Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.

Do they work alone or in teams?

Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Engineering Summer Camp in Putnam County, IL

Parents in Putnam County, IL book summer in February and regret it in July. Putnam County is one of 102 counties in Illinois. What separates a week worth repeating is whether the child was ever genuinely stuck and then unstuck.

Ages 7-14 · For families · Illinois · Midwest

Engineering Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Putnam County, IL

What the week actually is

Engineering week is constraints week. A bridge that must hold a weight, with a fixed pile of materials and a deadline. Children who have never been told no by a problem before meet one here, and learn that the answer is a redesign, not a tantrum.

Day by day

Constraints and a materials budget
First build, first collapse
Redesign from what failed
Load test to destruction, record the number
Showcase: defend the design choice

Putnam County, IL — what applies locally

Putnam County is one of 102 counties in Illinois.
Every public school district inside Putnam County is eligible for the district licensing terms.
State: Illinois · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from Putnam County, IL

What do they build?: Load-bearing structures, simple machines, catapults, water filters — physical things that either work or fall over.
Is it messy?: Yes. That is not incidental.
Do they work alone or in teams?: Both. Solo build first, then a team build where they have to defend a design choice out loud.

Other camp themes in Putnam County

STEM Summer CampAges 5-14 Robotics CampAges 8-14 Coding CampAges 7-14 Science CampAges 5-14 Math CampAges 5-14 Space CampAges 7-14 Drone CampAges 9-14 Game Design CampAges 8-14 AI CampAges 10-14 Electronics CampAges 8-14 Chemistry CampAges 9-14 Nature Science CampAges 5-13 3D Printing CampAges 9-14 Minecraft STEM CampAges 7-12 Girls STEM CampAges 7-14 Neurodivergent STEM CampAges 6-14 Preschool STEM CampAges 3-5 Elementary STEM CampAges 5-10 Middle School STEM CampAges 11-14 High School STEM CampAges 14-18 Half-Day STEM CampAges 5-12 Week-Long STEM CampAges 6-14 Affordable STEM CampAges 5-14 Virtual STEM CampAges 7-14 Curriculum LicensingAges K-8 Church Youth STEMAges 5-14 After-School LicensingAges 5-14 District Summer STEMAges K-8 Parks & Rec STEM CampAges 5-13 Homeschool Co-op STEMAges 5-14 YMCA STEM CurriculumAges 5-14 Daycare Summer STEMAges 3-6 Start a STEM CampAges K-8

Engineering Camp elsewhere in Illinois

Adams County, ILCounty Alexander County, ILCounty Bond County, ILCounty Boone County, ILCounty Brown County, ILCounty Bureau County, ILCounty Calhoun County, ILCounty Carroll County, ILCounty

All Engineering Camp locations · Full camp directory · Ask about a place