About Rice STEAM Academies

The Rice STEAM Academies, offered by the Rice Office of STEM Engagement, are one-week, immersive summer enrichment programs designed for current students in grades 3–9 (2025-2026 school year) to explore creativity, innovation, and problem-solving across science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

The academies are divided into two dynamic sections: STEAM-Up and Spark Academy. STEAM-Up introduces students in grades 3–6 to the exciting world of STEAM through hands-on challenges, creative design projects, and campus exploration. Spark Academy engages students in grades 7–9 with interactive experiences focused on energy, sustainability, and emerging technologies that power our world.

Throughout both programs, students will engage in project-based learning, guided experiments, and team collaborations that inspire curiosity and critical thinking. Participants will also gain confidence as young innovators while discovering how STEAM connects to real-world applications—empowering them to imagine, design, and shape the future.

Registration will open 8:00 a.m. CST Monday, December 15, 2025.

Register here

What to Know Before You Register Online

We're excited for you to join us this summer at Rice University, but before you complete your registration, please take a minute to read the following information and reach out to stem@rice.edu if you have questions.

Limited spaces are available. R-STEM Summer Student Programs. If the session you are interested in is sold out, you have the option to join the waitlist. You will be automatically placed on the waitlist when you finish the registration process if a session you selected is currently full. Placement on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the program.

Register here

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION ONLINE:

• Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome are the recommended web browsers for the system.
• The child's birth date and age will be when the session you register for begins.
• Child's t-shirt size.
• Physician's name and phone number.
• The child's known medical conditions, required medications, or allergies.
• All necessary credit card information for payment.
• Rice Employee ID (Faculty & Staff ONLY). Required for discount code.
• Student ID (Rice Students ONLY). Required for discount code.
• Military service members or Veterans. Required for discount code.
• Graduation year and college (Rice Alumnus ONLY). Required for discount code.
• If you are eligible to receive one of the discount codes above, please contact stem@rice.edu to obtain your discount code before registering.
• NOTE: Refunds will not be issued post-registration for discount codes not applied upon the account user's registration.

ACCOUNT SETUP AND PAYMENT:

• Please click here to sign in or to create anan account with the ACTIVE Network or access your current ACTIVE Account.
• Please note: Completing the registration form does NOT guarantee placement in the program. Participation in the program is contingent upon receipt of the registration fee and completion of all applicable minor participant agreements and release forms. Registrants must submit signed participant agreements and release forms for minors with their registration for each child, which is part of the registration process.
• All future registrants for filled weeks or registrants who have not yet paid or completed the required release forms will be placed on a waiting list.
• If you are a school district wishing to pay with a PO for a group of participants, contact Matthew Cushing at mpc3@rice.edu.

SCHOLARSHIPS:

Scholarships are available to a limited number of participants. To apply for a scholarship please click the links below to download the application.

Scholarship Application

Do NOT register for the Academy if you are applying for a scholarship. Once scholarships have been awarded registration links will be sent to scholarship recipients.

The deadline to apply is April 18, 2026.

Spark Academy

June 1–4, 2026 | June 8–11, 2026 | June 22–25, 2026
9 AM – 3 PM (Monday–Thursday)
Lone Star College – University Park
7th-9th Grade
$399/week*

About

Spark Academy is an engaging one-week summer program for students in grades 7–9 to explore the future of energy and sustainability. Through hands-on activities, experiments, and interactive learning, participants will uncover the science and technology behind energy production, environmental impact, and innovative solutions for a sustainable future. Beyond the classroom, students will get a taste of college life as they tour the campus and explore cutting-edge labs, igniting inspiration for their future in STEM!

- Water, snacks, and lunch will need to be provided each day
- This program requires the payment of a registration fee of $399 per week. Payment is made during the registration process.
- A $3.00 registration fee will be added to your total registration cost upon checkout.

*Due to administrative costs, a $50 fee will be charged for each change made to your registration. This includes session transfers (upon availability).

*Discounts are not applicable to add-on items (such as a water bottle) or add-on sessions. Discounts are only applicable to program tuition fees.

Registration

Space is very limited. Participation in this program requires payment of the registration fee and completion of the required participant agreement and release forms for minors.

Spark Academy is offered for a fee of $399 per student/week.

STEAM-UP

June 1–4, 2026 | June 8–11, 2026 | June 22–25, 2026
9 AM – 3 PM (Monday–Thursday)
Lone Star College – University Park
3rd-6th Grade
$399/week*

About

STEAM-UP is an exciting one-week summer academy for students in grades 3–6 that brings Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) to life through creativity and innovation. Participants will dive into hands-on challenges that blend physical building, guided exploration, and digital learning to spark curiosity and critical thinking. Beyond the classroom, students will get a taste of college life as they tour the campus and explore cutting-edge labs, igniting inspiration for their future in STEM!

- Water, snacks, and lunch will need to be provided each day
- This program requires the payment of a registration fee of $399 per week. Payment is made during the registration process.
- A $3.00 registration fee will be added to your total registration cost upon checkout.

*Due to administrative costs, a $50 fee will be charged for each change made to your registration. This includes session transfers (upon availability).

*Discounts are not applicable to add-on items (such as a water bottle) or add-on sessions. Discounts are only applicable to program tuition fees.

Registration

Space is very limited. Participation in this program requires payment of the registration fee and completion of the required participant agreement and release forms for minors.

STEAM-UP is offered for a fee of $399 per student/week.

Cancellation, Refund, and Transfers Policy

Please read and agree to the Rice Office of STEM Engagement's cancellation policy.

Cancellation and Refunds Policy

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing (by e-mail) to the Rice University Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) at stem@rice.edu.

• 75% refund will be issued if the request is made in writing at least 30 calendar days prior to the start day of the program.
  
• A 50% refund will be issued if the request is made in writing at least 10 calendar days prior to the start day of the program.
  
• No refunds will be issued for cancellation requests made less than 10 calendar days prior to the first start day of the program.
  
• Tuition will not be prorated or refunded in any amount for any missed days by the program participant for any reason.
  
• If you are eligible to receive one of the discount codes above, please contact stem@rice.edu to obtain your discount code before registering. NOTE: Refunds will not be issued post-registration for discount codes not applied upon the account user's registration.

• If you are eligible to receive a discount code, please contact stem@rice.edu to obtain your discount code before registering.
• NOTE: Refunds will not be issued post-registration for discount codes not applied upon the account user's registration.

Refund Procedures

All refund requests or cancellations must be submitted to R-STEM in writing (by e-mail) to stem@rice.edu with the participant’s first and last name in the subject line. Please allow up to 10 business days for your refund to be processed. Refunds are typically issued in the same form of payment as the original payment. Refunds are NOT available for vacations, special events, or other personal commitments that prevent attendance.

We reserve the right to revoke the registration of any child who consistently disrupts normal activities and does not abide by the Rice Code of Conduct. While this is a rare occurrence, it is important to note that consistent disruptions diminish the experience of the other participants. No refund will be made if a child is dismissed from the program due to disrupting program activities.

In the event of cancellation due to Force majeure, an Act of God, or cancellation by the Rice University campus location, R-STEM will provide a 100% camp credit of monies paid. This credit may be used for any child in the affected camper's immediate family and the credit expires the following program year.

It is each participant's family’s responsibility to check their email account regularly and to update contact email addresses with the correct contact information. R-STEM is not responsible for notices not received because of such problems.

Transfers
We understand that sometimes schedules change and that your child may be unable to attend camp during the session in which he/she is enrolled. We do allow registration transfers to occur but with some caveats. Registration is not transferable to anyone outside your immediate family, and split sessions are unavailable. Decisions related to transfer requests will be based on space availability and will be made at the discretion of R-STEM staff. These transfer requests must be made by sending an email to stem@rice.edu (phone requests for transfers will not be accepted).Session transfers will only be allowed at least five working days before the start of the session.

Due to administrative costs, a $50 fee will be charged for each change made to your registration. This includes session transfers and late care transfers and cancellations.

Questions about registration or R-STEM programs?

Don't hesitate to ask us!
Email stem@rice.edu or call our main office at 713-348-8211.

Program Flyer

To view and download the STEAM Academies program flyer click here.

STEAM Academies Administration

If you have any questions about STEAM Academies, please contact the program instructors.

Jessica Robicheaux
Assistant Director for Educational Leadership and STEM Initiatives
713-348-6274 | jr102@rice.edu

^{*Program times, dates, and locations, are subject to change before the first day of the program.}