BECAUSE WE CAN’T OFFER IN-PERSON CAMPS THIS YEAR, ICE HAS ADAPTED SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES DONE IN CHEMISTRY CAMPS SO CHILDREN CAN DO THEM USING MATERIALS COMMONLY FOUND AROUND THE HOME. CHECK OUT THESE FREE ACTIVITIES ON OUR 2020 VIRTUAL SUMMER CHEMISTRY CAMPS PAGE.
Chemistry Camps Cancelled: If you have already registered a child for ICE Chemistry Camp, your registration fee will be refunded automatically. (You don’t need to do anything to get your refund.) You should receive an email from Jessica Kitto, UW Registrations and Student Records, confirming your refund by approximately April 20, 2020. If you do not receive a confirmation by then, please email ice@chem.wisc.edu to inquire.
Scenes from Chem Camps
Fun with Chemistry camps have been a Madison tradition since their inception in 1984. These 5-day afternoon summer programs offer an excellenet combination of innovative hands-on science curriculum and fun!
An ICE Fun with Chemistry Camp is really special because campers actually get to do science, they don’t just watch it happen! Through experiments, projects, and discussions campers entering grades 5 to 8 explore chemistry and science in laboratories in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Experienced staff supervise students in small groups, emphasizing lab safety while communicating fundamental science concepts and developing reasoning skills. Depending on which camp they enroll in, campers will carry out a variety of laboratory experiments such as these:
- Flame tests (Chemistry; Forensic)
- Plating pennies (Chemistry)
- Silvering ornaments (Inventions)
- Annealing, hardening, and tempering iron (Chemistry)
- Chromatography (Chemistry; Forensic)
- Monomers and polymers (Chemistry; Inventions)
- DNA isolation (Forensic)
- Substance analysis (Chemistry; Forensic)
- Pneumatic systems design (Engineering)
- Gold and silver nanoparticles (Inventions)
- Flocculation, water treatment (Engineering)
- Crystals and liquid crystals (Inventions)
- Tin dendrites (Inventions)
- Circuits and communication systems (Engineering)
- Programming a game (Engineering)
LEARN MORE ABOUT ICE FUN WITH CHEMISTRY CAMPS:
- What parents tell us
- How to enroll your child(ren)
- 2020 Camp Schedule and Online Registration NOW OPEN!
COMMENTS FROM PARENTS
Hands-on at Chem Camp.
- The program was wonderful. My daughter learned so much and can’t wait to attend [another camp].
- Great experience for a boy who loves science!
- Can’t wait to go again. [My child] told [their] 6th grade science teacher about it…and showed [their] class the things they brought home!
- They absolutely loved it. [My kids] came home every night excited. Loved the labs and pretty much everything!
HOW TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD(REN)
- First, read all information in this section about required forms, program expectations, charges, payment, and cancellation/ refund policies. Make certain you agree to all items in each required form. Once you register a child the registration cannot be cancelled with a full refund.
- Second, go to the camp schedule to register your child for each camp session that your child will attend.
REQUIRED FORMS:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Institute for Chemical Education (ICE) require that every registered camper complete and submit all the forms in the Participant Packet. If your child is attending more than one camp session, the Particiapant Packet must be completed and submitted for each camp session your child will attend. All the forms in the Participant Packet must be completed, signed, and received before your child can attend Chemistry Camp. All forms must be printed, signed in ink and then submitted. No items can be changed or deleted. If you have a question about any form contact ICE at chemcamps@chem.wisc.edu.
The Participant Packet includes the following forms:
- Media Release Form
- Release and Indemnification Agreement
- Transportation Form: Drop Off/Pick Up Form
- Waiver Form
- Medical Forms: Health Information Form, Diabetes Management Form (if needed), and Asthma Action Plan (if needed)
Send scanned forms by email to: chemcamps@chem.wisc.edu
Send printed copies by U.S. Mail to: ICE, Institute for Chemical Education, Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN CAMP
Please discuss our program expectations and policies with your child. We strive for a camp experience in which children are safe, included, respected, and challenged as individuals. To maintain a safe, hands-on, laboratory environment students are supervised at all times. Campers must dress appropriately to work in a lab: covered shoulders (no tank tops), long trousers, shoes that cover the feet (no sandals or open-toed shoes), and old clothes. Some experiments involve matches, flames, simulated blood, and latex. Chem Camp will supply safety goggles and gloves. Campers may not carry out any unauthorized experiments, must follow all instructions of their group leaders, and are not permitted to leave the chemistry building unsupervised. Any misconduct by a camper is grounds for immediate dismissal from the camp with no refund of camp fee.
CHARGES, PAYMENT, CONFIRMATION:
The registration fee for each one-week half-day camp session is $230. Campers may register for multiple sessions. Payments can be made by credit card during the online registration.
- Payment must be received within two weeks of submitting the registration or your child’s spot in the camp session will be automatically cancelled.
- Payment by credit card is encouraged. Those who pay by check need to contact Chem Camps by email or phone before registering.
- Camp Scholarships are available for those who can demonstrate need. If you are applying for a camp scholarship, do NOT register online. Contact ICE at chemcamps@chem.wisc.edu or by phone at 608/262-3033 before registering.
- Your child is not confirmed for Chem Camp until payment is received and all forms listed above have been completed and received by ICE.
- The deadline for receipt of all forms and payment is by or before May 15, 2020.
- Once your registration is completed, you will not receive further communication from ICE until about a week before the start of the camp.
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICIES:
If your plans change and your child can no longer attend a camp session you have registered them for, please contact the Registration Office, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 702 LangdonStreet, Room 139, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-2451.
- Cancellations received by or before May 15, 2020 will receive a 75% refund.
- Cancellations received after May 15, 2020 and up to 14 days before the beginning of your child’s session will receive a 40% refund.
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations that are received within 14 days of the beginning of the session for which your child is registered.
- Refunds may take up to 6 weeks for UW-Madison to process.
Note: your child is not confirmed for Chem Camp until payment is received and all forms listed above have been completed and received by ICE. The deadline for receipt of forms and payment is by or before May 15, 2020. Once your registration is complete you will not receive further communication from ICE until about a week before the start of the camp.
2020 SUMMER CHEM CAMP SCHEDULE AND ONLINE REGISTRATION
SESSION 1: FUN WITH CHEMISTRY CAMP
June 15–19, 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
Session 1: Register online (Cancelled)
At the Fun with Chemistry camp, your camper will have a combination of laboratory work and an engineering challenge that culminates in an engineering competition at the end of the week. Experiments students can run include flame tests of common metals, making acid-base test papers, reaction of an acid and a new penny, chromatography (several), plating copper, and polymer (several).
SESSION 2: FUN WITH INVENTIONS CAMP
June 22–26, 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
Session 2: Register online (Cancelled)
In this hands-on Chemistry Inventions camp, students will learn and practice concepts from chemistry, engineering, and materials science. Campers will learn how to use an optical microscope; how to make and use gold and silver nanoparticles, liquid crystals, mirrors, and more.
SESSION 3: FUN WITH FORENSICS CHEMISTRY CAMP
July 6–10, 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
Session 3: Register online (Cancelled)
During each session of the Fun with Forensic Chemistry camp, participants will gather evidence from different simulated crime scenes: collect DNA information, gather and interpret fingerprints, conduct simulated drug analysis and classification, and employ the scientific method to solve mysteries and crimes. Guest speakers from forensic-science careers enhance the program’s connection to real-life science.
SESSION 4: FUN WITH ENGINEERING CAMP
July 13–17, 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Session 4: Register online (Cancelled)
This Fun with Engineering camp provides students with hands-on activities that introduce them to different engineering disciplines and some basic engineering principles. In this camp students use the engineering design process to develop a Morse telegraph, build a water recycling system, learn to program using Scratch, build hydraulic systems, design pneumatic systems, and more.