First-Time STEM Camp? Here’s Exactly What to Expect
July 9, 2026 | MakerKids Team At a first STEM camp , your child will spend the day building hands-on projects like games, robots, and 3D designs, with a mix of build sessions, snack breaks, a daily park trip, and lunch. No experience is needed, kids are grouped by age, and each day wraps up with a parent show-and-tell where your child shows off what they made. Most first-timers walk in nervous and leave asking to come back. What does a day at STEM camp look like? A MakerKids camp day runs from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and balances building with breaks, lunch, and outdoor time. After sign-in and a welcome, kids move through four hands-on build sessions across the day, with two snack and screen breaks to recharge in between. Around midday, they stop for lunch and head out for a park trip, so the day is never all screens. At 3:15 each day, we wrap up with a parent show-and-tell at sign-out, where your child gets to show off what they made. For families who need a longer day, before care runs from 8:00-9:00 AM, and after care runs from 3:30-5:00 PM. What should your child bring? Keep it simple. The tech and equipment are provided, so your child just needs: A packed lunch plus a couple of snacks (there are two snack breaks and a lunch) A refillable water bottle Weather-appropriate clothes for the park trip Sunscreen and a hat on warm days Curiosity and a willingness to try, no coding experience required Will my child fit in if they’ve never coded? Yes. Most first-timers have never written a line of code, and camp is built for exactly that. Kids are grouped by age: grades 1-2 , 3-5 , and 6-8 , so the projects and pace match where they are. Instructors introduce each new skill step by step, and small groups mean your child gets help the moment they need it. That hands-on, small-group setup is also simply how kids learn best. A landmark analysis of 225 studies found that students in active, hands-on classes scored higher and were less likely to fall behind than those in lecture-style settings, with the biggest gains in small groups. In other words, a first-timer building a real project in a small camp group is in an ideal spot to learn. The day is not all screens either: build sessions are broken up by snacks, lunch, and a park trip. For kids who feel anxious in busy rooms, MakerKids camps offer sensory-safe spaces with noise-cancelling headphones, so every camper can settle in and focus. Source: Freeman et al., PNAS (2014) How to help your first-timer feel ready A little prep goes a long way toward first-day nerves. In the days before camp, it helps to: Walk through the day together. Knowing the rhythm, build time, snacks, lunch, a park trip, and show-and-tell makes the unknown feel familiar. Pack the night before. Lay out lunch, snacks, and a water bottle so the morning is calm, not rushed. Remind them that no experience is needed. Reassure your child that everyone starts as a beginner and instructors teach each step. Arrive a few minutes early on day one. A quiet moment to settle in beats walking into a full room. Most nerves fade within the first build session, once kids realize they are about to make something cool. Give your first-timer a summer to remember. Explore MakerKids summer camps in Leaside, Bloor West Village, and Mississauga → Virtual classes are available too, and spaces fill fast once summer starts. FAQ What does a day at STEM camp look like? Camp runs from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with four hands-on build sessions, two snack breaks, lunch, a daily park trip, and a parent show-and-tell at pickup. Before Care (8:00-9:00 AM) and After Care (3:30-5:00 PM) are also available. Does my child need experience to start? No. STEM camps are designed for first-timers. Instructors teach each new skill step by step, and kids are grouped by age so the pace fits them. What should my child bring to STEM camp? A packed lunch and snacks, a water bottle, weather-appropriate clothes, and sunscreen on warm days. The tech and equipment are provided. Is there before- and after-care? Yes. Before care runs 8:00-9:00 AM, and after care runs 3:30-5:00 PM for families who need a longer day. How can I prepare my child for their first STEM camp? Walk through the daily schedule together, pack lunch and clothes the night before, remind them no experience is needed, and arrive a few minutes early on the first day so they can settle in. Is STEM camp a good fit for anxious or first-time campers? Yes. Small groups, step-by-step teaching, outdoor breaks, and sensory-safe spaces with noise-cancelling headphones help nervous first-timers settle in quickly. The post First-Time STEM Camp? Here’s Exactly What to Expect appeared first on MakerKids .