Students work with artificial intelligence and art at an SIU summer camp earlier this year., (Photo by Amihere Benson)
July 10, 2025
Last chance for kids to enjoy SIU’s 2025 summer camp fun
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The clock is ticking but it’s not too late for youths to enjoy Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s summer 2025 camp experience. A diverse array of academic, athletic, art, music, and outdoor and nature camps are available through early August for children from first grade through high school.
Check out all of the options and sign up on summer camps webpage. SIU’s talented, experienced and interesting faculty and staff members and coaches, with assistance from Saluki athletes, students in related fields and special guests lead the camps. That knowledge, expertise and caring ensure campers have an enjoyable, inspirational time expanding their knowledge, skills and making memories.
Create plant computer codes, engineer floating vessels
Several of this year’s camps give the young participants a creative, fun chance to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with some even adding an agriculture component to become STEAM camps. All of the STEM/STEAM camps are filled with unique, hands-on experiences that make learning intriguing and exciting.
For instance, during the STEAM Sensory Engineering in the Field camp, set for July 21-25, students entering grades 7 and 8 this fall will learn about human sensory systems and create devices to duplicate them using electronic sensors and tiny computers. Because farmers and biologists have always used their five senses to assess the health of plans and smart machines are now programmed to do this, the campers will create a tool with a sensor and microprocessor and write computer codes to enable their tools to correctly identify plant diseases via examination of the flora’s leaves.
SIU is partnering with the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy to present this fascinating camp.
Experiential learning will also provide an exceptional camp experience for middle school students in grades 6-8 on July 14-17 as they enjoy “Involving Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math” camp. Despite its name, the camp is actually open to all, regardless of gender. Participants will tackle the full engineering design process, including brainstorming, creating, redesigning and retesting their fabrications. Each participant will envision and fashion a floating vessel, before creating, launching and testing its seaworthiness.
The camp is a collaborative effort among SIU’s STEM Education Research Center (SERC), along with the colleges of agricultural, life and physical sciences; engineering, computing, technology and mathematics; liberal arts; health and human services, as well as the School of Medicine and School of Education.
Diverse options available
Children can explore and expand their horizons in many ways through the remaining camps. They can enjoy creative arts and crafts thanks to SIU’s Craft Shop, located on the lower level of the Student Center. The arts and crafts workshop options include:
- Drawing Comic Books – set for July 14-18 for grades 1-3 and July 21-25 for grades 4-8.
- Fun with Fiber – July 28 to Aug. 1 for grades 4-8.
Artistry of a different variety will be apparent at the summer piano camp July 21-25, where grades 5 through college age will hone their playing skills.
For youngsters who want to enhance their athletic skills, Saluki Athletics offers several opportunities including:
- Several volleyball camps:
- Saluki Pups camp July 14-15 for pre-K and kindergarten.
- Volleyball positional day camp (defense) July 14.
- Volleyball positional day camp (passing and serving) July 15.
- Volleyball positional day camp (hitting and setting) July 16. Note that all positional camps are for grades 6-12.
- Volleyball high school competition camp/Saluki prospect ID camp July 17 for grades 9-12.
- Soccer youth summer camp July 14-17 for grades 1-8.
- Track and field throws camp July 25-26 for high school athletes.
On the academic side
Several other academically oriented camps are on tap yet this summer as well. The choices include:
- Ag Education Camp immerses students in grades 10-12 in the world of agriculture education as they explore SIU’s agriculture program and sharpen their leadership skills July 14-16.
- Saluki Opportunities Awareness Residency (SOAR) career development program gives school juniors and seniors from under-represented ethnic groups an intensive, innovative introduction to college life July 20-26.
Sign up now
Explore all of the Saluki camps and find online registration at camps.siu.edu. Events and Outreach and Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center coordinate most of the camps, while Saluki Athletics and various other campus units handle the rest.
Media Advisory
SIU’s summer camps offer numerous opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to obtain appealing activity stories, photographs and videos. Contact Christi Mathis at cmathis@siu.edu for details about camp plans as well as specific times and dates offering the best options for obtaining interesting content for stories and broadcasts.