Summer Camps
PNW camps let participants have fun with memorable hands-on experiences! Campers can deepen their interests, explore campus and even build useful skills for future careers.
Register for PNW Camps!
Find the camp that’s right for you and sign up today. Use the filters below to sort by age, date or interest, then click the link to learn more and register!
Camps are still being added, so look for additional details soon.
Age Group
Area of Interest
Month
Nurse Camp: Hammond Campus (Registration is Full!)
Date(s): June 5 to 8
Ages: 15 to 17
This FREE 4-day camp will engage participants in learning sessions about basic nursing fundamentals, group outings on-campus, simulation lab activities, visiting professional speakers, and hospital shadowing experiences.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Nurse Camp: Westville Campus (Registration Is Full)
Date(s): June 12 to 13
Ages: 15 to 17
This FREE 2-day camp will engage participants in learning sessions about basic nursing fundamentals, group outings on-campus, simulation lab activities, and visiting professional speakers.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Hands-on Summer Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: Grades 9 to 12
$120 The camp introduces high school students to the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering by explaining concepts and using hands-on lab exercises. Experiences include theory and testing of photovoltaic cells and dc motors; electricity as a signal for control, information, and sensing; digital logic and basic digital circuits; and control of and communication with drones.
Exploring Fundamentals of Robotics Summer Camp (Registration Full)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: Grades 8 to 12
$50 Students will learn Python programming on a real autonomous Zumi car robot, Robot Operating System (ROS) and Gazebo on simulated robot models in a 3-D world, and how statistics, mathematics and data science can be integrated with Python programming to operate robots.
GenCyber Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: 14 to 18
This FREE week-long camp will immerse high school students in learner-centered, hands-on labs and game play activities, including cybersecurity awareness education and robot game design.
Human Biology: Molecules to Mind (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: Grades 9 to 11
$50 Explore normal function and pathophysiology of the body, including the role of microbes in health and disease. Organ systems and their disorders will be examined at all levels, including a virtual dissection on an Anatomage Table. Email bmania@pnw.edu to register!
Men's Basketball Youth Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: 7 to 14
Campers will learn from Purdue Northwest’s coaching staff and current players in a fun, joyful and engaging teaching environment. This camp features individual and group instruction with emphasis on fundaments and game competition.
Realizing Your Ideas Through 3D Printing (Registration is Full!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: 14 to 18
Campers will have a FREE week-long hands-on use of CAD Software, 3D Printers and CNC machines to bring their visions from a drawing to an actual build.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
TimberNook: Going Wild (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 12 to 16
Ages: 8 to 12
In this camp, your kids will test their spy and secret-agent skills. They will create their own disguises and identities, build spy headquarters, navigate obstacles, “fight” other spies, create codes/decode others’ codes and design their own tactical gadgets.
All-Girls Robotics Explorer and Adventure Camp (Registration is Full!)
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: 12 to 18
Female campers will work with the control and coding of industrial robots for FREE. They will also create a scenario, build a VR robot, simulate a robot performing pick-and-place applications and use a VR headset.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Summer Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: Grades 9 to 12
$100 This camp guides high school students through Python coding for artificial intelligence and machine-learning algorithms, a high-demand skillset relevant to smart-power grids, Wall Street trading and product recommendations at companies such as Amazon, Spotify and Netflix.
Forensic Science Summer Camp (Registration Is Full!)
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: Grades 11 to 12
This FREE summer camp is a mixture of lectures and hands on activities. Campers will have the opportunity to learn about and perform standard forensic techniques and learn some of the new state-of-the-art discoveries.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
GenCyber Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: 14 to 18
This FREE week-long camp will immerse high school students in learner-centered, hands-on labs and game play activities, including cybersecurity awareness education and robot game design.
INnovation Makers Camp (Session Full) - See Our July Session
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: 14 to 17
INnovation Makers is a FREE, weeklong program for high school students to create products in an innovation lab while getting trained in leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The campers work in teams to develop a product and pitch their ideas to judges for prizes at the end of the week. PNW students majoring in business, engineering and technology will assist campers through this process.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Let's Build: Construction, Bridges and Concrete Camp (Registration Is Full!)
Date(s): June 19 to 23
Ages: 12 to 18
This FREE week-long camp will focus on hands-on activities with a focus on building bridges, mixing concrete and surveying. Campers will be guided through each project incorporating the fundamentals of construction and engineering.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Young Leaders Academy Summer Innovation Experience (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 19 to 22
Ages: 14 to 16
Join the Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest for a FREE four-day innovation and leadership development experience! Our aim is to guide each participant to become a more authentic, vibrant and innovative leader.
Environmental Science Summer Camp (Registration Is Full)
Date(s): June 26 to 30
Ages: High School Students
This FREE camp will cover practical science techniques including water sampling and testing, air-quality testing, identifying trees in the local ecosystem at the PNW Gabis arboretum, wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal and sustainability in our region.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
TimberNook: Enchanted (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 26 to 30
Ages: 4 to 7
Kids have the opportunity this week at Gabis Arboretum to create lairs, characters, and potions; manage through a mud course, and participate in a super parade!
Baseball College Showcase Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): June 27
Ages: Grades 9 to 12
The camp will include a 60-yard dash, infield and outfield defense, batting practice, bullpens and simulated game.
PNW Volleyball Beginners Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 10 to 11
Ages: Grades 3 to 6
Work on your fundamentals in a positive and uplifting environment! The PNW coaching staff has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and ages with current collegiate athletes who are playing at the next level.
Junior Data Science Summer Camp—Hobart Community Schools (Register Now!) and School City of Hammond (Session Full)
Date(s): July 10 to 13
Ages: Incoming grades 4 and 5
This FREE camp is designed to engage upper primary students with the first steps in analyzing data. During each day of data-detective camp, campers will engage in a data-analysis activity leading to uncovering a clue to the identity of a pencil-stealing thief on the final day. This session is for students in the Hobart School Corporation (the Hammond site is full).
Learning Essential Communication Skills Series: Improving Interpersonal Communication (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 10 to 14
Ages: 16 to 18
This FREE week-long camp allows students to learn the essentials of interpersonal communication and investigate how they perceive themselves and others.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Pneumatics/Air Rocket Camp (Registration Is Full!)
Date(s): July 10 to 14
Ages: 11 to 14
This FREE week-long camp will focus on pneumatic systems and how air is used to power equipment and machines. Hands-on activities are many in this camp, including building and launching student-built rockets.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Psyched for Summer (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 10 to 14
Ages: 13 to 18
$125 Get Psyched for Summer by participating in hands on experiences that explore how our brains function, how we develop as humans and why we behave, think and feel the way we do. Topics and activities will include exposure to developmental psychology, forensic psychology, clinical psychology, neuroscience and more!
TimberNook: Woodland Tinkering (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 10 to 14
Ages: 8 to 12
In this camp, the children will create their own adventure playground! This means using simple tools, creativity and collaboration to build structures, rope courses and ziplines to their specifications.
Young Leaders Academy Summer Innovation Experience (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 20
Ages: 14 to 16
Join the Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest for a FREE four-day innovation and leadership development experience! Our aim is to guide each participant to become a more authentic, vibrant and innovative leader.
PNW Volleyball Skills Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 12 to 13
Ages: Grades 7 to 12
Learn advanced techniques to get ready for your next season in a positive and uplifting environment! The PNW coaching staff has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and ages with current collegiate athletes who are playing at the next level.
PNW Volleyball High School Elite Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 18
Ages: Grades 9 to 12
Come work on your fundamentals and learn advanced techniques to get ready for your next season in a positive and uplifting environment! The PNW coaching staff has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and ages with current collegiate athletes who are playing at the next level.
Junior Data Science Summer Camp—All Other NWI Schools (Registration Full!)
Date(s): July 17 to 20
Ages: Incoming grades 4 and 5
This FREE camp is designed to engage upper primary students with the first steps in analyzing data. During each day of data-detective camp, campers will engage in a data-analysis activity leading to uncovering a clue to the identity of a pencil-stealing thief on the final day. This session is for students outside the Hammond or Merrillville School Corporations.
INnovation Makers Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 21
Ages: 14 to 17
INnovation Makers is a FREE, weeklong program for high school students to create products in an innovation lab while getting trained in leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The campers work in teams to develop a product and pitch their ideas to judges for prizes at the end of the week. PNW students majoring in business, engineering and technology will assist campers through this process.
Made possible by NIPSCO
Learning Essential Communication Skills Series: Working Well in Groups (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 21
Ages: 16 to 18
This FREE week-long camp allows students to learn techniques for problem-solving in small group settings as well as communication competence, cooperation and leadership skills.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Make It Count! Intensive Bridge Boot Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 21
Ages: 15 to 18
During this FREE pre-college experience, participants will investigate a community-based issue, explore platforms to raise awareness and share stories that foster change.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Storytelling with Data: Empowering the Next Generation of Data Scientists (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 17 to 21
Ages: Grades 6 to 9
$85 Campers will learn to uncover the patterns and clues within the dataset by using their mathematical and statistical skill sets. Emphasis will be given on collecting, visualizing, analyzing and interpreting data in a meaningful way.
Summer Engineering Camp—Middle School (Registration Is Full!)
Date(s): July 17 to 21
Ages: Grades 6 to 8
This FREE camp will cover practical engineering topics, including 3D printing, renewable energy, bridge/road designing, virtual reality and electric cars. Students will gain hands-on experience building a basal wood bridge, cardboard wind tunnel and EV go-cart.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
PNW Volleyball Skills Camp (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 19 to 20
Ages: Grades 7 to 12
Learn advanced techniques to get ready for your next season in a positive and uplifting environment! The PNW coaching staff has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and ages with current collegiate athletes who are playing at the next level.
Electric Bike-Engineering Technology Camp (Registration Full!)
Date(s): July 24 to 28
Ages: 12 to 18
This FREE week-long camp will allow campers to learn and calculate the charge and dissipation of the bike, work with electrical and mechanical measuring instruments and utilize design software in a fun and creative environment.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Learning Essential Communication Skills Series: Public Speaking with Confidence (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 24 to 28
Ages: 16 to 18
This FREE week-long camp allows students to practice communicating their ideas confidently and adapt their messages for diverse audiences and contexts.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Summer Engineering Camp—High School (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 24 to 28
Ages: Grades 9 to 12
This FREE camp will cover practical engineering topics, including 3D printing, renewable energy, bridge/road designing, virtual reality and electric cars. Students will gain hands-on experience building a basal wood bridge, cardboard wind tunnel and EV go-cart.
Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
TimberNook: Barefoot and Buckets (Register Now!)
Date(s): July 24 to 28
Ages: 4 to 7
It's an eclectic week in the woods where kids will become bug detectives, immerse themselves in colors and textures, experience woodland water play, create homes for animals and take monster trucks to the mud!
Fall 2023 Camp Preview
Camps are still being added—see below some of the programs we expect to offer in fall 2023!
- PNW Communication-Create-Advocate (16-18)
- PNW Introduction to 3D Printing (16-18)
- PNW Intro to Construction Management (16-18)
- PNW Intro to Cybersecurity (16-18)
- PNW Make it Count (16-18)

PNW Shares in Lilly Endowment Grant to Expand Programs for K-12 Students
Purdue University Northwest is among colleges and universities statewide awarded funding through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus. The initiative is designed to support higher education institutions in providing high-quality programming for K-12 students.