Explore Life Science–Understanding Our Living World
Summer Camp for rising 11th through 12th graders
July 27- Aug 1, 2025 (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: $1250
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.
Sign up to get notified when registration opens.
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
- Psychology of relaxing
- Lunch
- Finding Phages (part 1)
- Dinner
- Group 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
- Dinner
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 4
- Breakfast
- Groundwater
- Fossil record
- Geoscience Museum tour
- Lunch
- Fermentation
- Ecology of the Duck Pond
- Dinner
- Career Networking
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 5
- Breakfast
- Bioinformatics
- Bacterial evolution
- Lunch
- Finding Phages, part 2
- How to write your college essay
- Dinner
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 6
- Breakfast
- Neuroscience activities
- How to apply to and prosper at college
- Lunch
- Check out of dorm 1:00 p.m.