UNC Charlotte’s Camps on Campus Program Marks 25 Years

UNC Charlotte’s Camps on Campus celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer. Over that time thousands of campers have learned to predict thunderstorms, make linguini, build robots and dig for archeological finds in the soil.

Much has evolved in the past 25 years. What started in 2001 as a monthlong offering of a few primarily academic camps has now blossomed into a summer-long series of over 100 camps, covering everything interesting under the sun and beyond — from scientific discovery camps like Chemical Concoctions with a STEM Twist to pop culture adventures, including The Many Eras of Taylor Swift. A few camps have even blended the two worlds, such as The Science of Star Wars and Space.

Modern times have brought advantages to the camps world. Parents and staff will tell you camper drop-off is easier today with the advent of cell phones. And apps like myCAMPapp, introduced by Camps on Campus last summer make communication even smoother, connecting parents and counselors, and delivering important updates in real-time. 

And those advantages extend to campers, too. Seasoned ones who have attended camps for several years in a row (and there are many) will tell you times were rough pre-2021, before Friday Popsicle Party existed. The camper favorite tradition begins its fifth year this summer.

Camp designers have always tried to capture the interests of the current times. In 2013’s Moneyball: Sports and Stats camp, campers used statistics to build teams worthy of winning the World Series. In 2012, after an outbreak of Swine Flu, Math, Microbes and Medicine — Don’t Want to Catch That! taught campers about the nature of pandemics. Little did they know what was coming, right? 

Although so much has changed throughout the last quarter century, a few constants have remained the same all this time: the friendships made, skills learned and memories created.

Camps on Campus runs June 9 – August 8, 2025 and is open to rising grades 1 -12. For a complete list of camps, and information about registration, which begins for returning families January 27 and to the public January 28, visit UNC Charlotte’s Camps on Campus website.

Here are a few of the the programs most popular camps:

Cool School (Grades 1-4)

Human Body Works: From burps to mucus to the marvels of memory and enamel, campers will explore the fascinating, funny, and gross secrets of the human body while learning how to keep it healthy!

Spy Academy: Mission Impossible: Young agents will crack codes, conquer obstacle courses, navigate laser mazes, and put their spy skills to the test at Ninja Nation in this action-packed, top-secret summer adventure!

Musical Theater: Dance, music, acting, and educational themes combine with our annual musical theater production for Cool School campers!

LEGO Robotics 101: Hosted in partnership with the William States Lee College of Engineering, dive headfirst into the captivating realm of robots where you’ll unravel their secrets, from car-building wizards to floor-vacuuming maestros.

Other camps include Little Park Rangers, Astronauts in Training and Global Art.

49er Minor (Grades 5-8)

Culinary Camp: Young chefs will master cooking and baking skills, explore nutrition, and create their own recipe book in a professional kitchen for a summer full of delicious adventures!

The Many Eras of Taylor Swift: Swifties will sing, dance, craft, and celebrate Taylor’s legendary eras with karaoke, choreography, trivia, and creative activities inspired by her iconic music and style!e

Robotics 201: Campers will build, code, and create with LEGO® Education SPIKE™ kits, mastering robotics basics or tackling advanced challenges in this hands-on engineering adventure!

Upcycled Art Camp: Young creatives will transform recycled materials into stunning works of art while learning hand sewing, bookbinding, and crochet, blending sustainability with imagination!

Other camps include Build a Radio-Controlled (RC) Car, Smash Art and The Art of Anime.

Niner Academy (Grades 9-12)

Niner Academy offers both Main Campus and online camps. For rising grades 9-12.

Main Campus Camps
Finance 101: High schoolers will master budgeting, credit, investing, and more in this bootcamp, equipping them with the skills to build wealth and achieve financial independence!

Service Learning Leadership Camp: High schoolers will earn service hours, build leadership skills, and make a community impact while boosting their college applications and discovering their passion for making a difference!

Online Camps
Personal Statement Writing Workshop: Rising seniors will craft compelling personal statements, discover their unique voice, and gain expert guidance to stand out in college applications, all while building confidence and writing skills!

Empower AI: High schoolers will explore the exciting world of AI, machine learning, and neural networks through hands-on projects, building skills and confidence for a future in tech—no coding experience needed!

Other Main Campus camps include MedCamp, FutureCEOS, Mock Trial and Video Game Coding; One other Online Camp: Financial Literacy.