Explore Physical Sciences Camp–Understanding the Nonliving World
Summer Camp for rising 11th through 12th graders
Sunday, July 12 - Thursday, July 16, 2026 (rising 11th-12th grade)
Campers will explore the inanimate universe (from subatomic to galaxy levels) and the laws that govern it. We will cover some basics, e.g., physics and chemistry, as well as cutting-edge, interdisciplinary fields, e.g., nanoscience, ground water, geomorphology, and quantum information science.
Cost: $1150
Camp fees cover faculty instructional time, equipment, supplies, room and board, resident assistants and program assistants. If your child will need a scholarship to participate, please apply for one in the application form. Families are responsible for transportation to/from the Virginia Tech campus.
Registration will open in winter 2026.
Day 1
- Check in 3:00 p.m.
- Orientation
- Dinner
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 p.m.
Day 2
- Breakfast
- Fieldtrip to Nanocharacterization and Fabrication Labs
- Lunch
- Analyzing diets with radioisotopes, part 1
- Dinner
- Physics is fun
- Games/social time
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 pm
Day 3
- Breakfast
- Quantum World
- Analyzing diets with radioisotopes, part 2
- Lunch
- Physics of soft matter
- Chemistry experiments
- Dinner
- How to write a great college essay
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 pm
Day 4
- Breakfast
- Field trip to New River
- Lunch
- Analyzing diets with radioisotopes, part 3
- Dinner
- Career Networking
- Group games
- Team meetings
- Lights out by 10:30 pm
Day 5
- Breakfast
- How to apply to and prosper at college
- Electricity and batteries
- Lunch
- Science of cooking
- Check out of dorm 4:00 p.m.