Course Catalog

Course Details

Engineers around the world work to solve many kinds of problems. You’ll get to take the role of various engineers throughout the week, including mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, and environmental engineers. Dive head first into the world of engineering to design, build, and test solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Students will dive into the world of autonomous mobile robots by integrating advanced technologies such as LiDAR, stereo cameras, and other sensors. They will learn to program and manage these components to navigate and interact with their environment, gaining hands-on experience in real-time data processing and obstacle avoidance. Through collaborative projects and problem solving challenges, students will develop critical thinking and technical skills, preparing them for future endeavors in robotics, engineering and computing. This course not only fosters innovation and creativity, but also provides a solid foundation in the principles of robotics and iterative development.

Exploration Category

• Computing

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Course Details

Flight has come a long way since 1903. Take the pilot’s seat in a flight simulator and learn how to read aeronautical charts and plot a flight course. Explore everything from the aerodynamics of flight to career possibilities. This course has an additional lab fee of $200.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 15 - 20

Additional Cost

• $200

Course Details

Hands-on learning! Campers will learn computer components and architecture by building a computer. You will start from scratch from an empty case and end with a fully functioning computer while learning the purpose of each component. You will actually take your computer (without the monitor) home, so be sure to leave room in your suitcase (approx. 2 cubic ft)! No prior experience required and students with enthusiasm and an interest in the topic will be successful in this course. This course has an additional lab fee of $530.

Exploration Category

• Computing

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $530

Course Details

How do civil engineers build the world around us? Discover the answers through hands-on projects and site visits to see civil engineering in action. Learn how to protect the people and the planet while we design and upgrade our infrastructure. In the hands-on project, participants design and construct a model to solve a real local challenge that connects to the civil engineering content covered during the week. This course has an additional lab fee of $40

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $40

Course Details

How do civil engineers build the world around us? Discover the answers through hands-on projects and site visits to see civil engineering in action. Learn how to protect the people and the planet while we design and upgrade our infrastructure. In the hands-on project, participants design and construct a model to solve a real local challenge that connects to the civil engineering content covered during the week. This course has an additional lab fee of $40.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $40

Course Details

Who makes sure the water we drink is safe, generates electricity, looks for process solutions to today's issues or produces the medications that keep us healthy? Chemical Engineers play a role in almost every industry! Explore the world of chemical engineering in the best Unit Operations Lab in the U.S. and learn from our faculty, grad students, research staff and guest professors how their innovative work impacts the world!This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11 or July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Who makes sure the water we drink is safe, generates electricity, looks for process solutions to today's issues or produces the medications that keep us healthy? Chemical Engineers play a role in almost every industry! Explore the world of chemical engineering in the best Unit Operations Lab in the U.S. and learn from our faculty, grad students, research staff and guest professors how their innovative work impacts the world!This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11 or July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Are you ready to shape a sustainable future? In this hands-on, field-based course, you'll dive into real-world climate and energy challenges facing local communities. By exploring the region’s unique landscapes, you'll develop practical solutions for a green transition, while prioritizing principles of equity and environmental justice. Through collaboration with local experts and community members, you'll work to create a climate action plan that balances environmental, social, and economic needs. Together, we'll chart a path toward a resilient and sustainable future for the Keweenaw and beyond. This course has an additional lab fee of $25.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $25

Course Details

Join us for a week-long exploration of cybersecurity. Throughout the week, you’ll engage in learning activities designed to introduce students to a range of cybersecurity topics. We will start with cybersecurity on small systems (Arduino or RaspberryPi) and scale up to larger systems requirements. We aim to make each workshop interesting and interactive. Campers will learn personal best practices for protecting their data and investigate ways in which bad actors can access information. Campers will work in groups in a computer lab environment and a classroom. Students with enthusiasm and interest in the topic will be successful in this course.This course has an additional lab fee of $80.

Exploration Category

• Computing

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $80

Course Details

Dive into the world of healthcare careers with hands-on activities that bring the science of the human body and patient care to life! Explore exciting fields like nursing, medical lab science, human biology, kinesiology, neuroscience, and more. You’ll get to experience what it’s like to work in these professions while actively learning how human movement and physical activity are integral to health, participating in nursing simulations, exploring the medical laboratory, and engaging in a variety of hands-on activities. Whether you’re interested in helping people, solving medical mysteries, or learning how our bodies work, this program is all about finding your passion and planning your path in health science. This course has an additional lab fee of $75.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 15 - 20

Additional Cost

• $75

Course Details

What drives power systems, electronics, and communication? Electrical and Computer Engineers harness electricity to create solutions to 21st century problems. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of topics like soldering, electric circuits, electromagnetics, and photonics. Soon, you will be on your way to designing ECE solutions of your own. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Engineers around the world work to solve many kinds of problems. You’ll get to take the role of various engineers throughout the week, including mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, and environmental engineers. Dive head first into the world of engineering to design, build, and test solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $75

Course Details

Engineers around the world work to solve many kinds of problems. You’ll get to take the role of various engineers throughout the week, including mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, and environmental engineers. Dive head first into the world of engineering to design, build, and test solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $75

Course Details

Learn about the intersection of human behavior and technology design while exploring principles from psychology and human factors! In this course you'll learn how to optimize usability, safety, and dependability of engineering systems through hands-on exploration and case study. Participants will apply cognitive and behavioral insights to create and evaluate user-centered designs where technology seamlessly aligns with human capabilities and preferences. This course empowers future designers, engineers, and scientists with the knowledge to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

The Engineering Scholars Program provides students an opportunity to explore nine fields of engineering through hands-on projects and investigations. Students will also learn about the college application process and succeeding in university engineering programs. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2).

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

The Keweenaw Penninsula is a richly diverse and unique geological area that invites students to physically experience and explore its wonders. In this course, you will delve into the geological formations of the Keweenaw, uncovering their significance to the region's economic history. Throughout your journey, you’ll gain hands-on experience both in the field and in the lab. You will start with a history of the processes that shaped the Keweenaw to help you recognize and master and understanding of the topography of the area. Each day will be filled with exciting activities such as rock-hounding during a campus scavenger hunt and visits to the Seaman Mineral Museum. You will also have the opportunity to explore the depths of the Quincy Mine and learn terrain navigation skills and orienteering using a compass with ROTC. Additionally, you will spend a day traversing the Keweenaw, locating geocaches and identifying notable geological features to incorporate into your maps. This immersive course not only takes you outside but also allows you to witness firsthand the geological events that have shaped this remarkable area. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper appreciation for the Keweenaw's natural history and the skills to navigate and document its geological treasures. Join us for an unforgettable adventure in one of Michigan's most fascinating landscapes!

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• June 15 - 20

Course Details

Journey through the Keweenaw Peninsula’s geology to discover how natural earth processes created a truly one-of-a-kind environment! The Copper Country has a unique geological history and is a natural laboratory to investigate vital natural resources as well as hazards that pose a threat to local communities and around the world. Uncover how rocks and minerals form, explore underground mines, collect samples, and sharpen your skills as a geologist! This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Journey through the Keweenaw Peninsula’s geology to discover how natural earth processes created a truly one-of-a-kind environment! The Copper Country has a unique geological history and is a natural laboratory to investigate vital natural resources as well as hazards that pose a threat to local communities and around the world. Uncover how rocks and minerals form, explore underground mines, collect samples, and sharpen your skills as a geologist! This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Interested in how robotic systems are changing the world around us? This week-long exploration will give you a first-hand intro to robotics, along with electrical and computer engineering concepts. Get ready to develop the skills needed to solder and build your own mini-bot, plug get practice programming your way through mini competitions. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

At Michigan Tech, you will explore good game design by creating mini-games. You will experiment in building basic collisions, animation and artificial intelligence techniques. We will discuss game design principles like surprise, fun, and problem solving, while being creative and challenging at the same time. Campers will work in groups in a computer lab environment and a classroom. We’ll even venture outside during the week to have some fun. Previous computer programming experience is not required.

Exploration Category

• Computing

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 13 - 18

Course Details

Junior Women in Engineering provides an opportunity to discover mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, and environmental engineering through projects and trips throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula. Dive head first into the world of engineering to design, build, and test solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. Sponsored by ITC Holdings Corp. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2).

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• June 15 - 20

Course Details

Junior Women in Engineering provides an opportunity to discover mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, and environmental engineering through projects and trips throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula. Dive head first into the world of engineering to design, build, and test solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. Sponsored by ITC Holdings Corp. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2).

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

Look all around you as materials are everywhere and drive technology in our society. But how do we create materials? Measure their behavior? Rearrange their atoms and peer into the structure? Explore the world of materials by experiencing the life of a materials engineer using a hands-on approach with a sprinkle of science. These questions and more are explored by creating materials using various methods from casting to blacksmithing, providing a fun and interactive way of learning critical thinking skills while discovering the field of Materials Science and Engineering. This course has an additional $50 lab fee.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Look all around you as materials are everywhere and drive technology in our society. But how do we create materials? Measure their behavior? Rearrange their atoms and peer into the structure? Explore the world of materials by experiencing the life of a materials engineer using a hands-on approach with a sprinkle of science. These questions and more are explored by creating materials using various methods from casting to blacksmithing, providing a fun and interactive way of learning critical thinking skills while discovering the field of Materials Science and Engineering. This course has an additional $50 lab fee.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Mechanical engineers can dedicate their expertise to improving the world's most used form of transportation. Learn the basics of powertrain and other vehicle technology design through hands-on activities and tour facilities where Michigan Tech students and faculty research, design, test and build vehicles. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Clean energy, space exploration, and transportation all depend on Mechanical Engineers to keep us moving toward the future. Design your own solutions to mechanical engineering problems and visit labs to hear what professionals are doing to shape the future. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Clean energy, space exploration, and transportation all depend on Mechanical Engineers to keep us moving toward the future. Design your own solutions to mechanical engineering problems and visit labs to hear what professionals are doing to shape the future.This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

This course is designed to introduce high school students to the field of mechatronics, which is a combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. Students will learn the basics of mechatronics and how to apply them to building and operating robots. The course will cover topics such as sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, programming, and control systems. Students will also learn about the ethical and social implications of robotics. Students will build and program a robot that travels home with them. Leave room in your suitcase! This course has an additional lab fee of $150 which will offset the cost of the robot that the students will build and bring home.

Exploration Category

• Computing

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $150

Course Details

Robotic Systems are changing how we interact with the world and allowing us to do things with better efficiency and precision. This week-long exploration lets you jump into the world of mobile robotics-robotic systems that are on the move! You’ll get an intro to electrical and computer engineering concepts by soldering, building, and hacking your own mini-bot. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Have you ever wondered how the world was mapped or measured? Have you wondered about how roads, bridges, and multi-floor skyscrapers were laid out for building? This is called Geospatial Engineering and you can be part of it! Learn measuring from University professors and use compasses, auto levels, electronic total stations, UAV's, along with other surveying instruments and software. Discover the profession dedicated to the precise and accurate methods of measuring and quantifying things like volumes of sand and where exactly your property line is located. This course has an additional lab fee of $320.

Exploration Category

• Engineering

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 15 - 20

Additional Cost

• $320

Course Details

Have you ever wondered how the world was mapped or measured? Have you wondered about how roads, bridges, and multi-floor skyscrapers were laid out for building? This is called Geospatial Engineering and you can be part of it! Learn measuring from University professors and use compasses, auto levels, electronic total stations, UAV's, along with other surveying instruments and software. Discover the profession dedicated to the precise and accurate methods of measuring and quantifying things like volumes of sand and where exactly your property line is located. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2) and sponsorship is available for 10 students through a partnership with Atwell.

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 15 - 20

Course Details

Explore the forests, streams and lakes of the Keweenaw Peninsula while learning how land is sustainably managed for recreation, wildlife, timber, water quality, soils, and cultures that rely on their surrounding ecosystems! See nature from natural resource professionals’ perspective and gain skills to manage forests and other resources. Learn how environmental scientists and managers are working to maintain the health and beauty of our forests and the wildlife and human communities that depend on them. And see some of the most pristine and beautiful parts of the Upper Peninsula. This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 20 - 25

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Spend a week learning the fundamentals of the stock market, market behavior, stocks, ETFs, options and other investment instruments with the Summer Youth Program and Michigan Tech’s College of Business. Study the fundamentals through sessions with College of Business faculty, alumni and local investment / banking professionals. This course is a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on practice building a portfolio and trading securities using a market simulation program, with the emphasis on hands-on practice. The MTU Trading Room’s hands-on approach demonstrates different methods of investment analysis combined with fast-paced trading using options as a real-world means of understanding market dynamics and trading. Students will use the knowledge they gain through this practice to determine their own investment philosophy, portfolio structure and trading habits / approach. The MTU College of Business, and its serially award-winning Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP), is well-known and well-respected nationwide. The MTU Trading Room session uses this experience and recognition to deliver a unique Summer Youth Program experience students will leverage throughout their academic and professional careers.

Exploration Category

• Business/Humanities/Law

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Additional Cost

• $25

Course Details

Railroads, the high tech and environmentally sensitive transportation mode! Don't believe us? Come and learn why railroads remain the most energy-efficient transportation mode and what forms modern railroad track, equipment, and communications/control systems might take. Learn how rail compares with other modes and leads the charge in reducing transportation greenhouse gas emissions! Find out how it all works through hands-on activities and visits to railroad facilities. This program requires an additional Pathway Programs application (Step 2).

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

Chemistry affects us from our morning coffee until we go to sleep at night. In this exploration, use chemistry to solve a crime, synthesize aspirin, recycle plastic to make an environmentally friendly household cleaner, obtain DNA, extract pure copper and so much more! Come discover the weird and wild properties of matter through demonstrations, experiments, and simulations while learning how the research of the innovative chemists at Michigan Tech could change the world.This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Chemistry affects us from our morning coffee until we go to sleep at night. In this exploration, use chemistry to solve a crime, synthesize aspirin, recycle plastic to make an environmentally friendly household cleaner, obtain DNA, extract pure copper and so much more! Come discover the weird and wild properties of matter through demonstrations, experiments, and simulations while learning how the research of the innovative chemists at Michigan Tech could change the world.This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 6-8

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

In this week-long course we will read, we will write, but most importantly, we will observe. Yes, we will crouch down on forest floors and gaze at toadstools. Consider this macro photography but in literary form. Our images will be so fresh that when we perform our pieces in a culminating reading performance, the audience will smell green, taste stone, and hear thimbleberries sing! Join us for five days of automatic writing, field trips, creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, and a chance to unleash your voice on the published page! This course has an additional lab fee of $50.

Exploration Category

• Business/Humanities/Law

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 6 - 11

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation will teach students outdoor field skills and offer a comprehensive exploration of the intricate ecosystems that form the backbone of our natural world. This immersive course delves into ornithology, herpetology, mammalogy, and more by using technology such as radio telemetry, camera traps, and GPS units. Identification, behavior, and conservation of birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals will be covered as we discuss larger systems to do with climate change, forest succession, and biodiversity. This class equips students with the essential skills and insights needed to contribute meaningfully to the conservation and sustainable management of our planet's precious biodiversity with a focus on wildlife. This course has an additional $50 lab fee.

Exploration Category

• Science and Technology

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• July 13 - 18

Additional Cost

• $50

Course Details

Women in Automotive Engineering provides students an opportunity to explore the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering within the automotive industry. Through hands-on projects and classroom investigations you will learn the basics of engines, how vehicles operate, infotainment, cabin comfort, electrified vehicles, chassis and suspension systems, and how engineers approach designing vehicles. Sponsored by Dana Inc. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2).

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

Women in Computer Science (WICS) is a week-long discovery of this fascinating field which is now an integral part of all aspects of our lives. We’ll explore various subfields of computer science including software development, artificial intelligence, data science, human-computer interaction, and security. One particular focus for this summer is making interfaces usable by people with diverse abilities. Learn about the many career opportunities in computing and the excellent job prospects in a wide range of industries. Spend time with other smart, dedicated students interested in computing. Work in teams to complete a group project. Hear from industry practitioners and researchers who specialize in creating accessible interfaces. Learn about the many career opportunities in computing and the excellent job prospects in a wide range of industries. Get first hand accounts of the diverse careers in computing from alums This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2). All students may apply; the focus of the program is on advancing young women in computing careers.

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 22 - 27

Course Details

The Women in Engineering Program provides students an opportunity to explore nine fields of engineering through hands-on projects and investigations. Students will also learn about the college application process and succeeding in university engineering programs. This program requires an additional Pathway Program application (Step 2)

Exploration Category

• Pathway Programs

Grades

• 9-11

Week

• June 15 - 20