School of Engineering Summer Camp
KU School of Engineering Camps are week-long, intensive learning camps for high school students interested in the field of engineering. Campers will have the opportunity to choose from different engineering disciplines and then work closely with KU faculty and graduate students as they complete a hands-on project. During the camp, students will receive an up-close experience of KU’s campus including the School of Engineering’s classrooms and labs.
Location: KU School of Engineering - Lawrence, KS
Type: Overnight camp
Note: All students regardless of proximity to campus will be required to stay overnight in the residence hall. For further questions, please contact engrsummercamp@ku.edu
Session 1: July 7-12, 2024
Session 2: July 14-19, 2024
The cost to attend one session of camp is $750.00 per student. That cost will cover housing, dining, camp supplies, and extracurricular activity costs. Additional details can be found below.
For more information, email engrsummercamp@ku.edu.
Select your Engineering Camp Session!
Camp Information
For more information about KU Engineering Summer Camp, or to reschedule your session, please email engrsummercamp@ku.edu.
This daily schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Sunday
Check in will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. with dinner and evening activities planned later.
Monday
The day begins with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and is followed by the first and second classes in the student's selected track in the morning and afternoon. Lunch and dinner will be provided on campus with evening activities scheduled.
Tuesday
Day 2 begins with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and is followed by the third and fourth classes in the student's track. Lunch and dinner will be provided on campus with evening activities scheduled.
Wednesday
For the middle day of camp, students will participate in a Track Exploration Day that will take them throughout the KU School of Engineering complex with shorter sessions on topics of interest. Dinner and evening activities will close out Day 3.
Thursday
Day 4 begins with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and is followed by the fifth and sixth classes in the student's track. Lunch and dinner will be provided on campus with evening activities scheduled.
Friday
The final day of camp begins with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and is followed by the seventh class and final presentation in the student's track. After lunch, a parent ceremony will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. with student checkout scheduled to begin after the ceremony.
Aerospace Propulsion and Space Exploration
This camp delves into the cutting-edge field of aerospace propulsion technologies. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, experiments, and simulations to understand the principles behind rocket propulsion, ion drives, and other space propulsion systems. From designing their own model rockets to launching them into the skies, students will experience the thrill of aerospace engineering firsthand. Get ready to ignite your curiosity and reach for the stars in this exhilarating summer adventure!
Aircraft Design and Fabrication
This hands-on camp will is tailored to explore the creativity, innovations, and intricacies inherent in the building and designing aircraft. Participants will engage in practical projects such as constructing model airplanes, experimenting with aerodynamics, and learning about materials used in aviation. The program also features collaborative design challenges, where teams will create and test their own unique aircraft prototypes. Join us for an unforgettable week of soaring ambitions and hands-on engineering!
Bioengineering: Tech for care
Bioengineering is an exciting and rapidly growing field where biology meets technology. We will explore the soft and hard sides of this vast engineering field, specifically ranging from tissue engineering to medical device design. Through exciting experiments, we'll learn fundamental concepts such as biomaterials, piezoelectrics, and implantable devices to spot tiny signals from our organs and understand their functions. Finally, we will amplify biological signals and try to understand our heart rhythms. Let's explore the human body in a fun and educational way!
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering is critical to solving the challenges facing our world including energy sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, sustainable use of resources, recycling plastics, and the role of Artificial Intelligence and data science in the chemical and energy industry. Students in this session will participate in hands-on laboratory activities with expert professors to learn engineering concepts and applications on the cutting edge of the chemical and petroleum engineering industry. Students will also be exposed to pilot scale processes including a production plant for converting used cooking oil into biofuel and a 30-foot distillation tower.
Civil/Architectural Engineering
Civil Engineering plays a critical role in our daily lives, from the roads we drive on to the water we drink. This camp will give participants hands-on experience in aspects of civil engineering, including architectural, structural, environmental, water resource, geotechnical, and transportation engineering.
Computer Science: Introduction to Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is an emerging field that focuses on building quantum computers and developing quantum algorithms/applications. Quantum computing utilizes the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that are too complex for existing conventional and classical computers. In this camp, you will be introduced to fundamental quantum concepts such as quantum-bits (qubits), quantum state, quantum measurements, superposition, entanglement, and teleportation. Through a hands-on style, you will use state-of-the-art tools and kits such as IBM Qiskit, develop some realistic quantum workloads, and simulate and run your quantum applications on real quantum processors through the cloud.
After completing this camp, you will gain valuable knowledge about this exciting new field, and you will be able to answer questions like:
1) What is Quantum Computing?
2) Why do we need quantum computers?
3) Where are quantum computers used?
4) Why are quantum computers faster?
5) How do quantum computers work?
Computer Engineering: Game On! Microchip
This camp provides a hands-on introduction to fundamental concepts of modern computing hardware through a game-based learning approach. Leveraging interactive hardware platforms with various microchips, students will gain hands-on experience in binary and decimal number conversions, Boolean logic, combinational and sequential circuit design, and computer memory. The camp further extends these principles to design a simplified computer system. The camp also involves introductory hands-on experiments with hardware sensors and cloud computing to develop various applications related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Mechanical Engineering: Mechatronics
The camp covers a range of topics, including mechatronics, biomechanics, and medical robotics. Students will gain an understanding of how mechanical engineering principles contribute to advancements in healthcare and technology. Through the camp, students will work on exciting projects that highlight the practical applications of mechatronics. These projects are designed to enhance problem-solving skills, foster creativity, and encourage teamwork.
While KU Engineering Summer Camps does not provide travel accommodations, we recommend utilizing the services listed below:
- Visiting and Living in Lawrence | International Affairs (ku.edu)
- BATS-KCI: Better Alternative Transportation Service to and from KCI (kcibats.com)
- Kansas Travel Tools | Maps, Guides, Transportation & Deals (travelks.com)
- SDM - SDM Transportation (sdmtransportationks.com)
- 5Guys Transportation
- Airport Transportation Made Simple | Book a Ride | SuperShuttle
- Arrival – KCI Airport Shuttle – Ride Share Service (arivalshuttle.com)
*Please note: KU Summer Engineering Camps cannot provide housing for campers outside of scheduled camp days. If your camper plans to arrive before the camp week starts or stay later than the camp week, please arrange for housing arrangements elsewhere.
If you have any questions regarding travel and housing, please contact: engrsummercamp@ku.edu
- Information will be provided closer to the start of camp.
All Scholarships have been awarded for the 2024 Summer Camp. Thank you for your interest.
Camp registrations canceled in writing 30 or more days prior to the start of camp will receive a 90% refund of registration. Cancellations received 5-29 days prior will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than 5 days before camp begins.
- Information will be provided closer to the start of camp.