Compare 37+ Space & Aviation programs in Chicago — day camps, summer programs, and university pre-college options for kids, teens & high schoolers. Free directory with prices & dates.
Refreshed weekly · Last updated Oct 9, 2026
Young explorers embark on an out-of-this-world journey with hands-on activities, crafts, and imaginative stories about space, rockets, and astronauts.
Age Group
Elementary
Location
Itasca Park District, Itasca, IL
Phone
(630) 773-2257
Students design ways to adjust planetary temperatures, explore soil types for plant growth, and investigate terraforming Mars to understand life beyond Earth.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
Multiple Locations
Phone
(773) 897-4001
Students build and launch rockets, design spaceships using 3D modeling, assemble and remote control Mars rovers, and learn astronomy through engaging missions and challenges.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
Multiple Locations
Phone
(888) 854-2267
High school students explore aerospace engineering principles, learning about aircraft and spacecraft design, aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science through experiential workshops and labs.
Age Group
High School
Location
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Phone
N/A
High school students explore aviation through interactive learning, flight experiences, career exploration, and field trips to aviation facilities, gaining firsthand industry exposure.
Age Group
High School
Location
Harold E. White Aviation Center, Lewis University, One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446
Phone
N/A
Students aged 13-18 learn about aviation careers, flight safety, take orientation flights, and visit airports and control towers, meeting aviation professionals.
Age Group
Middle/High School
Location
Lewis University, One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446
Phone
(630) 878-8608
Teens aged 14-18 explore aviation and aerospace through flight simulator and actual flight time, covering pre-flight inspections, radio communications, and flight planning.
Age Group
High School
Location
32w751 Tower Road, West Chicago, IL
Phone
(630) 513-2224
Students aged 13-18 gain hands-on experience in aviation history, aerodynamics, government's role in aviation, and diverse aerospace career opportunities.
Age Group
Middle/High School
Location
Chicago, IL
Phone
N/A
Students learn drone flight control, basic coding, FAA regulations, and explore drone industry careers through hands-on challenges and missions.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60643
Phone
(855) 376-2687
High school students explore rocket science and engineering principles through hands-on construction, design challenges, and guided experimentation in this aerospace engineering program.
Age Group
High School
Location
Illinois Institute of Technology, Mies Campus, Chicago, IL
Phone
N/A
Campers become astronauts-in-training, learning about the sun, moon, planets, and astronaut life through hands-on activities like making moon sand and exploring zero gravity.
Age Group
Elementary
Location
West Chicago Park District, 201 W National St, West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone
(847) 893-6009
Students learn to operate remote-controlled aircraft, fly flight simulators, build and launch rockets, and explore airport planning and design.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
1000 E 127th St, Chicago, IL 60628
Phone
(773) 994-4328
Weeklong STEM camp for grades 5-8 exploring science concepts through hands-on experiments and challenges involving chemistry and aeronautics.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
59 W North Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone
(312) 582-6000
Young learners immerse in aviation with professional flight simulators, drone operations, hands-on engineering projects, and tours of real aviation facilities at Lewis University.
Age Group
Middle/High School
Location
Lewis University | 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, IL 60446
Phone
N/A
Students build Mars rovers, explore how rovers move and collect samples, and design and build mini spaceship models during a themed week.
Age Group
Elementary
Location
Multiple Locations
Phone
(773) 895-1565
Students become astronauts, learn about space travel, explore the universe, and build rockets through hands-on activities with NASA-collaborated curriculum.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
Multiple Locations
Phone
(312) 273-4026
Campers embark on an out-of-this-world adventure, building rockets, coding moonwalks, and navigating galactic challenges.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
Nettelhorst Elementary School, Chicago
Phone
(773) 904-7471
Campers embark on a mission inspired by NASA and SpaceX, engaging in hands-on activities to explore space and build serious STEM skills.
Age Group
Elementary
Location
620 W. Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone
(888) 854-2267
Young learners delve into the wonders of space through hands-on art, science, and play, building rockets and painting planets.
Age Group
Elementary
Location
1362 E. 59th St., Chicago, IL 60637
Phone
(773) 702-9450
Students spend a week learning about the skies, space, and wonders of the universe, studying the solar system, gravity, satellites, and constellations with experiments and demonstrations.
Age Group
Middle School
Location
1076 W. Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone
1-800-433-6060 ext 1
Summer camps are great, but the real portfolio comes from competing. See every FIRST Robotics team in IL — plus pathways, deadlines, and pick lists for math, coding, science, and research competitions.
Looking for a STEM summer camp near you? This free Chicago directory lists 447+ local and online programs across the Chicago 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.
We list 447+ STEM summer camps in Chicago, IL 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.
Prices in our Chicago 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.
Camps in our Chicago 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.
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 Chicago-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.
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.
