Summer Programs

Summer STEM Camp for High School Students

JUNE 9-13, 2025

 The Summer STEM Camp program for all high school students is a week-long day camp that focuses on a broad sampling of relevant science and engineering topics. Camp attendees will experience multidisciplinary projects working with Ohio State Marion faculty in molecular genetics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, robotics, programming, and engineering. During this camp student participants will:

  • Exercise their critical thinking skills during problem solving sessions focusing on building boats they must pilot across the Marion YMCA swimming pool.
  • Build and program an Arduino-compatible robot they will take home as a souvenir.
  • Experience inquiry-based learning in OSU science labs when they take on the role of biotechnology explorer as they express GFP protein in cells and purify it via column chromatography.
  • Learn about mechanical engineering as they tour the Honda Facility and experience the museum at Honda Heritage Center.
  • Experience hands-on activities in the field as they examine live macroinvertebrate specimens in the creek at Recreation Unlimited.
  • Receive a Certificate of Successful Completion from The Ohio State University at Marion.

Program Details 

Where: Ohio State Marion, Science and Engineering Building   
When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.  
Cost: $150 (lunch and lab costs are included in the registration fee)   
Eligibility: Applicant must be enrolled as a rising freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in any high school.  

Application Procedure  

Registration will open in December 2024.

If you have questions please email Tiffiny Rye-McCurdy at mrn-summerprograms@osu.edu.

Honda helps make Ohio State Marion's STEM initiatives possible through a grant that supports education. 

stem camp students working with petri dishes
stem camp students doing research in a pond

Summer Engineering Institute for High School Students

June 9-13, 2025

The Summer Engineering Institute for rising sophomore, junior, and senior high school students is a week-long day long camp that provides students the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of engineering. The institute will introduce students to a variety of engineering disciplines and present some engineering fundamentals. The basic engineering topics will include the engineering design process, teamwork skills, elements of problem solving, and engineering professionalism and ethics. During this institute student participants will  

  • Learn about current engineering tools and software applications used by professionals in physics, electrical engineering, and computer science. 
  • Work in teams to complete an Arduino-compatible microcontroller project. 
  • Network with industry experts and learn about engineering careers as they tour the Wilson Bohanan manufacturing facility. 
  • Exercise their critical thinking skills during problem solving sessions focusing on building boats they must pilot across the Marion YMCA swimming pool. 
  • Experience hands-on learning as they build and program a robot.
  • Work collaboratively in teams to design, build, and complete a mechanical engineering challenge.

Program Details

Where: Ohio State Marion – Marion Science and Engineering Building 
When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. every day. 
Cost: $100 (lunch and lab costs are included in the registration fee) 
Eligibility:  Applicant must be enrolled as a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in any high school. 

Application Procedure

Registration will open in December 2024.

If you have questions please email Tiffiny Rye-McCurdy at mrn-summerprograms@osu.edu.

high school students work on a robot in class
two high school students work on a laptop in the classroom

Summer Engineering Camp for Middle School Students

JUNE 9-13, 2025

The Summer Engineering program for all middle school students is a week-long day camp that provides an opportunity for middle school students to explore engineering disciplines by participating in activities that broaden their knowledge and skills. Students will participate in interactive sessions and work on hands-on projects that allows them to develop critical thinking skills in order to solve problems. During this camp student participants will:

  • Learn about current engineering tools and software applications used by professionals in physics, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering.
  • Work in teams to complete a week-long Arduino-compatible microcontroller project.
  • Exercise their critical thinking skills during problem solving sessions focusing on building boats they must pilot across the Marion YMCA swimming pool.
  • Build and program a smart car robot and work collaboratively in groups to complete a team challenge.
  • Network with industry experts and learn about engineering careers as they tour the Honda Facility and experience the museum at Honda Heritage Center.
  • Experience inquiry-based learning in OSU science labs when performing chemical analysis to determine if a painting is legitimate or a forgery.
  • Gain experience to help facilitate and build pathways into high school and college-level programs
  • Receive a Certificate of Successful Completion from The Ohio State University at Marion.

Program Details

Where: Ohio State Marion, Science and Engineering Building 
When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. every day. 
Cost: $150 (lunch and lab costs are included in the registration fee) 
Eligibility: Applicant must be enrolled as a rising 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student in any middle school. 

Application Procedure

Registration will open in December 2024.

If you have questions please email Tiffiny Rye-McCurdy at mrn-summerprograms@osu.edu.

Honda helps make Ohio State Marion's STEM initiatives possible through a grant that supports education. 

middle school students pose for a photo at honda
middle school students working at a computer on a robot

Engineering Startup Camp for College Freshmen

August 7-8, 2025

The Engineering Startup Camp for College Freshman is a 2-day program designed for new engineering and engineering technology students. Math, physics, and engineering faculty will lead sessions. They will provide a head start to prepare participants for their college learning experience at The Ohio State University.

The agenda will include:

  • Opportunities to advance students skills by participating in math, physics, and engineering sessions—led by Ohio State Faculty
  • Interaction with current Ohio State Marion engineering students
  • Hands–on engineering activities to learn about many different projects engineers encounter

Program Details

Where: Ohio State Marion - Science and Engineering Building 
When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. every day 
Cost: $25 (lunch and lab costs are included in the registration fee) 
Eligibility: Applicant must be new engineering/engineering technology freshmen at The Ohio State University at Marion.

Application Procedure

Details coming soon for 2025 Camp!

If you have questions please email Tiffiny Rye-McCurdy at mrn-summerprograms@osu.edu.