Southwestern Michigan College Gears Up for Summer STEM Camps

SMC offers free one-day camps for students entering grades 4-6 to explore science, technology, engineering, and math.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 7:00am

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Southwestern Michigan College is preparing for its annual STEM summer camps, which offer hands-on workshops and activities in science, technology, engineering, and math for students entering grades 4-6 from across Southwest Michigan. The camps, which have been running since 2017, are led by SMC faculty, students, and local teachers, and are fully funded by the Bosch Community Fund.

Why it matters

The STEM camps aim to get elementary-aged students excited about and engaged with STEM concepts at an early age, helping to build a pipeline of future scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers. With growing demand for STEM skills in the workforce, these camps play an important role in preparing the next generation.

The details

During the one-day camps, students participate in hands-on workshops that cover each letter of STEM. In the science workshop, they might mix chemicals, observe color changes, or make slime. In the technology workshop, they could code with AI. The math workshop might involve populating a zoo to learn fractions. The camps are designed to provide unforgettable learning experiences that are high-energy and fun.

  • The STEM camps have been offered by SMC since 2017.
  • Last summer, 164 campers participated in the program.
  • Registrations for the 2026 STEM camps will open in May.

The players

Andrew Dohm

An SMC math and science professor who helped design the STEM camp program.

Bosch Community Fund

The organization that has generously underwritten the STEM camp program for years, allowing SMC to offer the camps for free.

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What they’re saying

“We saw there was a need for these upper elementary age students to be involved in STEM activities. There was an interest there. So we kind of put our heads together and we designed a one-day camp where students come to the campus of SMC in Dowagiac and we go into our science building and we basically have the students go through one hands-on workshop per letter of STEM.”

— Andrew Dohm, SMC Math and Science Professor

“The students love it. They get a lot out of it. It's high energy, hands-on, but it gets them excited about some fundamental STEM concepts and it gets them working in groups and it brings them to college for the day. And a lot of students have never been to our campus.”

— Andrew Dohm, SMC Math and Science Professor

“In a lot of ways, I think it's the way learning should be. You're trying to provide them those unforgettable learning experiences, the wow factors and the 'Look at what you did' and 'Wow, that was successful.' There's just so many different things that I think the students get out of it.”

— Andrew Dohm, SMC Math and Science Professor

What’s next

Registrations for the 2026 STEM camps at SMC will open in May, and parents are encouraged to check the SMC website for more information.

The takeaway

By offering free, hands-on STEM camps for elementary students, SMC is helping to build a pipeline of future scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers, providing unforgettable learning experiences that get kids excited about STEM concepts at an early age.