Summer Chemistry Camps
Fun with Chemistry camps have been a local Madison tradition since their inception in 1984. The weeklong summer programs seek to excite and inspire 5th–8th grade students with hands-on science experiences that they will remember for a lifetime. Campers spend five afternoons working in laboratories in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A staff of experienced graduate and undergraduate students supervises your 5th–8th grader in small groups. These group leaders emphasize laboratory safety while communicating fundamental concepts in science and encouraging campers to exercise their reasoning skills. The registration fee for a one-week session of either camp is $130. Campers may register for multiple sessions. A few scholarships are available for those who document the need. For more information, contact us at 608/262-3033 or ice@chem.wisc.edu.
To register your child for a camp, download our registration form. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you may need to download the application for free at the Adobe website. Complete and return the form by mail to ICE Summer Camp, 1001 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706 or by fax at 608-265-8094.
Camps for Summer 2009
Fun with Chemistry Camp: 7/6/09–7/10/09
Fun with Chemistry is the original camp offered by the Institute for Chemical Education, introduces students to basic chemistry concepts. The camp ran continuously for 20 years before being brought back popular demand in 2007. Daily themes include: the elements, polymers and crystals, metals and alloys, ions and chromatography, and acids and bases. Experiments are short and follow straight-forward directions. Practically every day the campers make something in the lab that they can take home with them.
NEW FOR 2009! Fun with Food Science Camp: 7/13/08–7/17/09
Campers will explore the scientific principles behind food and cooking. Students will learn various chemical analyses for nutritional content, how chemical structure contributes to the properties of food, and how foods get their flavors. Other topics include how baked goods rise, and how butter is made.
Fun with Forensics Science Camp: 7/20/09–7/24/09
First offered during the summer of 2004, the popular Fun with Forensic Science Camp is back with improved scenarios and experiments. Campers gather evidence, learn forensic science techniques, and employ the scientific method to solve daily mysteries and crimes. Guest speakers from forensic science related careers enhance the program’s connection to real-life science.
Science of Superheroes Camp: 7/27/09–7/31/09
The Science behind the Superheros science camp for middle school students will touch on scientific themes related to your favorite superhero. What materials are used to make Elastigirl's uniform so flexible or Batman's gadgets bullet proof? How does radiation cause genetic mutations that give the Fantastic 4 their superpowers? What does it really mean to have "x-ray vision?" These are just some of the scientific topics that will be investigated during the weeklong camp.
If you are interested in the activities or hosting a Fun with Chemistry camp in your local area please see our Fun with Chemistry Chem Camp Handbook for purchase through the ICE store.