CampsSciCamp Discovery and SciCamp Explorations are residential camps held each summer at our Lorado Taft Campus along the Rock River near Oregon, IL. Middle school campers explore geology, biology, chemistry, and physics through activities in forensics, electricity, paleontology, astronomy and more. Top science educators from the region instruct the sessions, and science and education students provide counseling support. NIU’s SciCamp leadership collaborates with NIU faculty in adolescent development to provide an environment that nourishes the development of every camper, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or learning differences.
SciCamp Investigations is a residential camp held each summer on NIU’s main campus in DeKalb. High school campers spend the week in more serious investigations in science fields of their choice and come together as a group for competitions and science fun. Campers experience dorm life and work in NIU’s science labs. NIU faculty and graduate students supervise the investigations. Camp information is available shortly after the first of each year.
Pati Sievert, Science Camp Director for the seventh year and STEM Outreach Coordinator, holds a Master's Degree in Physics Education and has many years of experience with young people in schools, camps, outreach programming and as a high school physics teacher. Contact Pati with any questions about programming or camp life.
Science Day Camps: Saturday Science day camps occur periodically on campus and at other locations. We can 
assist school districts wishing to host their own Spring Break Science Day Camps and can also help coordinate events with museums.
Get WISE, a program dedicated to helping young women in middle school and high school explore the exciting and rewarding field of engineering, offers residential camps on the DeKalb campus. These popular camps explore topics such as energy, robotics, and the mechanics of how things work. In 2008, field trips included a fascinating insiders’ tour of a nuclear power plant by middle schoolers and experiments at Great America for high school students. More information and dates for 2009 will be posted after the first of the year at www.getWISE.niu.edu.
Rural Health Careers Camps
High school students from rural Illinois communities sample clinical laboratory sciences, communicative disorders, dietetics, nursing and physical therapy by means of a simulated disaster and campus activities. In 2008, the simulation involved a car accident, on-site treatment by emergency medical personnel, and rescue by helicopter. During the camp, students toured the university's anatomy lab for first hand experience with a human cadaver, explored issues and careers in public health, and visited Kishwaukee Community Hospital to learn about careers outside NIU's curriculum. Alan Robinson is in charge of the Rural Health Careers Camps offered by the College of Health and Human Sciences. arobinson@niu.edu or 815-753-8996.