Illinois College to host STEAM camp for Jacksonville students

Illinois College will bring Jacksonville-area students onto campus June 15-16 for Camp College, a two-day STEAM program built around robotics, coding and problem-solving.

The camp is open to rising sixth through eighth graders and to rising sophomores through seniors. It runs Monday, June 15, from 8 a.m. until Tuesday, June 16, at noon at Illinois College, 1101 W. College Ave. in Jacksonville.

Camp College is designed as an immersive introduction to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, with students working on interactive challenges both individually and in teams. Along with the hands-on projects, the program is meant to give participants a look at college life and career exploration in a setting that puts them on the Illinois College campus rather than in a classroom off-site.

Illinois College students will serve as facilitators, including education majors who will guide activities and work alongside campers as mentors. That setup gives younger students direct contact with college role models while also giving Illinois College students practical teaching and leadership experience.

The camp is offered in partnership with Jacksonville Promise. Scholarships are available, and the registration fee is $50. Families that want an overnight option can add that for $25. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and live in Morgan County are eligible for a registration fee waiver funded by Jacksonville Promise.

For parents weighing summer options, the draw is immediate: two days of structured activity, college exposure and skill-building without leaving Jacksonville. For older students, the camp offers a chance to test interests in engineering, technology and problem-solving before high school classes and college decisions narrow their choices.

Illinois College says families can contact Julia Carter, the college’s guest experience coordinator, for more information.