Summer Camps

Explore online and in-person summer camp options at Northeast Iowa Community College.


Virtual Camps

STEAM Camps powered by Black Rocket

Our virtual camps are powered by Black Rocket, a national leader in tech education. They’re perfect for students ages 8-14 who are interested in video games, coding and virtual reality. Live classes are led by top teachers in a safe and fun online learning environment. 

YouTube® classes will encourage your child to practice good digital citizenship while creating space for their own unique voice. Students will explore the variety of content and personalities on YouTube and develop their own on-camera presence while creating special effects and develop video editing skills. 

ROBLOX® classes explore the world of game design and coding. Students will design their own world in ROBLOX, learn to build 3D models and bring characters to life with unique animations. The activities are hosted on a password protected site that can be shared with family and friends.

Minecraft® classes explore several different aspects of the game from animation and design, to scripting and engineering. Students will learn key technical skills in a fun, creative environment. 

Python Programming is the fastest growing programming language. Students will learn how to code with step-by-step instruction. They can challenge friends with the fun content they create!

Battle Royale: Make Your First Fortnite® Style Game class invites gamers to design their own game using professional 3D game development software. Students will build levels and assets inspired by popular Battle Royale games like Fortnite. Plus, students can participate in eSports League matches against other schools with a chance to have their levels featured in Black Rocket master build of the game!

A.I. Adventures - Intro to Machine Learning
Explore the world of artificial intelligence to design fully interactive games and experiences using cutting-edge technology. This program combines artificial intelligence with coding to create an unforgettable learning adventure. Students will construct machine learning models that use image and text recognition within block-based coding software to build a portfolio of projects. Student-created projects will be available on a password-protected Black Rocket website to share with friends and family. Students will work in pairs or teams for most of the program.     

View all Black Rocket camp options and register at blackrocket.com/online/nicc.


Calmar Campus

NICC for Kids
Aug. 5-7, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Location: NICC Calmar Campus

Your kids won’t stop talking about the fun classes they will participate in during this three-day camp. Classes introduce kids to new ideas and concepts in a fun and interactive way. NICC for Kids provides a positive, creative learning environment everyone will enjoy! Lunch and snacks are included. Open to students entering grades 2-4 in the fall.

For more information contact Krista Weitz, Program Manager at 844.642.2338, ext. 3139.

Email your contact information to Krista at walsh-weitzk@nicc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day®

Location: Iowa's Dairy Center

The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. The purpose of this one-day event is to teach students to stay safe on farms and at home with a variety of age-appropriate lessons. Topics may include ATV safety, bike safety, fire safety, machinery safety and more.

Youth who live on a farm, work on a farm or visit a farm are encouraged to attend. Open to children ages 4-12. Registration is required. Space is limited.

For more information, call 844.642.2338 ext. 1399 or email safetyday@nicc.edu.
Register Online


Cresco Center

Be Your Own Boss

Dates/Times: June 10-14, 8:30 am-4 pm
Cost: $130

Don’t spend another summer on the couch! Get a head start on building your own entrepreneurial business instead. Join this week-long camp for an action-packed, experiential, STEM-based program introducing you to the basics of starting a business and becoming your own boss. Along with field trips and face-to-face meetings with area business owners, you will develop a business plan, create marketing materials and pitch your ideas in a “Shark Tank”-style presentation at the end of the week - all with the help of business professionals. Before you know it, you’ll have the confidence and skills to start that babysitting, lawn-mowing or pet-sitting service you’ve been thinking about! The camp's cost includes daily lunch and snacks, materials and a t-shirt. This camp is designed for students entering grades 5-6 in the fall.

STEAM Creations: Makerspace Camp

Dates/Times:
July 10, 8-11:30 am for students entering grades K-1 in the fall.
July 10, 12:30-4 pm for students entering grades 2-3 in the fall.
July 11, 8:30 am-3:30 pm for students entering grades 4-6 in the fall.
Cost:
$29 for grades K-3
$49 for grades 4-6

Let your student build up some ‘steam’ in this makerspace experience that offers a place to collaborate, create, invent, tinker, explore and discover. Participants in this STEAM camp will create videos (green screen and stop-motion), problem solve their way out of an escape room and use interactive AI, coding, robots and engineering. Together, they will innovate and share ideas, equipment and knowledge while applying their discoveries to make their community a better place. The experience ends with the presentation of a video portfolio that summarizes the students’ STEAM makerspace journey.

 

Contact the Cresco Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 4700 for more information.


Manchester Center

 

RAMS/Oelwein Center

Every Child is an Artist

The renowned painter Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist.” In this creative camp, kids will travel through different stations, creating many different types of art! Your little artist will create enough art to fill their own gallery at home. All skill levels are welcome. From shapes to color, it will be art galore! This is a great camp for both boys and girls entering grades 1 and 2 in the fall. Seats are limited.

Dates/Time: July 8-10, 8:30 am-Noon
Cost: $35
For more information, call the Oelwein Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 5700 or visit www.nicc.edu/rams

Coding for Kids

In our Coding for Kids camp, your child will learn the basics of computer science while solving puzzles, creating programs, and inventing games. This camp is a fun and interactive way to introduce your child to 21st century skills, such as programming, problem solving, and logic. They will create programs with commands, functions, and loops. Your child will investigate different problem-solving techniques and learn how to be a good and safe digital citizen. They will even get to program a robot! This is a great camp for both boys and girls entering grades 3 and 4 in the fall. Seats are limited.

Dates/Time: July 8-10, 8:30 am-Noon
Cost: $29
For more information, call the Oelwein Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 5700 or visit www.nicc.edu/rams

Ride the Waves

Ride the Waves provides a fun, hands-on learning environment for students to explore the physical science principles of fluid flow and wave. Sessions include brand new, interactive classroom and laboratory experiments! On the last day of camp students will enjoy experiencing the concepts they have learned during the week at Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo.  This camp is designed for students entering grades 5-6 in the fall. Seats are limited.

Dates/Time: July 8-10, 8:30 am-Noon, and July 11, 9:15 am-4 pm
Cost: $59
For more information, call the Oelwein Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 5700 or visit www.nicc.edu/rams

Peosta/Dubuque

Kids on Campus
July 15-19, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Location: NICC Peosta Campus

Your kids won’t stop talking about the fun classes and crazy experiments they will participate in during this week-long camp. Classes introduce kids to new ideas and concepts in a fun and interactive way. Kids on Campus provides a positive, creative learning environment everyone will enjoy! Lunch and snacks are included. Open to students entering grades 2-7 in the fall.

For more information contact Krista Weitz, Program Manager at 844.642.2338, ext. 3139.

Email your contact information to Krista at walsh-weitzk@nicc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day®

Location: National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Peosta Campus

The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. The purpose of this one-day event is to teach students to stay safe on farms and at home with a variety of age-appropriate lessons. Topics may include ATV safety, bike safety, fire safety, machinery safety and more.

Youth who live on a farm, work on a farm or visit a farm are encouraged to attend. Open to children ages 4-12. Registration is required. Space is limited.

For more information, call 844.642.2338 ext. 1399 or email safetyday@nicc.edu.

Register Online 
June 6, 2024 - Peosta
June 13, 2024 - Calmar
July 9, 2024 - Peosta

High School Computer Hardware
June 17-21, 10 am - Noon

Learn More and Register


Waukon Center

STEAM Camp :  stEam Starring Engineering!

Join instructor, Kathy Hay, for this summer’s “stEam Camp” starring Engineering! In stEam Camp, you’ll solve problems by building and designing, thinking about the right materials you need for your project, and what size and shape work the best. Use your creativity to add fun through color, sounds and more. Enjoy this summer camp’s focus on engineering!
Enrollment is limited to 20 students per session.

Call the Waukon Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 6700 for more information.

Kids in the Kitchen: Junior Chef Summer Camp

This camp experience places an emphasis on having fun in the kitchen.  Kid-friendly kitchen tips, sanitation, safety and proper use of basic tools and equipment will be demonstrated.  Your child will also learn measurements, how to read and follow recipes and to manage time.  Working together, all participants will make simple, kid-approved recipes and, of course, sample the results.  Be ready to cook with your kid, because he or she will come home with several recipes to help prepare, plus a whole lot of enthusiasm!
Enrollment is limited to 16 students.

Call the Waukon Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 6700 for more information.

‘Build Your Own Business’ Summer Camp

Shark Tank! No, really - do you have a great idea you’d like to turn into a business?  Then this two day camp is your shot at a Shark Tank-style experience where you can learn basic business concepts and vocabulary, create a business plan, and pitch your ideas in a presentation to young entrepreneurs from the area.  They will share their business stories and help you learn everything from a proper greeting handshake to good customer service skills to building a professional business card. 
Enrollment is limited to 16 students.

Call the Waukon Center at 844.642.2338, ext. 6700 for more information.