Can’t wait for summer to unfold?

Check out Ranken’s Summer Adventure Academies for rising middle and high school students! Students get fun, hands-on experiences with technology, and learn about career paths in technical industries.

The academies are held in July at Ranken’s St. Louis, Wentzville and Perryville locations. Each program encourages students to design, create, think and work through hands-on activities. Over the course of their program, students complete a project and often get to take home their unique creations. A selection of Scout BSA Merit Badge camps will be offered in late-May. The Summer Adventure Academies are held in July . Online registration will open on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 9am.

May 28-29, 2020 Scout BSA Camps STL
July 13-17, 2020 Middle School STL
July 20-24, 2020 High School STL
July 20-24, 2020 Middle School Wentzville
July 20-24, 2020 Middle School Perryville

For more information, contact: Barbara Bragg at [email protected] or (314) 286-4822 or Kristie Sissom at [email protected] or (314) 286-3625.

The Summer Adventure Academy program encourages middle and high school students to complete high school and further their education in a STEM-related discipline and ultimately join the technical workforce in their community by earning a STEM degree.

These week-long summer camps promote STEM career exploration by providing outside the classroom educational experiences to raise students’ aspirations. The Summer Adventure Academies engage students in real-world, hands-on camps that demonstrate the skills necessary in STEM occupations.

More than 2,000 students have participated in the program since 2010.

Local secondary school teachers who teach STEM subjects in their classrooms often co-teach the academies alongside a Ranken faculty member or industry expert trained in a correlating field. This paid opportunity informs educators about technical occupations and the educational requirements necessary to obtain rewarding STEM careers. They carry beneficial information back to their classrooms to share with their students. More than 115 secondary teachers have taken advantage of this opportunity since 2012.

Summer Camps Summer Camps summer camps

Scout BSA Merit Badge Camps (St. Louis Location)

Non-Refundable Registration fee: $60

Summer camps designed specifically for middle school and high school aged Scouts. Participants will have the opportunity to work with college instructors to earn an Auto Maintenance, Electricity, and or Plumbing Merit Badge while enjoying the college experience, to include hands-on activities in state-of-the-arts labs and dining in the college café. We encourage troop leaders and parents to be mentors in any of our Scout camps.

Merit Badges & Prerequisites – research updated merit badge requirements here.

Dates/Times: Thursday, May 28, 2020; 9:00AM – 3:00PM, Registration fee: $60

Auto Maintenance

Dates/Times: Friday, May 29, 2020; 9:00AM – 3:00PM, Registration fee: $60

Electricity OR Plumbing
Middle School Camps - For Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders (St. Louis Location)

July 13-17, 2020, 9AM to 3PM (St. Louis Location), Non-Refundable Registration fee: $95

Advanced Robotics – Designed for students who have prior robotics experience with Ranken’s All A-Bot Robots camp or FIRST Lego League. Campers will design & build TETRIX robots and use remote controllers.

All A-Bot Robots – Robots are the future of technology. They are definitely fun to make and program! Hone your engineering and technology skills using NXT robots to successfully maneuver through an obstacle course.

Android App Inventor – App Inventor lets you develop applications for Android phones or tablets. This workshop will teach what App Inventor is, how it is used, and how the free-associated software can be loaded onto a computer. Students will create several apps, including a Magic 8 Ball app and a Xylophone app.

Aviation Technology – Get an introduction to aircraft maintenance, and what it takes to keep planes flying. Explore careers for aviators, experience the thrill of flight in an airplane, build & launch model rockets, & more!

Cartography & Web Design – Powered by TechGirlz, girls will learn cartography (map drawing) using real world data, creating custom maps, crowd sourcing, & designing their own website to creatively tell their story.

Design and Engineering – Learn manufacturing processes from blueprints and design to prototype production and quality control using the latest software and Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines.

EV3 Robotics & Racing @ Victory Raceway – Students race electric-powered racing karts learning basic principles like acceleration, braking, & race craft in the morning. After lunch, campers will work with LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3, building, programming, and testing real-life robotics technology.

Pick-up and drop-off @ Victory Raceway, 8800 Watson Road, St Louis, MO 63119. Transportation is not provided.

Heavy Metals – Use raw metal to create your own designs! Students will learn the fundamentals of welding, from simple techniques to more complex ones. Students will design and fabricate their own metal masterpiece.

Summer Racers – Summer racers will build their own car, practice team building skills, learn about automotive careers, and how a go-kart works using real world tools and techniques drive a real go-kart safely!

Wood Works – Students will construct their own project from start to finish using a variety of woodworking and power tools safely. Learn fundamental construction techniques and have fun with constructive entertainment.
High School Camp - Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders (Perryville Location)

July 20-24, 2020, 9AM to 3PM

1205 Corporation Lane, Perryville MO 63775 Non-Refundable Registration fee: $95

Heavy Metals – Use raw metal to create your own designs! Students will learn the fundamentals of welding, from simple techniques to more complex ones. Students will design and fabricate their own metal masterpiece.
Middle School Camps (Wentzville)

July 20-24, 2020, 9AM to 3PM

755 Parr Road, Wentzville, MO 63385, Non-Refundable Registration fee: $95

All A-Bot Robots – Robots are the future of technology. They are definitely fun to make and program! Hone your engineering and technology skills using NXT robots to successfully maneuver through an obstacle course.

Android App Inventor – App Inventor lets you develop applications for Android phones or tablets. This workshop will teach what App Inventor is, how it is used, and how the free-associated software can be loaded onto a computer. Students will create several apps, including a Magic 8 Ball app and a Xylophone app.
High School Camps - For Rising 9th and 10th Graders (St. Louis Location)

July 20-24, 2020, 9AM to 3PM (St. Louis Location), Non-Refundable Registration fee: $95

Airbrushing Paint FX – Brighten up a dull summer at our custom automotive airbrushing camp. Students will learn basic hands-on airbrushing and popular airbrushing techniques. We’ll channel your child’s inner artist.

Boot-Up Computer Camp – Students will learn about the latest computers and operating systems, how they work and how to apply that knowledge into a real-world networking environment. Working both individually and in small groups, students will complete hands-on class projects.

Design and Engineering – Learn manufacturing processes from blueprints and design to prototype production and quality control using the latest software and Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines.

Heavy Metals – Use raw metal to create your own designs! Students will learn the fundamentals of welding, from simple techniques to more complex ones. Students will design and fabricate their own metal masterpiece.

TETRIX Robotics Technology – Build your own robot and apply engineering design principles while expanding your technical skills. Learn programming design and test your skills in a robotic competition.

Remote Control Race Engineering – Students model a motorsports team while working to optimize the performance of a FastTrack RC (remote control) Car through inspection and modifications. Take the challenge!

Women in Engineering – Experience the fun and excitement of solving engineering challenges on a team of like-minded young women. Discover how you can use your unique talents to find satisfaction in engineering.
High School Camps - For Rising 11th and 12th Graders (St. Louis Location)

July 20-24, 2020, 9AM to 3PM (St. Louis Location), Non-Refundable Registration fee: $95

Adventures in Architecture – Experience architecture and the built environment through designing, sketching, drafting, and model building. Get hands-on experience with laser cutting & computer aided drafting.

Drone Aerial Systems – Learn to fly and video record with one of today’s hottest hobbies. In this camp you will learn practical real world uses for drones. Learn to fly through an obstacle course and video record your own flight on the Ranken campus.

Summer Adventure Academies

Scholarship Funding is Not Available at this time

Work with your hands and expand your mind this summer at

Ranken’s Summer Adventure Academies.

Can’t wait for summer to unfold?

Non-Refundable Registration fee: $60

SCOUT BSA MERIT BADGE CAMPS

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPS – Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders (St. Louis Location)

HIGH SCHOOL CAMPS – Rising 11th and 12th Graders (St. Louis Location)

HIGH SCHOOL CAMP – Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th Graders (Perryville Location)

HIGH SCHOOL CAMPS – Rising 9th and 10th Graders (St. Louis Location)

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPS – Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders (Wentzville Location)

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1104090. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.