Explore Life Science–Understanding Our Living World
Summer Camp for rising 11th through 12th graders
Sunday, July 5 - Thursday, July 9, 2026 (rising 11th-12th grade)
Campers will explore the variety and complexity of life on our planet from the biome to the molecular level. Campers will do experiments in neuroscience & psychology, bacterial evolution, viruses, biotechnology, and more! They will explore ancient life forms in our Geoscience Museum, learn about fermentation in our food science kitchen, and study the ecology of the Duck Pond.
Cost: $1150
Camp fees cover faculty instructional time, equipment, supplies, room and board, resident assistants and program assistants. If your child will need a scholarship to participate, please apply for one in the registration form. Families are responsible for transportation to/from the Virginia Tech campus.
Registration will open in winter 2026.
Day 1
- Check in 3:00 p.m.
- Orientation
- Dinner
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 2
- Breakfast
- Fly genetics and mutations
- How to write your college essay
- Psychology of relaxing
- Lunch
- Finding Phages (part 1)
- Dinner
- Social time/games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 3
- Breakfast
- Characterizing bacteria
- Game theory and the human mind
- Lunch
- Biotechnology: DNA analysis
- Groundwater
- Dinner
- Social time/games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 4
- Breakfast
- Bacterial evolution
- Finding Phages, part 2
- Lunch
- Fermentation
- Ecology of the Duck Pond
- Dinner
- Career Networking
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 5
- Breakfast
- How to apply to and prosper at college
- Neuroscience activities
- Lunch
- Stream biology
- Check out of dorm 4:00 p.m.