Brain Busters Summer STEM Camp turns curiosity into creation. Kids don’t just watch; they design, build, test, and improve through robotics, 3D printing, coding, simple machines, and real engineering challenges. Our hands-on approach keeps students actively thinking while developing teamwork, communication, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
We keep class sizes small and provide a low 2:1 student-to-kit ratio so every child actually builds. Campers work individually and in pairs, combining ideas the way real engineers do.
Family-run and budget-friendly, we offer flexible scheduling options so every child can experience meaningful STEM learning and leave with something even more important than a project: a genuine love for learning and creating.
Build it. Break it. Fix it. Understand it.
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Camp Location:
AIM Academy
1793 Bloomingdale Road, Suite 5,
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
We are very thankful for AIM Academy for allowing us to use their center as our homebase. AIM Academy is a multi-purpose facility that offers a homeschooling co-op, after-school tutoring, Sunday school, workshops, and community events.
Mobile STEM Programs & Community Partnerships:
In addition to AIM Academy, Brain Busters partners with schools, learning centers, community organizations, and nonprofits throughout Chicago and the suburbs. We bring all materials, equipment, and expert instructors directly to our partner sites for on-site STEM classes and workshops, after-school and enrichment programs, camps, special events, and custom programs. No setup required—we handle everything.
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Summer 2026 Brain Busters Camps:
June 8-12, 9:00am - 11:00am
Race Ready: Engineering Your Own Car, Ages 7-14
Early Bird: $200, Regular: $250
Campers will dive into mechanical engineering as they design and build their own custom car. Students will explore gear ratios using simple and compound gear trains and chain & sprocket systems. They will develop an understanding of speed, torque and trade-offs in design. Through hands-on building and testing, they will learn critical thinking and problem solving. The camp will culminate with a final race.
June 15-18, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Toy Designers: 3D Printing, Ages 8-14
Early Bird: $150, Regular: $200
Become a real-world creator, not just a consumer. Students will learn essential engineering skills like measurement (metric and imperial), spatial reasoning, and volume, and then apply them using professional 3D modeling software. By the end of the week, they’ll bring their digital design to life with a 3D printer and take pride in holding something they engineered themselves. Design it. Build it. Print it.
June 15-19, 9:00am - 11:00am
Master Builders: Simple Machines, Ages 7-14
Early Bird: $200, Regular: $250
Turn curiosity into real engineering skills. Students will discover how everyday tools, from levers and pulleys to inclined planes and wheel & axle systems, make work easier and multiply force. Through exciting build challenges, campers will design and construct compound machines while learning how mechanical advantage actually works. They won’t just understand how machines work, but they’ll know how to build them, too.
June 22-26, 9:00am - 11:00am
VEX Battle of the Bots, Ages 7-14
Early Bird: $200, Regular: $250
Students will use their creativity to build unique robots and compete in an exciting team-based challenge against other campers. With special game rules and multiple ways to score points, this competition requires design thinking, collaboration, and a solution-focused mindset. Campers will work together to strategize and improve their builds throughout the week. Students are sure to have a blast!
Sign up for Brain Busters Summer Camp
Explore more local camps in the Wheaton, IL Summer Camp Guide
Find the perfect camp for your child,
by theme or interest:
| 🌳 Adventure & Outdoor Camps | 👾 STEAM & Educational Camps |
| 🎨 Visual & Performing Arts Camps | 🏀 Sports & Active Camps |
| ⛺️ Overnight Camps | 🤸♀️ General Day Camps |
