2026 Summer Camps registration is now OPEN!
Geering Up’s mission is to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) exciting and accessible for ALL students! We are dedicated to empowering and inspiring B.C. youth to explore STEM, so we offer summer camps for elementary school students across Greater Vancouver and the Okanagan. These dynamic, 5-day and 4-day camps feature hands-on experiments and creative projects that spark curiosity and foster a love for STEM. Designed to be beginner-friendly and fun, our programs provide the perfect introduction to the world of innovation. Explore our 2026 offerings below!
- Weekly Programming from JULY through AUGUST
14 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM THEMES - 9AM – 3PM
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME - UBC Vancouver, Richmond, South Surrey, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver, and UBCO Kelowna
- Grade Levels: entering grades 1-7
VARIES BY PROGRAM THEME AND LOCATION - Program Pricing: $410 – $490
VARIES BY PROGRAM THEME, DURATION, AND LOCATION.
Every person should be able to participate in our programs. Please see the information regarding our camp bursaries.
2026 ELEMENTARY STEM SUMMER CAMP THEMES:
Please note that each camp theme in the same grade level will feature the same curriculum each week. As such, we do not advise taking the same camp more than once throughout the summer.
Miniminds A: Early Explorers // Miniminds B: Growing Geniuses
Instill curiosity and develop a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) from a young age! Our Miniminds camps introduce our mini-scientists and engineers to all areas of STEM through lots of exciting, hands-on activities. We provide a safe, fun, and supportive environment for incoming Grade 1 students to practice their social and classroom skills all while exploring, creating, and discovering the exciting world of STEM.
We offer two different versions of Miniminds: Early Explorers (A) and Growing Geniuses (B). Each version will involve different STEM topics, building challenges, and creative activities. Geer up for a STEM-tastic week!
This program is intended for participants who are entering Grade 1 in September 2026. Please note that we cannot accept campers younger than this due to BC childcare laws.
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, Richmond, South Surrey, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver
STEAM 2/3: Creators // STEAM 4/5: Designers
Cultivate your creativity while learning about the world around us! Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) camps blend STEM concepts with artistic design. Get ready to tap into your creative side through a variety of exciting hands-on activities while learning about the sky, sea, cells, and more. Join us for a week filled with arts and crafts and nonstop fun... full STEAM ahead!
Join this camp to unleash your creative side by combining the worlds of art and science! Our camps explore STEM concepts through engaging crafts, games, and activities designed to embed scientific learning into hands-on fun.
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, Richmond, South Surrey
Maker 2/3: Tinkerers // Maker 4/5: Inventors
Are you someone who loves to build things, take them apart, or come up with creative solutions to everyday problems? If so, then this camp is for you! There’s no better way to experience life as an engineer than by engaging in a creativity-filled week of hands-on project-making. Discover innovative solutions to modern-day problems through play and first-hand experimentation. Grab your hard hats and let’s get to problem solving!
Join this camp if you are looking for a space to explore your hands-on problem solving and creative thinking skills! Our Maker camps feature a number of group design challenges to foster collaboration and teamwork.
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, Richmond, South Surrey, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver
STEM Explorations 2/3: Discoverers // STEM Explorations 4/5: Researchers
Are you curious about the world and eager to unravel its interconnected complexities? Our STEM camps invite you to explore and learn about the four disciplines of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. From tackling engineering challenges to diving into mind-boggling science experiments, our hands-on, playful, and interdisciplinary activities make learning an adventure. Welcome, Junior Researchers!
Join this camp if you have a passion for exploring and want to investigate the interconnectedness of the fields of STEM. No tests, no pressure... just hands-on STEM fun!
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, South Surrey, Richmond, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver
Introduction to Engineering 6/7
Did you know that UBC alone has 14 different types of Engineering for you to study? From constructing bridges and creating cutting-edge medical technologies to designing the websites you use every day, engineers shape the world around us! We’ve skillfully engineered a week-long adventure where we’ll dive into a different type of Engineering each day and explore the possibilities of design and ingenuity.
Join this camp if you’re interested in experiencing a broader scope of Engineering in an introductory setting! This camp features a variety of activities to engage campers in the Engineering Design Cycle and provides a sampler of different engineering disciplines.
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, South Surrey
Pathways in STEM 6/7
Embark on an exhilarating journey of discovery in this exploratory camp designed for curious minds! Through hands-on experiments and thrilling challenges, campers will build problem-solving skills, spark new interests, and grow their confidence. We’ll dive into a new STEM discipline each day to spark new passions and guide future interests. Be prepared to explore, innovate, and collaborate in an environment where curiosity knows no bounds!
Join this camp if you have a passion for experimenting and want to discover which STEM fields excite you the most!
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver, South Surrey, Richmond, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver
City Creators 6/7
Are you ready to build an epic adventure in the world of Civil Engineering and City Design? If you’re excited to challenge yourself and turn designs into reality, this camp is the place to be! Join your fellow innovators and amateur architects in an immersive experience that will ignite a passion for shaping the future. Unleash your creativity and gain insight into the principles of urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability. Join us to engineer your architectural abilities and bring your imagination to new heights through a perfect blend of hands-on learning and city-building.
Join this camp if you're eager to learn about the worlds of Civil Engineering, City Design, Architecture, or Environmental Engineering!
ELEMENTARY CODING CAMPS
Geering Up provides week-long beginner-level coding camps for elementary students (Grades 2 to 7) each summer. These specialty camps in Computer Science aim to ignite interest in computational thinking and enhance related skills. Activities encompass visual block coding, binary puzzles, basic game creation, computer graphics and animation, and coding robots. Check out our past summer offerings for elementary coding programs below.
2026 SUMMER CODING CAMP THEMES:
Please note that each camp theme in the same grade level will feature the same curriculum each week. As such, we do not advise taking the same camp more than once throughout the summer.
Tiny Technologists 2/3
Technology makes up the world around us; but how can your young curious minds explore the world of computer science? Tiny Technologists is the place to start!! From engaging computer games to a chance at building your very first block code, this camp is the perfect digital playground for creative imaginations to run wild. Our curriculum teaches the basic principles of computational thinking and coding in byte-sized chunks! With a focus on introductory computer-based activities, this camp requires no previous computer experience.
Join this camp if you want to become more acquainted with how computers work and get an early introduction to computational thinking!
LOCATIONS: UBC Vancouver
Code Quest 4/5
Get creative through exploring a variety of coding and digital design platforms to build your knowledge and grow your skillset! If you’re excited about the wonderful world of technology and design, then you’ll want to join us for a week of hands-on coding adventures that will bring your ideas to life! Instead of focusing on a specific coding language, we introduce and explore several styles of coding platforms to give campers exposure to the vast world of code. Whether you're completely new to computer programming or come with experience, all skill levels are welcome. Come be part of the Coder Crew!
Join this camp if you want to develop or enhance your current coding skills and create all sorts of fascinating tech-based projects. A computer programming program programmed to promote curiosity (say that quickly 3 times!) – all levels welcome!
Technological Futures 6/7
Calling all future innovators and changemakers of the world! Campers will get introduced to different technologies each day to get an understanding of how tech is transforming the world as we know it. From using code in digital art and design to exploring hot topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, we’ve designed this camp to inspire the next generation of creators. Get ready to upgrade your knowledge and fast-forward into the future!
Join this camp if you want to explore the technology of tomorrow! This camp features an introduction to coding and computational thinking, and then it explores how these concepts are being applied in different realms of technology. All coding levels welcome!
CAMP POLICIES & FAQ
Please read the information below regarding our policies in place for camps this year.
Registration Deadlines: Registration for each camp will close at 11:59 PM on the Sunday the week before the camp begins.
(i.e., if the camp begins Monday, July 25th, registration for it will close on Sunday, July 17th)
Geering Up operates as a non-profit organization and incurs substantial fees for each cancellation. The later the cancellation, the harder it is for us to fill the spot with somebody on the waitlist. To offset these costs, our cancellation and transfer policy is as follows:
| Date of Cancellation | Amount Refunded |
|---|---|
| More than 7 business days before the program’s start date: | 100% refund of program price, minus a $35 cancellation fee |
| 7 business days or less before the program’s start date: | 50% refund of program price |
| After 9am the Friday before the program’s start date: | No refund provided |
Camp Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Recess & Lunch: Campers will go outside for a 30-minute recess and a one-hour long lunch each day.
Activities: In our camps we will have a variety of activities including engineering building challenges, coding projects, experiments, creative design projects, and more.
Before & After Care: Geering Up offers supervision for campers who need to be dropped off before camp or picked up after camp ends. We offer before care from 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM Monday through Friday. We offer standard after care from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM or the extended after care from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. We offer both after care programs Monday through Friday. If provincial health restrictions due to COVID-19 change and Geering Up must cancel Before and After Care, participants will be contacted with advanced notice and refunded for this service in full.
*Only our UBC Vancouver and UBCO Kelowna locations offer Before & After Care.
Lunch Program:
- UBC Vancouver: the lunch program is an optional purchase when registering for your programs. Participants receive a main course, side, and drink for their lunch each day. The lunch program costs are for each day of the camp week.
- South Surrey: the lunch program is included in your registration, new for 2026! Participants receive a main course and side for their lunch each day.
*Only our UBC Vancouver and South Surrey Camps offer a lunch program.
Geering Up programming is deigned and intended for individual participants, not groups. Having a group (local or visiting) register for our programming greatly impacts the quality of the individual participant's experience; something that is extremely important to us. As such, group registrations are prohibited.
Please note that Geering Up will withdraw all participants without a refund who are found in breach of the group registration policy at any point before or after programming begins.
Our elementary camp names have an update this year! At Geering Up, each camp theme has an “A” and “B” year for curriculum. This means that a camper can take the same camp over two consecutive years that they qualify for it, without repeating curriculum. We've expanded the camp names starting this year for you to easily distinguish between the A and B years.
For example, your child can do “STEAM 2/3: Discoverers” in 2026 (“A” Year) and “STEAM 2/3: Explorers” in 2027 (“B” Year) without repeating the same content. Camps from previous years still follow this logic, so any Maker/STEAM/STEM Explorations camp your child did in 2025 they can do again in 2026!
Check out our FAQ, or reach us at camps.geeringup@ubc.ca.
