Before aspirations take shape as careers, they often begin as wonders — sparked in summer classrooms where young minds are free to explore.

At Tamarack Elementary School in Hillsboro, those sparks look like rockets, circuits, roller coasters and chemical reactions.

From June 21 to Aug. 22, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will host its STEAM summer camps at the elementary school, located at 7201 S.E. Kinnaman St., offering hands-on experiences in astronomy, robotics, design and more for students entering grades 2-8.

Whether students are reaching for the stars or mixing mysterious concoctions, OMSI’s summer programming invites them to imagine, invent and investigate the world around them.

Awesome Astronomy (Grades 2-3)

From solar shadows to the pull of lunar gravity, students will chart their own courses across the sky. Through experiments, projections and planetary exploration, this camp invites curious minds to decode the cosmos.

Start dates: June 30, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11

Cosmic Explorers (Grades 4-5)

An immersive session focused on the solar system, OMSI sends students on a mission to test gravity assists, build model landers and explore the future of space travel.

Start dates: June 30, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11

Design Studio (Grades 2-3)

Equal parts invention and investigation, this camp introduces young learners to the creative side of engineering. With projects that range from roller coasters to race cars, students explore how form meets function — and how big ideas begin with small builds.

Start dates: June 30, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11

LEGO SPIKE Robotics (Grades 2-3)

Young engineers take on the basics of robotics using LEGO SPIKE kits, combining motion, code and design. From sensors to gears, students bring machines to life through collaboration and guided experimentation.

Start dates: June 23, July 7, Aug. 4, Aug. 18

Master Chemist (Grades 6-8)

Chemistry moves beyond the textbook as students mix, react, observe and analyze — uncovering how substances change and why reactions unfold. The camp offers a week of hands-on experiments, surprising results and the thrill of precise discovery.

Start dates: June 23, July 7, Aug. 4, Aug. 18

Science School of Wizardry (Grades 4-5)

Students don their wizard hats to investigate science that seems like magic — shrinking objects, shifting colors and kinetic surprises. Behind every effect is a principle to uncover, making each hands-on activity both mysterious and measurable.

Start dates: June 23, July 7, Aug. 4, Aug. 18

To learn more or register for camps, visit omsi.edu/camps.