University STEM Camp: Where Kids Become Creators The UC’s Summer STEM Academy is turning summer break into a launchpad
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There’s something happening at 2800 N. 14th Street this summer that’s a little hard to categorize. It’s part science lab, part robotics arena, part crime scene investigation, part rocket launch facility—and it all fits under one roof at the University Center at Ponca City.
The 2026 Summer STEM Academy is back, and if last year’s enthusiasm is any indicator, registration won’t last long.
The program spans kindergarten through eighth grade and is built around one central idea: kids learn best when they’re doing, not watching. Whether that means getting their hands sticky in a chemistry-meets-creativity slime lab, programming a LEGO robot to navigate a maze or analyzing fake fingerprints to solve a mock crime, every camp in the lineup is designed to put students in the role of scientist, engineer or inventor—not spectator.
For the youngest campers, grades K through 2, the options include LEGO-based computer science and AI exploration—yes, AI, even for kindergarteners—alongside a LEGO Science camp built around pushes, pulls and the physics of play. And then there’s Slime, billed as the ultimate “Icky & Sticky” chemistry lab, which may be the most honest marketing in the history of summer programming.
By the time students hit grades 3 through 5, the curriculum shifts into higher gear. A Forensic Science camp challenges kids to lift fingerprints, analyze ink through chromatography and use microscopes to examine fiber evidence—all to solve the mystery of the missing mascot. The 3D Printing camp invites students to design and print their own keychains and fidget spinners using CAD software. Video Game Design moves kids from playing games to building them, using platforms like Scratch to create working arcade-style worlds.
The middle school lineup is where things get genuinely impressive. Sixth through eighth graders can dive into Rocketry—building and launching solid-fuel model rockets while analyzing flight data and mastering Newton’s Laws. The Alternative Energy camp tasks students with building a “Green City” powered by solar ovens, wind turbine blades and water wheels. Petroleum Energy explores Oklahoma’s own energy heritage through geology and reservoir modeling. And Veterinary Science gives aspiring animal doctors a “Vet for a Day” experience that includes reading real X-rays and practicing suturing techniques on bananas.
The LEGO CS & AI track runs through all grade levels, escalating in complexity from introductory algorithms for K-2 students all the way to machine-learning models and neural network exploration for middle schoolers—complete with discussions around AI ethics.
It’s a curriculum that reflects something Ponca City has always known: this community takes education seriously, and it expects its young people to be prepared for the world that’s actually coming, not the one that was.
The University Center has long served as Ponca City’s higher education hub, connecting residents to college pathways without leaving town. The Summer STEM Academy extends that mission downward, planting seeds early and making it clear to kids—sometimes for the first time—that science and technology aren’t just subjects. They’re tools you can actually use.
Registration is open now. Spots are limited.
To register or learn more, visit ucponcacity.com or call 580-718-5600.
The University Center at Ponca City is located at 2800 N. 14th St. Summer semester hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
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