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Academies for Young Minds
Academies for Young Minds camps encourage children to be innovative and use creative problem-solving by engaging them in fun, hands-on activities.
Please be sure to read the General Information section at the bottom of this page.
Registration for these camps opens Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 10:00 am MDT.
Summer 2022 Camps
It's Electric Grades 
in Fall 2022
When: June 6-9, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Use engineering principles to solve problems, get electric with electrostatics and current electricity, move objects with electricity, create power with your food, power your own light bulbs, and more in this interactive and exciting camp.
Charged Up! Grades 
in Fall 2022
When: June 6-9, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Use your engineering knowledge to create complex circuits and energy from renewable and non-renewable sources, power motors, and more. Build solar panels, play with electrostatics, and light up the room...off the grid of course!
Build It! Grades in Fall 2022
When: June 13-16, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 9:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $440.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Use your design principles to create structures that are higher, stronger, and cooler looking than the rest. Create a building that can handle an earthquake, a hurricane, or a block attack using materials like candy, newspaper, sticks, and more.
Magic of Science! Grades in Fall 2022
When: June 20-23, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Abra-ca-dabra! Have you ever wondered how the magic you see in a magic show happens? You will look at the science of some of your favorite tricks, and learn a few more. Most of the time, the magic is just science without an explanation. Join us for tricks galore, create your magical persona, and maybe learn a bit more about science in the process.
Charged Up! Grades in Fall 2022
When: June 20-23, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Use your engineering knowledge to create complex circuits and energy from renewable and non-renewable sources, power motors, and more. Build solar panels, play with electrostatics, and light up the room...off the grid of course!
It's Electric Grades in Fall 2022
When: June 27-30, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Use engineering principles to solve problems, get electric with electrostatics and current electricity, move objects with electricity, create power with your food, power your own light bulbs, and more in this interactive and exciting camp.
Magic of Science! Grades in Fall 2022
When: June 27-30, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Abra-ca-dabra! Have you ever wondered how the magic you see in a magic show happens? You will look at the science of some of your favorite tricks, and learn a few more. Most of the time, the magic is just science without an explanation. Join us for tricks galore, create your magical persona, and maybe learn a bit more about science in the process.
Build It! Grades 
in Fall 2022
When: July 18, July 20-22, 2022 (Monday, Wednesday - Friday) • 9:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $440.00
Instructor: Brian Hostetler Learn more...
Brian has more than 20 years experience leading camps and other science based programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the St. Louis Science Center and the University of Missouri Before and After School Programs. He has been a guest many times on local news outlets teaching anchors about some of the wonderful and weird things science can show you every day. He is currently teaching S.T.E.M. at Canyon Creek Elementary School for primary grades K-2. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He's crazy excited to learn and explore with your kiddos this summer!
Design and build your own structures like buildings, roller coasters, cars, and more in this hands-on engineering and building camp. Use your design principles to create structures that are higher, stronger, and cooler looking than the rest.
Toy Engineering Challenge Grades in Fall 2022
When: August 1-4, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Denyse LeMieuxLearn more...
With 2 decades of experience in both formal and informal education, Denyse brings a well-rounded teaching background along with a passion for exploring the creative process through hands-on and exploratory learning in a fun and inclusive environment. Denyse has taught at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and has worked for Denver Public Schools as a special education teacher for grades K-12.
Have you ever dreamed of being an inventor? How about a toy inventor? Join us as we explore, experiment, and play. Apply your new understanding in daily challenges to invent and build your very own toys. Prerequisites: a curious mind and a lively imagination!
Innovation and Design Workshop Grades 
in Fall 2022
When: August 1-4, 2022 (Monday - Thursday) • 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Colorado School of Mines campus • Golden, Colorado
Maximum students: 20
Fee: $220.00
Instructor: Denyse LeMieuxLearn more...
With 2 decades of experience in both formal and informal education, Denyse brings a well-rounded teaching background along with a passion for exploring the creative process through hands-on and exploratory learning in a fun and inclusive environment. Denyse has taught at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and has worked for Denver Public Schools as a special education teacher for grades K-12.
Future innovators, artists, scientists, inventors, engineers, tech-geeks, and problem-solvers: this workshop is for you! Have you ever noticed that the world is full of messy problems just waiting to be solved? Are you tired of waiting for adults to provide all the solutions? Contribute your own creativity and problem-solving skills as you use design thinking and the principles of scientific research to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Join us as we come up with tomorrow's great ideas…. today!
Registration for the Summer 2022 camps
The following registration options are available:
- Register for any of the camps/sessions listed above and charge the full registration fee to your credit card online. Registration is limited to the maximum number listed for any camp/session.
- If the camp has filled, you can place your name on the waiting list. Please do not hesitate to use the waiting list as we typically get a few cancellations as summer approaches and plans change.
General Information
Camp participants must be picked up no later than 15 minutes after the end of the last session for which they are enrolled on each day of the camp. Late pickups will result in a charge of $20.00 for each occurrence.
For campers attending a morning and afternoon ½ day camp during the week, there will be a supervised lunch each day. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch.
Prerequisites and Restrictions
To participate in the summer 2022 camps, students must be entering the grades indicated for each camp in the fall of 2022.
Lodging and accommodations
On-campus lodging is not available. Click here for a list of accommodations in the area.