Science & Innovation Summer Camps in San Diego, CA — Summer 2026

Compare 38+ Science & Innovation programs in San Diego — day camps, summer programs, and university pre-college options for kids, teens & high schoolers. Free directory with prices & dates.

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Camps for Science & Innovation (38)

Refreshed weekly · Last updated Jul 25, 2026

Science & Innovation

Elementary Institute of Science Summer Camp 2026

Youth ages 7–14 immerse themselves in STEM learning through hands-on lab activities, guest STEM professionals, and field trips, exploring various science topics weekly.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
608 51st St, San Diego, CA 92114

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation
🏫 UC San Diego

UCSD Research Experience for High School Students (REHS) 2026

High school students in grades 10-12 gain exposure to computational science and related research fields through an eight-week volunteer program with mentorship and project work.

Age Group
High School

Location
San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation
🏫 UC San Diego

Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK) 2026

High school students engage in a six-week paid internship conducting hands-on research in stem cell and regenerative medicine at leading San Diego research institutes.

Age Group
High School

Location
UC San Diego and affiliated research institutes

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation

Fleet Science Center Summer Camps

💰 $270–$300/wk

Campers engage in exciting experiments, intriguing investigations, and hands-on activities across various STEM fields, fostering curiosity and a lifelong interest in science.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone
(619) 238-1233

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of California San Diego

Birch Aquarium Summer Camp

💰 $270–$620/wk

Children explore underwater worlds, meet ocean creatures, and engage in hands-on activities, games, and crafts to learn about marine science and ocean conservation.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037

Phone
(858) 534-7336

Science & Innovation
🏫 UC San Diego

Sally Ride Science Academy Summer STEAM Program

K–12 students engage in hands-on STEAM workshops to explore roles like space explorers, coders, and marine biologists, inspiring future careers.

Age Group
Middle/High School

Location
Multiple Locations

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation

Magikid Robotics Lab Summer Robotics STEM Camp

💰 $465–$495/wk

Students build and program robots, developing coding and programming skills through unique and engaging projects that encourage creativity and problem-solving.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
8280 Mira Mesa Blvd Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92126

Phone
(858) 869-3113

Science & Innovation
🏫 San Diego State University

SDSU Yang Lab Research Summer Camp

High school students explore materials science, 3D printing, and bioinspired design, gaining hands-on lab experience and contributing to research.

Age Group
High School

Location
15455 Paseo Del Sur, San Diego, CA 9217

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation

Science Guys of San Diego - Science Summer Camps

💰 From $450/wk

Kids aged 5-12 explore science through fun, hands-on experiments in various themes like space, rocketry, physics, and chemistry, with many take-home activities.

Age Group
Elementary

Location
St. Columba Catholic School, 3365 Glencolum Dr, San Diego, CA

Phone
(619) 825-2342

Science & Innovation

Linda Vista Innovation Center Summer Camp - Drone Camp

Students in grades 6-10 explore drone technology, learning to fly and code indoor drones, film outdoor footage, edit videos, and prepare for drone safety certification.

Age Group
Middle/High School

Location
2202 Comstock Street, San Diego, CA 92111

Phone
(858) 295-8795

Science & Innovation
🏫 UC San Diego

UCSD Advanced Research Experience (ARE)

High school students conduct five weeks of intensive research in AI, machine learning, neuroscience, biophysics, and data science with UC San Diego researchers.

Age Group
High School

Location
UC San Diego campus and San Diego Supercomputer Center

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of San Diego

AAUW Tech Trek Camp - University of San Diego

This overnight camp for middle school girls focuses on STEM, exposing them to various fields and occupations through hands-on experience in classes, workshops, and demonstrations on a university campus.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110

Phone
(916) 389-0220

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of California San Diego

UCSD COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)

💰 From $5,518

Academically talented high school students engage in advanced coursework and research across STEM disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, utilizing university resources in a four-week residential program.

Age Group
High School

Location
UC San Diego campus

Phone
(858) 534-0400

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of California San Diego

UCSD Pre-College Community - Tier 2 Summer Research Program (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

High school students gain multidisciplinary practical research experience in marine science, collaborating with Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate students and active marine science researchers.

Age Group
High School

Location
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) Campus, La Jolla, San Diego

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation
🏫 UC San Diego

UCSD Academic Connections

💰 $4,500–$4,700

High school students experience academically enriching college-level coursework across various subjects including science, technology, engineering, humanities, and social sciences.

Age Group
High School

Location
UC San Diego campus

Phone
(858) 534-3400

Science & Innovation
🏫 Scripps Research

Scripps Research High School Summer Internship (REACH Program)

High school students from partner schools engage in an eight-week paid biomedical research internship, gaining hands-on lab experience, attending seminars, and participating in career-building workshops.

Age Group
High School

Location
Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation

Wonder Quest Learning Center STEM Summer Camp

Kids in grades 3-8 explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on experiments, coding, robotics, and field trips, building projects like Bluetooth electric cars or exploring biotechnology.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
11236 El Camino Real, Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92130

Phone
(858) 351-1588

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of San Diego

Camp Tech Revolution at USD (Lavner Camps)

Students aged 6-14 engage in cutting-edge, hands-on activities in robotics, coding, game design, and AI, preparing them for future STEM careers at the University of San Diego.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
University of San Diego

Phone
N/A

Science & Innovation

Mad Science of San Diego Summer Camps

Campers engage in hands-on discovery and exploration of scientific principles, creating take-home projects and experiencing science through touch, sight, sound, and smell.

Age Group
Elementary

Location
Multiple Locations

Phone
(858) 505-4880

Science & Innovation
🏫 University of California San Diego

UCSD Research Experience for High School Students (SDSC StudentTech)

💰 From $1,500

An eight-week volunteer program where high school students gain hands-on computational experience, work readiness skills, and mentorship with computational research scientists at the San Diego Supercomputer Center.

Age Group
High School

Location
UC San Diego, San Diego Supercomputer Center

Phone
N/A

Year-round STEM competitions in San Diego

Summer camps are great, but the real portfolio comes from competing. See every FIRST Robotics team in CA — plus pathways, deadlines, and pick lists for math, coding, science, and research competitions.

Find FRC teams in CA → Top STEM competitions →

STEM summer camps near you in San Diego, CA

Looking for a STEM summer camp near you? This free San Diego directory lists 215+ local and online programs across the San Diego metro area — including AI, coding, robotics, science, and math camps for kids, middle schoolers, and high school students. Compare prices, dates, age groups, and formats, then filter by focus area above to find the closest match for Summer 2026.

Frequently asked questions about STEM summer camps in San Diego

What is the best STEM summer camp in San Diego for 2026?

We list 215+ STEM summer camps in San Diego, CA across AI & machine learning, coding, robotics, science, math, space, and cybersecurity. Top picks vary by your child's age and interests — use the category filters above to compare programs by price, duration, and format.

How much do STEM summer camps cost in San Diego?

Prices in our San Diego directory range from free community programs to $3,000+ for university-hosted pre-college tracks. Most full-day weekly camps run $400–$900 per week; specialized AI and research programs typically run $1,000–$2,500 for the full program. Click any camp for current pricing.

What ages can attend STEM summer camps in San Diego?

Camps in our San Diego listings cover elementary (typically ages 6–10), middle school (11–13), high school (14–18), and selective pre-college research programs for rising seniors. Filter by age group to see only programs that match your child.

Are there online or virtual STEM camps for students in San Diego?

Yes — many of our listed programs offer fully online or hybrid formats, especially in AI, coding, and research. Online options are open to students nationwide, including San Diego-area kids who can't travel to an in-person camp. Look for the “Virtual Camp” filter or any program tagged Online / Hybrid in the details.

Can high schoolers attend university pre-college STEM programs near San Diego?

Yes. Several listings are pre-college programs hosted by universities — including residential and commuter options. These are competitive admissions with applications often closing in March/April for summer cohorts. Use the Pre-College filter at the top to see only these programs.