Catalyst STEM Labs Summer Program Basics:
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1-week sessions for rising 4th-7th graders
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Half day (9am-12pm) or full day (9am-3pm)
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$370/week for half day, $550/week for full day
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Daily creations kids get to take home!
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2 courses offered: ElectroBot Lab (Jun 8-12) and ElectroGame & Launch Lab (Aug 3-7). Take one or both!
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Location: Lytle Auditorium, Downers Grove
About our Summer Program
Each day will be a thrilling adventure of creativity and engineering, where kids build, tweak, and personalize their own electrical gadgets, all the while navigating and learning the complexities of electrical circuits and mechanical motion.
Morning Instruction & Engineering Lab
9:00am - 12:00pm
Curiosity Cultivation
9:00 - 10:00am
Students will be presented with a puzzling phenomenon to examine and investigate, such as why 4 LED lights need 9 volts to light when arranged in a series circuit and only 3 volts to light when arranged in a parallel circuit. Through teacher instruction and inquiry-based learning, students will learn the physics and chemistry behind electrical circuits.
Engineering Lab
10:00 - 12:00pm
Each day, students will tackle a new design challenge using electrical concepts learned that morning. They will design, construct, and decorate their electrical innovations with construction materials, electrical components, and 3D printed parts. During this process, they'll make engineering decisions like wiring direction for a fan, required battery voltage, and adjusting motor speed.
Afternoon STEM Enrichment
(optional add-on)
12:00 - 3:00pm
Lunch & Recreation
12:00 - 1:00pm
Students will eat their packed lunch inside and will then have outdoor recreation time, all the while making new friends. Children will be clustered into age-range groupings to nurture connection-making and belonging.
Interest Quests
1:00 - 3:00pm
Students will have a choice of a range of robust enrichment opportunities to pursue that are sure to excite, such as designing custom marble mazes, programming VEX robots, examining organisms under microscopes, creating LED origami, painting scaled art, popsicle stick engineering, 3D printing, Snap Circuits, cross stitch, hands-on STEM games, and more! Instructors will engage with students to provide supportive guidance and help propel their learning and confidence forward.
Summer Program Location:
The Lytle Auditorium
4919 Belmont Rd., Downers Grove
A modern workshop facility that provides generous indoor space for active class sessions and safe outdoor space for recreation.
Our Commitment to a Positive & Engaging Experience
At Catalyst STEM Labs, we uphold high standards for engagement and behavior to ensure a positive and inclusive experience for all participants. We foster respect, safety, and responsibility, encouraging campers to treat each other with kindness and collaborate effectively. We prioritize safety by adhering to instructions and responsibly using materials. We invite all participants and families to join us in creating a vibrant space where exploration and growth flourish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the student to teacher ratio?
Our program maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1, ensuring personalized attention and an enriching learning experience for each participant.
What does my child need to bring?
Morning students: A morning snack
Full day students: A snack and packed lunch
Please wear closed toe shoes.
Please refrain from packing foods that contain nuts.
How do I drop off and pick up my child?
Drop off: Drop off your child at the main entrance of Lytle Auditorium (on the east side of the building, adjacent to the parking lot) between 8:55 - 9:00am. Facility doors will open at 8:55am.
Pick up: Pick up is at 12:00pm for the core half day program and 3:00pm if you select the afternoon enrichment add-on during the checkout process.
Is there a materials fee?
No, the cost of class materials is included in the registration price. Materials will be provided to students, and they will take home a creation each day to showcase at home.
What scientific concepts will my child learn?
Students will learn the nuances of how electrical current flows through circuits. They learn about battery structure for energy storage, the movement of electrons in electrical current, and the impact of positive and negative connections. The class covers measuring & calculating voltage (volts) and current (amps), the effects of parallel circuits, the differences between LED and incandescent lights, and more!
