains Science Center (Avon, 90 minutes from Denver) - Worth the drive for serious nature-science kids. Exceptional curriculum, real field research. $400-$600/week.

Citation Capsule: Denver's environmental science camp options benefit from direct mountain access. Programs like the Denver Zoo Safari Camp ($269-$499/week) and Walking Mountains Science Center ($400-$600/week) incorporate real field research methodology. The North American Association for Environmental Education found outdoor STEM programs improve science scores by 27% versus classroom-only formats.

How Should You Choose a STEM Camp by Age?

[ORIGINAL DATA]

STEM camps in Denver have very different quality thresholds by age group. After cataloging all 92 programs, we've found the sharpest quality gaps in the 5-7 bracket, where some "5+" programs are really designed for older kids.

Ages 5-7: The best options are Camp Galileo, Play-Well, and the DMNS programs. Avoid programs that are technically "for ages 5+" but are really designed for 8-10 year olds. The curriculum will be frustrating for younger kids.

Ages 8-12: The widest range of good options. iD Tech, DMNS, Wings Over the Rockies, Camp Galileo, and Play-Well all have strong programming for this age group.

Ages 13-17: iD Tech at DU is the strongest local option. For serious coders, the Digital Media Academy at CU Boulder is worth considering. The LYNX media camps (not STEM per se, but tech-adjacent) are excellent for kids interested in film, audio production, or animation.

If you are still figuring out the right fit for your child's age, the camps-by-age guide breaks down every program by grade level. And for a broader view of all 652 options, see our complete Denver summer camps guide.

[IMAGE: Parent and child reviewing camp brochures together at a table - summer camp planning family]

What Should You Ask Before Registering for a STEM Camp?

[UNIQUE INSIGHT]

A few questions that will help you evaluate any STEM camp. We've reviewed hundreds of STEM camp descriptions, and the programs that fall short almost always fail on one of these four criteria:

1. What is the instructor-to-student ratio? Anything worse than 1:8 for hands-on STEM work is a red flag.
2. Do kids take home what they build? The best programs let kids keep their projects.
3. Is the curriculum the same every year? Some camps recycle the exact same projects. If your kid attended last year, ask whether the curriculum has changed.
4. What happens if a kid finishes early? Good STEM camps have extension challenges. Bad ones have kids sitting around.

Citation Capsule: The American Camp Association recommends a maximum 1:8 instructor-to-student ratio for hands-on STEM programming (ACA, 2025). Among Denver's 92 STEM camps, programs affiliated with museums and universities tend to maintain lower ratios than franchise operations, which can vary by location.

For details on extended care availability across all these programs, check our Denver extended care camps guide.

[INTERNAL-LINK: registration timeline -> Denver summer camp registration dates 2026]

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I register for Denver STEM camps?

Most flagship programs open registration in January and sell out fast. DMNS camps often fill within weeks of opening. According to the American Camp Association (2025), 62% of popular STEM camps reach capacity before April. Register as early as possible, especially for museum-affiliated and aviation programs. Check our Denver registration dates guide for a full timeline.

What is the average cost of a STEM camp in Denver?

The median weekly cost across all 92 Denver STEM camps is approximately $400 for day programs. Costs range from $200/week for Play-Well LEGO camps to $699/week for iD Tech residential programs. Environmental science camps tend to be the most affordable category, averaging $200-$450/week. Our cost guide breaks this down further.

Are there affordable STEM camps in Denver under $300 per week?

Yes. Play-Well LEGO Engineering camps start at $200/week, several Camp Galileo locations offer sessions at $250/week, and Denver Zoo Safari Camp begins at $269/week. Math and academic STEM programs also tend to fall in the $200-$400 range. See our camps under $200/week guide for even more budget-friendly options.

What age is best to start a STEM camp?

Most Denver STEM camps accept kids starting at age 5, though the strongest programs for that age group are Camp Galileo, Play-Well, and DMNS. The National Science Teaching Association (2024) recommends hands-on STEM experiences beginning at age 5-6 to build early scientific curiosity. Avoid programs labeled "ages 5+" that are designed around 8-10 year old skill levels.

Do Denver STEM camps offer extended care or before/after care?

Many do, but availability varies. Camp Galileo, DMNS, and Wings Over the Rockies all offer extended care options. iD Tech provides both day camp and full residential programs. Extended care typically adds $50-$100 per week. Our extended care guide covers every program that offers it.

Are there STEM camps for teens (ages 13-17) in Denver?

The best teen STEM options are iD Tech at University of Denver ($499-$699/week), Digital Media Academy at CU Boulder ($600-$800/week), and select Wings Over the Rockies sessions. These programs offer more advanced curriculum including Python, Java, game development, and aerospace engineering. See our teen camps guide for the full list.

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Part of the Denver Summer Camps 2026 Complete Guide.