Best STEM & Science Camps in Nashville for Summer 2026

Nashville's STEM camp scene has exploded. We're tracking over 190 science, robotics, coding, and engineering camps across the greater Nashville area this summer — from hands-on programs for kindergartners to serious pre-college research experiences for high schoolers. Whether your kid wants to build battle bots, launch rockets, or learn Python, there's a program that fits.

Here's our honest breakdown of the best options, organized by what actually matters: what your kid is into, how old they are, and what it costs.

Robotics & Engineering Camps

If your kid is the type who takes apart the toaster to see how it works, robotics camp is the move. Nashville has a surprising number of options at every price point.

Brentwood Academy runs multiple Battlebots sessions for ages 7–10 at $240/week — a solid entry point. For older kids (10–12), their Building Advanced Robots course at $360 steps it up. Over in Franklin, Code Ninjas offers LEGO Robotics at $499/week for ages 5–14, which is pricier but includes full-day programming. Williamson County Parks is the budget winner here, with Robotics 101 STEM camps at $250/week across their Nolensville, Spring Hill, and Franklin rec centers.

For the younger crowd (ages 5–8), Harpeth Hall's Beginning LEGO Robotics ($235) and Little Inventors ($230) are well-regarded programs on Hobbs Road. And RobotiX Institute in Brentwood runs week-long sessions starting around $159–$179/month for ages 4–14 — one of the most affordable dedicated robotics programs we've found.

Coding & Game Design Camps

Want your kid to go from playing Minecraft to modding it? Code Ninjas in Franklin runs themed weeks including Minecraft Modding, Roblox Game Design, and Scratch & AI Machine Learning, all in the $199–$249/week range. University School of Nashville offers Adventures in Minecraft ($500) and Bloxels Video Game Design ($250) on the Edgehill campus.

For teens ready for real programming, Ensworth's Python Programming for Games covers ages 11–15 at $250. And if budget is no object, iD Tech at Vanderbilt runs intensive week-long coding camps at $1,079/week for ages 7–17 — it's a national program with a strong reputation, and the Vanderbilt campus setting is a nice perk.

Hands-On Science Camps

Not every STEM kid wants a screen. If yours prefers mixing potions and launching things, Adventure Science Center is the anchor. They run themed weeks at $399 each — Chemistry, Physics, Space, and the popular Wizardry ("Mix It Like Magic") for ages 6–10. For older kids (11–14), their Camp 3D: Drones, Dive & Drive is a standout.

Mr. Bond Science Guys is a Nashville favorite with multiple locations and themed half-day camps at $185 — Forces in Motion, Future Detectives, and Galactic Adventures among them. Great value for ages 5–12. Braingineers Lab in Mt. Juliet runs similar hands-on programs (Dinosaur World Expedition, Spy Academy) at $285–$295/week.

Free & Budget-Friendly STEM Options

Two programs stand out for families watching the budget. MTSU's National Summer Transportation Institute is completely free for ages 14–18 and runs out of Murfreesboro. Tennessee State University offers free engineering exploration camps for ages 11–18 at their Nashville campus. Both are competitive, so apply early.

On the affordable end, Franklin Road Academy runs STEM camps at $145/week — Robotics, Minecraft, Crazy Chemistry, and more for ages 4–14. That's hard to beat for a full program at a private school campus. Nashville Christian School also comes in under $200 for most of their STEM and LEGO weeks.

Pre-College & Advanced Programs (High School)

For high schoolers who want something more rigorous, Belmont University runs week-long deep dives at $425 each — Forensic Chemistry, Neuroscience (Brain to Behavior), Astronomy, and Sports Analytics among them. Their RISE programs in Data Science and Molecular Biology are two-week intensives at $1,700 for serious students. Lavner Tech Revolution at Vanderbilt bridges the gap at $649–$899/week (plus a $79 registration fee) for ages 6–14.

How to Choose the Right STEM Camp

• Start with your kid's interest, not the camp's prestige. A $145 Minecraft camp your kid loves beats a $500 program they tolerate.
• Check the age range carefully. A camp listed for "ages 5–14" will feel very different for a 5-year-old than a 13-year-old.
• Half-day vs. full-day matters. Younger kids (under 8) often do better with half-day programs. Many camps offer both options.
• Register early. The popular sessions (Adventure Science Center, Code Ninjas, iD Tech) fill fast — some by March.

Nashville parents have more STEM camp options than ever — and that's a good thing. The hard part isn't finding a camp; it's narrowing it down. Use Summerly's filters to search by age, price, week, and neighborhood, and build a summer plan that actually works for your family.